Category: Power Pop Review

E-Music has released this hard to find 2005 album from Hedgehog records. Cheese are fronted by the incredibly talented Marco Rossi, who models XTC’s Andy Partridge style like a well worn set of sneakers. The Beatles, Television, Big Star and Teenage Fanclub are all obvious influences here. It’s not surprising that someone with such good taste in music would come up with so many strong and intelligent pop originals of his own. This is polished pop and “Zero and Counting you down” even heads into Dukes of the Strateosphere-like magic. Other mid tempo songs like “Gurl Alone” and “Kid Gloves” sound like they’ve fallen off XTC’s “Nonsuch” album. Also hidden away is a a bit of Syd Barrett meets McCartney on “Nothing to See.” This one is released without much fanfare and is missing one track (“Wax Museum”), but essential listening. Get it now.

Pink Hedgehog | E-Music

This is an excellent group from Madrid, Spain. Yes, the market for power pop in Spain is huge. Just look at PopMadrid.com and see. The mellow relaxed vibe of “She” sets the tone for this album. Very laid back with great melody and vocal performance almost like a poppy Ryan Adams yields to the energetic single “Do it” that really stands out. This is followed by the very loungey “Paranoid” complete with fuzzy keyboards. But the classic here is the next tune “Life Is” – a beatlesque tour-de-force and my favorite here. It is a little bit of Sgt. Pepper mixed with some Penny Lane and wonderful. The mellow vibe returns with “Sing when you’re happy” and is a very enjoyable pop guitar song, like some of McCartney’s better ballad moments. The vocals are not unlike the Honeydogs’ Adam Levy with a slight European accent. And this really comes out on the last two songs of the album “Better If I” and “Goodbye.” A worthy addition to your music collection for sure.

The Sunday Drivers Website | Mushroom Pillow label | Amazon.com
The video for “Do it”

While not power pop, I will occasionally dip my toe in reviewing other genres of indie music. Sounding similar to Natalie Merchant and 10,000 Manaics mixed with The Cranberries, No Fixed Abode consists of Una Walsh and Tony Dean with a cast of talented supporting players. The band is based in Derbyshire and performs at festivals and clubs all over the UK. “What did I do” mines the indie folk-pop vibe with Una’s beautiful Irish voice and a great catchy chorus. “Kebab Crazed Nutter” reminded me of Mary Hopkin’s “Those Were the Days” and I knew then this album required repeat listens. Most of the album is what I would call modern Celtic folk, but some songs breakout of that mold. “Modern Life” is a gorgeous ballad and sounds like a Melanie classic with a nice trumpet solo. “Sunne Days” is a great song that mixes Harper’s Bizzare and Laura Nyro. Tony Dean’s guitar work is perfect accompaniment to Una’s vocals – never too strong or too much in the background. Overall, much better than I expected from a folk group and worthy of inclusion on your ipod for sure. Get it at CD Baby.

The No Fixed Abode Website | MySpace | CD Baby

Love in October has released its debut EP and has a fairly good sound with a bit of a Green Day meets radio friendly Swedish pop. Recorded by producer Ed Rose (The Get Up Kids, Motion City Soundtrack) Love in October is a good alternative rock album with hard driving hooks and punk attitude. “Method To Madness” is a good example of this, with excellent clean production stylings. “1000 Miles from here” has a flavor of the Green Day ballad “Time of Your Life.” “Hollywood Horror” sounds a little too much like Phantom Planet and it would not suprise me to learn that the band sells it’s tunes to the soundtrack of the next big teen drama phenomenon. Is it too commercial? Well, you’ll have to be the judge of that – but it does make for good listening.

The Band’s Website | MySpace

The Switches are a new band that follows in the vein of Mika and Scissor Sisters, but decidedly less effeminate. In fact, “Lay down the Law” is an awesome song here that is catchier than Mika’s “Grace Kelly” and just as dancable. The energy is comparable with The Fratellis and there is plenty of Queen worship. Lead singer Matt Bishop tries his best to channel Freddy Mercury. The Switches have filled “Heart Tuned to D.E.A.D.” with lots of guitar, harmonies and lots of potential. Some songs here do the Queen tribute perfectly and “The Need to be Needed” is great example of this. And “Drama Queen” is a good single with plenty of swagger and it brings to mind Imperial Drag and The Makers. “Every Second Counts” manages to be a very good tune that evokes T-Rex in spots. “Step Kids in Love” is an excellent 10cc inspired song and one of my favorites here. The tunes are all pretty radio friendly and loaded with energy, although not every song is memorable. “Message from Yuz” has got plenty of great riffs and handclaps – but it didn’t have that much sticking power. “Coming down” is very by-the-numbers alt. rock and forgettable. Even the last tune, “Testify” has some great melodic riffs but insipid lyrics like “I’d like to see ya, I wouldn’t want to be ya” – I think ultimately alot of people will love this CD. Like a snickers bar, it’s very sweet and nutty and full of empty calories.

The Switches Website | MySpace | Amazon

Listen to “Drama Queen”