Rejoice! A new Mike Viola album will soon be upon us! The first track “Paul McCarthy” is a not-so-subtle look at the life of a certain Beatle. The Lemon Twigs also have an advance single release, and “Corner of My Eye” features a heart-breaking lead vocal. Big Stir releases a new single from the late 90’s band Popsicko, and “Ashtray Mouth” was written by frontman Keith Brown. RumBar Records release the rare Boston punk pop band Matweeds only recorded material, a “lost” classic for sure. The prolific Dropkick is also back (does Andrew Taylor ever sleep?) and we’ve got the advance “Telephone.” After scoring in our top ten last year, Jeff Shelton is back with the heavy riffs of Hot Nun again, although this track feels really closer to The Well Wishers style. Finally Brit alt. rocker Chris Wesson is a new discovery for me, and he deserves to be heard by you.
Category: Power Pop Review
Steve Stoeckel and Stephen Lawrenson
Steve Stoeckel “The Power of And”
Steve Stoeckel (The Spongetones, Pop Co-Op, Jamie and Steve) steps out on his own with his debut solo album on Big Stir Records. Stoeckel has been very active of late, and his new album is chock full of memorable tunes. It opens with the fast-paced “Laura Lynn,” then goes madrigal on the simplistic “Birds.” Steve plays to those Spongetones fans with the wonderful “Mod Girl,” and then gives us a very McCartneyesque “Strange Cameo.”
“The Emerald Sea” is a Celtic pop gem with fuzz guitar and flute doing a call and response. “Skippy’s Parade” is a jaunty folk instrumental, after the slow fade we get the rocker “Christine” which leads us to the XTC-like whimsy of “Just One Kiss.” Not everything has that magic — but more than enough songs here will dazzle you. It’s hard to belive that this is Stoeckel’s first solo, so yes it’s Highly Recommended.
Stephen Lawrenson “Chants Of A Lifetime”
It’s been a long time since we heard from Stephen Lawrenson. From the first notes of the opening track, “Really Good,” it’s clear that he feels “good to be back home” with strong riffs and melody. Stephen incorporates more heavy rock and folk influences into this album. “In Circles” harkens back to his past work, but “Blue Room” is Lawrenson at his best, with a memorable hook in the verse, and a spacey chorus. His powerful instrumentation draws on a diverse range of influences, but he shines when his heavy riffs are married to a hook like on “Once Upon A Time” and “Thank You.”
He tries out different directions, like the acoustic strum and harmonies of “My Muse” and the heavier riffs of “The Horizon” but unfortunately, these songs don’t stick inside your head. He easily seems to find great guitar rhythms, like “King of Sympathy” but often falls into the mundane with others. While this does not match the majesty of 2013’s Obscuriosity, this still has plenty of good music worth hearing. Check it out.
End-of-January Singles, EPs and a Freebie: Ryan Allen, Luddites, Ilko Birov, Floral Portrait, Brock Pytel
After a relatively warm January, we settle in and see Ryan Allen is already following up his #7 album of 2022 with a new concept album. This is a taste, we’ll review the entire LP soon. Boston’s Luddites does a good job with old-school power pop riffs, and Bulgarian singer-songwriter Ilko Birov knocks this single “Mrs. James” out of the park. Fans of Elliott Smith and Dave Davies will enjoy this. Jason Bronson and Jacob Chisenhall bring us the warmth of Floral Portrait, a slice of sunny orchestral pop in the tradition of Brian Wilson. Fans of The Wondermints will appreciate it and it’s our freebie. On a louder note, Brock Pytel (formerly of The Doughboys, the Montreal punk band and NOT Richard X. Heyman’s band) has a new single and it’s got a catchy fatalism, akin to Bob Mould playing The Rolling Stones. Onward to Spam… I mean, February!
The Shang Hi Los and Baby Scream
The Shang Hi Los “Aces Eights & Heartbreaks”
The Shang Hi Los are Jen D’Angora (Vocals and Guitar), Dan Kopko (Vocals and Guitar), Lee Harrington (Bass and Vocals), and Chuck Ferreira (Drums and Percussion). Kopko knows a good guitar anthem, as he’s done them with his previous band Watts. From the opening track, “Takes One To Know One,” it’s clear that the band is firing on all cylinders, with driving guitar riffs, pounding drums, and a frenetic energy that is impossible to resist.
Jen D’Angora owns “Monsieur Valentine,” a catchy mid-tempo ballad that really stands out. “Plymouth Rock” is a rambunctious, foot-stomping anthem that’s guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days. The band’s chemistry is evident in each song, creating a sound that is both polished and raw. “Billy” adds a little Ennio Morricone, and “Victoria’s Garden” recalls a lost Blondie single. With only nine tracks, it’s considered an EP – but there is no filler here. Highly Recommended.
Baby Scream “Castell de Pop”
Argentinian musician Juan Pablo Mazzola returns with a sparse acoustic guitar and a series of songs that questions the nature of life. In some ways, this is the most depressing soul-searching he has done. As a “Castaway” in the opening track his darkness “comes and goes” but on “Kill Your Idols” he plunges into the black with resignation, as he cries “Nobody’s gonna help you with your hell/So you might as well pretend you are doing well.” The tender “Back Home” adds Ky Anto and its a bright spot, plus “Chillin'” explores the joys of a quiet day.
Often I’ve compared Juan to John Lennon in approach. “Panic Room” recalls this if Lennon got paranoid and yelled, “everyone to go fuck themselves.” The gentle guitar couplet on the title track is another highlight, but the heavy emotional nature of the material might put off some. Still, this is an album that deserves to be heard.
The Foreign Films and Juniper
The Foreign Films “Magic Shadows”
Canadian Bill Majoros is back and the listener is taken away to a hazy, nostalgic world of driving basslines and vocal harmonies by the album’s opening tune, “Midnight Movies.” It’s a compelling character study set to a hook, the kind that Ray Davies perfected with The Kinks, but Bill updates the time and place to now. Following that are “Rain Clouds (Sunshine in Your Heart)” and “Perfect Future” with distinct 80’s percussion and synth lines. “Cinema Girl (Magic Shadows)” and “Time Machine” showcases the band’s ability to blend elements of late 20th-century rock to create a sound that is both timeless and fresh.
“Lost in Time” recalls Pink Floyd’s spacey atmosphere with an overlapping sax solo and “Cosmic Lover” channels both Norman Greenbaum and Marc Bolan at the same time. Overall, Magic Shadows masterfully combines innovation with nostalgia. Highly Recommended.
Juniper “She Steals Candy”
Juniper Shelley, the daughter of power pop musician Michael Shelley, has released her sophomore album She Steals Candy, and in some ways, it’s a nostalgic throwback to the early days of girl pop. “BANG!” is a simple catchy tune that evokes comparisons to artists like Lesley Gore. “James” and “Baby Doll” are both terrific songs about falling for bad boys written from her point of view, and her sweet assured vocals make her a sympathetic lead. It even goes into a retro-style taunt with “Little Miss Stuck Up.” She tries out the country tunes “Picture Of You,” and “I Cry Cause I Care” but the delivery here seems to lack emotion. Juniper is much better when playful on “Taste the Soup,” or even the carnal rock of “Alone With You” and “I’ve Gotta Boy.”
The stylistic variety of the record is a welcome change of pace, and the songwriting is excellent all throughout. Juniper’s voice is upfront, bathing in the glow of confidence that she is in control of the proceedings. Better than her understated debut, and it shows growth with the excellent “Turn To You.” With 16 tracks, this album will undoubtedly appeal to fans of girl-pop and retro vibes. Highly Recommended.