Category: international power pop

International Power Pop Special: Quatre

powerpopaholic

Luciano Albo “A Ordem Natural das Coisas”
From Porto Alegre, Brazil comes a truly gifted musician that does brilliant power pop in his native Portugese! His album title means “The Natural Order of Things.” I couldn’t translate all the lyrics for you, but Luciano has a solid Beatles influence and 2 albums are available in his native country. His compositions have plenty of melodic hooks and harmonies and the whole thing was mixed by frequent Mike Viola partner Ducky Carlisle. His is still setting up a site to sell stuff in the USA, but you can listen to Lucino on Soundcloud. Enjoy!
Listen to everything on Soundcloud! | Facebook | Buy the album here!

 

BB Brunes “Long Courrier”
The French power pop band  I mentioned a while ago has a new album. The band seems to have moved away from rock & punk, and has embraced a slicker indie pop sound. The catchiness is still evident in “Coups Et Blessures,” with its cool guitar and synth rhythms. This album is sung entirely in French, and the sound has lots more in common with The Bravery or Scissor Sisters on the track “Stereo.” It relies on Adrien Gallo’s soft vocal and synth beats for most of the time.

Finally, the guitar riffs make a welcome return on “Lala Queen” and “RIP” which would make a nice soundtrack for a Victoria’s Secret commercial. Otherwise it seems a perfect example of a good rock band trying to make itself “more commercially” palatable to the masses. Sigh.

The Seasongs, Vinnie Zummo and Sounds Like Digging

powerpopaholic

The Seasongs “Out Of The City”
This Madrid-based band gives us a heavy power pop sound similar to The Who and The Posies. Lead guitarist and vocalist Óscar Granero’s riffs on “New Love” are brilliant, but vocally he does struggle to stay on key in spots. On the title track, he does a much better job and if you can get past the European accent, you’ll hear echoes of The Kinks and The Byrds on “Lonely Room”. “She’s Gone” starts quietly, then breaks into a garage styled riff similar to The Cynics. Fans of the 1960’s Nuggets style will enjoy this album, as all the compositions are well done, if a bit overlong in spots. Others may be put off by the vocals, but I enjoyed the native Spanish “Si tú quieres” and the defiant “A guy from New York.”

Facebook | Bandcamp

NOTE: Yes, these are singles below and I don’t review singles. But I made an exception here, as I personally know these people and think that you will love these songs.

Vinnie Zummo “Didn’t Get The Memo”
This is a sweet catchy tune from Zummo & Elizabeth Racz, I first heard it on Radio New York International and it takes Zummo to his Beatles meets ELO place. A relaxed strum and straight forward lyric lead to a key change in the chorus that sits in your head and encourages repeat plays. A nice change of pace after listening to his non-power pop, jazz album. Get this song on CD Baby.

Sounds Like Digging “Do or Say”
Another surprise from The Boogieman’s radio show, Tom Parisi and his cousin Paul Costanza met up with each other on Facebook and decided to join forces because they became fans of each others’ music. Paul is featured as lead vocalist and synthesizer/pianist. Tom is featured as lead guitarist and back-up harmonies. Like The Shoes, or The Modulators you get clean guitar riffs over a memorable chorus in a superb DIY production. Get this song on CD Baby.

European Power Pop Special: Trois

powerpopaholic 2 Comments

European Pop Special 3: Okay I did some further digging in Europe for power pop, and we have a pair of artists from France and one from Leon, Spain.

Brigitte “Et vous, tu m’aimes?”
This hot duo drip with exotic coolness on the opening track “Battez Vous,” and their debut album went platinum in France. Named after 60’s French actress Brigitte Bardot, they are lounge-pop revivalists with great talent and style. Fans of the recent Corner Laughers album will really dig “Corur de Chewing Gum” – it will have you singing along in French! A lot of the tunes are slow pop ballads, but the standouts are the bouncy title track and disco-styled “Oh La La.”

BB Brunes “Nico Teen Love”
French pop-punk trio BB Brunes features members who have known each other since they were kids. In 2005, a demo recording caught the ears of an indie producer and they’ve been at it ever since. They remind me of The Monkees if they had gone garage punk. The hard riffs also recall the band Jet. The albums “Nico Teen Love” and “Blonde Comme Moi” are what I listened to, and used CDs are reasonably priced for imports.

Cooper “Aeropuerto”
From Leon Spain, Cooper sparkles with energy, similar to The Wellingtons or Farrah except in Spanish. “Hyde Park” is an example of this, ringing Rickenbacker guitars and hand clapped beat make it great in any language. The swirling chords and jangle of “El Circulo Polar” is another winner. In fact most of the album follows this approach, with a break for mid-tempo indie ballad “En La Sofa” and the trippy “Lisboa.” Also impressive are “Steph” and “El Sueno.”

European Power Pop Special: Power Pop Español Parte 2!

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

After our first European Special, we got some interest from a few more bands. Most of these are sung in Spanish language, but the sound of pure power pop is unmistakable. Viva  la música! Ole!

Lukah Boo “Calidad DeVida”
Lukah Boo is the solo project of Toni Saenz, former guitarist/vocalist of The Happy Losers (a huge band from Madrid). With a compliment of both horns and guitars, Toni is similar to Michael Carpenter’s sound on “Dejame Salir” and “El Miedo Es Siempre Azul” is done in full Beach Boys mode with hand claps, sleigh bells and muti-tracked harmonies. “Contemporaneo” and “Otra Vez” adds some steel pedal guitar. Not a dud in the bunch, this is a real treat!
Jam Recordings | www.rockindiana.com | MySpace

Desconocidos “Nuevo Plan”
These guys are like a Spanish Spongetones, with the Beatlesque style of “Agarrado A Ti.” The vocal harmonies are tight on “Dia Prestados” and some slower tunes resemble The Rembrandts. The album is full of superb crystal clear jangly sounds, layered harmonies, catchy songs, tasty guitar licks, and good time fun.
Jam Recordings | Pop Club (spain)

The Shake “Try To Get Ready”
Go retro with The Shake….  if you love beat, garage, pop and psychedelia from the 60′s and subsequent decades, this band does it right. The Shake were born in Almería, Spain (home of the spaghetti western) and incorporate early Motown influences like The Foundations and Stevie Wonder into these tracks. And they sing in English!
Amazon (“Trippin’ the whole colorful world”) | My Space | Sunny Day Records

Los Immediatos “4 tickets to Wonderland”
Another great Spanish band, thanks to IceCreamMan for finding this one. Even more psychedelic sounding, it would fit with all your favorite bands on Rainbow Quartz, like The Cynics and The Ugly Beats. Los Immediatos are veterans of the Spanish 60’s scene, they even sell their music in vinyl format with a CD included.
Amazon | Sunny Day Records | Get Hip 

Los Imposibes “En Espiral”
Also from Madrid, reminds me of The Gripweeds alot.  “Volveras” has great harmonies, and jangling riffs like The Byrds. Another great track here is “El Hombre en la Esquina” and the Farfisa organ leads the tune “The Sound Of My Heart” and its one of the tunes sung in English. Fans of classic pop of the 60’s bands like the Zombies or Sgt Pepper-era Beatles will really dig it. 
Sunny Day Records | Direct | Get Hip

Biscuit “Memorabilia”
Hailed as one of the best rock and roll bands in Spain, Biscuit has more muscle and you’ll hear harder influences (Who, Redd Kross, Byrds, West Coast pop, MC5, power pop, garage punk). And of course, memorable hook laden songs all sung in English. Loads of crunchy Who like guitar riffs that will win you over without a doubt.  Now released on La Castanya Records, some call it “Killer Garage Pop at its best.”
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

European Power Pop Special: Spain (Power Pop Español)

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

Since we focused on Japan a few weeks ago, I wanted to concentrate on some European countries who do power pop right… and all the music is sung in English too. Spain is the main focus of this post. Notable labels Rock Indiana and Jam Recordings have provided me with these featured bands:

Wolrus “Wooden Tapes”

From A Coruña, Wolrus wear their influences on their sleeves from Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, and The Jayhawks. The band has some serious guitar jangle and banjo chops plus lots of harmonies too. Opening with the impressive “Summer of 10’s” it’s got a catchy foot stompin’ rhythm. “Stone & Roses Blues” is pure late era Beatles, (“Two Of Us”) and the summery pop of “Clearer Than Me” is Beau Brummels-styled country.
Facebook | Jam Recordings | Rock Indiana

The Phantom Keys “Real Sounds of The Phantom Keys”

Old school mod-garage basically. This band does its best to emulate the looks and sounds of those ‘no hit wonders’ who made it onto all the obscure 60’s punk compilations, such as ‘Nuggets’ and ‘Pebbles.’ Fans of The Pretty Things, The Sonics, Downliners Sect and any Mod Surf band will enjoy this. So get your go-go boots on and do the hippy shake shake.

My Space | Jam Recordings

Goodfellows “Happynitol 150mg”

The Goodfellows are a Spanish band whose musical inspiration is undeniably American power pop bands (like The Shoes and The Spongetones) they’ve made appearances on IPO compilations but here is their debut LP, inventively designed like a prescription drug (“10 Power Pop Revitalising Pills: Not a Fix but a Relief. A Boost of Good Vibes”) and overall this musical ‘medicine’ is sure to cure your blues with some excellent tracks like “Susanne” and “You Know The Secret We Hide.” Occasionally the vocals get buried by the jangle and  the accent can get distracting, but ultimately I’d refill this prescription.

Facebook | Amazon | Rock Indiana | Jam Recordings