Maybe I went a little overboard with these holiday posts. Oh well — in the spirit of cosplay, check out the video for my new favorite anime Dan Da Dan. The song by Japan’s Otonoke isn’t power pop, but it’s frantic and catchy. See how many anime characters you recognize in the video!
On a serious note, Shake Some Action! leans harder into it’s recent retro sound on the new EP Chase The Light. Solid rock and roll that’s just timeless, so check it out. Brothers John and Henry Tydeman are known as Barbara and they’ve got the grand pop harmonies down pat on Happy Days! EP, and melodies as sweet as candy corn! Another treat is the return of power pop legends 20/20; original members Steve Allen (vocals, guitar) and Ron Flynt (bass, vocals) return older and wiser on “Back to California.” Finally we actually has some real Halloween music, courtesy of Black Flamingos. What’s the Cryptkeeper’s favorite type of comedy? Deadpan humor! Have a fun night, boys and ghouls!
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!
So I could not find a new Halloween video, but Muse certainly has a ton of horror movie references in their video of the single “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween.” The Drool Brothers have a more traditional rocker, “Halloween Teen.” I also liked the dense melody of “Everyone is Wrong Most of the Time” by an Ohio band called Liteweight Champion. From our friends at Big Stir Records, we have The Jack Rubies with “Phantom,” with plenty of spooky vibes. I’m happy to report Minky Starshine is expected to return with a new LP, so here is the advance single “Our Father,” and Hidden Pictures turns up the twang for the gem “Hayward Hall of Justice.” The band’s sound very much reminds me of The Honeydogs. At last, a sentimental pop song by Alex Dominish and Carlos Morales that reminds me of how much I used to like a particular orange, white, and yellow colored treat. Enjoy the goodies, campers!
If you enjoyed the pastoral prose and delicate compositions of Swallowing The Sun (2021) then Steve Robinson has another album you’ll enjoy. And Steve once again has friend Ed Woltil as co-pilot and special guest Dave Gregory (XTC) on a few songs.
Opening with “Unnecessary War,” its a serious anti-war mid-tempo tune with an excellent guitar break. The song shows you when there is no real introspection, the shouts of war can overwhelm. “Word to the Wise” boasts a pensive guitar rhythm, and similar low-key tone, but a big highlight is the very XTC-ish “King of Scatterbrain,” with its jaunty melody, and Steve sounding great with nice trumpet flourishes. Another wonderful highlight is “Hesitation Blues,” with its chugging melody and very Beatlesque bassline. The mellow ballads “Room With a View” and “Treasure” are enjoyable too. Highly Recommended.
The Junior League “Our Broadcast Day”
Joe Adragna (aka The Junior League) and friends, Scott McCaughey (the Minus Five) and Michael Giblin (Split Squad) follows up the excellent EP Nattering Nabobs with a cracking full length follow up. Joe is on a roll here, as he opens with the shimmering guitars of “Two Ways To Go” with its echoing verses, and a catchy “bop, bop, bop” in the chorus. “Let’s Hear it for the Dead” is another catchy mid-tempo tune with a wonderfully layered bass line, over a tambourine beat.
Many of the songs, such as “Everybody Knows” and “The Me and Them,” have a mellow country sound, with a focus on harmonies in the latter. Just about each song has enough variety to prevent predictability, as Joe delivers strong narratives that deserve repeat listens. Another interesting highlight is “1973 Nervous Breakdown,” an epic slow rocker about remembering chaos with a sense of nostalgia. Highly Recommended.
Bad Moves made a solid impression with their debut in 2018 with ‘Tell No One.’ Their sophomore effort, ‘Untenable’, followed with a darker tone but retained the band’s signature energy, powered by all four members—guitarists Katie Park and David Combs, bassist Emma Cleveland, and drummer Daoud Tyler-Ameen.
Opening with “A Drowning Confession,” its loaded with dramatic synths and gripping energy. “Hallelujah,” is an infectious power-pop track that captures the harsh realities of American politics with biting wit. “Eviction Party” boasts some great overlapping harmony lines in the chorus, grappling with both harsh realities and escapism. Another highlight is “Sorry That I’m Not Better,” a combination of emotional intensity and introspection. The final three tracks showcases the band’s ability to mix heavy themes with dynamic instrumentals. “The Undertow” builds a wall of sound, while “A Lapse in the Emptiness” blends delicacy with fierce guitar work. Overall, the energy never wanes, and the music perfectly captures modern anxiety. Highly Recommended.
The Low Sixes, a punk-infused power pop band from Montreal, got their start when guitarists and vocalists Jonathan Cummins and Brendan Drouillard met over drinks at the local waterhole, Barfly, after a lengthy European tour with their other project, heavy psych rock band USA Out of Vietnam. The addition of John Milchem and Jon Asencio completed the quartet. The Oshawa Tree shares its name with the city of Oshawa in Ontario, Canada, and not an intentional dig on U2.(?)
Opening with the anthemic “Turn on The Night,” it has the raw garage rock energy, but with hooks aplenty. In a world where many bands chase fleeting trends, The Low Sixties stand firm, paying homage to rock’s roots while keeping their sound fresh and relevant. “Ryan’s Favorite Song,” which was named after the album’s producer is a catchy romp akin to Redd Kross, The Buzzcocks, and Cheap Trick. “Teenage Crime Wave” is a mid-tempo about looking at teen musicians with youthful envy. The pivotal “The Worst is Yet to Come” has epic Beatlesque sweeping verses, as they go from quiet to loud. “New Action” recalls Thin Lizzy in the chorus, and the band makes an authentic attempt to honor these influences. The short 9-tracks breaks my EP/LP rule, but each song is really good here, so crank it up loud. Highly recommended.
