Category: emerging artists

Michael Carpenter, The Pengwins and Jack Skuller

powerpopaholic

While I rarely highlight singles, a lot of them have reached my inbox lately.  I wanted to share and even though I didn’t “rate” them, they are most worthy of your attention:

Martin Carr

Michael Carpenter “Too Late/I’ve Been Lovin’ You”

A long-time favorite of this blog, Michael Carpenter has returned to the studio, and he’s taken a break from the covers and delivered some original compositions. “Too Late” is blues-rocker that has a strong pop melody and “I’ve Been Lovin’ You” is a dense guitar chorus that makes most Carpenter songs a joy to listen to.

Bandcamp

The Pengwins “Vol.2”

The legacy of The Pengwins continues to drip out in exclusive box-set singles like last years “Vol.1: Naive/Life After High School”.  This year we have Vol.2 “If U Want 2/Look Around” and its a wonderful new combo. “If U Want 2” was newly recorded and is the real gem here, with echoes of The Shoes and The Beatles it was even recorded in Abbey Road studios.

Lannie Flowers sounds great as always, the second side “Look Around” was originally recorded in the late ’70s and has more of a Cheap Trick vibe. If you order direct from SpyderPop Records, you get a special cardboard box, 7″ single with a bonus CD of the songs, plus guitar picks, photos, and other goodies.

CD Baby

Jack Skuller

Jack Skuller “Can You See Me | Hard To Want”

Jack Skuller is a young modern musician called by some “the anti-Bieber,” or “a mini Jack White.” Skuller cites his influences as Little Walter, Buddy Holly and Elvis Costello. This year he was the recipient of the Holly Prize, an award made possible by the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songmasters as a tribute to the legacy of Buddy Holly, a Hall of Fame inductee. One listen to the single, and I was impressed. Check it out.

Amazon Pre-order

Free Music Friday: Cricketbows, The Crush and Vira Casaca

powerpopaholic

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

powerpopaholic

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