Category: EP reviews

The Push Puppets video premiere and new music from The Genuine Fakes, Stay, The New Pornographers, Phantom Note, Strange Neighbors

powerpopaholic


Illinois band Push Puppets made a good impression on their debut with superior melodic skills courtesy of singer/guitarist Erich Specht. Bandmates Greg Essig (drums), John William Lauler (bass), and Kyle Magnusson (keyboards) keep the sound crisp and bright. Here is a brand new video from that album; “Center of the Storm” which is akin to Crowded House in spots.

At the tail-end of 2022, The Genuine Fakes gives us a power pop taste of the new year with a new EP; listen to “Two Fine Lovers,” and “The Receiver” which are great songs. I’m going through David Bash’s top 100 list and found the band Stay is already hot on a new EP, covering The Move, and generally doing a Stonesy “Get Going.” The New Pornographers also is prepping a big return with the first track “Really Really Light.” Newbie from Portland, Oregon Phantom Note gives us a freebie with some jangle and melodic strum. Check out the opener “I Should Know By Now” and “Lonely As Hell,” these guys have real talent!  Another impressive newbie here is Strange Neighbors from New York City. Check out the cool riffs from “Skeleton Boy” to “Window Watching.” Not a bad start for the new year.

 





The Power Popaholic Top 25 EPs list of 2022 + more

powerpopaholic

The humble EP has grown into its own as a preferred method of music delivery since the economic incentive to release an album is not what it was. I loosely define an “EP” as two to ten songs. Many artists opt to release EPs rather than full-lengths where they can concentrate on a handful of songs at a time without the possibility of filler. Even Weezer released 4 EPs this year instead of a single long player. The album format isn’t dead, but you can see which way the wind is blowing…

  1. The Glad Machine – Hey!
  2. The Chords UK – All for Nothing At All
  3. The Black Watch – the neverland of spoken things
  4. Mom – Fun ‘N Games
  5. The Lickerish Quartet – Threesome Vol. 3
  6. Pete Donnelly (Figgs) – Anthem of the Time
  7. Christopher Peifer – Sacred & Profane
  8. Scott Robertson – Physical Education
  9. Supercrush – Melody Maker
  10. The Persian Leaps – Machines for Living
  11. Friends of Cesar Romero – Six Banger
  12. Movie Movie – Now Playing
  13. Richard Turgeon – Rough Around The Edges
  14. Hoover and Martinez – The 3P
  15. Los Andes – Backgammonesque
  16. The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club – Vanishing Point
  17. Guilty Party – Impostor Syndrome
  18. The Vice Rags – Midnight Ride
  19. Rooftop Screamers – Whispers
  20. Late Cambrian – Future Snacks
  21. Michael Simmons – Happy Traum
  22. Butterknife – Staring At The Ceiling
  23. Jay Byham – Jay Byham
  24. Nezok – The Human race
  25. The Afterglows – The Sound of The Afterglows

Special Consideration:

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Ken Sharp released a 50-song juggernaut – I’ll Remember The Laughter. It was the only “box set” of its kind this year and felt too massive to be in a single album category. If you enjoy your power pop music collection with a dose of sweet honey this would be worth your time. Amazon: Part 1 | Part 2

November EPs: The Vice Rags, The Morning Line, Christopher Peifer, Orbis Max, and Peter Hall

powerpopaholic

As we prepare to stuff our faces for the holidays, let us not forget our ears. These EPs are all perfect for that lull before dinner is prepared. The Vice Rags are back, with Paul Rosevear (Readymade Breakup) mixing bluesy rock and roll with attitude. Check out “Midnight Ride” and “Voodoo Hoodoo,” and ask why RumBar Records hasn’t signed them! San Francisco band The Morning Line also returns with a collection of crafted rock, check out the excellent “Lookin’ Right At You.” Criminally underrated Christopher Peifer has a solid sound and tells musical tales akin to Paul Westerberg and Alex Chilton. Check out “Wide Receiver,” Twisted” and “Left The Map.” Orbis Max has collected quite a few singles over the past few months, it’s compiled on This Just In. This post ends with an odd, but a beautiful single by Peter Hall. “In Plain Sight” speaks to me personally this season. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.






October EPs and Freebies: The Persian Leaps, The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, Rum Bar Records, Canadian Invasion, Friends of Cesar Romero, The Chords UK, Gavin Guss

powerpopaholic

New music that deserves to be heard. The Persian Leaps return with a fresh new EP, and they still impress with their solid songwriting on “Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget” and “Beautiful Inside.” It’s an early Halloween treat from The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club on the Vanishing Point EP, with creepy synths on “Every Night I’m Dying” and heavy riffs on “Why You Ghosting Me Girl?” Both are recommended. Rum Bar Records’ newest sampler is another great FREEBIE, check out the strong female rockers Cindy Lawson and Abbie Barrett. Canadian Invasion is a bit more subtle in approach, check out the mid-tempo “Swim Club,” it’s one of the better singles this month. Friends of Cesar Romero adds some garage swagger and fuzz to their new EP. Each song rocks and it’s also a FREEBIE (no excuses)! The party continues with The Chords UK, check out the anthemic opener “All For Nothing At All” with its handclaps and high-energy riffs. Finally, a single cover from Gavin Guss, was initially done by The Police, but it sounds like a perfect Nick Lowe version.







Sept. EP Reviews: Guilty Party, Movie Movie, Kai Danzberg, The Pictures, Cleaners from Venus

powerpopaholic

Let’s start with some outstanding new EPs. Guilty Party is the new project of Angelo Celli (Bracket) and it has his signature fuzzy power riffs and melodic Superdrag-ish punk pop. “Baby Bird” is a solid highlight. Movie Movie is an NYC-based band that cleanly combines power pop, glam, and 1980s rock influences. “Big City Tonight” is a fast-paced rocker, but all these tracks are distinct and worth exploring. Kai Danzberg, the German pop maestro has an acoustic unplugged session with some of his favorite songs. Australian Davey Lane (You Am I) started a new project with bass player Luke Thomas and drummer Brett Wolfenden called The Pictures. Its rich deep rock sound is pretty refreshing, and finally veteran popster Martin Newell returns with a new EP and an album on the way, as The Cleaners From Venus, he explores London from the local perspective both in lo-fi and melodic as ever.