Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

A Leaf and Phenomenal Cat

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A Leaf “A Leaf”
This psychedelic Seattle band does a great job of weaving melody and sonic texture togther. “Wherever We Go” starts with hushed subtle vocals and light guitar plucks that builds into a majestic trip with handclaps and backwards guitar riffs.  The dreamy vocal harmonies of “Into The Light Undreamed” are joined by a lush orchestral chorus. I haven’t heard better pysche-pop since Olivia Tremor Control or The Mother Hips.

The absorbing and ethereal “Spheres” grabs you with a violin sweep and a “Byrd In The Morning” is a slow sleepy lullaby that is perfect for relaxation. Credit goes to guitarist/vocalist trio of Chris Bridges, Nate Daley and Shannon Donahue, with Andy Wamben on bass and Steven Demuth on drums. However after the albums mid point, the tracks stay a bit too mellow even for me. Other than the mid-tempo “Everything,” it actually has a nearly 6 minute song called “I Don’t Know Why I’m So Tired.” Still, a masterful attempt and a mind expanding trip with folky overtones that’s definitely worth taking.

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Phenomenal Cat “Postcards from the British Empire”
This band released a single a month last year, so our pals at Futureman Records have compiled it all together into a single album download for us. I still love the harmonies on “Letters Home From Nazi-Occupied France” and  Move-like “Electricity & Volts.” And its “name-your-price” so you won’t break the bank either. FYI – the label is slowly amassing a big collection of previously out-of-print power pop classics that you need to add to your music collection. I will be reviewing them as part of a “Classics” section on power pop (stay tuned).

FuturemanRecords.com

Terry Anderson and The Above

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Terry Anderson & The Olympic Ass Kickin Team “More Smooth Jazz and Sweet Sweet Jams”
Terry and the OAK team are back. Terry Anderson is a rock and roller plain and simple, he strives to be the heir apparent to Rockpile and Tom Petty. In other words, perfect music to drink your beer and sing along to. “Too Much Information” opens things up like a Dave Edumunds classic. The take-it-easy rhythm on “Gambled and Lost” is a nice combo of Dylan and The Stones.

My favorites are the hook-filled “Ridin’ Around” with great lines like “My musics too loud, that’s the worst you could say/Just kicking it out after school all day” and “318” with it’s sweet harmonies making it a rootsy Beach Boys/Byrds hybrid.  Fans of Greg Pope will like the heavier “Time For You To Go.” Once again, each song shines without any filler. We never get a real ballad, but the tone and tempo vary enough where its not an issue. Highly recommended.

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The Above “The Above”
This Brooklyn four-piece combo create great rock, influenced by the sounds of British-era R&B – sure to please fans of The Creation, The Pretty Things and early Kinks. “What She Said” opens up with a hard driving rhythm and blistering lead guitar. “Bollywood Woman” gets a bit more mod, with farfisa organ and echoing vocals – it’s also a got a nice hook in the chorus. I have to give major props to David Horowitz superb guitar work here. Clean harmonies on “Walked Out On Me” and David’s vocal on “Don’t Believe in The Light” sounds just like Ray Davies. These are just a few highlights among many here. No filler, all killer cuts and highly addictive!

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Jon Lindsay and Kjarr

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Jon Lindsay “Summer Wilderness Program”
Portland musician Lindsay now makes his home in North Carolina and gives us a unique pop vision with his latest Summer Wilderness Program. Opening with “Oceans More” – it has guitar and synth chord shifts along the lines of Apples in Stereo and 10cc. Exciting hooks seem to come easy to Jon with the angular melody in “Tiny Violins” and the accessible “Margot” shines with its catchy lyrics and simple guitar strums.

“King Of The Offseason” a nod to the beach in a sing-song daydream. The momentum is cut off at the LP mid point with “Where Love Goes To Die” with heavy synth bass and lagging rhythm. Like The Black Keyes meets Field Music, the next big stroke of genius is “Princess Street” and perfect mix of storyline and sweet harmonies. I have to be honest, this one is a real grower and requires a few listens to stick. But stick it does and that makes it a indie gem you shouldn’t miss.

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Kjarr “Kjarr”
Kjarr is a new psychedelic pop project by Kjartan F. Ólafsson, formerly songwriter and producer with acclaimed Icelandic group, Ampop and currently keyboard player with Icelandic rockers, Leaves. This is pop on a grand orchestral scale with a huge range of influences from Abba and Eno, The Beach Boys to ELO, so it’s a very eclectic mix. The opener is in native Icelanic, “Beðið eftir sumrinu” rings forth like a Wondermints or Paul Steel epic pop track. This got my attention, and I didn’t expect the vaudeville piano and blues horn of “Lottery,” like a Ray Davies dirge with Broadway gloss.

It’s all a pleasant surprise, and the low key space ballad “The Shelf” is stuffed full with horns, orchestral echo, and reminded me of Smash Mouth’s “Waste.” The ambitious compositions don’t always work, on “Quantum Leap” its got swelling harmonies with bells and whistles but it’s missing a memorable hook. “Confide In You” does a much better job, with it’s Beatlesque guitar break and anthemic chorus. Fans of the above influences will definitely want to get this as it hits more often than it misses. Highly Recommended.

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Slink and Ruby Free

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Slink “Desert Gem”
Lead by Sam Boukas, Slink is a hidden treasure of power pop just waiting to be discovered. “Dizzy” opens with a classic Big Star riff and harmony filled chorus. “Super Laura” is about the excitement of a new girl, with buzzing riffs and backing harmonies that recall The Greenberry Woods. “Money” is another good one, full of jangle and descriptive lyrics. The hooks get a bit more sparse at the mid-point, the punchy “Sweet Life” reminds me of “East Side Story” era Squeeze and stands out the most here. A very promising debut, we hope you dust off this “Desert Gem” and see it sparkle.

Ruby Free “Introducing Ruby Free”
Rick Hromadka (Maple Mars, Double Naught Spies) has put together a warm, rustic production with his wife Lisa Cavaliere called Ruby Free. Rick puts away the hard rock riffs in favor of sunny upbeat harmonies and 60’s styled pop on the opener “Bongos and Beards.”

Lisa’s vocal adds much needed sweetness to the mix here. “Deep In The Valley” is a real homegrown gem that reminds one of McCartney’s first LP. Each tune has it’s own charms, “Slow Parade” is a catchy slice of guitar perfection and “Good Company” is a dreamy piano number that layers the harmonies and psychedelics. Rick sounds more relaxed here too, the light folk duet “Sonny and Cher” floats along as a tale of hippy heartbreak. No filler here — every song keeps the ball rolling, to a “Hey Jude” styled crescendo in “Three Cheers For The Sun God.” Lots of nice orchestral touches close out “One Last Song” like an Elton John/Brian Wilson epic. One of this year’s best, it belongs high on my top ten for 2012.

Artist Direct | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Ryan Lerman and Gumshen

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Ryan Lerman “Pinstripes, The Sky”
Los Angeles musician and guitarist Ryan has worked with Ben Folds, Pomplamoose and several others to hone his craft and this debut defies categorization. After a series of low key numbers, he starts to come out of his shell with the funk pop “Rolling In The Deep,” then we enter a magical place with “Your Own Advice.”

Folds assists on “Do With You” a slow slice of blues pop, with a theatrical twist. Then it really kicks in with the Nilsson-like “This Is My Piano,” and the orchestral ballad “Cellophane” is part Donovan, part Elliot Smith. But Ryan never sticks to a style long, and gets to the warm single “Baby It’ll Be Alight.” Other notable tracks include “Rhymes With Nothing” and “Too Many Songs.” If any album could be called a “pop potpourri” this is it. He’s also got impressive videos for lots of these songs.

Gumshen “Everything What We Recorded”
Described as a fusion of Franz Ferdinand and Pink Floyd with funk is Gumshen. The bouncy “Hammer & Nails” is a great opener, with solid riffs and Ron Hippe’s strong vocals. “Too Much Good Times” almost sounds like a different band, but it’s that unpredictability that thrills you, as “Jag It Up” does a Talking Heads meets Isaac Hayes jam. It’s way out there, but some gems show themselves like “Done” and the electric thumping of “Say What You Want.” Fans of A Band Called Mithras latest will enjoy this.

CD Baby | Amazon