Author: powerpopaholic

Happy Labor Day Singles and EPs! Erik Voeks, Brent Windler, Vista Blue, The Junior League, Ken Sharp, Lisa Mychols & Super 8

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Enjoy these fresh singles for the long weekend.

Erik Voeks has been one of my favorite DIY rockers for years, but this timely political gem is one of the best singles I’ve heard in a long time. His new band The Ghosters have bumped up his stock quite a lot here!

Brent Winder the singer/songwriter for “Sons of Great Dane” is back working on a new solo album, and this single “Around The Bend” is a richly arranged gem. It’s a FREEBIE that shouldn’t be missed.

The ever-present Vista Blue is back, saying goodbye to summer in a mashup of Ramones and Beach Boys glory. Speaking of the Beach Boys, are you a fan of Brian or Mike?

The Junior League (Joe Adragna) kicks major ass here with Scott the Hoople on this Monkees meets Dylan single “Summer of Flies.” Great summer tunes on this EP.

Ken Sharp gives us “Halyx Rising (Lora’s Song).” It is a Queen-like gem that dazzles with the effects and guitar riffs. Inspired by a new documentary, “Disneyland’s Forgotten Sci-Fi Rock Band.”

Lisa Mychols and Super 8 dropped some “bonus” session tracks from their latest album. These sessions are a glimpse into the recording process and “unplugs” these cool songs.

 

Brendan Benson and Librarians with Hickeys

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Brendan Benson

Brendan Benson “Dear Life”

Brendan Benson is a rarity; a veteran power-pop artist still making great music that resonates with mainstream audiences. Even with his stint in the rock band The Raconteurs with Jack White, he’s always touched on the zeitgeist effectively. He’s bent his style to suit current music trends on his opener “I Can If You Want Me To” full of looped samples, dubstep styled beats, and synth effects. But he doesn’t break, and “Good to Be Alive” effectively gets the message out, despite the programmed beats and middle-aged realization “my body’s getting older, but my brain is aging slower.”

Eventually, the guitar hooks find their way to us via “Half a Boy (Half A Man)” a brilliantly arranged single. Next “Richest Man” and “Baby’s Eyes” find Benson coming to terms with the joys of middle age, and both songs are excellent. “Dear Life” and “I Quit” are a lyrically darker, but no less catchy. The apt described “Freak Out” shifts the sound level up a few notches. The album is unpredictable and has enough of “classic” Benson mixed with his more experimental tunes to make it a great listen overall. Highly Recommended.

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Librarians with Hickeys

Librarians with Hickeys “Long Overdue”

Akron Ohio power pop band Librarians With Hickeys start the album with the Velvet Crush-like gem “Until There Was You” full of crunchy jangle and a late ’60s Byrdsian approach to the vocal melody. The band is led by Ray Carmen (vocals, guitar) and Mike Crooker (guitar, vocals), with the addition of Andrew Wilco (bass) and Rob Crossley (drums). Next, “That Time Is Now” builds a wall of harmony with twin Rickenbacker, handclaps, tambourine, and Lisa Mychols(!) backing vocals.

The style shifts a little closer to the early ’80s on “And Then She’s Gone,” and “Next Time” with its reverb chords and brass accents. Fans of REM and Game Theory will flip for “Obsession” and “Poor Reception.” These influences are more pronounced on the album’s second half, but they get down to power pop basics on the catchy “Black Velvet Dress.” Overall a very strong debut that deserves to be heard. Check it out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


El Goodo and Marshall Holland

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El Goodo

El Goodo “Zombie”

Welsh pop band El Goodo (yes… named after the Big Star song, “Ballad Of El Goodo”) is back with a retro-styled album that definitely sounds familiar to grizzled music aficionados. Zombie contains many of the touchpoints of the late 60s era, with country/roots progressions and harmony-rich melodies.

The harmonies take over the opening ballad “Things Turn Around,” and “Home” is very much like a Mike Nesmith (Monkees) penned tune that bounces and jangles along. The vintage riffs of “I Can’t Leave” bring to mind the peak of The Beau Brummels. The country banjo, slide guitar twang, and harmonica keeps “Forever Casting Shadows” and “You Let Me Down” shuffling along despite the very dark lyrics. “The Grey Tower” is about being stuck at a job, working longs hours, and dreaming of getting home. It’s a solid narrative, and the wicked baseline brings to mind The Zombies. There is some lightness in the instrumental “Sounds Good To Me, Man” and the last song, “If The Coast Is Clear” is a bit like a Beatles-era Ringo song. Overall this is like a really good mixtape with some inventive techniques that prevent the songs from sounding too much like their influences.
Check it out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Marshall Holland

Marshall Holland “Paper Airplane”

Marshall Holland returns after a 6-year break, and following his creative impulses, he created a response to the heartache of our current events. The catchy gem “When The Rain Comes” brings those classic pop sounds upfront (fans of The Left Banke will love it.) The acoustic “Hand Holds A Bird” brings an emotional resonance as a plea for love states “a ring on a finger speaks more than words.” The title track evokes the band America, as his double-tracked vocals float across the chorus. It’s brilliantly written, as well as the romantic harpsichord led “Look Into My Eyes.”

Looking at the pandemic through the sober “Waiting For That Peace & Love” contrasts with the guarded optimism of “Don’t Do It.” Elvis Costello is a significant influence on the pounding opener “Our Fate,” “She Buys A Dress” and the anti-Trump theme “Whatcha Gonna Do.” Some of these do require repeat listens, but they grow on you quickly. Marshall performs everything himself, and his musicianship is solid. Fans of Seth Swirsky, Ken Sharp, and Bread will soak this up. Highly Recommended.

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Summer Singles: The Mayflowers, Richard Turgeon, Mom, Your Friend Jebb, Detroit Cobras, Vanilla

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Japanese rockers The Mayflowers newest single “Sunflower Girl” gets it’s premiere on Power Popaholic! Band leader Osamu Satoyama wrote the music and worked with Gary Frenay (The Flashcubes) for the lyrics. This is simply awesome and the new album is expected very soon! Get it on Amazon

Richard Turgeon turns up the juice with this rocker about the sad state of our nation.

Swedish rockers Mom channel late the 1970s power pop bands The Jam, The Beat, etc. Very cool.
Your Friend Jebb is joined by Lisa Mychols and Tom Richards and its a match made it power pop heaven! Comparable to the Agony Aunts “Change of Seasons” is amazing! Plus the band teams up with Terry Draper (Klaatu) on “Sound The Alarmed.”

Detroit Cobras really know how to raise the mood with “Feel Good,” a song that you need to blast at full volume and sing along to!

Jayson Jarmon from Vanilla has been releasing a series of singles that reflect many different musical eras and styles. This time he imagines himself a Glam rocker circa 1974. T-Rex fans will love this one!

Book review: “I Don’t Fit In” by Paul Collins

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Paul Collins

I Don’t Fit In: My Wild Ride Through the Punk and Power Pop Trenches with The Nerves and The Beat

by Paul Collins (Author), Chuck Nolan (Author)
HoZac Books 2020

Paul Collins gives us the full story from his childhood in New York to the birth of The Nerves, The Breakaways, and The Beat. This is an unvarnished biography showcasing the beginnings of the DIY Power Pop movement in the late 1970s. The story is lively, and Paul’s inner voice comments on some of those crazy moments through his timeline, often referencing career advice from his bandmate and mentor Jack Lee.

Paul’s story is a definitive record of his dogged persistence in the early days, and how he overcame the long odds to become the rock and roll legend he is. In 1977 The Nerves undertook a cross country tour with no manager, no label, and no money. Often playing clubs where the audience was not friendly, but they got to open for The Ramones and supply a hit song for Blondie. Paul goes through all the quirks of touring back then, and how The Nerves gave way to The Breakaways. But it isn’t until he forms The Beat that his career really takes off. The Beat’s debut was one of the best power pop albums of that era and the band’s major-label career is a musical Cinderella story, full of heroes and villains. Paul’s passionate narrative reveals all the drama, victories, and defeats. Plus, it’s got loads of previously unseen photos, flyers, and ephemera from each band. This is a highly recommended book.

Get it on Amazon