Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Willie Wisely Trio “True”

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After an 18 year hiatus the original members of the Willie Wisely Trio reunite for the enjoyable True. I would call the Trio an amalgam of pop, folk and blues with a twist. Wisely fans will love the catchy opener “Kiss Her And Make It Right” and it’s the peppiest song here. The sweet banjo progressions and trombone start “Dr. Jack” but it slowly fades into Wisely-land after the chorus, with dense violin effects. The excellent “Everybody Fears The Lord” does the same, it’s also got a killer hook and rapturous guitar.

The album also doesn’t take itself too seriously with “National Council Of Jewish Women’s Thrift Store.” Wisely writes about all the junk at the thrift store he sees from Farrah Fawcett to “I’m with Stupid” t-shirts. The acoustic folk tunes like “True” and “Low” are shining examples of great roots pop, like Glen Campbell or James Taylor. Also notable is the 26 minute final track “Surreal,” a long jam that reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel’s “A Simple Desultory Philippic.”  Wisely and his trio let’s it all hang out and I simply loved this album.

Band Website | Amazon

The Mike Benign Compulsion and The Campbell Apartment

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The Mike Benign Compulsion “Martha”
It wasn’t long ago we heard from Midweswtern musician Mike Benign. This new full-length album is a big leap forward for the Compulsion, mixed by the dB’s Chris Stamey. The driving harmonies on “Chemicals To Candy” is full of classic power pop chord shifts, and a great opener. “My Michelle” has a bit more jangle, almost like The Raspberries. A few real standouts are the bouncing beat and harmony filled chorus of “Valentines and Honeybees” and the Beatlesque “Sing It.” No filler here and plenty of other great tunes, like the Kinks inspired “American Dreaming and Drunk” and the Stamey influence is clear on the album’s latter half with “By The Way” and “I Won’t Let You Down.” The ballads are good too, so overall it’s a highly recommended LP and a great addition to your playlist.

CD Baby | Amazon

 

The Campbell Apartment “In”
After the melodic indie-pop sounds of 2008’s Insomiac’s Almanac, the Campbell Apartment take a turn towards a harder rock sound courtesy of leader Ari Vais. Joined by Jody Porter (Fountains of Wayne) it resembles the late great Alex Chilton on the blistering opener “I Don’t Believe in Love (Anymore).” The cynical genius of “The See You Laters” explores the death of rock star dreams, as Ari’s vocal has a Lou Reed meets TMBG-styled cadence.

The album’s wall of guitar riffs recall the Replacements feel-good hooks on “Autumn,” and the more distortion fueled melody “Season In The Sun.” A few songs recall the early 80’s new wave, like the list of girls on “My Many Mini Obsessions” and the dissonance of “Plug-in Freak.” A few notable tracks, like “Gia Knows” recalls Weezer and “That’s All There Is” could fit comfortably on a Red Hot Chili Peppers LP. Some of the rhythm guitar acrobatics are colorful and the slow ballad “There Goes the Sun,” has some sweet horn arrangements. It’s a grower for sure, as Ari’s vocal takes a bit getting used to. Get “I Don’t Believe in Love (Anymore)” for free download to start you off!

Itunes | Amazon

Japanese Power Pop Special! 日本のパワーポップ·ミュージック！

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Certain countries really embrace power pop as a viable genre; Sweden, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Australia and the UK are included. But Japan may have the most fanatical fans, as ex-members of the band Jellyfish (Jason Faulkner, Andy Sturmer) found growing adulation there. Even if its not English language, you’ll know power pop when you hear it – so I did a few quick reviews…

The Mayflowers “Bremen Rock ” and “Red Balloon”
We mentioned The Mayflowers last week, but after going through their past catalog, I had to showcase them again. They have a knack for borrowing great song parts and making it all sound highly original and enjoyable. After you get Plymouth Rock, come back and get the other LPs. Highly recommended, get the albums domestically at Jam Records.
My Space | Bremen Rock | Red Balloon | Thistime Records


Onepercentres “Daydreaming Horses”
This band actually played at IPO, they have a harder rock sound, very similar to Green Day, Gin Blossoms, and The Goo Goo Dolls. The put a ton of power into their performance and let those fuzzy riffs do the work. And they sing in English too!
OnePercentres website | Thistime Records


Scott Goes For “Scott Goes For”
Crisp tight melodic arrangements have made the band Scott Goes For very comparable to Skeleton Staff and The Wellingtons. The band members are all veteran musicians supporting pop indie bands Pains of Being Pure At Heart and The Wellingtons on tour in Japan last year. A local critic called their debut “… a masterpiece that should be engraved in the history of Japanese rock.”

Scott Goes For website | Thistime Records


Hello “First Full Album (munasawagi pocket)”
Well you can’t get more poppy than this! Jellyfish and ELO influences are really strong here, despite the lack of English (but some English comes out in a few verses). The chords and harmonies are impressive and undeniably joyous. The album title “munasawagi” translates to “premonition.” But you don’t need ESP to enjoy this superior example of J-pop.
Hello website | Thistime Records


We’ve come a long way from those days when all I knew was Puffy AmiYumi! Fun Fact: in 2008 in Osaka, Mike Viola and Bleu were surprise wedding guests, and played “That Thing You Do!” for the happy couple.

Bryan Scary “Daffy’s Elixir”

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I’ll be damned if Bryan Scary doesn’t have the stage musical already choreographed for Daffy’s Elixir. It’s a prog-pop concept album with huge scope that drops on April 18, but downloads are available now.

“The Wicked Frontier,” slowly fades into view, a grand introduction with long gorgeous harmonies across it’s Smile-kissed strings and “Happy Trails” rhythm. Then the train pulls into “Ziegfield Station” one of the album highlights, as it zips from player piano to organ to moog and back again. The melody’s hook is repeated with a perfectly chugging outro. Then it kicks in overdrive with “Cable through your Heart” a Scary version of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with multiple melody lines and dizzying tone changes. It’s basically the musical version of a tossed salad, and its the exhausting heart of the album.

Wrapped in Floydian Wall of distorted vocal “Silver Lake Mining Company” is a fuzzy musical treat with a dream-like melody at its chewy center. “Diamonds!” is pop in a lush configuration with harp and harpsichord woven together in the chorus. “Ballroom Kid” is another strutting standout that recalls Imperial Drag. But fatigue sets in with “You Might Be Caught In Tarantella,” and even though a few gems are found on the second half of the album (like “The Tale Of Opal Dawn” and “Day-Glo Waterfalls”) it wears out its welcome quickly. Out of the massive 15 tracks here, the mellow “Quicksilver Daisy Day” appears to be the best coda. The mediocre tunes turn a truly great album into merely a very good one. Scary seems to have been caught up in this melodramatic, grandiose mock-opera, making Daffy’s Elixir taste more like strong whisky instead of sweet wine. However after half a bottle, you’ll be pretty dizzy and satisfied.

The Phantom Six and The Brixton Riot

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The Phantom Six “Plastic Rain”
These six rockers from West Virginia are Mark Poole (lead vocals/guitar), Billy Sheeder (guitar), Billy Matheny (bass), Clint Sutton (drums) and Woody O’Hara (percussion). Opening with “Corianna” it kicks down the doors with a sonic assault similar to The Foo Fighters and Superdrag. The followup “Inspiration” mines both British Invasion garage with Mod touches, and “About Love” keeps those tasty riffs in the chorus. The title track has everything you need, with vocal harmonies, hand claps and a fun hook that keeps your head bobbing.

Fans of The Raspberries and The Flaming Groovies will enjoy “Scenes Like This” even if Poole’s vocal gets overshadowed at times by the great guitar work. Lots of impressive reverb and energy throughout the album make it an easy recommendation. More highlights include the Kinksian “Into My Dreams,” and “Emily Einstein.” Enjoy!

CD Baby | Amazon

 

The Brixton Riot “Palace Amusements”
After the cool debut EP The Brixton Riot decided to live up to their namesake and emulate Husker Du and The Replacements with this new LP. “Hard To See The Sun” and “Canvas Shoes” are very memorable rockers. But the band’s mid-tempo numbers don’t stick as well, but the band is redeemed on the hilarious “Hipster Turns 30.”  A crafty tune that features a great strumming rhythm and memorable lyric.

When the band moves from its core 90’s sound on “Carmelita” it gets interesting with a funky beat and waltz in the middle eight! Fans of both Thin Lizzy and The Lemonheads will also dig the fast tempo riff work featured on “Ocean Avenue” and “Losing Streak.” Overall, Palace Amusements is great driving music with a vintage tone and punk-like energy.

 CD Baby | Amazon