Singles Mostly: The Lunar Laugh, Willie Wisely, Air For Ants, Vegas For Randolph, The Dig

The Lunar Laugh (aka Jared Lekites and friends) dedicated this single to the memories of Pat DiNizio and Tom Petty. A great catchy chorus with a sweet slide guitar riff! Pure bliss.

Willie Wisely delivers a live studio session recorded live in a Laurel Canyon, with Dan Kalisher (guitar/pedal steel), Erik Kertes (bass), Mark Stepro (drums) and Ryan Perez-Daple (sax).

Air For Ants is a New York City indie rock band with ambient pop and jazz elements. Proof that some experimental pop can be damn catchy and full of pent-up emotion.

Vegas With Randolph‘s new LP Legs & Luggage is due out any day now — this is the awesome opening track. Plenty of fuzzy riffs you can dance to!

The Dig is another NYC indie-pop outfit with a two EPs out for 2018; Moonlight Baby & Afternoon With Caroline. A little synth and harmonies never hurt anyone right? They remind me of Sparks a little. Here is a track from them.

Friday Singles and Freebies: The Premiere of Faux Co! Vista Blue, Magic City, Ryan Allen, Reno Bo

Exclusive Premiere! 

Chicago’s Faux Co. is the brainchild of songwriter Ben Mackey. Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Mackey has been writing 60’s influenced indie pop songs for a decade. This NEW single “Prozac Spaceman” is an exclusive Power Popaholic premiere. The core line-up of Faux Co is Ben Mackey, Trevor Pritchet and Chris Lee. This single has some great Rickenbacker strums and the melody flows along a catchy shaker beat. I can’t wait for the album!

The prolific Vista Blue is back with another great FREE downloadable album. This 6 song Ep contains much fun guitar crunchiness with a deep Beach Boys cut “It’s OK.”

Irish power popper Conor Lumsden from The Number Ones is Music City and here he’s playing every instrument on this A-Side ‘Pretty Feelings’ which sound like a lost Lindsey Buckingham track! Awesome! We want more Conor!

Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms are back and this advance track is just the start of his next release. This is a fantastic rocking track that just makes me salivate for the next song. Scream along and play air guitar to this one!

Reno Bo has some reflective ballads here to calm you after all that jumping around. Reno has a LOT of singles on his Bandcamp site, check out the Beatles cover and others.

Freebie Fridays: William Duke, Richard Turgeon, Lund Brothers

Richard Turgeon just keeps going! After the release of his new LP Lost Angeles, he decided to cover one of the most popular power pop bands of early the 2000’s, The Gin Blossoms (who have a new release out, btw.)  Richard does a pretty faithful rendition of that band’s biggest hits. These are both FREE downloads. Enjoy!


William Duke

William Duke “Quatro”

William Duke is back with a fine short LP (or extended EP) with an assortment of goodies. Duke’s sound is like a mix of The Pernice Brothers and Eric Matthews, with elements of Roots, Soft Psyche, and Baroque pop. He gives us the opening “Caroline And The Silver Screen,” a near five-minute jangling epic. The infectious beat and harmonies stay with you on “Junk #2,” and the moody mid-tempo “Hotel’s End” and “As Good As It Gets” tugs at your emotions. No real filler, and super highly recommended. Plus, it’s a FREE download.

Lund Brothers

Lund Brothers “Live!”

OK, it’s NOT a freebie. I rarely review live concert albums, but this one was worth it. The Lund Bros’ historic set at Seattle’s Experience Music Project (EMP) showcases a band that captures that “live” vibe with maximum impact. As a stripped-down trio of Chris Lund, his brother, Sean and Gwon Chang – they pull off a great set. Highlights include “Plastiscene” and “In My Hands,” fans of Cheap Trick and Redd Kross will want to check this out!

Amazon | CD Baby

Singles, EPS and Freebies: Vegas With Randolph, You’re Among Friends, Yani Martinelli, The Susan Constant and Scott Brookman

Vegas With Randolph returns with the power-pop goodness of “Women in Airports” in advance of their next album, Legs & Luggage.

You’re Among Friends are a casual rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Their music has been described as “rollicking blues at its core with a sugary coating of power pop” by Scene Magazine. check out this FREE download.

Yani Martinelli features some wonderful vocal harmonies and light acoustic melodies. The classical soft-pop style of “Radiohouse 12am” is similar to The Free Design. Simply beautiful and this is a FREE download.

The Susan Constant is a Boston indie band with just plenty of punch to keep power pop fans interested. Check out the solid rant “Constructive Summer,” and it’s a FREE download.

Scott Brookman has decided to go unplugged for good. He’s not going for the polished pop sounds of his past and is now concentrating on low-fi acoustic songs. “How Could I Let It Win?” and “Whatever She Was She’s Gone” have that McCartney vibe. Yani Martinelli,  Mario Pilarte López lend a hand, and it’s a FREE download.

Let’s cap things off with a new single from Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) called “White Noise’, the first track from Steven Page’s new album ‘Discipline: Heal Thyself Pt. II’ which is coming out on September 14th.

Singles, Demos and Freebies

The Skullers have covered and recorded a version of punk legend  Richard Hell’s single “I’m Your Man” All proceeds will benefit Career Gear, a non-profit organization helping men in need enter or re-enter the workforce.

Joe Algeri is at it again! The Jangle Band returns with an advance single from the second album! And it is a FREEBIE!

Lo-fi goodness from GUMS. It’s a Glaswegian indie band and this freebie compiles the best bits from EPs and singles from 2012-2016.

Kai Danzberg has released a bunch of demos from his critical hit Pop Up Radio. It shows the time and patience needed to put out a solid pop album.