Category: Holiday Music

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.





More Treats for you: Jette Planes, Bye Bye Blackbirds, Corner Laughers, Bill Swan, Pop 4, KC Bowman, Vista Blue, Dazy, Randy Klawon, Rich Restaino

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Yes, more Halloween music is here. But first the Philly band Jette Planes! These guys have both spirit and energy! Get the single on Bandcamp, and enjoy the rooftop concert video. Next a compilation of Halloween freebies, and I’m lovin’ the Bye Bye Blackbirds, Corner Laughers, Bill Swan, Pop 4, KC Bowman, and more. Each song is quality, its the best holiday EP I’ve heard so far this year! If you’d like a more punk pop in the Ramones style, check out Vista Blue especially “Let’s Scare Jessica to Death” named after a classic 70’s horror flick. Dazy returns with its uniquely gritty power pop sound on “It’s Only A Secret.” And fresh off his excellent Half Cubes record, Randy Klawon does a great DIY Raspberries styled gem “Tonight.” Finally Rich Restaino gives us a spooky sounding “Ear Worm!” as part of his Mixtape. Enjoy the power pop and don’t fill up on too many sweets!




Merry Christmas from Power Popaholic!

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While not Christmas-themed, I wanted to feature this Syracuse University freshman, Callan Nagel-Dubin, who covers The Flashcubes with “It’s You Tonight” for his project in a recording class at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Ironically, the first time The Flashcubes ever recorded was as a student project for a musical recording class at Newhouse in the spring of 1978.

It’s easy to dismiss, but I love original Christmas music. Honestly, I’m tired of the old classics (the constant repetition is what makes some people hate Christmas songs) and would love to hear new stuff on the radio. Not only are all these great examples of new Christmas music (Joe Algeri’s JAC is more of an outlier here), but most of them are also “Name Your Price,” so this is also a bargain. I have one more week of reviews left, and then on New Year’s Eve, we let fly our top 25 albums for 2023. So enjoy the egg nog while it’s still fresh!







Gifts under the tree: The Gripweeds, Kai Danzberg, Vista Blue, The Amplifier Heads, Geoff Palmer, Dan Miraldi

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December is barely here, and we’ve got some great musical gifts for you! On the first weekend of December… The Grip Weeds are back! They have remastered their classic holiday album, Under The Influence Of Christmas. It makes a perfect stocking stuffer. And we’ve got more gifts: the talented Kai Danzberg is giving us a massive freebie with four great albums at a “name-your-price” point, and Vista Blue is celebrating “Christmas Every Day” with buzzing guitars and Ramones-influenced rock and roll! Speaking of classics, The Amplifier Heads have a retro rock single with a spirited lead by Jen D’Angora. And Geoff Palmer gets into the act as well with a festive holiday EP, while Dan Miraldi is wondering why this holiday time is often sad and stressful. As usual, I’m way behind with LP reviews, so there’s plenty more to get to before our year-end top 10. It’s coming soon!






Spooky Singles and a bagful of treats: Descartes a Kant, Willie Dowling, Wesley Fuller, Cold Expectation, Linda Lindas, and many more!

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(Spoken in your best Crypt Keeper voice) It is that time of year again when little boys and ghouls are knocking on doors for a trick or treat. Good thing all we have is treats! Let’s start with Mexico’s Descartes a Kant which is like an old video game mixed with your favorite indie post-punk band. A creative disturbing retro-futuristic concept album that really sticks with you! Willie Dowling (Dowling Poole) reheats an oldie in the production oven and it will make you “Happy?” cause it’s a freebie! In another vintage-inspired gem, we get “Alamein Line” from Wesley Fuller, dig that retro-drum-beat, new album coming soon. A little more in the spirit of things is Cold Expectation‘s “(I Live With) Ghosts” with some nice guitar work in that break between the chorus. Girl punk pop band Linda Lindas takes an old chestnut “Little Bit ‘O Soul” and makes it their own. Finally, we get to the big bag of candy, The Big Stir Records Halloween Collection! For a mere $5 you get a 20-track assortment of treats from Plasticsoul, The Armoires, Steve Stoeckel, and more. Hope these satisfy your sweet tooth (and ear)! Hee hee hee (thundercrack sound effect!)