Category: Power Pop Review
Dave Cope and the Sass and Ronnie D’Addario
Dave Cope and the Sass “Killer Mods From Inner Space”
The follow-up to last year’s highly rated Julee, Dave Cope and the Sass have mastered the sound of the British Invasion, and other genres (and eras) while creatively delivering original gems. The album begins with “A Good Idea At The Time,” a sweet example of 1970s vintage rock a la The Guess Who.
“She Don’t Care About That” and “More” have a terrific glammy pop vibe, and Mod-era Who/Small Faces are mined with the excellent “In Circles.” He doesn’t always hit the target, as “Butterfly Heart” didn’t really hook me, and “Start” felt like a poor man’s Stephen Sondheim musical. But it’s okay that Dave goes outside his comfort zones, and occasionally the shift in style works out, like on the smooth easy listening pop of “Season of Love.” That said, Cope has just enough goodies on tap to make this album Highly Recommended.
Ronnie D’Addario “All Gathered In One Room”
Ronnie D’Addario (Papa Twig) is back and continues to charm like last year’s Egg Yolks And Artichokes. Similar in style to Paul McCartney or Gilbert O’Sullivan, Ronnie does light rock and music hall pop throughout All Gathered In One Room. “A Shot in The Dark” is a bouncy haiku set to a catchy melody and while the scenarios spun in his tunes can get excessively sentimental, D’Addario skillfully pulls it off.
Taking a different twist, the title track “All Gathered In One Room” is a Gilbert & Sullivan-styled opera number. His Beatles-lite “Come One, Come All” and “The Journey” are meticulously produced, but merely okay. Ronnie’s creative composition really comes out on the dance hall ballad of “Belle of the Ball” and the creative process turned into a baroque waltz on “Dwight Makes Right.” The Lemon Twigs contribute instrumentally, but this is a “Papa Twig” production all the way through. Check it out.
Please lend a hand to Jesse Malin.
Your gift can alleviate him of the additional burdens brought on by the significant cost of his immediate and long-term care. Power Popaholic interviewed Jesse a few years ago and wants to spread the word and hopefully, fans like you will answer the call.
June singles: The Diners, Wesley Fuller, Brad Marino, The Gypsy Moths, Pretty, Ex-Norwegian
You wouldn’t know it was summer in NYC with that Canadian smoke cloud hovering, but the music certainly says so. The Diners are a new band, the combo of Blue Broderick and fellow songwriter Mo Troper. Paste Magazine compared the new single “The Power” to Big Star and the Raspberries, so I’m all ears here. It’s been a few years since I’ve heard Melbourne-based power pop boy wonder Wesley Fuller, and he sounds even better than before, going “Back to Square One.” Brad Marino reads off his record collection, and I could listen all day. The Gypsy Moths sing about a classic Coney Island Amusement park, with cool sax blasting away. If you want more noise distortion with your rock, give Pretty a listen. It settles down into a Cramps meets Soundgarden vibe which is kinda nice. Finally, Ex-Norwegian talks about a “Real Bad Bunny,” but he’s not talking about this guy, right? I like the B-side “Send Nudes” even better!
The Alarm and The Lemon Twigs
The Alarm “Forwards”
The list of active veteran rock musicians still writing and performing is dwindling. That’s why we celebrate when they not only perform but continue to create new songs. Sadly this list is narrowed further when you include artists who still sound as good as they did in their prime. Mike Peters of The Alarm has not only survived the test of time but he’s boldly defied leukemia and cancer — and he’s become a legend, earning 16 Top 50 UK singles over the years. The new album Forwards was written while in the hospital during chemotherapy treatments, and vividly describes the persistence and will to continue.
Opening with the anthemic title track, “Forwards” shares a lot stylistically with former tourmates U2, full of ringing guitar rhythm as he sings “I’m living for today,” and the heartfelt ballad “Love and Forgiveness” is a shout-out to those who’ve fallen on hard times. The next big anthem “Next” is another defiant melody as he shouts “I feel alright when I’m with you” to his audience. Other standouts include “Whatever” and “New Standards.” It’s not all great, as “10 X” is a 6-minute plus preachy session, and other tracks don’t really distinguish themselves and seem to blend together. However this will appeal to fans, and for those who haven’t heard Mike since the days of “68 Guns,” I ask “Where have you been?” Check it out.
The Lemon Twigs “Everything Harmony”
Long Island-bred brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario have been raised on classic rock and pop, so it’s in their DNA. As the title suggests they take a much softer approach, and the opener “When Winter Comes Around” recalls prime John Denver or David Gates. Next, the duo confronts the difficult reality of who they are in contrast to how others see them in the song “In My Head,” with sweet harmonizing and a melodic structure similar to Todd Rundgren.
“Corner Of My Eye” is a delicate ballad vocally bringing to mind Art Garfunkel, and the guitars come out for the rare Big Star-like power pop of “What You Were Doing.” While the influences are clear, the boys make unique songs that are clearly Lemon Twigs classics. It is as light and carefree as music can be, yet it is also intricate and full of depth. There are enough stylistic differences to keep things unpredictable and the performances lift the music to a shimmering height when the brothers harmonize. Without a doubt, this is Highly Recommended.