Category: Power Pop Review

Underwater Sunshine and Richard X Heyman

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Underwater Sunshine

Underwater Sunshine “Suckertree”

It’s safe to say this band isn’t named after a Counting Crows album, but it does sound like an amazing lost Posies or Sloan album. Underwater Sunshine is a Vancouver quartet from the ’90s that never got a proper shot at stardom. They almost got signed by a big label in 1997, but it never happened. Lead vocalist/guitarist John Nikolic preserved the tapes of the band’s songs and with the time afforded during the pandemic, had Evan Morgan Productions re-mix the songs and finally release them. Fans of similar Canadian power-pop bands like Sloan and Grapes of Wrath are sure to find a lot to like.

Opening with “Verse 2” it’s a dead ringer for ‘Frosting on the Beater’-era Posies, with a killer chorus “When you come in with this song, you rock and roll” and the follow up “It’s You” keeps the same layered guitar and dense drum rhythms. “Baby Blue” (no relation to the Badfinger classic) slows the tempo a little, paints an expansive picture about mediation and projection with a wicked guitar break. There are elements of grunge not-so-hidden in a few songs, but the hooks are there and they stick more often than not. Despite the four-minute plus running time for most songs, it goes by quick as there are plenty of recommended tracks; “Who You Are,” “Rusty Crown” and “Listen To Reason.” The similarity between the aforementioned bands might have kept them from getting signed before, but it’s great to hear them now. Highly Recommended.

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Richard X. Heyman

Richard X. Heyman “Copious Notes”

The prolific DIY rocker Richard X. Heyman is back with familiar pop themes and musings on his 14th(!) album. Opening with a choral harmony, “Nearly There” is everything we love about RXH – a melodic gem about hope and happiness that is “nearly there.” The jangling acoustic guitars and horns on “Choices We Make” showcase Richard’s adept skills as a songwriter with a Motown soul, as he also does for the songs “Sink or Swim” and “The Greater Good.”

The gentle bounce on “Tell Me When” is another magical tune that will put you in a good mood, and RXH sounds like he’s having a ball playing it. Additional standouts include “The Oval,” and “Return To You.” However, like past recent work, some ballads (“Cedarbrook Park,” “Ransom,” and “But Our Love”) are bathed in nostalgia or dour mood and it slows the album’s momentum.  It’s just my opinion, but I would like to hear a little more of Richard’s wild side solo, or does he only save those songs for The Doughboys albums? Still, a very entertaining collection of songs that deserve to be heard.

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Francis Lung and The Mergers

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Francis Lung

Francis Lung “Miracle”

It’s a rare thing when you get a bedroom pop album that cuts really deep emotionally, as well as melodically. Wales UK artist Tom McClung aka Francis Lung’s new LP ‘Miracle’ accomplishes this with both simplicity and layered atmospherics that help give the songs an immediate quality but also keeps you coming back for repeat plays. Influenced by early Emitt Rhodes and Todd Rundgren, Lung’s style is more akin to Elliot Smith vocally, and Field Music musically.

The stilted intro gives way to the confident “Bad Hair Day” then the fast tempo guitar riff suddenly cuts to a slow choral in the bridge. The ballad “Blondes Have More Fun” is a powerful story of depression, then “Miracle” is another quiet song that grows in dense sound before it’s again cut short. The centerpiece “Don’t Call Me Baby” is a brilliant single that reflects on growing abuse and the driving hook and rich arrangements bring it home. “Want 2 Want U” is another compelling tune and “Uncommon” boasts a melody with experimental key changes all over the place. While mostly melancholic, this is a lush personal statement that should not be missed. Highly Recommended.

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The Mergers

The Mergers “Three Apples In The Orange Grove”

Liam? Is that you? Just kidding. German quartet The Mergers is very much influenced by British ’60s rock, with huge guitar riffs opening up on the frantic “Outta My Way,” combining the best of The Who and Oasis. The excellent “Herman” has an echoing retro psych-pop feel, but with even more power and hooks, and it’s a big highlight here. It slows the tempo for the dream-like “Seekin’ For The Light” and a few other songs, but we love those big hooks and deep bass. The band is happy to out-rock Oasis on “Till You Get Me,” “Better Days,” and “End of The Day.” The reverb-drenched sound creates a really awesome party vibe.

In some sense, the mid-tempo gems “Right As Rain” and “Maybe All You Need Is Time” feel more like lost hits similar to Outrageous Cherry. The addition of jangle and harmonies are very inviting, but here is where they should have lowered the reverb volume, so we can hear those vocals better. While not every song sticks, more than enough do, and it makes this a highly recommended album.

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Free Albums that you should pay for: Empty City Squares, The Eisenhowers, Ruby Bones, Gentle Hen

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Declare your independence from the lamestream music machines and pre-programmed, autotuned crappy corporate pop. Support your local artists and donate to them, so they make more great music! These are full albums – all for “name-your-price.” It’s been some time but the awesome Empty City Squares delivers a collection of great singles collected during the year. The opener “Hail To The Cheato,” a decidedly vicious takedown of a certain president. The songs are really good here, so download and enjoy! The Eisenhowers were quiet for over 12 years, but they came back to ‘Judge a man by the company he keeps’ a worthy album that I discovered a bit late, but if you want a taste of Raymond Weir’s band, then get the “bonus tracks” on ‘Too Much Music.’ New Jersey’s Ruby Bones pays tribute to their favorite indie bands, and they do such a good job it’s worth way more than the $3.50 they are asking. Gentle Hen‘s 2017 LP ‘Sneaking Up On The Moon’ is our final entry here, but it’s stuffed with indie-rock gems, like “Made Up Stars” and “Life of Leisure.” They say the best things in life are free, and these are likely the best free albums you’ll get this year, so toss these bands a few bucks!

 




OK, this aint free — but at $3.50 it’s close enough to make my list.

Wanderlust and John Larson and The Silver Fields

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Wanderlust

Wanderlust “All A View”

From 1992 to 1998, Wanderlust had it all; they opened concerts for The Who, and their debut album ‘Prize‘ was one of the rare power pop albums to break through to mainstream success. But like many bands, they lost their major-label contract and despite a terrific follow-up album through Not Lame Records, the band disappeared for a while. They had saved a few songs for a third album that never arrived… until now. Scot Sax found a DAT tape featuring acoustic recordings of those songs. And so, Sax, Rob Bonfiglio, Mark Getten, and Jim Cavanaugh reunited this year.

Opening with a near instrumental title track, it’s almost like you are stepping into a time machine, and it leads to the heavy guitars on “Black Currant Jam” a densely packed rocker, with plenty of layered riffs that come together nicely towards the coda. But then the magical “Something Happens” reaches out like a lost hit single with a strong hook that keeps you locked in. “Corduroy Moon” is just as strong, and “Trick of the Light” is another iconic single with a magical chorus sung by Bonfiglio. Compared to earlier Wanderlust, the band is mellower, but they take chances; “Critical Mind” is a beautifully creepy tune about stubbornness, and “Inspiration” is another winner with a bit of an Eagles vibe. Highly recommended and it gets a nod for my top ten of 2021 list.

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John Larson and The Silver Fields

John Larson and The Silver Fields “The Great Pause”

‘The Great Pause‘ refers to last year’s Pandemic and John Larson (formerly of The Marlowes) and The Silver Fields decided to step it up, and each song here is compelling. “Perfect Crime” is a catchy little song with a neat little verse about guilty thoughts. The songs vary in style and substance, and it all feels very DIY, but it’s got an authentic heart.

I also enjoyed character-based songs about frustration and dreams, like “Blue Mind” and “I Hate To Wait.” Larson also has a love of classic rock, and “Are You Willing To Move?” is designed to get you dancing. Those looking for traditional power pop will enjoy  “Painting In The Rain,” “Told Ya,” and the Rickenbacker jangle of “Progress.” Highly Reccomended.

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Summer Singles and EPs: D.A. Stern, Kerosene Stars, Everet Almond, The Amplifier Heads, Gentle Hen, B.U.D., The Maladaptive Solution, Cult Stars from Mars, You Filthy Dog, Daryl Bean

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And the flood of summer music just washes over you… This is the biggest haul in a long time, as bands are releasing all that music created during lockdown last year. Let’s start with a new EP from Los Angeles-based, New Jersey-raised D.A. Stern. Stern is one of those young artists that can legit be called upon to carry the torch of power pop into the future. The first single “I Look A Every Face (Cindy)” has that brilliant harmony-drenched approach. The video was directed by Dom Costabile and Andrew Narvaez. Pre-order here.

Many bands are back from self-imposed exile: Chicago rockers Kerosene Stars has a new single that asks “Where Have You Been?” a good question considering the chorus rocks! Then we get Everet Almond with a bouncy piano gem that sticks to you pretty nicely. The Amplifier Heads are “Summer Dazed” with its Beach Boys “Do It Again” vibe. Love those “mm-bop-did-its.” Gentle Hen did a summery re-mix of its memorable “She’s Got It Bad,” and it’s really good, so check out the LP it came from originally. Want some power? Get B.U.D.‘s single “What’s the Point of This (If I’m Not Into It)” it’s a bit Weezer-ish with a crashing chorus. It’s been a long time since I heard The Maladaptive Solution (how did I miss this single?) but info is sparse on them, so enjoy “Consort (Queen of Everything)” an epic mid-tempo rocker, and Jim Bacchi’s Cult Stars from Mars shows his “Funny Face” and its pure power pop greatness (I want an LP, Jim!) UK band You Filthy Dog is another EP that collects music from the past year, and “Face The Wave” and “Loved” remind me a bit of Carl Newman’s old band Zumpano. Similarly, with a ’90s vibe Mr. Strangelove (aka Daryl Bean) sings love songs for “Phoebe Waller-Bridge” and it’s all good.