We start our November selection with the welcome return of Shake Some Action‘s “Break It Down,” it’s a slow-burning hook that sticks in your head quickly. The Thin Cherries are a Chicago band with a little more alt. rock feel, and the jangle band *repeat repeat gives a freebie that’s pretty cool with a nice beat. However, the best freebie of this month is the work of Orbis Max; as he collaborates with some of my favorite artists like Danny Wilkerson, Lannie Flowers, Ed Ryan, Lisa Mychols, and more. Adam Marsland has remixed and remastered his final album, The Owl and The Full Moon, and Beach Boys fans will want to soak that in. UK singer-songwriter John Myrtle has that retro-pop vibe with a great ballad “Get Her Off My Mind,” check out the entire LP for more. Kansas City’s Eggs on Mars serves up a smooth EP that boasts Midwestern charm and hooks, and Toronto’s Claude Kent (aka Clockwise) delivers an EP that reminds me of early Joe Jackson, full of sweet pop hooks.
Category: Singles Only
Halloween Treats: Dolph Chaney, Vista Blue, Chris Church, Nolan Potter, Brilliant Mistakes, It’s Karma It’s Cool, The Sunchymes, Roller Disco Combo, Robbie Rist, Nick Piunti
Scary to think October is almost over, but we’ve got you covered with great power pop. Dolph Chaney has a fun party vibe on his new single “This Halloween,” as he ends a toxic relationship. Vista Blue reliably combines Beach Boys and The Ramones on its annual Halloween EP, and Chris Church rocks with his Triple Play Single, featuring a track from each of his three LPs. Texas musician Nolan Potter gives us a frighteningly good EP, that channels Todd Rundgren, King Crimson, and more – check out “Holy Scroller.” Overall great prog-rock throughout. The Brilliant Mistakes brings us back home with “The Stories We Tell” and Its Karma It’s Cool is back with an advanced single “She Slept With The Radio On” – and I do that each weekend. The Sunchymes tap the late 60s retro vibe at “Station X” and Roller Disco Combo from Spain is nothing like their name, but they are great power pop, check out the rich “Indonesian Breakfast” and jangling “Dear Mean.” Finally, Ballzy Tomorrow (aka Robbie Rist) covers a great Todd Rundgren tune (it’s a freebie too!) and the always reliable Nick Piunti made a sweet single this past August, and it still sounds great. Happy Halloween!
October EPs: Bryan Estepa, Four By Four, The Small Breed, Kurt Baker, Drew Beskin and more
Great new music – Bryan Estepa teased us with the single “Back To The Middle” and now the entire EP is here, and it’s all killer, no filler – tasty bittersweet pop. The Pre-Amps of Madrid, Spain bring the bright pop with harmonies and horns on “Four By Four,” its classic Byrds/Beatles influences played to perfection. But if you really want to go retro, check out The Small Breed in the tradition of New Colony Six. Meanwhile, Kurt Baker is back from Spain and has been releasing a group of singles (which together make a great EP) that proves he hasn’t lost his power-pop chops. Drew Beskin released a terrific LP this past summer, and now he’s got some excellent Halloween singles too. Speaking of October, it leads to a great freebie – Rum Bar Records newest sampler. Like Halloween candy, it’s sweet, crunchy, and maybe has a razor blade hidden in it 😜 .
October Singles: Andrew Stonehome, Ken Sharp, Cliff Hillis, The Webstirs, Gavin Eimerman, Not A Moment Too Soon, The Hi-End, Abbie Barrett, Kai Danzberg
Lots of new October music here, and better than pumpkin latte for sure. There is so much music, that I’ll make a totally separate post for EPs. Andrew Stonehome is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Portland, Oregon and he delivers a perfect slice of power pop with “Heartbreaker.” The reliable Ken Sharp returns and he’s still got glam on the brain with “Hellcat,” and the great Cliff Hillis gives us a perfect driving song with “Just Drive” remember “it always sounds better when you sing along.” Chicago’s Webstirs are back with a new LP, and here is the opening single “For A Moment” and Gavin Eimerman shares a freebie about “Losing Ground” assisted by his dad bassist Herb Eimerman and friends. When he is not teaching African politics, Pierre Englebert makes music as Not a Moment too Soon and I think it should’ve been a more “R” rated song title, but it’ll do. The Hi-End rocks hard on the Stones-like call-to-arms “Actions Speaks Louder Than Words,” and Abbie Barrett is very much like Debbie Harry on the fantastic single “I Will Let You Know.” Finally, what’s better than Kai Danzberg teaming up with Roger Manning, Jr. (Jellyfish) for an ELO-like gem “Turn It Up,” a love letter to power pop radio and a cameo by DJ Michael McCartney Enjoy!
More September Singles and EPs: The Amplifier Heads, Shake Some Action!, The Nobility, The Cheap Cassettes, Alex Dominish, Richard Turgeon, On The Runway, Meyverlin
September isn’t over yet, and neither are the new singles and EPs from great power pop artists. The Amplifier Heads signed with Rum Bar Records and Sal “Shag 72” Baglio (The Stompers & The Peppermint Kicks) rocks out with this new Glamtastic single “SaturmalienS”. It’s also so nice to hear Shake Some Action! again and “Break It Down” mixes psych-pop and jangling rhythms to perfection. Nashville’s The Nobility gives us “The Sweetest Sound” and it is indeed a great tune — let’s hear more of this! With the end of the season, The Cheap Cassettes make it official with the slow R&B rocker “Endless Summer Ends.”
A few EPs here are also worth a download; Richard Turgeon gets reflective with a series of Campfire Songs. The buzzing anthem of “Be Who You Really Want To Be” and “Line of Sight (Tahoe Song)” recall classic-era REM. Memphis-based On The Runway is a new band created by Randy Norris and John “Boz” Boswell (Crash into June) with help from Neilson Hubbard, and Will Kimbrough. The easy-going mood of “This Charade,” and “Stuck On You” lifts you up and sticks with you. Alex Dominish is the guitarist for the Showboat Branson Belle (Branson, Missouri) and he’s got a bouncy, poppy sound guaranteed to put a smile on your face; be it first romance (“Rockin’ Steady”) or first job (“Desk Job”). Finally, a video from the upcoming band Meyverlin is here. The LP is out next month, they have a distinct ’80s influence, fans of the Cure will like this one.