Category: Power Pop Review

Ed Ryan and DB Edmunds

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“Ed

Ed Ryan “Along for The Ride”

The new album ‘Along For The Ride’ by Ed Ryan is a veritable gold mine of well written songs that highlight his musical abilities. Heartfelt lyrics and hooks that transports listeners into Ryan’s imaginative universe. Standout tracks like “Better Than That” and “Make It Happen” demonstrate Ryan’s knack for blending catchy melodies with easy-to-hum arrangements.

Ryan’s vocals, however, slightly limit the album’s full potential even if the songwriting and production are clearly excellent. Although his voice exudes emotion and authenticity, it sometimes lacks the youthful clarity required to raise these great songs to their best. “Heart On My Sleeve” is a raucous rocker that would really benefit from a growling-styled delivery. His vocal delivery works best on the mid-tempo ballads like “Solitary Man” and “Imperfect Life.” Clear influences are Tom Petty and other mid 70s styled rockers.

From reflective ballads (“Poppe’s Garden”) to energizing rockers (“Find Me A Girl”), the album covers a broad emotional spectrum to appeal to any power pop fan. All things considered, ‘Along For The Ride’ is evidence of Ed’s unquestionable skill and commitment to his trade. Highly recommended!

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“Ed

DB Edmunds “Everybody Knows By Now”

Originally a founding member of late ’90s power pop faves The Gladhands and main singer/songwriter/guitarist for Chapel Hill-based The Stars Explode, DB Edmunds began his solo trip in 2022 with EP ‘Life’s Wild Ride’. This new full length album was written in the wake of COVID lockdown, and its starts out promising, produced by the legendary Mitch Easter. The opener “Give It All You Got” is a bittersweet rocker about perseverance in the face of difficulties. “Chasing Yesterday” captures the melancholy tone as it explores the process of people losing their bearings, but a standout here is “(Don’t You Go) Wishing On A Falling Star” which has late 80’s sound, a great vibe is here, and would’ve been a hit if released in that era.

Another great song is “All The Possibilities,” starting with a Rickenbacker riff that blends into a layered melody about UFOs. The style changes on “Blind Faith,” which mines the late era Who for musical inspiration. A good song, but it shifts in style again on “The Weight of The World,” a slow jazzy song akin to a James Bond movie theme. The album is performed and played to perfection in the end, however the abrupt changes in style are distracting. DB seems to explore more than compose, and you will want to pick out some favorites here, as this is music that deserves to be heard.

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Concert Review: The Linda Ronstadt Experience with American Idol Star Tristan McIntosh

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The Linda Ronstadt Experience
Like cover albums, cover bands are something I don’t always enjoy, after all it’s usually a pale imitation. But some bands actually deliver on the promise of an authentic experience. Linda Ronstandt was a legendary performer and one of my favorite singers, so American Idol Star Tristan McIntosh had some big shoes to fill. But I’m happy to say, she’s got the voice down perfect, the blue eye shadow, mannerisms, and even the wig looks great. She plays most of Linda’s big hits, and you feel her spirit in the music itself. And unlike other popular bands, there is only one “official” Linda Ronstandt cover band. I saw the Nov. 9th show at My Father’s Place in Roslyn, NY.

In addition, the band is loaded with top notch musicians; Ethan Leff, and the band’s founder,  bassist Paul “Junior” Boyne, Brad Goff on piano keys, guitars, vocals and Curtis Killian guitar and vocals. I highly recommend this show, so when they come to your town, don’t miss it!

Touring Schedule |  “Blue Bayou”

Late Nov singles and EPs: Mt. Misery, Kurt Baker, The Aerovons, Lùlù, Sudden Cuts, Ryan Hendry

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We start our Thanksgiving week, thanking Mt. Misery a Hartlepool, UK band with a sound very much in the vibe of Dropkick (who have a new album dropping next year). The light jangle and comforting melody is just the tip of this iceberg. Next, Kurt Baker returns with some of his “Inner Demons,”  and it’s brilliantly played with a loaded band, featuring faves Wyatt Funderburk and Geoff Palmer. Next, The Aerovons are back! I reviewed the return of this rock curio a few years ago, and lead singer Tom Hartman.This EP is very much in the same space. After that we have power pop crunch courtesy of Lùlù, a French band from Paris, and we hope to hear more from them. California band Sudden Cuts have a dense indie sound, check out “All Over Town” with it’s Replacements guitar vibe, oh and this one is a freebie. Finally we have Ryan Hendry with his energy-filled singles – and I love his instrumental cover of a suite of Genesis tunes, written by the great Tony Banks. Enjoy!




More singles and EPs: Aloud, The Well Wishers, Tommy Lorente, Cupid’s Nemesis, Dom Mariani, The Modbeats

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Cool band Aloud is led by Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain, and the single “The Sky’s In Love With You,” is a Cure-meets-Elvis Costello styled tune about a secret past haunting the narrator. Very nicely done! Get the EP here. The Well Wishers have “lost” single that Jeff Shelton reliably delivers with those guitar riffs. France’s Tommy Lorente continues his retro-themed power pop on this EP, check out “L’Animal” and the surf-guitar of “Voiture Automatique.” IPO sensations Cupid’s Nemesis have a freebie for you, perfect echoey garage pop. Aussie power pop icon Dom Mariani (The Stems) hasn’t lost a step after all these years with “Jangleland,” a place I’d love to spend time at. Finally, The Modbeats have an awesome Beatlesque single “ Fairweather Friends” and you will love it! Get the single here. Enjoy the music.




Joy Buzzer and Willie Dowling

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“Joy

Joy Buzzer “Pleased to Meet You”

The band was founded in 2021 and features Kevin Lydon on lead vocals, with Jed Becker on guitar and writing the tunes; KG Noble on guitar and vocals;  Nick DeMatteo on bass and vocals, and Mark Brotter on drums. The opener is the band’s first single “Judy Judy Judy,” with its catchy chorus and Jed Becker’s layered guitars recall 80s classic hooks, and the solo break even touched on prog/psyche rock. Kevin Lydon’s vocal perfectly fits and help give the band its signature sound.

It amps the energy up even more on “You’d Be Surprised,” a Beatlesque gem akin to The Weeklings. “Jeanette” brings us back down to earth, as a mid tempo tune with unexpected key shifts and stellar harmonies. There is something here for every power pop fan, from heavier rockers like “The Secret Word” and “You Don’t Even Know My Name” (which was voted coolest song by Stevie Van Zandt’s Underground Garage) to lighter pop gems like “Mamaroneck” and “All These Yesterdays.” The quirky and catchy come together on “Try Not To Be An Asshole,” a personal favorite of mine. While a few songs seemed formulaic, I couldn’t find a bad song here. When its all killer and no filler, it’s definitely on my top ten list for 2024. Super highly recommended!

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“Willie

Willie Dowling “The Simpleton”

Willie Dowling (Dowling Poole, Jackdaw4) goes solo here and displays his formidable melodic talents. The songs are almost prog-pop with dramatic builds on “Let Us Begin” including an operatic piano solo loaded with violins, about a slowly unfolding armageddon. The story continues “Long Drop Down” a compelling tale of a poisonous world “where the liars and the cheats prevail.” Dowling’s influences remain Roy Wood, XTC, 10cc, and a sprinkling of Sparks theatricality. Unlike his other works, most of these songs are piano led, and it sounds similar to a stage show soundtrack.

The concept album follows modern political nihilism, the title track “the Simpleton” is a bio of a TV pundit with a solid cascading melody followed by the dramatic chorus of “Sadie Goldman,” a lost soul that follows a road to illusion. “Down the Slide” continues the story of the evil corporate media; “don’t you let the truth get in your way.” It ends with the beautiful ballad “In The Ocean,” and while Willie’s musicianship is stellar, the distinctly bleak worldview might put off some. But if you are a fan of the band Skeleton Staff, you will definitely love this. Highly Reccomended.

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