Emperor Penguin and A Girl Called Eddy

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Emperor Penguin

Emperor Penguin “Soak UpThe Gravy”

Last year I was introduced to Emperor Penguin with Walnut Fascia, a band that throws together the best of late 60s psyche-pop with power pop. The band is firing on all cylinders with Soak Up The Gravy. “Hello Picasso” is a dense, hook-filled gem with a great guitar lead as an opener. “Go Guitargonauts” has a Link Ray meets XTC feel, full of looping verses and effects.

The band is a lot more focused on melody, as “What’s Come Over Me,” “Hole In Your Soul” and “A Brand New Yesterday” are exceptional tunes that don’t sound like anyone else. The great chord shifts on “Memoria Magdalena” make it a classic and the lounge styled “Speedwell Blue,” is a duet with the “Queen of Power Pop” Lisa Mychols and it’s a sweet change of pace. It ends in trippy fashion with the swirling guitars of “Burning Man,” a densely produced psychedelic pastiche that does not disappoint. While not every song is a potential hit, there is more than enough here to recommend this as an early nominee for my top album list of 2020.

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A Girl Called Eddy

A Girl Called Eddy “Been Around”

In late 2018, soul singer Erin Moran (aka A Girl Called Eddy) released a project album with Mehdi Zannad called The Last Detail, and it was a delightful breezy pop album with some serious talent behind it. Shame on me for not sharing it then, but Moran has followed this up with an equally impressive full-length LP. She wears her influences on her sleeve, and its soulful pop designed to melt your heart.

Morgan’s vocal falls somewhere between Aimee Mann and Jackie DeShannon. The lead track “Been Around” recalls Carole King with its warmth, elegant composition, and its supported horns and harmonies. The fragility of “Big Mouth” is followed by the bright horn/piano song “Jodi.” Those contrasts of whispered vulnerability and soaring melody also are best shown on “Charity Shop Window,” a collaboration with legendary songwriter Paul Williams. The guitars come out on “Someone’s Gonna Break Your Heart” and she sounds very much like Chrissie Hynde here. There are also elements of 70’s pop a la Bacharach on “Come To The Palisades!” Most everything here is great, meticulously crafted pop with a capital P. Highly Recommended.

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The Fast Camels, Ken Sharp and Baby Scream

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The Fast Camels

The Fast Camels “Full of Strange”

The Glasgow UK five-piece band, rooted in late ’60s psychedelic sounds recalls Mod-era Who, Jefferson Airplane, Love and Pink Floyd. The opener “Blissful Serenity” chugs along with its slowly building jangle rhythm, overflowing with reverb and a touch of backward guitar. It slows down to a simple acoustic guitar on “Caught In A Dream” which brings to mind The Moody Blue’s Justin Heyward and the harmonies are strong on the flowing “Storyteller.”

The band sounds tighter overall, and the songwriting has improved from previous efforts. The acidic lyrics of “The Wedding” tell a wicked tale of a cheating bride during the reception and atmospheric guitar work is excellent. The follow up “Sordid Dreams” showcase the dark vision of how “she messed up my mind.” Another highlight is the loopy “Family Tree,” with sounds like Syd Barrett’s version of a circus. The quite ballads work well as a contrast between the more sonically vibrant songs. “Honeymoon” is my favorite here, with a power-pop riff that carries the tune along with its pounding beat. Overall a great psyche-pop album, highly recommended.

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Ken Sharp

Ken Sharp “1301 Highland Avenue” (Reissue)

Ken Sharp has gone back to his debut album from 1994 and added more than a fresh coat of paint to a classic that’s been a Japanese out-of-print LP for almost 25 years. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of “1301 Highland Avenue,” he has remastered each track and added new sonic arrangements. 

An excellent example of power pop sounds better than ever, he opens with the wistful memory of the session on the brand new title track. You hear the influences right away, primarily The Beatles, Rubinoos and The Raspberries. Each track loaded with hooks – I don’t want to call out a single track (they are all good) and fans of 90’s power-pop should pick this up without hesitation. Trust me, you’ll love it. Highly Recommended!

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Baby Scream

Baby Scream “Just Covers”

Juan Pablo Mazzola (Baby Scream) had made several cover tunes between album projects and decided to share it with us. A few bands I wasn’t too familiar and that helped somewhat. Mazzola has a unique vocal that’s part John Lennon and part Tom Waits and it fits nicely with Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is” and Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon.” Other tracks are good, like “Secret Agent Man” and the understated Psychedelic Furs classic “Love My Way.” Deconstructing other songs to minimal synths like on 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love” and Sepultura(!)’s “Roots Bloody Roots” makes them nearly unrecognizable. However, you may want to check these covers out.

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The Weeklings and Danny Henry

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The Weeklings

The Weeklings “3”

Those veteran mop tops from Asbury Park, The Weeklings are back with their third effort. The Weeklings are; singer-bassist Lefty Weekling (Glen Burtnik,) singer-guitarists Zeek Weekling (Bob Burger) and Rocky Weekling (John Merjave,) and drummer Smokestack Weekling (Joe Bellia). While the band is likely the most Beatlesque outfit on the east coast, The Weeklings rock with their own unique sound and style.

“I Want You Again” is a great start with Lefty’s hook-filled chorus and tight harmonies, and it’s three minutes of perfection. “In the Moment” is another great song as it shimmers with multiple melody lines. The Rockpile-like “1,000 Miles Away” has rockabilly energy and the three-part harmonies on “Change Your Mind” are pure magic. The originals are so good and the covers too; they breathe new life into the Easybeats’ classic “Friday on My Mind” featuring Herman’s Hermit’s lead singer Peter Noone. The spirit of The Beatles lives in these exceptional musicians and without a note of filler, this becomes my first nominee for best album of 2020. Super Highly Recommended!

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Danny Henry

Danny Henry “Danifest Destiny”

Based in Milford, CT musician Danny Henry started recording this album with help from Adam Marsland, then the following year he met producer Fernando Perdomo and finished the album. Danny favors balladry, and his many influences include, Motown, Elton John, The Beach Boys, and the late Neil Innes.

It starts with a faux dance musical number “The Swoop” which takes a while to get past the jokey parts to the fifties-style chorus and guitar solo. Unfortunately “Crossfading” double tracks Danny’s falsetto, and it will turn off some as he tries to do a 10cc-like parody but doesn’t quite pull it off.

Henry then sings about innocent romance, like “Dearest Thing” or “David Cassidy Day” without a hint of sarcasm, and it borders on schmaltz. Some songs are wonderfully written like “Darling Eyes” and “Maybe We’re In Love” with hints of glam in the guitar, but Henry’s vocal takes getting used to. Ballads like “Cereal Man” and “Hollywood Boulevard” have lovely instrumental setups, and Danny’s vocal style works best here. If you’re looking for something different, give it listen.

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Compilations: Anny Celsi, Ex-Norwegian and Shplang

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Editor’s note: Every year we have a few artists do the “greatest hits” thing as an end to a career or a phase before a new direction. These artists are all highly recommended and should be part of any power pop fan’s album collection. These were my 2019 favorites…

 

Anny Celsi

Anny Celsi “Kaleidoscope Heart – 12 Golden Hits”

Annie Celsi’s music fits in a unique space. Here style is slightly psychedelic folk-pop with Brill Building hooks that’s been compared to Aimee Mann, Jackie DeShannon, Suzanne Vega, and Dusty Springfield. Celsi’s singing is emotional and compelling and with Kaleidoscope Heart, you get a terrific collection of her music, from the jangling gem “Tangle-Free World” to the Motown-like “Au Revoir, My Darling.” Aided by a cast of familiar talents like Nelson Bragg, Teresa Cowles, Amy Farris, Probyn Gregory, Adam Marsland, Robbie Rist, Evie Sands, and Nick Walusko, to name a few. It’s comfort food for your ears!

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Ex-Norwegian

Ex-Norwegian “Something Unreal: The Best Of Ex-Norwegian”

This is an expansive look at the talented duo of Roger Houdaille and Lucia Perez. Early on the band was produced by fellow Miami Beach resident Fernando Perdomo and the results are truly impressive. A massive amount of great music is here, 47 tracks across 2 discs. Roger’s early efforts stand up as the layered indie rock “Original Copy” and Kinks-influenced “Something Unreal” is just as catchy as ever. The band moves across genres effortlessly from psyche-pop to experimental pop, some of my favorites include the grunge guitar of “Jet Lag,” “Unstoppable,” “Initiative Rock” and I’m not even halfway through disc one. If you never checked out this band, this is a perfect primer. Highly Recommended.

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Shplang

Shplang “Los Grandes Excritos (1994​-​2019)”

Shplang was always a great power pop band, rooted in influences like the Beatles and Kinks, but it also included a unique point of view. The duo of Peter Marston and John Krause were eventually joined by drummer Brian Cannizzaro. With 17 tracks, it pulls from over 20 years of music. They go the full gamut of styles; opening with the sweet and catchy pop of “Spanish Galleons”  to the new wave-influenced “I Don’t Know I Don’t Care.” The band’s quirky highlight “Delacroix” takes the Fab’s “Dizzy Miss Lizzy” in a blender with Serge Gainsbourg. “Little Star” is another brilliant example of taking a simple lyric and crafting it into pop genius. “Sway” shows that these guys also know how to crunch those power-pop chords as good as anyone. Overall a highly recommended collection of songs that any power pop fan would be proud to own.

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International Power Pop: Super Ratones, Tommy Lorente, Star Trip, m.a.p.a.

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Editor’s note: Power pop remains an international genre, but non-English bands don’t always get attention. Here are some great bands from outside the USA that have 2019 releases that you should listen to — even if you don’t speak Spanish!

 

Super Ratones

Super Ratones “Carreras de Aviones”

Super Ratones is a veteran power pop band from Mar del Plata, Argentina. They’ve been influenced by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Who, Hollies, Kinks and the Byrds. They were nominated for Grammy Award in 2001, and they still continue to produce excellent Spanish language power pop to this day.

They continue the musical journey in 2019 with their tenth album, Carreras de Aviones which translates to “aircraft races.” The band still has the melodies and vocal harmonies that command attention as evidenced by the title track. The catchy melody of “Un Minuto es Mucho Tiempo” and guitar attack of “A Remar” are awesome examples of these talented guys. Highly Recommended, so check it out!

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Star Trip “Salto al vacio”

Star Trip is from El Altet, Alicante, Spain. They have a great power-pop sound, the opening title track “Salto al vacío” is a dense jangling guitar gem with heavy percussion, and most of the album follows this lead. I couldn’t find a weak song anywhere, and if these guys made an English language version of this LP it would be in my top 20 for sure. Very accessible and beautifully done. Highly Recommended.

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m.a.p.a. “So Simple and So Clear”

This band from Madrid actually sings in English, and if you want to know what the band name means, check out my last post. The band has a jangling sound with the light vocals of Ana, and takes its influences from West Coast pop. Check out “Always Again,” “I Look Around” and “Different in Mars”

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Tommy Lorente “Tommy Reltone”

Tommy Lorente does some of the most dynamic garage-rock-meets-power-pop I’ve ever heard from France. His latest double single is a Kinks-like gem, full of irresistible riffs and energy. I hope this leads us to a full-length LP soon!

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