Category: Power Pop Review

Cupid’s Carnival and Dave Kuchler

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Cupid's Carnival

Cupid’s Carnival “Rainbow Child”

Do you remember when power pop’s defining characteristic was that it sounded like the Beatles? Bands like The Vinyl Kings, The Weeklings, and Spongetones did it right, and now Cupid’s Carnival firmly plants its flag in that realm again. Their 2016 LP Everything Is Love was a love letter to the sound of the Fab Four. Loaded with hooks and jangling gems, why fix things that aren’t broken? So here we are for a second helping, but the production and mixing got even a little better. And even the songwriting has improved! These songs were singles collected over the past 3 years.

While they are Beatlesque, they aren’t slavish and manage to be completely original. Very similar in approach to Andrew Gold’s The Fraternal Order of the All, the songs lean heavily on the hippie aesthetic; “Rainbow Child” and “Flower Power Revolution” manage to be Lennonesque gems. But the best highlights have a more McCartney vibe: “You’re So Cool,” Thinking About You Girl,” and the harmony-laden “Every Single Day.” Highly recommended, and it fills a slot on my top ten list for 2023.

Sony Music Japan | Kool Kat Musik

 

David Kuchler

David Kuchler “Love & Glory”

Like Mike Viola or Nick Piunti, Kuchler masters the 3-minute gem with a minor chord progression but with a distinctly brighter vocal. “In It With You” is the first song and the big single here, loaded with a great power pop hook and a sweet guitar solo in the break. It’s a very high bar to climb for the rest of the songs. The songs were developed over the course of a 3-year period. The last tune written, “Labor of Love,” is a short, catchy tune that gives David a rationale for becoming a musician.

The passionate approach of “She’d Rather Be With You” about giving up someone you’ve been obsessed with is another gem, with a classic power pop song structure. After this, it’s not as consistent, but still very good. David’s vocals also lend themselves to the more country-styled “All I Need” and “Slow Day.” His inventive slice-of-life lyrics are enjoyable on the Nick Lowe-styled highlight “Lovers Talk.” The mandolin lead “This Old Car” describes the scene of junking memories of mid-life, and “Chasing Glory” gives us a spirited jangle pop gem. The effort and great songs make this highly recommended.

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November Singles and EPs: The Dollyrots, Timmy Sean, CLONE, Wild Arrows, KC Bowman, Wyatt Funderburk

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A very big month ahead, we start with The Dollyrots, likely the coolest rock and roll parents, bassist/vocalist/mom Kelly Ogden, and her husband, guitarist/dad Luis Cabezas. They released the Night Owls LP last month, and this cool song, “Hot Mom with the Skinny Pants On,” is likely this decade’s “Stacy’s Mom.” After that, with all the hoopla over the “new” Beatles single, I found someone who covers it better than The Threetles, and that would be Timmy Sean! Next CLONE has it all: Glam guitars and a kick-ass female band. Check out “Queen” on the new EP, Knock Out Drops Vol. II. Next, NYC’s own Wild Arrows has a neat 80s vibe and a strong, catchy group of songs that deserve your attention. Then we get a very cool freebie from KC Bowman (Corner Laughers) and it’s a full album of 16 gems—so much good music I can’t just pick one song to highlight. Finally, in advance of his new LP, producer and songwriter Wyatt Funderburk returns with two singles. “November” is very subtle and light, but the follow-up “You’ll Know” is another gorgeous ballad that Wyatt does so well. More releases, and I’m behind again!




The Blood Rush Hour and SLD

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Roger Joesph Manning, Jr.

The Blood Rush Hour “Sanity Fare”

Musician and songwriter Robert DeStefano returns with a new Blood Rush Hour LP. He’s recruited a fine group, including producer and musician Willie Dowling (Dowling Poole). The melodies are as grand and intricately constructed as those in a progressive operetta. The opener “Within This Tragedy” bounces along about the modern obsession with the spectacular, while “My Invention” is a chord progression and key change odyssey following a narrative stream of consciousness.

The band has two different lead vocalists. Joseph J. Tobias, Jr. is an effective vocalist on songs like “No One’s There (At All).” However, in songs with Scott Evans, his higher vocals soar on “Here We Go Again,” recalling a young Jon Anderson. The album’s second half (neatly split by an instrumental “Intermezzo“) doesn’t have as many highlights. But the songs are just as strong; “Billy Boy” and “Tunnel’s End” have gorgeous harmonies and soaring guitars. These songs need repeat plays to be appreciated. Fans of Skeleton Staff, Spygenius, and Martin Gordon (Sparks) will all enjoy this cerebral pop. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Sounds Like Digging

SLD “Like Sunshine”

The duo of cousins Paul Costanza and Tom Parisi formed the band SLD (short for the original name “Sounds Like Digging”) The untimely passing of Tom in 2022 meant that gathering these songs was not an easy task, but a welcome reminder of both talents and their ability to craft dense, glossy 60’s-influenced rock.

“A Perfect Day,” “His,” and “Friend of a Friend” boast some great Beatles-styled guitar flourishes and codas. Other songs have moments of greatness, like “Like Sunshine” and “Matter of Time,” with their sunny minor chord shifts, but they lack the hooks needed to remain memorable. Paul’s lead vocals shine across the album, especially on the McCartney-like ballads “Anita” and “Cold Level Heart.” The DIY spirit is evident here, and fans of bands like The Toms will enjoy this collection of final songs by the duo. It remains music that deserves to be heard.

Kool Kat Musik

UniBoys and The Radio Field

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Uni Boys

Uni Boys “Buy This Now”

Since their debut last year, the Uni-Boys have been a leader among bands that reference vintage late-70s power pop, and Buy This Now! refines their sound. The Uni Boys’ new material was recorded with Michael and Brian D’Addario, aka The Lemon Twigs, themselves masters of analog production. Despite drawing inspiration from bands like Big Star, Milk ‘N’ Cookies, and The Beat, The Uni Boys manage to strike a nice balance between solid songcraft and the raw attitude of much older rock ‘n’ roll.

Leading off is the catchy gem “Let’s Watch a Movie,” a celebration of doing nothing but chillin’ in front of the TV after a long day of work with handclaps and Beach Boys harmonies. The simple organ riff in “Down to the City” and the surf-style bass hook in “Hiding in My Home” are the pinnacle of the Uni Boys’ dedication to staying in bed and eating takeout food naked. The intermingled background harmonies and understated lead are what allow this band to level up. All the songs sound deceptively simple but are meticulously constructed. Highlights include “I Don’t Believe In Love,” “I’m Alright,” and the jangling “Intentions.” In fact, there is not a single dud here, and Buy This Now! showcases their particular style of power pop perfectly and makes my top ten list this year. Highly recommended.

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The Radio Field

The Radio Field “Don’ts and Dos”

German jangle pop band The Radio Field delivers a crisp, bright sound that is sure to warm your heart. Lead singer Lars Schmidt from indie German pop band Subterfuge had a desire to get his “indie-pop mojo” back, and he succeeded here in spades.

Starting with the lead single “Clover,” which, along with “Sick and Tired,” “Years Ago,” and “Love,” demonstrates his skillfully crafted and coiffed jangle, with smooth vocals and style reminiscent of the late 1980s. “Disorder” and “She Needs Therapy” have some dreamy fuzz guitar to keep things from getting too light. “The Version” featuring Robert Stadlober adds bright horns to the mix, and it’s one of the album’s finest moments. This style is also in the album’s closer, “Love,” with a simple country rhythm that calmly sends us out with the message, “Life is a wonderful thing.” Don’ts And Dos is a delight to listen to because of the care and precision with which it was composed and performed. Highly recommended.

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Nick Frater and Bur

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Nick Frater

Nick Frater “Bivouac”

A “bivouac” is defined as a temporary shelter where one is prepared to do battle, and Nick Frater isn’t afraid to shake things up with a concept album about the downfall of post-industrial Britain under successive generations of Tory government. Nick lets his orchestral pop genie out of the bottle with several song suites.

“The Town of Opportunities” is the first suite, with five parts that fit neatly together and the catchy earworm “Hello Monday!” Some instrumental touches remind me of Pet Sounds, from the kettle drums of “Keep It Simple, Stupid” to the harmonies on “Heaven It Can Wait.”

The tempo and style shift on “Will It Be Enough,” the second multi-part song suite, ending on the ballad “Don’t Get Sentimental.” An 80s classic rock vibe is all over the impressive “Boom and Bust,” and then we are on to the next suite. Along the way, you get more great singles like “Step Into The Motorcar.” Like Glenn Tillbrook or Paul McCartney, Nick knows how to craft musical stories and give the entire album a comfortable flow. He’s also added a bevy of talent to the studio, like Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck/Jellyfish), Luke Smith (Ulysses), and Joe Kane (The Poppermost). Overall, highly recommended.

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Roger Joesph Manning, Jr.

“We Are Bur”

From the opening fuzz guitars on “(Bur Is) 10th Prestige Level 70,” it’s clear this Chicago band has late 90’s Elephant Six bands as their main influences here, notably The Minders. The band theme “We Are Bur” boasts gentle pop harmonies and a bouncy rhythm. “Baba Burry” has the Seinfeld reference (like the band logo) as lead singer Jeremy Kush notes “You’re Jerry to my Larry David” with frequent stops and a frantic tempo.

While the music is a pleasant diversion, some of the tunes aren’t all that memorable. “Helicopter Leaves” offers a nice melody with its easier pacing, and “Flesruoy Pleh” is a dream pop change of pace. The fuzz heads into GBV territory towards the end with “The Bur Are Sick.” Fans of this style will want to pick this one up; its music that deserves to be heard!

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