Category: Singles Only

September Singles: Brad Brooks, Mike Daly, The Amplifier Heads, Shadow Show and Irene Peña

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Brad Brooks is back! The title track to his new LP has been released as a single. Its a rabble-rousing rocker that recalls The Black Crowes and demands repeat plays!

Mike Daly‘s first single for Big Stir Records and he hits one outta the park with echos of Elvis Costello here. This is a catchy gem that deserves to be heard.

The Amplifier Heads have a Beatlesque styled single with its meta approach describing power-pop perfectly; “a one minute 50-second hit song that I just can’t get outta my head.”

Shadow Show is a Detroit band that combines elements of garage and psychedelic melodies into a blender as they offer a psychotic reaction to an increasingly chaotic world.

This is a lovely tribute from Irene Peña to Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne). It arrived at the end of this sad summer since his passing due to complications from COVID-19. The players here include John Borack (Popdudes, The Armoires) on the drums, Jeff Colchamiro and Ron Allen on guitar, Steve Zeilman on bass and Irene herself on vocals.

Happy Labor Day Singles and EPs! Erik Voeks, Brent Windler, Vista Blue, The Junior League, Ken Sharp, Lisa Mychols & Super 8

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Enjoy these fresh singles for the long weekend.

Erik Voeks has been one of my favorite DIY rockers for years, but this timely political gem is one of the best singles I’ve heard in a long time. His new band The Ghosters have bumped up his stock quite a lot here!

Brent Winder the singer/songwriter for “Sons of Great Dane” is back working on a new solo album, and this single “Around The Bend” is a richly arranged gem. It’s a FREEBIE that shouldn’t be missed.

The ever-present Vista Blue is back, saying goodbye to summer in a mashup of Ramones and Beach Boys glory. Speaking of the Beach Boys, are you a fan of Brian or Mike?

The Junior League (Joe Adragna) kicks major ass here with Scott the Hoople on this Monkees meets Dylan single “Summer of Flies.” Great summer tunes on this EP.

Ken Sharp gives us “Halyx Rising (Lora’s Song).” It is a Queen-like gem that dazzles with the effects and guitar riffs. Inspired by a new documentary, “Disneyland’s Forgotten Sci-Fi Rock Band.”

Lisa Mychols and Super 8 dropped some “bonus” session tracks from their latest album. These sessions are a glimpse into the recording process and “unplugs” these cool songs.

 

Summer Singles: The Mayflowers, Richard Turgeon, Mom, Your Friend Jebb, Detroit Cobras, Vanilla

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Japanese rockers The Mayflowers newest single “Sunflower Girl” gets it’s premiere on Power Popaholic! Band leader Osamu Satoyama wrote the music and worked with Gary Frenay (The Flashcubes) for the lyrics. This is simply awesome and the new album is expected very soon! Get it on Amazon

Richard Turgeon turns up the juice with this rocker about the sad state of our nation.

Swedish rockers Mom channel late the 1970s power pop bands The Jam, The Beat, etc. Very cool.
Your Friend Jebb is joined by Lisa Mychols and Tom Richards and its a match made it power pop heaven! Comparable to the Agony Aunts “Change of Seasons” is amazing! Plus the band teams up with Terry Draper (Klaatu) on “Sound The Alarmed.”

Detroit Cobras really know how to raise the mood with “Feel Good,” a song that you need to blast at full volume and sing along to!

Jayson Jarmon from Vanilla has been releasing a series of singles that reflect many different musical eras and styles. This time he imagines himself a Glam rocker circa 1974. T-Rex fans will love this one!

New Singles: Dollface, The Toms, The Perms, Timmy Sean, The Top Boost

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This ’90s-era UK punk band snuck some power pop in there! These tracks sure are good, and they are FREE downloads! Check out the Dollface band page for more.

Any music from Tom Mardola (aka The Toms) is welcome, and he’s released this brilliant single to us as a FREE download. A big thanks to Futureman Records for this one.

Canadian band The Perms are working on a new album, and this single featuring new singer Amy Lewis. A great example of a band expanding its sound. Get it on Amazon

Timmy Sean has been pretty busy this year starting his new label Noisewater Records, named after his outstanding debut album. It looks like he’s been holding back long enough and his new track, “In California” is outstanding. I really look forward to his new LP!


The Top Boost proves its versatility with the country-styled pop “Tell Me That’s You’re Mine.” Love the wicked guitar breaks contrasting the innocence in lyrics. Check it out.

Cool and Controversial singles: Badfinger, Rick Gallego, Zak Nilsson, Starbelly, Dungeon of Skeletons, Frankie Siragusa

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“Baby Blue,” taken from the 1971 Badfinger album Straight Up, is rated one of the band‘s greatest power pop songs. An updated version of this classic features vocals by Badfinger’s sole surviving original member, singer/guitarist Joey Molland, with Matthew Sweet adding backing vocals and guitar. Molland has been working on a new album Be True to Yourself, with veteran producer Mark Hudson. This new version is pretty controversial, as fans on Facebook have let loose some blistering criticism that this version is akin to sacrilege. Judge for yourself. 

Thanks to Rick Gallego (aka Cloud Eleven) we have a jingle for the health food store Brian Wilson owned from 1969 to 1971. Wilson went on a big health food kick at the time exemplified in the song “Vegetables”, written for the Beach Boys’ album Smile in 1966. It sure makes me smile!

Zak Nilsson (son of legendary musician Harry) wrote this song about his dad. Produced by Fernando Perdomo & Jason Berk, all proceeds benefit the City of Hope Cancer Research and Treatment Center. To hear a tribute to Harry’s music from last year that Zak participated in, listen to This is the Town: A Tribute to Nilsson, Vol. 1

The great Starbelly returns with this new single featuring the incredible Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Beck, The Lickerish Quartet) on piano, backing vocals, and other lavish orchestrations. Drink it all in — it’s a winner!

Dungeon of Skeletons is a new band from Nashville, the always excellent Justin Kline is the driving force behind it and he’s developed two excellent singles. I can’t wait for the full length!


Frankie Siragusa (who played with The Posies) has a solo track under the name Jebb. It’s a grower about our ongoing COVID-19 crisis.