Category: emerging artists

Free Music Friday: Cricketbows, The Crush and Vira Casaca

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Cricketbows – We’ve featured Cricketbows before, so now these semi-exclusive demo tracks are being hosted by Power Popaholic at a “name-your-price” option. These songs will be part of Cricketbow’s next album release of 2014. Just listen to the lyrics of “Raised On Rock and Roll.” It’s pretty damn sweet.

The Crush – This unsigned Seattle band does it bouncy and “The Hook” is exactly what you think it is. Like a female fronted version of The Raspberries, they also have a very 60’s-like track called “Bliss”, that’s for FREE too.  My guess is they won’t stay unsigned for too long.

Vira Casaca – They’re from Lisbon, Portugal. They rock in Portuguese. Pick up this single that reminds me of The Connection a little. Hmm, didn’t that band just finish a tour there recently? Wonder if a full release will show up?

 

Also we’ve shared the Cricketbows tracks with CaptainSIB a blog from Scotland, UK. Look! They did a cool write up.

Jacco Gardener and Luke Potter

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Jacco Gardener “Cabinet of Curiosities”
 Amsterdam native Gardener, has a talent for brilliant baroque pop using studio techniques perfected in the late 60’s psychedelic era. That means our opening harpsichord melody in “Clear The Air” is a bit like Phil Spector producing The Zombies latest single. “The One Eyed King” arrangements are lush and airy, comparable to The Moody Blues and early Pink Floyd. And every song here has that dream-like psyche-pop quality. Jacco’s lyrical puzzles seldom transcend the atmosphere, but like “Puppets Dangling” the spot-on retro magic will keep you enthralled. Fans of classic Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, Syd Barrett, and The Pillbugs will really enjoy this. If there ever was an album to zone out to in a darkened room lit by florescent light and smelling of incense, this is it.

Amazon | Facebook
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Luke Potter “One Day”
A new voice out there, Luke Potter is a young singer-songwriter from the UK who’s starting to make a buzz with his new EP, produced by power pop favorite Bleu. Opening with “Breathe In” it uses both guitar melody and Luke’s strong vocal to draw you in. “Chance Worth Taking” is a bit more typical rock ballad, but the title track “One Day” is more compelling and he gives you a truly inspirational chorus. Even Bruce Bodeen of PopGeekHeaven was said “Luke Potter appears to be primed to deliver some great work…” Check it out.

CD Baby | Artists website

 

New Talent: Miss Guy, Catholic Girls, Spastic Hearts

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Miss Guy “Dumb Blonde”
One of the best remembered soundtracks was Hedwig and The Angry Inch, it sounds like we have life imitating art with Miss Guy. Former lead singer with punk band The Toilet Böys, Guy has created an EP than contains great riffs and catchy dance beats. “Magic” is a solid single about coming out transgender with an uplifting sing-along chorus. The title track is another gem. Give it a try.
Amazon | Itunes

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Catholic Girls “Exposed”
An East Coast cult band founded in the 1980’s, they wore Catholic school uniforms on stage, and opened for The Kinks and Tom Petty. The sound is really close to Blondie, and lead singer Gail Petersen even sings like Debbie Harry in spots. The LP opens with the exhausting “Sleep” which is a good song, but at over 5 minutes drags out. In fact, many of the songs drag past the four minute mark. But gems are here, including the Cheap Trick like guitar on “Airplay.”
CD Baby | Amazon

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Spastic Hearts “Spastic Hearts”
Ohio band that sounds like a mix between The Ramones and Green Day through 11 fast paced tracks. The sound is great, a few standouts include “Rock N’ Roll,” “Kis You (On The Lips)” and “I Know.” That said, the album is pretty formulaic and could use a change in tempo a bit more often.
CD Baby | Amazon

New Talent: Propeller, Love Messengers, Steelesque

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Propeller “Don’t be Sorry Again”
Greg Randall and Will Anderson are Propeller, born from the ashes of Varsity Drag, The Lemonheads and Unbalanced. This is the newest release full of crunchy guitars and dense rock rhythms. “Nothing” has solid hook and hand claps and it will dig its way into your brain. And each tune has the same sweet indie rock quality, so no filler here.

My only pet peeve here is the vocals are a bit buried, almost disappearing into the instrumentation. Best of all this album is a FREE download! Fans of The Replacements, Sugar, Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr. and Teenage Fanclub will just love this. Highly recommended and you have no excuses!
FREE on Bandcamp

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Love Messengers “Dogsmile” EP
All the way from Finland comes Rock guitarist-singer Timo “Still Crazy” Pääkkö, eccentric organ-wizard Jussi Reunamäki, bassist Tarmo “Entwhistle of Eurajoki” Lehtonen and drummer Jaakko “Crazy Kid” Kotiniemi. These dudes play straight forward rock and roll with solid skills. “Dogsmile” mixes a soulful organ, guitar and heartfelt vocal. The B-side “Tarkka” has a Beatlesque beat with jangle filled Rickenbacker melody.
CD Baby | Amazon

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Steelesque “Johnny On The Spot” EP
Pittsburgh musician Rob Eldridge brought this band together, combining many varied influences. It starts rough with the tentative blues rocker “Hooker A” but doesn’t really brings the hooks till “Life Fast Wheel” with a catchy chorus and terrific rhythm work. The plodding “Raven Don’t Mind” reminds me of Blue Oyster Cult, as Eldridge’s effective vocals and lead guitar give the song real life.
Itunes | Facebook