Category: Power Pop Review

Do you love Yacht Rock? Then check out Yächtley Crëw.

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While we love power pop here, we also cover a few other genres (indie rock, jangle pop, bubblegum), and one of them is yacht rock. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Yacht Rock came into being. It has a smooth, melodic, and often soft rock sound, with pop, R&B, and easy-listening influences. Most yacht rock songs have rich vocal harmonies, polished sounds, and lyrics that often talk about love, leisure, and living the good life. We promoted a great collection of Yacht Rock songs several years ago with Andrew Curry’s compilation of covers (by mostly power pop artists.) Available on Amazon.


Yachtley Crew

Yächtley Crëw “Seas The Day”

But Yächtley Crëw have dedicated their entire existence to these songs, and they tour the country promoting it. And it’s much more than your average cover band. They have an entire persona built around it, with stage choreography, and audience participation, and they started to add to the genre by producing original music. I got to see the band in action last weekend, and like Jimmy Buffet they cultivate their fan base. People attend in captain’s hats with drinks in hand swaying to the music. Available on Amazon.


I also got the opportunity to interview the lead singer Philly “Ocean” Daniel and we got into more details about the band.

Justin Levinson and Diners

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Justin Levinson

Justin Levinson “Collamer Circle”

Vermont singer-songwriter Justin Levinson’s newest LP Collamer Circle, is his fifth full-length album and first after returning from four years in Los Angeles. Together with fellow songwriter Ben Patton, they have created their first official collaboration, cementing a musical kinship that dates back to their high school days. These songs explore a wide range of topics, from the complexities of relationships to contemplative self-reflection. Justin still knows how to craft songs with great hooks like the opener “Madeline For The Win.”

Like a lighter version of Adam Schlesinger, Levinson adds some bounce and joy to songs like the Beach Boys-influenced “California Sun” and “Baby You’ve Arrived.” The guitar riffs and harmonies on the Jellyfish-like “Lead Me To You” and “She Spreads Sunshine Everywhere” are also nice highlights. The ballads vary from cute fluff (“Mirabelle”) to treacle (“No One Can Be Your Everything”). Overall, enough here to make this a Highly Recommended listen.

Amazon

Diners

Diners “Domino”

Mo Troper produced this vision of singer/songwriter Blue Broderick. Blue certainly has the musical hooks on the twee “Working On My Dreams,” but really doubles down on the sophisticated power pop arrangements on the title track with elements of both The Beatles and Big Star. Like Troper’s last album, it doesn’t sit still stylistically. “So What” is a great example of this, as the Ramones’ riffs contrast with her halting vocals.  Each song seems a contemplation on making a commitment, the best on this theme is the catchy “The Power” which is a big highlight here.

Even minimal tracks like “Painted Pictures” stick fast in your head. Wistful longing is a staple of power pop and Blue does a great job with “Someday I’ll Go Surfing” and “I Don’t Think About You The Way I Used To.” Overall, a genuinely delightful record that will win you over, despite running out of steam in the latter third. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Rock in October! New Bishops Single and Concert Information

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Halloween

Don’t tell me rock and roll is dead. We have a massive show planned near Halloween:

The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club

They have a new single out that will wake the dead from their slumber! “Your Corvette Summer” is out now!

The Glad Machine

One of the best power pop EPs from 2022

The Anderson Council

One of the best LPs of 2023 —

10/27/23 at Berlin NYC
101 Avenue A
New York, NY 10009
GET TICKETS TODAY!

Great lineup at one of the best small rock venues in NYC! Let us know you’re coming on Facebook!

EP Madness: Jamie Hoover, The Poster Boy, Gizmo

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Jamie Hoover

Jamie Hoover “Top Banana”

Jamie Hoover (Spongetones) with his first new music since 2019, and “Genghis Khan” is a loaded opening, with horns and percussion dominating the melody. Hoover almost channels Jimmy Buffet with “Bourbon Understands,” a love ballad to alcohol. The standouts here are blues rock “Repo Man” and Michael Ruiz (Paul Collins) drums on “Kim Kardashian,” a fan letter made after her split with Kanye West. A nice collection of singles that deserves more attention.


Poster Boy

The Poster Boy “Hooks”

Power pop from Budapest, Hungary, and the opener “Infinite Moment” reminds me of The Posies mixed with the Gin Blossoms and Depeche Mode with lead singer Imre Poniklo leading the way. “On Bartók, In Love” takes a minute to get its footing, but it’s worth the wait. The style gets a little more eclectic after that, and almost becomes easy listening with “Fly Away,” another highlight “Marathon” is a dramatic power ballad. Music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon


Gizmo

Gizmo “Buddy System”

Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, home of Gizmo. Fans of early-era Sloan will hear a kinship, but this impressive 4 song EP is just great hook-filled power pop. The overlapping harmonies on “Luanne” and “Deepest Skin” with deep chords running underneath are awesome. The other 2 tunes have a wall of sound built by guitars riffs and drums, and my only critique here is that it is way too short. Like all good EPs, this makes you beg for more. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

The Small Square and Rinehearts

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Buzz Zeemer

The Small Square “The Small Square”

Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush, Matthew Sweet) and John Louis Richardson (Tommy Keene, Gin Blossoms, Joey Molland/Badfinger) combined to form this powerful duo, with an equally powerful debut album.

Starting with the understated “So Low,” it mixes roots-pop styles, but the hooks keep you engaged. The layered epic “Dream Fake (Open Your Heart)” has that tight composition; verses build up in anticipation of the rich chorus. Paul’s earthy, low vocals are in contrast to the rising riffs here. Quiet moments like “SML” which stands for “you saved my life,” and “After The Tears” have an unmistakable Big Star feel. But the quiet yields to the standout layered guitar textures of “Otherwhile” and the churning melody of “Five Nine Song.” These are great tunes that deserve more attention.

Some songs go in different stylistic directions (“Wrong,” “The Trip/Sorry Again”), like melodic chaos, but it doesn’t fail to encourage repeat listens. Fans of The Velvet Crush, Posies, Matthew Sweet, and classic rock will warm to this debut quickly. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Buzz Zeemer

Rinehearts “Full Bloom”

Perth power poppers Rinehearts had the good fortune to work on the new recordings with none other than legendary musician, songwriter, and producer Dom Mariani (The Stems/DM3/The Some Loves/Datura4). Mariani, who called Rinehearts “that rare band you come across from time to time, doing their thing without a lot of fuss, but with true dedication and a knack for crafting perfect pop.”

Benny Ward (guitar/vocals), Mitch Long (bass), and Ross Di Blasio (drummer) take no prisoners with its raucous opener “Goodness,” and doesn’t let its foot off the gas with “Power Lines” another jangly, up-tempo winner. This is vintage power pop done right, and even the melodic harmonies “Call Me Up” have a late 70s aura, with a solid guitar break akin to The Hudson Brothers. The album’s middle has more contemplative jangling love songs “Falling Down” and “Could You Would You” which are akin to Scotland’s Dropkick. Just when things get calm, “I Don’t Mind” comes back with a rocking chorus. Almost every song hits the mark, and this needs to be considered among the best albums for my 2023 list. Super Highly Recommended!

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