Musician Ben Mason decided to re-record the entire Odessey and Oracle album by the Zombies. Listen to it streaming here (or on Bandcamp). He does a faithful job here, too bad there is no way to buy or download. Oh well at least I can get his other music – a lovely free album Acapulco, and his discography is super cheap ($2.00 an EP).
Alex Keith is real find here. This alt. country gem starts with hand clapping swagger in the opener “Into Love and Out of Luck” and the simple strum of “It’s Good Enough.” As a free download, you don’t always get quality like this everyday with Alexs soothing croon, accompanied by Rachel Hebert backing vocals. Yeah, not power pop but I love this stuff anyway.
Herb Eimerman, Joe Algeri and Magnus Karlsson are The Britannicas. These music pros have been featured on this site last summer, and today they have a special treat for you Powerpopaholics. Every note and every scene in “Talkin’ ‘bout Summer” was produced by the band members from three different countries – Sweden, United States and Australia. On top of that you can download the FREE 3 song EP from Bandcamp! Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
Singapore native Deon Toh isn’t quite traditional power pop but creates solid pop compositions with intricate piano melodies that recall Eric Matthews. “I’ll Find A Way” is a great start and the soaring strings in “Little Lives” make it a standout. “Ties” bring to mind the casual easy listening John Mayer used to be famous for. “Take My Heart With You” has a calm confidence that shines through each note. Overall, a real treat for lovers of baroque pop out there. FREE download from Bandcamp
Eytan And The Embassy “The Free” EP
Eytan & The Embassy is is a 6-piece soul-powered rock group from Brooklyn. The party starts with the funky “No Reason To Cry” and the catchy theme of “The Good Life” has a wonderful piano chorus and dense orchestration. “From Now On” is a slow ballad that has a bit of 50’s style and “Good Morning Marilyn” delights with it’s clean pop composition and stuck-in-your head melody. I hope Eytan expands on this project — I would like to retreat to this pop asylum! FREE download from Bandcamp
The Sound of Growing Up “Drifting” EP
This one isn’t a free download, but it’s worth checking out if just for the terrific opening single “The Kite” which bangs away on a piano like a mix of Ben Folds and John Faye of IKE. The following tracks aren’t bad either, “Swing” and “I Have No Reason” are also memorable. Both tracks makes great use of vocalist-guitarist Justin Kao. A very promising start and hopefully a full length album is forthcoming. Facebook | Bandcamp
The Wind are a quartet from California. Together they’ve spent the last five years touring and writing their ever-unique, vocal harmony textured, sixties inspired rock music. Their sound has elements of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Queen with a healthy dose of modern indie-rock. Add to this it’s a double album chock full of grand sweeping melodies and quirky musical sketches.
One thing that struck me was the pristine production work so similar to Abbey Road – it’s as if Geoff Emerick was on the board himself. The contrast of whimsy and thematic grandeur covers the entire package, similar to a Klaatu, 10cc or Stackridge album. The flowing prog opener is not unlike ELP or Ambrosia on “Shellwhite” that takes a turn to “Hathor,” a bouncy melodic British flavoured tune. “Marvel Me” has a 70’s easy listening style with building chorus, but the next atmospheric gem here is the lovely “Oh Hadihu,” like Brian Wilson singing in Bread. The guitars assert themselves in the rhythm on “Lucy” with flawless harmonies on the chorus ” ohh, such a pretty pretty girl.” Then we hear a slow blues rock number “Come On” and a theatrical number “Unless, I’m A Liar.” The variety of styles here is very impressive.
Disc 2 continues with the 10cc-like “An Astral Dance And A Shared Dream,” but a few songs here (“Some Place,” “Yankee Brig”) seemed stretched out too long and don’t add anything new. Fortunately, a theatrical scene “I’ze Born a Rich Man” and an effective country rocker “27 Cent Blues” are added delights. The quirky “This Is The Modern World” is like 10cc doing Smile’s “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow.” The remaining tracks are effective but don’t raise the bar any further. There are enough good tunes here to rate this is a excellent album, but with so many you’ll find yourself picking out favorites. A daring debut, and the band is so confident you’ll love it it’s offering disc one for FREE at http://www.thewind.us/share/
