Category: Power Pop Review

Kate Clover and Ken Sharp

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Kate Clover

Kate Clover “The Apocalypse Dream”

Kate Clover is a force of nature that can not be denied. This L.A. based singer-songwriter is a solid powerpop-punk with influences ranging from Blondie and The Buzzcocks to The Runaways and Ramones, and her latest album has the makings of a smash hit because of how confidently and catchily she performs each song. She and her band get off to a flying start with the title track, but they let loose on “Like A Domino” and don’t let go of you. The big single “No More Romance” is an infectious gem loaded with jubilant guitar bombast. Her vulnerable side is evident throughout “Damage Control,” a tight guitar-rock arrangement that opens with a conventional pop vocal solo.

After that breather, it goes back to the fast-tempo rock of “Disconnected,” and “Here Comes The Love Bomb.” No duds here, and solid punk energy throughout. This is an album to play loudly with the windows down. Clover accomplishes the remarkable feat of evoking old punk and new wave in a manner that feels utterly modern. Highly Recommended!

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Ken Sharp

Ken Sharp “Welcome to Toytown”

Ken Sharp continues his exploration with short baroque pop melodies. He focused this effort on Miniatures in 2021, and he’s got a new crop of 41 songs with Welcome to Toytown. With this much, let’s concentrate on a few representative favorites, as songs are mostly under 2 minutes. “Great Big Beautiful World” is an anthemic pop confection, akin to The Free Design, with layered harmonies everywhere. “Beach Boys on My Stereo” also does the same. “Friend In You” boasts a sweet guitar part, and “I am Your Spaceman” has a lovely hook. I also liked “Listen,” “Daisy Jane,” and “Broken Down Heart.”

Some of these simple musical phrases, like “We Are Timeless,” could have been stitched to another melody to make a proper 3-minute tune, but Ken decided to leave the parts separate and see what sticks. The exception here is the 9-minute+ “Toytown Suite,” a musical fairytale about the king of Toytown, done with almost childlike eagerness. You’ll be able to pull an album’s worth of quality tracks if you are willing to do the weeding. Sharp offers a lot to take in, and there are moments when the sheer volume of music makes it hard to concentrate on a single track. Others may want less work to do, in that case so check out New Mourning. If you are familiar with Ken’s work it’s music that deserves to be heard.

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The Lemon Twigs “A Dream Is All We Know”

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Your Academy

The Lemon Twigs “A Dream Is All We Know”

The dynamic duo of Michael and Brian D’Addario continues to wow with each new album, delving further into shimmering, explosive songs that evoke vintage power pop and rock.

The opening track, “My Golden Years,” starts with a catchy, jangling melody. And then those harmonies kick in. It adds amazing depth to the entire song, but in typical Lemon Twigs fashion, there are more sonic goodies layered on top, and the vocals become more forceful to a crescendo at the song’s end. “They Don’t Know How to Fall in Place” starts with a harpsichord opening, but the verse twists and turns into another comforting chorus. Again, each song has some roots in ’60s and ’70s Baroque pop, but with a combination of key changes, instrumentation, and harmonies, it’s always a new and unique experience. There’s just too much here to simply “spot the influence” as it approaches Jellyfish levels of production complexity.

Some overt influences are easy to identify, like “In The Eyes of The Girl,” an obvious Beach Boys pastiche, but it’s not that simple. Starting like an early 1964 romantic ballad, it morphs using even more sophisticated vocal arrangements beyond that era. Another easy callout is “Rock On (Over and Over),” which is a dead ringer for The Raspberries and one of the few straight rock songs on the album.

Unlike previous efforts by The Lemon Twigs, every track here feels like a hit single, except “Ember Days,” which is a leftover from the previous album Everything Harmony. Another big standout here is “Peppermint Roses,” a Beatlesque gem with a slight Middle Eastern feel, its Rickenbacker blasting out after the 2nd chorus. Overall, this is a bonafide masterpiece that makes the top of my 2024 list. Super highly recommended.  

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

 

Your Academy and The Trafalgars

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Your Academy

Your Academy “#2 Record”

We get it, you love Big Star. Your Academy, the self-declared successor of Memphis power pop, gives us a new album with a solid pedigree that includes former members of The Scruffs, Dwight Twilley’s band, and Crash into June. “Marilu” is a pretty good start, with a solid riff-based gem with handclaps and harmonies layered on top about sexy 80’s TV sitcom star Marilu Henner. Next, “Miss Amphetamine,” is a buzzing power pop gem, that could be easily mistaken for The Well Wishers.

Many songs directly refer to the band Big Star, lyrically and musically, “Our Star,” is about a made-up chat that Alex Chilton had with the ghost of Chris Bell in 1985. “Just a Little Out of Tune” and the excellent “My Near Catastrophe” are standouts. There are no real duds here, and with only ten tracks, there is no filler either, but many songs sound a little too similar. However, repeated listening is essential for this one to appreciate the musical craftsmanship on display. Highly Recommended.

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon


The Trafalgars

The Trafalgars “About Time”

Rhys Bowkett of the Australian band The Trafalgars says that Sloan, Even, and Rinehearts are some of the bands that have influenced him and that he holds in high regard. All great bands. By doing this, he describes the album’s sound; a mix of catchy power pop with solid guitar work. “Company Time” mines this best, catchy melody with a solid jangling rhythm guitar. They have a seamless blend of nostalgic guitar riffs, echoing the spirit of 1960s London while infusing it with infectious energy. “Davey Parker” is another standout here.

While the lyrics are simple, they suit the material well. Elements of glam (a la Sweet) are in “She’s My Girl,” but songs don’t always stick, for example, “Start Again” feels very repetitive and formulaic. No ballads here also mean that the band has the pedal to the metal, with the same tempo, and it can get a bit tiresome. However, the band does channel the energy well, and fans of retro pop will enjoy it. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

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Spring singles, EPs: Yoasobi, Lolas, Red Dwarf Star, Daz & The Demons, Sam Evian, The Armoires

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I’ve been a fan of J-pop (it’s a guilty pleasure), and I’ve enjoyed YOASOBI since I first heard their “Monster” about three years ago in the Netflix Beastars anime. They are poised to break out since their English songs are just as good as the Japanese language versions. “Adventure” is a great example of that sunny J-pop melody loaded with catchy hooks. E-Side-3 is the very latest from this talented artist. Next, the criminally underrated Lolas have been very active lately, and they deserve props for the rich jangling melody, “Work is the Blackmail of Survival.” Red Dwarf Star is something I don’t always feature (psychedelic heavy rock), but I just love this deeply atmospheric track, that reminds me of Pink Floyd and Soundgarden. Daz & The Demons have a great power pop sound, check out “You Wait For Something” and “Barcelona.” Sam Evian‘s new LP is only 9 tracks (so it’s like a big EP), and it embraces a spontaneous spirit; listen to “Wild Days” and my fave here, “Jacket,” with its “la la la” drops. Don’t look now, but The Armoires are back, and they “Absolutely Mean It.” A great advance single – enjoy!




Dave Cope and The Sass and Dent May

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Dave Cope

Dave Cope and The Sass “Hidden From The World”

Philadelphia’s Dave Cope and the Sass’s sixth album, Hidden From the World, is a triumph. A playful mix of styles that combines power pop, folk, and alternative elements makes for an exciting and varied listening experience that covers a lot of emotional ground. Influences vary throughout the album, from Big Star, Nick Drake, Todd Rundgren, Brian Wilson, Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, and more. It’s a very personal album dedicated to his brother, who passed away recently.

Starting with “All Alright,” it hooks you with a fantastic riff before the folk acoustic “Just A Dream I Had of Lizzie.”The jangling title track, “Hidden from The World,” is insightful, and the bouncy “One Hell of A Ride” has a great sitar rhythm. Cope keeps churning out great, memorable songs here. The intricately arranged “Crooked Picture” recalls Pugwash, with a forceful anguish that “some things never change.” “Next to Nothing” and “Precious Heart” are both sweet gems with a catchy, singable chorus. Not a single false note here, and “Settle Down” is a soulful rocker with a touch of Andrew Gold and Motown. Overall, it’s a brilliant album that deserves a spot on my top ten for the 2024 list. Super highly recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Dent May

Dent May “What’s for Breakfast?”

Dent May is a musical chameleon who can set a mood better than almost anyone. Dent May’s latest album has beautiful melodies and is easy to get into. The opener, “You Already Know,” is a light, airy, upbeat song that encourages the listener to live their life to the fullest, with a clever, slow chorus. “Keep Me In Mind” isn’t as catchy, but still engaging. Another early standout is the fast-tempo “One Call, That’s All,” with handclaps and bright, almost falsetto vocals.

“Coasting On Fumes (feat. Jordana)” has interesting back-and-forth vocals, but May veers into easy listening territory with “Kiss Me In The Rain,” and the songs don’t stand out as much. He tries some pretty psyche-pop touches on “Cactus Flower,” but the chorus doesn’t quite bring it home. The light soul beats and basslines on “Let’s Take It From The Top” sound like demos from disco-era Bee Gees. Nice, but it fails to stick like the first three songs here. Still, this is music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik