Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Drumroll… It’s almost here.

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Enjoy a few New Year’s celebration songs.



The year in review 2024

The phrase “power pop” alone makes one picture jangly guitar riffs, catchy tunes, and vibrant energy. Think Big Star, Badfinger, Cheap Trick, and The Raspberries. But where does the genre stand today?

While the classic sound still resonates with some, the genre’s boundaries have blurred significantly. Rising independent artists challenge easy classification and push artistic limits. Punk, metal, techno, and many other influences permeate the music from indie rock to alternative pop. This combining produces a vivid, always changing soundscape. Rarely do artists limit themselves to a rigid power pop template. Instead they use several techniques to create original sonic tapestries. An album might feature a driving power pop anthem alongside a brooding ballad, an experimental electronic track, or a raw, punk-infused outburst. Actually, I’ve seen more music this year than last year — along with less of that traditional power pop sound.

This eclecticism isn’t necessarily a departure from the spirit of power pop. At its core, power pop celebrates melodic songwriting and infectious energy. From the jangly guitars of the past to the cutting-edge sounds of today, these ideas can be articulated in innumerable ways.

The result is a more dynamic and exciting musical landscape. While purists might lament the loss of a “pure” power pop sound, this evolution ensures the genre remains fresh, relevant, and constantly surprising. Onward to 2025! Next post is the Top 25 of 2024.
 

New Reviews: Dislexia, John Faye and Jukebox The Ghost

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“Dislexia"

Dislexia “Snowball” EP

This is an interesting supergroup; Coke Belda forms a union with two great Spanish power pop artists, Pepe Murgadas (Shennon and Lotton) and Roque Esteban (Inquieto Roque). The result is this sweet EP, and the opening harmonies of “Love Is Blind,” give you a Beatlesque gem that hits all the right buttons.

The guitar and vocal approach are suitably aggressive, but a few songs are just beautifully executed demos (“Mister,” “At Least”). I enjoyed the easy-going pysch-pop of “You Were Water” and “Sleeping All The Days.” Overall a very good example of pop craftsmanship, but more hooks are needed to put it over the top. Highly Reccomended.

Amazon

“John

John Faye “The Long Game”

John Faye (the Caulfields, IKE, John Faye Power Trip, John & Brittany) is back. The title track is a heartfelt ballad, but the catchy “Sell Your Soul as An NFT” would fit perfectly on any of his IKE albums, with its crunching guitars and defiant vocal. He hasn’t lost a step here, as the slowly building “Something Devine” and “Feug Shui” both have great positive energy and lots of cool sonic flourishes. His song “Epidural” is a heartfelt story of parental anguish and the subject of online reputation is the point of  “Asking for a Friend.” Faye is one of the few veteran musicians I know who always consistently delivers, and you should pick this LP up. Highly Recommended.

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“Jukebox

Jukebox The Ghost “Truth” EP

Piano pop trio Jukebox the Ghost has been returns and asks “Would you rather be happy or be right?,” and seems to be a comment on the state of “truth” in our current political reality. The band’s repertoire has always had a predilection for speculating about the end of the world, but here it’s a case of tuning out on “I Feel So Good,” a catchy theme about letting go, and reconnecting with “Friends Again.” Each song is beautifully rendered, “Save a Little Room” is another standout. No filler here, and super highly recommended. A contender for best EP of the year, too.

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Great December EPs: Wyatt Funderburk, Sweetboy, Super 8, Blend Eleven, Softjaw

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Wyatt Funderburk “Fleeting and Finite” and “Parkside”

Wyatt is comparable to a “5-tool-player” in baseball. Does many things extremely well, from songwriting, playing, singing, producing, etc. He does punk pop to perfection with Kurt Baker, but I can think of very few people who have the skills to pull off a Brian Wilsonesque combination of melody and earnest romantic delivery. He gives us a double EP (one under the name “Hibiki”) Don’t believe me? Listen to “You’ll Know” and you’ll know! Get it on Amazon


Sweetboy “A Day in the Park”

Local NYC indie pop band has some amazing songwriting, check out the title track “A Day in the Park,” “Island” and the epic chorus of “End of The World.” This is a band you should keep your eyes on for future greatness. Get it on Amazon


Super 8 “Goes J Pop”

Sorry if you were expecting Kenshi Yonezu, but Paul “Trip” Ryan (aka Super 8) does a fine job with these Japanese pop covers (including a Beatles cover). Check out “Keep Doing It” with its shamisen accents. Get it on Amazon


Blend Eleven “Deepest Cuts”

This Aussie band with great sound builds everything off the 12-string acoustic strum. A cover of the classic Cat Steven’s “The First Cut is The Deepest” sets the stage, very much in the vocal mold of Extreme’s acoustic gems. And it’s a freebie to try – so pick it up, and listen to the band’s other material. Get it on Amazon

Softjaw “Softjaw”

Deceptively cool vibe on the opener “Pleased With Me” drew me in, as this Long Beach, California band has a perfect power pop approach. “Don’t Go Walkin’ Out On Me” and “Dragging Mt Feet” are pure gems. This is another band that flirts with greatness, as each song hits the mark and it’s a contender for best EP this year. Get it on Amazon

Holiday music: Willie Wisely, Kai Danzberg, Mike Brunacini, Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom, Reno Bo, Ben Folds

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The best way to enjoy holiday music is early December. It’s weird how we all love those songs after Thanksgiving, but hate the sound of sleigh bells after Christmas. Original holiday music has always been something I’ve enjoyed listening to because it’s fascinating to hear how different artists interpret their own personal holiday memories. Enjoy these presents from Willie Wisely, Kai Danzberg, Mike Brunacini, Dean & Britta & Sonic Boom, Reno Bo, and finally Ben Folds.





TV Pins, The Restless Age, and Mt. Misery

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“TV

TV Pins “Aircutter”

TV Pins is a band from Midlands, UK combining 1970s Americana, Britpop, and a touch of New Wave. The album opener “Oh Yeah” is perfect intro with the thump of drums into a heavy bass lead melody like a Britpop version of Big Star.

“Bye Bye Reseda” is a slightly different vibe with horns, but there are plenty of gems here like the breezy strum of “Magpie Eyes” and the unique “Roundabout” which goes in many melodic directions. “Everysingletime” recalls Crowded House at times, and the bouncy genius of “Last Rites” is my favorite here. This band does not do “cookie cutter” pop, hence the styles differ considerably. Definitely highly recommended.

Amazon

“The

The Restless Age “Losers Party”

The Restless Age (Will Bryant, Lee Falco, and Brandon Morrison) are from Athens, Georgia,  and the album ‘Loser Party’ may not be power pop in sound, but definitely in spirit. The melancholy piano title track is a ballad that recognizes “my kind will never rule the earth,” but it has some great chord changes.

These guys really shine on the ballads with their crisp three-part harmonies and pensive emotional delivery. Check out “Time Can’t Go Back Now,” “Save Me,” and “Murky Water” for some gorgeous songwriting. The mid-tempo tracks aren’t as memorable, but “Freak Show” is another keeper. This is a band to keep your eye on and definitely deserves to be heard. Check them out!

Amazon


“Mt.

Mt. Misery “Love In Mind”

Hartlepool, UK’s Mt. Misery is a jangle pop band that fans of Dropkick or Teenage Fanclub will really enjoy. The opener “Hey” has those subtle jangling chords, soothing background harmonies, and the earnest lovelorn belief that “everything will work out fine.” The next several songs also hit that sweet spot, as “Movies,” “On My Mind,” and “Sunday Song” all feel like a cozy vacation from the winter blues.

We can all sense the haze of naïve love and the uncertainty of youth as the laid-back tempo lingers a bit longer across the album on tracks like “You Call My Name” and “Love To Give.” While it feels a bit repetitive in parts, there are enough goodies here to make this a highly recommended album.

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