Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic Archives - Page 319 of 339

The Krayolas "La Conquistadora"

May 25, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

At the beginning of the year I reviewed The Krayola comeback album “Best Riffs Only”. A excellent album in it’s own right, Hector Saldana and the group break away from the Beatles mold a bit in this new album. The opening track “Alex” reminds us that The Krayolas are still Tex-Mex version of The Spongetones, with the catchy chorus and clean guitar riffs. The title track has elements of Dire Straits and The Kinks running through it. “We’ve got a Secret” is another great song that resembles a classic Dave Clark Five track with the ever present harmonica accents. There is more experimenting here too, like “Yakety Song” takes on a bar room blues tone and “Nolan Street Bridge” sounds like a Joe Jackson mid-tempo number. The ballads here do a great job too, like on “Deceiver” with it’s creeping rhythm and smooth vocal harmonies. The classic Krayolas’ song “Little Fox” is here sung in Spanish with the reliable Augie Meyers on Farfisa organ and accordion. Even the secondary tracks here like “Statue Of Love” and “What You Gonna Do For Love” shine with a sparkling pop effort and quality. The album exceeds expectations by branching out it’s sound and style, without forgetting those guitar hooks and melodies that fans have come to enjoy. The album has also gotten rave reviews from rock critic, Dave Marsh on his Sirius radio show. Expect more raves from Texas Monthly and Harper’s magazine. But overall this is a most worthy addition to your music collection and I give it high marks and a nod to the top ten of 2008. Viva los Krayolas!

My Space | Emusic | Itunes | Kool Kat Musik

Listen to “La Conquistadora“

Garfield’s Birthday "Let Them Eat Cake"

May 19, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Garfield’s Birthday has nothing to do with a fat orange cat, but a prime example of british power pop. The album “Let Them Eat Cake” starts with the excellent single “Molly’s Eyes” complete with reverb and melodic hooks that remind me of early Teenage Fanclub with Belle and Sebastian doing vocals. The group was formed by brothers Shane and Simon Felton, who have slowly been gaining acclaim over the years from Wales to Liverpool. The pop stylings also recall a bit of The Shoes and The Cosmic Rough Riders. The excellent “Take A Ride” is a nice Hollies-styled tune updated for the times. This is followed by the Byrds-Beatles combo of “We Know Your Name.” Lots of classic Rickenbacker guitar sounds surround this release. “You Should Know Better By Now” has lovely gentle harmonies of the boys that compare nicely to The Everly Brothers. Every track here is pretty good and the album picks up tempo at the end with the funky psyche-pop of “Sugar Pop.” A wonderful album any way you slice it.

Garfield’s Birthday web site | My Space | Kool Kat Musik

Craig Marshall "Point of View"

May 19, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Austin, TX singer/songwriter Craig Marshall has put forth his third album “Point of View” and it’s a pure delight to those who like pop similar to Marshall Crenshaw, Richard X. Heyman or P. Hux. Marshall’s deep perspective on life and melodic gifts can best compare him to Badfinger’s late Pete Ham. Carefully arranged songs with a dynamic chorus are par for the course here and the opener “Difficult” is a good example. Then the next track,” I Know What it’s Like” is a bouncy Beatlesque melody with a dynamic catchy chorus and beautiful middle break. Pop Culture Press has called Craig, “Austin’s best-kept power pop secret, and has been quietly releasing records of true melodic grandeur in recent years.” The adult themes match the achingly poignant melody in the ballad “Paper Cut” and the jangle-tambourine goodness of “Radio Girl” are exactly what you expect and can enjoy from this album. Some songs add blissful layered harmonies like in “When You Come Back Down” or mine the Mersey-beat guitar play of “One Face in The Crowd” to perfection. With all these great songs it’s easy to recommend this album, or even give his past albums a second listen.

Craig’s web site | My Space | CDBaby | Not Lame

The Explorers Club "Freedom Wind"

May 16, 2008December 4, 2024 powerpopaholic 3 Comments

A lot of bands try to emulate the classic Beach Boys sound. Most have successfully copied the chord structures and instrumentation. Very, very few have been able to come close to the vocal dynamics of the original boys. The Explorers Club have done this, through lush arrangements and genuine four part harmonies. This type of sweet wistful sunshine pop is what “Freedom Wind” does better than most contemporaries. I heard bits and pieces in the previous year, that indicated a great Beach Boys-styled group. Jason Brewer’s vocals here are impeccable and if you are a Brian Wilson devotee, you can’t get any better. It’s songs about girls on the beach, circa 1966 before the ambitions of Pet Sounds would bring the boys dynamic to the brink and over the edge, with Smile. The title track “Freedom Wind” has the soulful vocal to an organ lead chorus with swirling harmonies you can almost imagine a less gin-soaked Dennis Wilson here. “Last Kiss” and “Do You Love Me?” are note perfect BB songs. “Don’t Forget The Sun” also makes use of the rich wall of harmonic sound that could fit on BB’s “Today” album. It’s not all sun and surf, as “Honey I Don’t Know Why” sounds like an outtake from a “Love You” 1976 session. And the sleepy “In the Country” is like a Carl Wilson solo track from 1972. The soaring vocals on “Forever” is so good it will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. Every song here shines — not a bad one to be found. It stands alongside the work of Jeffrey Foskett or Jeff Larson easily. This top ten for 2008 nominee, picks up for millions of Beach Boys fans who want new music and the endless summer to continue into the 21st century.

My Space | Dead Oceans Label direct | itunes | emusic

Listen to “Do You Love Me?”

Listen to more of the album through muxtape

This is a great example of 4 part harmonic skill during the rehearsal.
And this is a really good example of why a band should leave the PR and advertising to professionals. Guys, don’t quit your day job.

Phantom Planet "Raise The Dead"

May 15, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a band named Phantom Planet was a simple emo-styled power pop band lead by Alex Greenwald and with actor Jason Schwartzman playing drums. Then they got pop fame and fortune with the single “California” on the TV show, the O.C. and then somewhere along the way the major label dumped them and four years later it brings us to “Raise The Dead.” Welcome home, guys. Much like Supergrass, this band is on the comeback tour. And glad to say, this is the strongest Phantom Planet album since “The Guest.” Greenwald’s music was inspired by the slavish devotion to cult leaders like Charles Manson and Jim Jones. The songs have an undercurrent of dread to them that’s hard to pinpoint, the group sounds like a wonderful Beatles Radiohead hybrid. Opening with the strong title track, it has the emotion and grit with a catchy baseline and that leads us to the awesome follow up, “Dropped” which has a hook that won’t let go and a buzzsaw guitar that will stick like glue. “Leader” has that cult-vibe for sure with lyrics like “everyone will be reborn” and creepy kids chorus in addition. Next the single “Do The Panic” is another catchy song with a kinks-like narrative. The rest of the songs shamble along, best represented by “Geronimo” which is tangle of guitars and chaos. The Radiohead influence comes out on “Quarantine” in a big way. Lots of well written songs with strong guitars like, “Leave Yourself For Somebody Else” with shades of The Strokes and The Who in the melody. The band, which has changed a lot over the years, feels comfortable in it’s own skin here.

My Space | Not Lame | itunes

Listen to “Do The Panic”