Category: Power Pop Review

Check out the big blue “Artist Interviews” button on the right. Subtle, yes? Anyway if you’d like some more insight into some of the bands I review here, check it out. New interviews posted: Phil Usher of Grand Atlantic and Brian McClelland of The Maxtone Four

Well it took long enough, but the great Jason Falkner has released his newest full length solo CD. It contains the first original material in almost eight years (If you don’t count the excellent Bliss Decending EP). Is it worth the wait? Well, yes and no. To those who are Falkner-fanatics who bought the Japan only release in April then it is essential, like a oasis after a long desert journey. For the rest of us, it is a very good album that fits nicely into your power pop collection. Like The Beach Boys “Smiley Smile”, this is a solid bunt and not a home run. My guess is Jason has been too busy producing other projects over the past seven years (Air, Beck, Aimee Mann, etc.) and this feels like a “project” for his cult fan base. That aside, it delivers what you expect: Awesome arrangements, glorious hooks and fantastic melodies. It opens with “This Time” a great song that sets the pace with a rising chorus and driving beat. It follows with the ELO meets Devo gems “NYC” and “The Knew.” Then the beautiful “Stephanie tells me” continues this hit streak. No one can sound like him, and Falkner can bend your ear better than anyone outside of Roger Manning. After that it wanders into Beck-like territory before recovering with the inspirational ballad “Runaway,” with it’s wonderful chord progressions. It then slips into an introspective funk until the last track “I don’t mind” provides an amazing vocal acrobatic chorus “I haven’t smiled since yesterday, It’s alright. I’m okay.” It may not be as perfect as his earlier albums, but it comes damn close. What do you expect here? A bad review? When this gets to US outlets, I’ll post the information because even $37 is a bit steep for this import.

Jason Falkner’s Site | My Space | Bad News Japanese CDs | Amazon

Listen to “Stephanie Tells Me”

Listen to “This Time”

Third of Never is a bit of a power pop supergroup. The Brainchild of Kurt Reil from the legendary Grip Weeds and CJ Grogan, with Vince Grogan and Jon Dawson, they rock out hard on the debut “Moodring” – This is a pretty awesome debut. Guest stars John Bundrick of The Who and Dennis Diken of the Smithereens help make it a classic. Recorded at the Gripweeds House of Vibes studio it starts off with the fantastic pop-psyche “Mystic Slide” that reminds me of Rainbow Quartz artists, Resonars and Strawberry Smell. It’s followed by the melodic, progressive sounding “Bag of Boxes,” a great tune that conjures up images of early Genesis and Yes. The tune “Wide Awake Sleeping” is an instant power pop classic that wouldn’t sound out of place of the Smithereens first album! The style takes a twist to “Redneck Riviera” a bit of Steely Dan meets Joe Walsh styled rock. Next comes a decent cover Pete Townsend’s “Let My Love Open the Door”.Then we get the gorgeous jangle and harmonies of the Nick Lowesque “Everyday is a Lonely Night.” If you like your power pop with extra power, than you owe it to yourself to check this out. Listen to the entire album streaming on a special Third of Never “Moodring” blog

Third of Never Site | My Space | Jam Recordings | CD Baby | Not Lame

Whoa! Super Amanda is the buxom babe is featured in this video for “Let My Love Open the Door”

The Zebras are a Brisbane-based Jangle pop band that produces the golden tones of the Bryds, and reminds me a lot of Rainbow Quartz artist The Rhinos and The Go-Betweens. “Worry a lot” boasts some steady clean production and mellow, light vocal arrangements. It’s also got the most guitar jangle I’ve heard in a while. This helps in that the sound is familiar and comforting in a the perfect laid-back summer way. “You Look Ready” has a wonderful melody and the gentle overdubbed vocals float above the guitar line with a great hook for the chorus. The guitar melody line for “Science Competition” sounds like it fell off a classic Beach Boys album and has nice bass line breaks throughout the song. “Doong Doong” has a very Belle and Sebastian feel to it with Edwina Ewins and Jeremy Cole bouncing vocals off each other. However, too much of the album’s songs sounds very similar to each other and can make the entire album feel repetitious. The Zebras could also try to make some of the vocals stand out more as a counter melody to the strong guitar sound. For jangle pop fans this is a “must have” CD. For others, it’s very good summer listening.

My Space | Lost and Lonesome Records | Amazon

James Deem, true disciple of Jamie Hoover (Spongetones) and Ed James has released his debut album “jamesdeem.com” recently. The album starts out promising enough with the jangly “The Way She Loves Me.” This is a great tune and it’s followed by the excellent Spongetones-like “I could fall in Love” complete with an “Octopus Garden” styled guitar intro. “I’m not over you” is another song about love lost and my favorite on the album. It’s his enthusiastic performance that wins me over on “I hear your heart calling” – a Rubinoos styled pop song. James has a bit of experience playing Billy Joel covers, and it shows in “The Dream” – a piano ballad with a passing nod to Ben Folds or Fountains of Wayne. Deems’ guitar work is also not really a Merseybeat jangle style, but a bit of modern country as shown “On the Way to Paradise.” Fans of Walter Clevenger and Bill Lloyd will appreciate this approach. The second half of the album contains alot of slower ballads, also well done. I must say he also knows how to promote himself well. You can listen to the entire album from his site.

James Deem.com | CD Baby | Kool Kat | MySpace | Not Lame