Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Joy Buzzer and Willie Dowling

powerpopaholic
“Joy

Joy Buzzer “Pleased to Meet You”

The band was founded in 2021 and features Kevin Lydon on lead vocals, with Jed Becker on guitar and writing the tunes; KG Noble on guitar and vocals;  Nick DeMatteo on bass and vocals, and Mark Brotter on drums. The opener is the band’s first single “Judy Judy Judy,” with its catchy chorus and Jed Becker’s layered guitars recall 80s classic hooks, and the solo break even touched on prog/psyche rock. Kevin Lydon’s vocal perfectly fits and help give the band its signature sound.

It amps the energy up even more on “You’d Be Surprised,” a Beatlesque gem akin to The Weeklings. “Jeanette” brings us back down to earth, as a mid tempo tune with unexpected key shifts and stellar harmonies. There is something here for every power pop fan, from heavier rockers like “The Secret Word” and “You Don’t Even Know My Name” (which was voted coolest song by Stevie Van Zandt’s Underground Garage) to lighter pop gems like “Mamaroneck” and “All These Yesterdays.” The quirky and catchy come together on “Try Not To Be An Asshole,” a personal favorite of mine. While a few songs seemed formulaic, I couldn’t find a bad song here. When its all killer and no filler, it’s definitely on my top ten list for 2024. Super highly recommended!

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“Willie

Willie Dowling “The Simpleton”

Willie Dowling (Dowling Poole, Jackdaw4) goes solo here and displays his formidable melodic talents. The songs are almost prog-pop with dramatic builds on “Let Us Begin” including an operatic piano solo loaded with violins, about a slowly unfolding armageddon. The story continues “Long Drop Down” a compelling tale of a poisonous world “where the liars and the cheats prevail.” Dowling’s influences remain Roy Wood, XTC, 10cc, and a sprinkling of Sparks theatricality. Unlike his other works, most of these songs are piano led, and it sounds similar to a stage show soundtrack.

The concept album follows modern political nihilism, the title track “the Simpleton” is a bio of a TV pundit with a solid cascading melody followed by the dramatic chorus of “Sadie Goldman,” a lost soul that follows a road to illusion. “Down the Slide” continues the story of the evil corporate media; “don’t you let the truth get in your way.” It ends with the beautiful ballad “In The Ocean,” and while Willie’s musicianship is stellar, the distinctly bleak worldview might put off some. But if you are a fan of the band Skeleton Staff, you will definitely love this. Highly Reccomended.

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2nd Grade and Andrew Weiss

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“2nd

2nd Grade “Scheduled Explosions”

Philadelphia musician Peter Gill (aka 2nd Grade) just has a knack for effortless melody and alt. rock fuzz that makes ‘Scheduled Explosions’ his most accessible collection of ADD power pop. With 23 songs it’s always been hit or miss, but very much like Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) Gill has a high batting average here.

“Live from Missile Command” is a great catchy start that ends just as we’re taking off. The fanboy dreams of “Uncontrollably Cool” and bounce of “Fashion Disease” are a great pair of tunes. Other favorites include the distorted love notes of “Joan on Ice,” hand-clapped “Instant Nostalgia” and mellow rockers “Made Up My Own Mind” and “Evil Things.” In between the songs are experiments with studio tape defects like “Crybaby Semiconductor,” or the muffled beautiful mess of “All About You.” Similar in technique to Mo Troper, it feels like he has a really great song at first and then goes out of his way to bury it in harsh lo-fi production. Despite this, the melodies shine through, making it repeatable and highly recommended.

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Andrew Weiss and Friends

Andrew Weiss and Friends “the world’s smallest violin.”

Andrew Weiss, a singer-songwriter, feels a kinship to the West coast rock sound from the ‘70s as he revels in confessional moments and emotional storytelling. “Summer of ’68” is a great example of speaking about the past while comparing it to today, “Why does it feel like nothing’s changing?” he asks. Some real gems make the cut here like “He Must Be High On Something,” with its great slide guitar flourishes. He also channels a little early Paul Simon on “We’re Trying To Have a Society Here!”

The biographical “Rockin’ it Since ’83” and “Emergency Contact” are neat little scenarios, but many songs have a tendency to blend into each other without much variety. While it might feel a bit self indulgent, Andrew gets some good vibes going and you may like it. Check it out.

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Nick Piunti and The Armoires

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Up and Out of It”

Likely one of the best power pop artists we have today, Nick Piunti has consistently produced excellent music for well over ten years. In his third album with his band, The Complicated Men, he continues his run of great tunes, but with more variety of tone and style without compromising his unique sound. In terms of lyrics, each and every one of his songs is deeply personal and biographical in subject matter.

The openers “Seasick” and “Bottle it” are some of Piunti’s finest ear worms, about the songwriting process. The melodies and power chords “may be something you’ve seen before,” as he sings but they are super catchy and do the job. “Mind Reader” is another gem that effortlessly clicks. Two songs were created by guitarist Joe Daksiewicz. One of them “I’m Ready” has a slower mesmerizing tempo and Nick’s vocal brings it life. Joe also does many of the solos on the album. The remaining Complicated Men are bassist Jeff Hupp, keyboardist Kevin Darnall, and drummer Ron Vensko. Like all of Nick’s work, it’s a great listen from top to bottom. Highly Recommended and definitely on this year’s top ten list.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Armoires

The Armoires “Octoberland”

Another veteran band, The Armoires are back with Octoberland, their fifth full-length album, and a great mix of eclectic rock styles wrapped in a distinct sound.”We Absolutely Mean It,” is a densely packed melody highlighted by strings and the multi-tracked verses singing “This is where we go big.”

Christina Bulbenko’s singing on “This One is For The Swedes” and “Ridley & Me After the Apocalypse” are highlights, and includes lots of interesting pop textures with the synths and guitar rhythms. Rex Broome lends his vocals on the contemplative “Here Comes the Song,” and the choral harmonies are added to his lead on “You Oughta be Cut in Half,” which lends itself to comparisons to The Cowsills. A creative narrative about Ukraine is sung on “Snake Island Thirteen,” a lovely pop confection comparing soldiers to ancient Greeks fighting monsters. The mellow “Music & Animals” is another satisfying melody, but not everything here works as well. However, there are enough good songs to make it recommended, especially if you enjoy the Armoire sound.

Big Stir Records | Amazon

Steve Robinson and The Junior League

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““Steve

Steve Robinson “Window Seat”

If you enjoyed the pastoral prose and delicate compositions of Swallowing The Sun (2021) then Steve Robinson has another album you’ll enjoy. And Steve once again has friend Ed Woltil as co-pilot and special guest Dave Gregory (XTC) on a few songs.

Opening with “Unnecessary War,” its a serious anti-war mid-tempo tune with an excellent guitar break. The song shows you when there is no real introspection, the shouts of war can overwhelm. “Word to the Wise” boasts a pensive guitar rhythm, and similar low-key tone, but a big highlight is the very XTC-ish “King of Scatterbrain,” with its jaunty melody, and Steve sounding great with nice trumpet flourishes.  Another wonderful highlight is “Hesitation Blues,” with its chugging melody and very Beatlesque bassline. The mellow ballads “Room With a View” and “Treasure” are enjoyable too. Highly Recommended.


“The

The Junior League “Our Broadcast Day”

Joe Adragna (aka The Junior League) and friends, Scott McCaughey (the Minus Five) and Michael Giblin (Split Squad) follows up the excellent EP Nattering Nabobs with a cracking full length follow up. Joe is on a roll here, as he opens with the shimmering guitars of “Two Ways To Go” with its echoing verses, and a catchy “bop, bop, bop” in the chorus. “Let’s Hear it for the Dead” is another catchy mid-tempo tune with a wonderfully layered bass line, over a tambourine beat.

Many of the songs, such as “Everybody Knows” and “The Me and Them,” have a mellow country sound, with a focus on harmonies in the latter. Just about each song has enough variety to prevent predictability, as Joe delivers strong narratives that deserve repeat listens. Another interesting highlight is “1973 Nervous Breakdown,” an epic slow rocker about remembering chaos with a sense of  nostalgia. Highly Recommended.

Kool Kat Musik

Bad Moves and The Low Sixes

powerpopaholic
“Bad

Bad Moves “Wearing Out The Refrain”

Bad Moves made a solid impression with their debut in 2018 with ‘Tell No One.’ Their sophomore effort, ‘Untenable’, followed with a darker tone but retained the band’s signature energy, powered by all four members—guitarists Katie Park and David Combs, bassist Emma Cleveland, and drummer Daoud Tyler-Ameen.

Opening with “A Drowning Confession,” its loaded with dramatic synths and gripping energy. “Hallelujah,” is an infectious power-pop track that captures the harsh realities of American politics with biting wit. “Eviction Party” boasts some great overlapping harmony lines in the chorus, grappling with both harsh realities and escapism. Another highlight is “Sorry That I’m Not Better,” a combination of emotional intensity and introspection. The final three tracks showcases the band’s ability to mix heavy themes with dynamic instrumentals. “The Undertow” builds a wall of sound, while “A Lapse in the Emptiness” blends delicacy with fierce guitar work. Overall, the energy never wanes, and the music perfectly captures modern anxiety. Highly Recommended.

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““The

The Low Sixes “The Oshawa Tree”

The Low Sixes, a punk-infused power pop band from Montreal, got their start when guitarists and vocalists Jonathan Cummins and Brendan Drouillard met over drinks at the local waterhole, Barfly, after a lengthy European tour with their other project, heavy psych rock band USA Out of Vietnam. The addition of John Milchem and Jon Asencio completed the quartet. The Oshawa Tree shares its name with the city of Oshawa in Ontario, Canada, and not an intentional dig on U2.(?)

Opening with the anthemic “Turn on The Night,” it has the raw garage rock energy, but with hooks aplenty. In a world where many bands chase fleeting trends, The Low Sixties stand firm, paying homage to rock’s roots while keeping their sound fresh and relevant. “Ryan’s Favorite Song,” which was named after the album’s producer is a catchy romp akin to Redd Kross, The Buzzcocks, and Cheap Trick. “Teenage Crime Wave” is a mid-tempo about looking at teen musicians with youthful envy.  The pivotal “The Worst is Yet to Come” has epic Beatlesque sweeping verses, as they go from quiet to loud. “New Action” recalls Thin Lizzy in the chorus, and the band makes an authentic attempt to honor these influences. The short 9-tracks breaks my EP/LP rule, but each song is really good here, so crank it up loud. Highly recommended.

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