Category: free downloads

Top 20 EPs of 2023 and some January gifts

powerpopaholic

The 2023 EP list

This year’s top EP list had to grow in several respects. To begin, there has been a marked decline in the release of albums compared to the explosive growth of singles and EPs, and this trend is likely to continue; moreover, the melodies produced by EP performers are often more lively and experimental. BTW, my definition of an EP is an album with 9 songs or less. Most of these have been featured, and a few I just never got around to posting. All are listenable on Bandcamp! Thanks for your patience!

  1. Gizmo “Buddy System”
  2. Half Catholic “Art In Heaven”
  3. The Shang Hi Los “Aces Eights & Heartbreaks”
  4. Råttanson “Trebled Region”
  5. Girl with a Hawk “Keep ‘er Lit”
  6. The Blakes “New Tattoo Outtakes”
  7. House of Jed “House of Jed”
  8. Dazy “Otherbody”
  9. Strange Neighbors “Party of None”
  10. Kid Gulliver “Kiss & Tell”
  11. Einstein’s Sister “Exit Strategies”
  12. Clone “Knock Out Drops Vol. 2”
  13. The Photocopiers – Million Sellers
  14. Jamie Hoover “Top Banana”
  15. Dave Birk “Fool Around”
  16. Julez and The Rollerz “Is There Where The Party Is?”
  17. Andy Bopp “Space Camp”
  18. Ken Kase “Ken Kase”
  19. Peter Hall “About Last Night”
  20. Grand Drifter “Paradise Window” 

As a bonus I have some new freebies! Mostly from 2023 All these albums are “name-your-price” but these are all high quality. I know music fans appreciate this pricing model, and I hope you donate to them so they can continue making great music.






Party Leftovers: Singles that deserve to be heard

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I counted an additional 258 albums that I did not even get to fully examine last year, but rather than come out with my Top 10 Eps of 2023 (that’s next week) I will give you some much-needed singles (some are freebies) to keep you company.

Shane Tumarc (Dolour) sets the stage with a great cover of the Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year,” the energy of Rock Europa’s “Pick at the Scab” is infectious with a commanding melody line. Brower’s “Confrontation” is very much in the mold of early Frank Zappa with its faux 50’s call and response. Next, Rooftop Screamers has perfected the arena rocker single “Dead In The Water,” with a solid vocal by Rob Daiker. It’s been a good year, and The Armoires give us the gentle opening salvo on “Music & Animals,” a fitting theme for the ASPCA. Finally, Mo Troper had a big hand in 2023 with producing others (including himself), so “For You To Sing” includes friends Brenden Ramirez (Bory) and Blue Broderick (Diners). Fear not, as I have another singles post of 2023 songs that deserve to be heard! Stay tuned.






Gifts under the tree: The Gripweeds, Kai Danzberg, Vista Blue, The Amplifier Heads, Geoff Palmer, Dan Miraldi

powerpopaholic


December is barely here, and we’ve got some great musical gifts for you! On the first weekend of December… The Grip Weeds are back! They have remastered their classic holiday album, Under The Influence Of Christmas. It makes a perfect stocking stuffer. And we’ve got more gifts: the talented Kai Danzberg is giving us a massive freebie with four great albums at a “name-your-price” point, and Vista Blue is celebrating “Christmas Every Day” with buzzing guitars and Ramones-influenced rock and roll! Speaking of classics, The Amplifier Heads have a retro rock single with a spirited lead by Jen D’Angora. And Geoff Palmer gets into the act as well with a festive holiday EP, while Dan Miraldi is wondering why this holiday time is often sad and stressful. As usual, I’m way behind with LP reviews, so there’s plenty more to get to before our year-end top 10. It’s coming soon!






We Give Thanks For the Singles: Jesse Judies, Terry Alan Hackbarth, Juniper, The Go, Strange Neighbors, Popdudes

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9_fMDToe3E

Happy Thanksgiving! Sydney-based artist Jesse Judies delivers laid-back pop with “I’ve Been There Before.” Hypnotism and smooth guitars go together just fine. Milwaukee artist Terry Alan Hackbarth recalls “I Heard That Song Before,” and it’s a sweet hook-filled gem. As a follow-up, Juniper’s life gets mentally interrupted on “I was Thinking About You.” Next, a really sweet discovery here is The Go. It’s a power pop band from Yonkers, NY, originally released in 1980 and produced by Rob Freeman (early Ramones and Blondie producer). Thanks to a friend for turning me (and David Bash) to Strange Neighbors. They played at IPO this year in NYC, and “Skeleton Boy” is a neat little earworm. As a freebie, we have the Popdudes (John M. Borack and his usual suspects, primarily Michael Simmons) doing solid covers of their favorite songs to feast on. Enjoy it all now, because I hear sleighbells coming fast for our next singles post!




November Singles and EPs: The Dollyrots, Timmy Sean, CLONE, Wild Arrows, KC Bowman, Wyatt Funderburk

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A very big month ahead, we start with The Dollyrots, likely the coolest rock and roll parents, bassist/vocalist/mom Kelly Ogden, and her husband, guitarist/dad Luis Cabezas. They released the Night Owls LP last month, and this cool song, “Hot Mom with the Skinny Pants On,” is likely this decade’s “Stacy’s Mom.” After that, with all the hoopla over the “new” Beatles single, I found someone who covers it better than The Threetles, and that would be Timmy Sean! Next CLONE has it all: Glam guitars and a kick-ass female band. Check out “Queen” on the new EP, Knock Out Drops Vol. II. Next, NYC’s own Wild Arrows has a neat 80s vibe and a strong, catchy group of songs that deserve your attention. Then we get a very cool freebie from KC Bowman (Corner Laughers) and it’s a full album of 16 gems—so much good music I can’t just pick one song to highlight. Finally, in advance of his new LP, producer and songwriter Wyatt Funderburk returns with two singles. “November” is very subtle and light, but the follow-up “You’ll Know” is another gorgeous ballad that Wyatt does so well. More releases, and I’m behind again!