Category: Top Ten of 2009 Candidate

I’ve always been a fans of Chicago’s Office and it’s catchy indie pop sound. Band leader Scott Mason recently gave us pop fans a gift — their new album as a free download. And oh yes, it well worth the effort. Mecca has a steady rhythm and swaggering guitar riffs blended with a thick synth gloss. I like to think of them as Sparks meets The Shins. The songs start off on the Queen influenced “Sticky Dew” with a great chorus and it just gets better from there. You can’t beat the chiming genius of “Enter Me, Exit You,” where melodic multi tracking bliss and a big beat are just awesome ear candy. In Scott’s Blog he gives us the raw tracks on how he built this album’s signature song. This is a fascinating listen with all the parts broken out (so you musicians take note). The other songs are all really good too, (no filler here) and at this price I will not complain. This is a great follow up to the sound of “Q&A” from a few years ago, and Mason’s band just gets better the more I hear it. Fans of Queen, 10cc and  The Minus Five will simply go spastic over this manna from The Office. You have no reason NOT to get this one.

Detroit’s Chris Richards and the Subtractions have released their latest collection of hook-laden, power pop. Richards has been doing this for a long time (since 1989) and the experience shows. The crunchy guitar riffs lead the opening “I Can’t Quit Her” and more sweet melodies and luscious harmonies follow. There is enough rich reverb on the Raspberries-like “Consolation” and heavy rock guitar on “I, Miss July” that it demands repeat listens. Richards has expanded the popularity of the group worldwide, where he explains, “I’ve been fortunate to have my records released and do well in Spain, Sweden, Japan, and Australia and both the press and fan reaction have been amazing. It’s a challenge trying to let fans in multiple countries know we’ve got a record out, but there’s such a great network of the music’s fans out there that word just seems to spread.” Some tracks have a thick jangle texture to them, like “Oh Canada (Part Deux)” and others remove the wall of sound and keep the melodies in the forefront (reminding me of Del Amitri a little) in “Take It From Me.” It’s hard to argue with such good music, but we only have mid-tempo and heavy rockers here (no ballads) if you want to be picky. “I Do Declare” has some great percussion work courtesy of drummer Larry Grodsky and “Beg or Borrow”has an amazing guitar solo ending. Fans of the Posies, Lolas and Tommy Keene will be in pop heaven with this one. Overall, this album is exemplary of the genre, and thus deserves a top ten nod for 2009. 

Preston Pisellini and Mark Winkler have formed the Webstirs’ backbone for 16 years, and after 2000‘s indie-pop gem, “Radio Racket,” they moved on to other projects. Well, after seven long years, Chicago’s Webstirs have roared back to life. Opening with the wistful piano chords of “Summer Fades” it nods tribute to Brian Wilson’s “Smile” and then blasts into the dual guitar and horn attack of “Wesley Station” that draws from The Jellysfish, Queen and The Posies, and it will have power pop fans pulse racing — amazing melody with a multi-instrumental celebration of sound. Preston and Mark are helped by former Redwalls drummer Jordan Kozer and bassist Charlie Short to round out this excellent album. This continues with “Somewhere To Start” and “So Long” as the party just keeps going, with some great piano support, to the incredible riffs and harmonies. I was waiting for a low point on this album.. and there isn’t any. “Malaise” is a great Beatlesque romp, with that rolling baseline and Penny Lane era horn arrangements. And that doesn’t mean these guys don’t rock hard either, the next song “Apparition Shine” is an amazing Green Day meets Weezer inspired single that draws together a wall of guitar sound that will sonically mow you down. It’s followed by the ELO-inspired “Big Break” full of rich synths and echoing vocals that Jeff Lynne would be proud of.  On “What Do You Believe” it goes back to both Wilson and Bacharach with it’s gorgeous harmonies and horn flourishes. “Still Drowning” mentions the frustrations of the current state of music industry, and surviving in it. Much of the songs deal with the experiences of the past eight years, and it requires multiple listens to really appreciate it. And the music here doesn’t just have obvious influences, it transcends that to form something unique. This is what many pop fans have been waiting for all year. The Webstirs have delivered genius. Don’t let this one pass you by.

New York based singer/songwriter Jeff Litman has created a wonderful debut that shines with authenticity. Although trained in both jazz and classical music, it’s Jeff’s love of rock and pop melody that drives the songs that focus on the aftermath of a failed relationship. The opener “Anna” starts the song cycle with upbeat pop bounce, much like Chris Von Sneidern or Jim Boggia. As the album progresses, the lyrics show the stresses of compromise and self-doubt in the story arc. The solid melody of “Complicated” is supported by excellent piano work and jangle guitar riffs. The compromises of the relationship culminate in “My Wife” which is a wedding proposal set as an Elenor Rigby-like ballad with guitar and strings. “Everything You’re Not” has a solid melodic arrangement similar to Jason Falkner’s style and the catchy “Detroit Layover” and “Knock Me Down” are both solid rockers. No filler on any tracks here, and even the tune “Open Arms” uses different instruments (like a xylophone) to get the right emphasis. It runs the gamut, and toward the end of the album, you sense an emotional reckoning is coming.

And when it comes it’s truly great as the real emotional heart of the album comes out on the ballads. Both the title track, “Postscript” and the closer “It Wasn’t Me” are so well done, that the lyrics “It wasn’t me, it was you,”cut to the truth of the break-up, and moving on with your life. A powerful statement and a highly personal work absolutely deserves “top ten” of 2009 consideration.

My Space | CD Baby | Jeff’s Site

I knew there would be some crossover between Today’s Modern Pop.com and Powerpopaholic. Here is a excellent example of modern alt. pop that I can endorse wholeheartedly. Just listen to the sparkling harmonies on the track “Plots are for Cemeteries” and you’ll be sold. Bricolage, are Glasgow gents: Graham Wann, Wallace Meek, Darren Cameron, and Colin Kearney. Produced with sparkling economy by former Altered Images guitarist Stephen Lironi, its dozen tracks are the product of its influences, like Teenage Fanclub, Belle & Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand, but also they have developed their own distinct clean pop sound. If you want pop romanticism of the Smiths, then “Turn You Over” will fit the bill, or Northern Soul-style stomp then “The Waltzers,” will suit you. This is pop full of melody, verve and wit – for a modern world that is about to discover how badly it needed it. Bricolage may be a new strand in Glasgow’s ongoing musical history, but for Bricolage themselves, this is where their own stunning history truly begins being written. After a few listens, I couldn’t find a track I didn’t like — and it makes my Top Ten of 2009. Happy Happy, Joy Joy!

My Space | eMusic | Lala