Category: Power Pop Review

Seth Swirsky and The Mike Bell Cartell

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Seth Swirsky

Seth Swirsky “Songs From The Green Couch”

Seth Swirsky (The Red Button) is back after an extended absence, with a sketchbook of songs that describe both his moods and meanderings. “Sunny Day” opens this collection heavily influenced by late ’60s psych-pop, loaded with sweet guitar flourishes. Seth’s Beatlesque tendencies return with “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” a solid single with a catchy chorus. Hearing “Cashmere Sweaters” is more baroque chamber pop, similar to The Left Banke, and the follow-up “Whatever Happened To…” adds a little sunshine pop with its layered harmonies.

Sometimes the influences feel a bit too thick, like on “Every Time” a Brian Wilson styled ode to the “green couch” as a security blanket. But most of the time, Seth takes an influence and turns it into something extraordinary, as on “Making It Up As We Go Along” a sweet Bee Gees styled ballad. Not everything hits the mark, but enough does — the most insightful being “New Painting,” a simple day-in-the-life that radiates hooks and happiness. The ballad “American Bar” is another terrific tune that dovetails perfectly into the opening track. Highly Recommended.

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The Mike Bell Cartell

The Mike Bell Cartell “The Cartell & I”

From Helsinki, Sweden comes the Mike Bell Cartell. The band accurately gives us a love letter to 1960s garage rock and pop. The band consists of Helsinki music veterans: Miikka Siira aka Mike Bell (Mike Bell & The Belltones), Pekka Laine (The Hypnomen), Ville Särmä (John’s Children), Samuel Abaijón (The Valkyrians), and Aapee Heinola (Hard Action). It starts with the fuzz guitar and perfect echoing vocals of “(I Can’t Live up to Your) Hallucinations” and fans of retro rock will be hooked immediately.

The jangling “Wait!” is part Hollies, part Byrds, and “Million Years” recalls The Animals. Also, check out “Shadow’s Gone” and “The Storm is Coming.” It’s all solid songwriting, skilled musicianship, and unabashed fun that will have you dancing like Austin Powers. Timeless music that’s highly recommended. It’s groovy, baby!

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Simon Love and Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men

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Simon Live

Simon Love & The Old Romantics  “Love, Sex and Death Etc”

Simon Love is a British singer-songwriter who deals out acerbic truths set to music. Starting with the wry “Me and You” and it’s a solid opener with a sweet hook, influences are clearly Nick Lowe, The Kinks, and Graham Parker. “I Will Dance” also reminds me of Elvis Costello, especially the lead guitar and it’s a true gem about celebrating an enemy’s death.

In fact, each song is a reference to love, sex, or death in the lyrics, the resigned “The Fuck Up” is also a lushly composed song that sports a quote of disdain by Labour Party alum Aneurin Bevan smack in the middle. Other notable tracks include “North Road,” the Bob Dylan-like “You’re On Your Own,” and the fun “I Love Everybody In The Whole Wide World (Except You).” Enough truth bombs here and it’s definitely music that deserves to be heard.

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti and The Complicated Men “Heart Inside Your Head”

Nick Piunti and The Complicated Men are back after the successful Downtime from 2020. The sound marries Nick’s Bryan Adams-like vocal and The Cars-like catchy synth and guitar combinations. It’s all totally original melodic gems and Nick’s skill that pulls it all together, and the title track effortlessly reminds us why he’s been one of the most frequent (and favorite) artists in my top ten lists over the years.

The opener “My Mind (Palys Tricks On Me)” is a gem that ends so quickly, that you’ll need to hit repeat. It feels like the band is going for a bigger stadium sound on “I Want Everything” and “Keys to Your Heart.” The power ballad of the latter is evident as Nick keeps your “Hopes Up,” and gently tells you “Nothing New.” Nick found his groove with Downtime, and here he treads the same ground. Occasionally there are bursts of insight on the excellent “One of The Boyz,” and “Slave To It” but overall it isn’t as sticky. However, this remains an excellent album and fans will gobble it up. Highly Recommended.

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EP Reviews and more: The Lickerish Quartet, Nezrok, Hoover and Martinez, Butterknife, Rumstock!

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The Lickerish Quartet “Threesome Vol. 3”

Ex-Jellyfish members (Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Eric Dover, and Tim Smith) finish the final piece of the triptych in Threesome Vol. 3.  And there will be a Japanese release of all three EPs with some bonus material for fans, but this volume is a bit sober compared to previous EPs. Opening with “Fortunately” has the signature harmonies and melodies, as it states “no one really goes to hell,” but looks to Roger’s “New Days,” for a lush, if not slightly psych-pop epic about hope in a new era. Fans of his solo work will recognize some passages, but “You All Alone” and “In The Meantime” feel more serious, slightly prog, and feel stuffed with anxiety. Musically, it’s the strongest volume and is highly recommended. Get it now on Amazon.

Nezrok “The Human Race”

Nezrok is Chris Korzen (his last name spelled backward) with a few helpers ( Fernando Perdomo and Chris DeAngelis) on this collection of smooth tunes.  Sounding a little like a combination of Todd Rundgren and Steely Dan, the title track is a solidly compelling composition with a classy guitar break. The Rundgren cover of “It Takes Two To Tango” is beautifully done, as with  “St Valentine’s Day Massacre” written shortly after the tragedy of the Parkland, FL high school mass shooting. The songs are both bittersweet and oozing soul. Highly Recommended.

Hoover and Martinez “The 3P”

The duo of Jamie Hoover (The Spongetones) and Christine Martinez. “The Scene of the Cryin’” is truly magic, co-written by Catesby Jones (co-writer of “Country Club” recorded by Travis Tritt). Christine’s honey vocals are out front on “Tequila,” a light country-pop ballad. Check it out.

Butterknife “Staring At The Ceiling”

Boston project that’s been 8 years in the making. This is a FREEBIE with several good songs. “Stagefright” starts with a nice instrumental, but keeps your attention with a catchy chorus. “If You Say So” is part Nirvana, part Big Star and “Broken Telecaster” is loaded with emo-energy.

Rumstock!

Another wonderful Rum Bar Records FREEBIE Compilation, but this promotes an evening concert in Somerville, MA on July 9, featuring The Dogmatics, Muck and the Mires, The Gypsy Moths, and The Shang Hi Los! Concert tickets are here

Amoeba Teen and James Booth & The Return

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Amoeba Teen

Amoeba Teen “Amoeba Teen”

Amoeba Teen has had plenty of time to refine their sound and they’ve leapfrogged their last release 2019’s Medium Wave in a big way. The band; Mark Britton on guitar, Simon Muttitt on bass, Mike Turner on guitar, and Carl Bayliss on drums had the goal of capturing the excitement of their live performances. They’ve done a terrific job. The band splits the vocal duties and it gives each song a distinct sound and feel.

The Pink Floydian opening to “Mainstream” is the calm before the storm that approaches, as the guitar-horns blare out with a strutting glam approach that hooks you right away, not unlike Jellyfish. The party continues with “Just Not That Into You” and the Weezer-meets-Cars vibe of“New Material World.” The influences are perfectly balanced here, as is the Teenage Fanclub layered jangle of “ A Good Reason Why” and it culminates in the Fastball vibe of “January,” with its steel pedal accents. The understated “Putting The Kids Through College” perfectly describes the anxiety of middle age, and reminds me of 10cc with its strong layered instrumentation. It then cranks up the riff to “11” on rockers “Barlight Crawl,” and “King Of The Cut,” with its “Helter Skelter” styled riffs. Behind from the slick production and catchy choruses are solid lyrical stories. Overall, you won’t get bored and not a note of filler. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten nominee list for 2022.

Amazon | Big Stir Records



James Booth and the Return

James Booth & The Return “Postcards From The New Frontier”

James Booth and The Return delivers a sprawling combination of power pop and progressive rock, created by fan-fave Fernando Perdomo and James Booth. Truthfully, it’s heavier on the prog and classic rock side, as the opener “All That I Can Never Be” draws influences from Jefferson Airplane, and The Smiths. The guitar attack of “No Friend Of Narnia” recalls Rush and early Black Sabbath, and James’ high vocal melds well with the thick instrumentation. Often solid rhythmic beginnings like “Heartbreak Hill,” rest on the catchy bass lines, and the impressive “Message For The King” gets moving with the handclaps and buzzing riffs. The hooks really work well on songs like “The Afterimage of Love,” a psych-pop gem that deals with “the one who got away.” 

Other songs (mostly on the album’s second half) don’t stick as well as the others. The hazy sitar in “Asgardia, Take My Hand” seems to stretch out the jam, as with the 7-minute long “Every shade of Emerald.” But there are a few goodies here; “Stardeath” and “I Nowhere You’ve Been” with the latter’s Queen-like guitar break rounding out the memorable tunes. Perdomo and Booth make a formidable pair, and fans of classic rock will warm to this album quickly. Check it out. 

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May Day: Pop Boomerang, Tommy & The Rockets, The Chords UK, Jack Skuller, Gordon Michaels, Kai Danzberg

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power pop spongebob
There is just so much music out there that I can get to, but I will make it as easy as I can to pick worthy stuff. An easy pick is Pop Boomerang‘s Marching Out Of Time compilation – a name-your-price download. The label is closing soon, so this is one of the last comp LPs they will do, and its a damn good one; check out the opener Little Murders “Wait ’til Summer,” The Wellingtons “Soda” and the fantastic Her Majesty’s Finest (feat. Kate Duncan) “Shake Yer Popboomerang.” Denmark’s own Tommy and The Rockets give a tribute to Record Store Day with “The Hottest Store In Town,” fans of the Ramones will eat it up.  The Chords UK gives us a sorrowful “White Van Man” while Jack Skuller changes his sound with a dynamic beat on “Watercolor Rain.” Gordon Micheals channels Billy Joel a bit on the memorable “Hey Doreen.” Finally, the talented Kai Danzberg will finally “Get It Right” a terrific hook-filled single.