The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club and The Bobbleheads

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Onesie

The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club “End Over End”

Chicago’s own The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club’s releases the album that will put them on the map. While the influences are very recognizable, the band’s compositions are catchy and original. The wicked riffs on “Get Up Get Up” are comparable to mid-70’s Cheap Trick and the retro-synths keys on “Starpower” bring to mind The Cars. The thick bass progressions and cowbell on “The Henry Norman Hotel” are so addictive, you don’t notice that the tune is nearly five minutes.

“Lifeguard” and “Burndown at Sundown” channel Sloan, and it’s truly old school rock and roll at its best. Next, “Here is Today” has some echoes of Matthew Sweet. And “Christine You’re Mean” is another stunner that rocks hard, in fact almost every song here hits the mark and this album deserves inclusion in my year-end best-of list. I will not waste another word — this is a “must-get” super highly recommended album!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Bobbleheads

The Bobbleheads “Myths and Fables”

The Bobbleheads are an indie pop-rock band, based in San Francisco, led by John Ashfield (guitar/vocals) and includes Pat Ennis (Bass), Rob Harford ( Guitar) and Rob Jacobs (drums, vocals). They proudly wear the “power pop” moniker and have been rocking since 2003. I really enjoyed the exuberance of Make Yourself Happy and looked forward to more of those bouncy brilliant melodies.

Ashfield’s vocals resemble Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) a bit on the understated “Like Oxygen” with a wonderful jangling chorus. But after that, the band seems to coast along. “I Really See You” has some nice vocal harmonies and the strong lyrics of “Holding On” showcase the dangers of clinging to a bad relationship and it’s “not always a happy ending.” A strong riff emerges on “Do You?” and it will have you singing along. But these moments aren’t often enough. We still have some highlights, like the shimmering jangle of “Anne Murray Centre” and “Feel This Way.” But unfortunately, the hooks are lacking on many songs. Fans will still enjoy this, but beginners should check out the band’s earlier work first.

Amazon | CD Baby

Onesie and The Unswept

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Onesie

Onesie “Umpteenth”

Brooklyn band Onesie is back, led by Ben Haberland going in several directions here. Opening with “Ten Times Tinnitus” a sly XTC meets Pearl Jam-style progression that quietly sticks with you. Some riffs are clearly reminiscent of 90’s heavy rock like on “Customers” and “Amour Phuss.”  An early treat “Final Days Of Nineteen” has a great mix of instruments along with a gentle vocal with harmonies that demands repeat plays.

Another favorite for me is “Would You Be My Goon?” a wonderful blend of melody and pastoral mood similar to Sugarplastic. Ben doesn’t stand still stylistically, as we get a bit of glam (“Legacy Act”) and bouncy pop (“Award Show,” “Missing The Heart”). The songs are quirky and celebrate their own weirdness a bit too much, but it’s the huge hooks that’ll keep you listening. Highly Recommended for sure. Check it out!

Amazon


The Unswept

The Unswept “Minor Blemishes”

The Unswept are a family trio; Charlie, Liz, and Ryan O’Brien,  UK transplants to Chicago that pulls from many classic power pop influences, and on the opening Brydsian jangle gem “Sunshining” it sets the tone right away with its light harmonies. “The Boy Who Wakes You Up” describes a stalker-admirer with a sweet chorus, and Liz takes lead on the country-kissed “You Ain’t On My Mind.” For pure Beatlesque fun, it’s hard to beat “Fake It” with its catchy Monkees-like guitar arpeggio.

The band soldiers on with slight variations on the retro style, some work (“It Doesn’t Really Matter”) and others don’t (“She Just Knows It’s Over”). “Brown Line” is a solid break-up song with excellent rhythm and drum work. At times the retro vibe reminds me of old Rainbow Quartz labeled bands. These tunes may have a blemish or two, but they will put a major smile on your face.

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Salt and Richard X. Heyman

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Salt

Salt “The Loneliness of Clouds”

This is a power pop supergroup that skipped under the radar, so you should check it out. Salt is a French-American band born in 2016 during sessions for a Game Theory tribute in Abbey Road Studios. The band was formed around Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, REM, Big Star), Anton Barbeau, and Stéphane Schück, all collaborators and friends of the late Scott Miller, despite never having met. Quickly joined by Fred Quentin and Benoit Lautridou they set about recording an album. Influences range from the Beatles to XTC, REM and Game Theory as it feels like progressive rock filtered through a pop lens.

The swirling guitar chords of “A Song For Jerome” are matched by Barbeau’s strong vocal presence, the instrumentation is highly layered as the chorus sticks with you. Another gem, “Plastic Future Plans” recalls ’80s pop rock, accented by Lautridou’s strong drumming and the angular guitar chords. “Blast With Happy Guru” has more of a Posies influence, with a touch of John Lennon. Some brilliant guitar work is highlighted on “Eastern Colors,” but as we continue forward the complex instrumentation supplants the melodies (“Shiny Leather Sun”) as things sound more like a psychedelic jam session.  Despite this, a majority of this album is catchy and worthy of the label: Highly Recommended.

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Nick Lowe

Richard X. Heyman “Pop Circles”

The venerable Richard X. Heyman delivers his newest solo LP, Pop Circles with an eye on the past, but a focus on the future. RXH is an exemplary solo artist who has been very productive over the past decade with both his solo work and The Doughboys. “Guess You Had To Be There” is an appreciation of pop’s past in the ’60s with richly composted strings (Thanks to Julia Kent and Chris Jenkins) and a steady bass line (Thanks to his wife, Nancy Leigh ).

The vintage jangling sounds throughout the album are well utilized to give his music a timeless quality and Richard’s vocals are strong and steady.  “Action Screams Louder Than Words,” has an urgency and conviction, along with a solid solo guitar break. The romantic mid-tempo songs are also a big highlight, “As Love Would Have It” and the piano-led “Marlena” stand with RXH’s best work.  Some of the more casual pop, like “A New Light” has echoes of Todd Rundgren and the harpsichord rolls and harmonies on “About Time” makes it a pure joy to listen to.  While not every song resonates as well, a majority of them do. Overall, this is a triumph. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts and Scott Lavene

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Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts

Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts “This is the Sound”

Ryan Hamilton has bounced around over the past few years as an artist, but he settled in Fort Worth, Texas. And he brings a rowdy party with his band The Harlequin Ghosts. Opening with a song about his whiskey drinkin’ pot smokin’ “Mamacita,” it sets the tone for the loud guitar anthems that follow. What Ryan continues to do is set forth a series of catchy sing-along choruses with heavy rock chords similar to Bowling For Soup, and the most infectious of the bunch “Get Down” takes no prisoners as it rocks away.

Other tracks that keep the party going include “Bottoms Up,” “This Is The Sound” and “Far Cry.” But Ryan knows when to take his foot off the gas a little, and serenades on “Feels Like Falling In Love” and “All Fall Down.” Then “Girl vs. Monster” allows Ryan to explore a more country sound with some slide guitar. The music is both uplifting and heartfelt on “Let You Go,” where loving someone really means letting go. It gets emotional and introspective on the closer “Won’t Stop Now.” I could not find a bad track here, and overall it’s a fine example of modern power pop. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten nominee list for 2019.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Scott Lavene

Scott Lavene “Broke”

Essex UK musician Scott Lavene is very matter of fact in his debut LP Broke.  His spoken narrative style is comparable to Ian Drury, Lou Reed or David Byrne. On the opening track, “My Stereo”  has a slight country vibe, with conversation over a bassline that dovetails nicely into a sung chorus. “Apples And Pears” is a punk-like rant through modern life and the universal struggle of job, marriage, etc. In some ways, the non-narrative “Super Clean” is the highlight here – a little Bowiesque approach goes a long way with its bass lead.

While the melodies are okay, and some of the lyrical stories are funny,  the next few songs are really strung out. The spacey “Modern World” with its sullen strings or the slow funk on “Moonbeams” made this listener lose momentum. “Light Of The Moon” has some nice Keith Moon styled drumming in the intro before it settles into another conversation with Scott, doing his best “scratching out a living” with his band. Overall an interesting album that needs a few more melodies and less narration. But it’s still worth exploring, so check it out!

Bandcamp | Amazon

The Lunar Laugh and Tony Low

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The Lunar Laugh

The Lunar Laugh “Goodnight Noises Everywhere”

The Lunar Laugh is an experienced pop band with mates Connor Anderson, Jared Lekites, Campbell Young and Jimmy Jackson back for their third album.  The brilliant opening single by Lekites “Welcome To The World” is a showcase for the band’s eclectic brand of power pop. Drawing from classic pop influences and rich harmonies it moves in more varied directions as “Old New Kid In Town” bounces along. The ballads are more present and are more modern sounding, with “Another Casualty,” sounding like a lost Lindsey Buckingham classic.

“Tell Me Story” is another highlight here, with its shuffling country rhythm and catchy chorus. While the 80’s influences are felt on “Waiting For A Sign,” the power pop slide guitar comes back on the amazing “By The Light of The Living Room” and the sweet “Saying Goodbye” with its Brian Wilson meets Beatles ending. Overall a great album with brilliant moments. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Nick Lowe

Tony Low “TO New York”

Tony Low, a founding member of New York band The Cheepskates, now resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. But as his newest solo album reveals, he’s still got a New York state of mind.

However, we start with the jangling gem “Murder Beach,” which is actually about shootings that took place in Myrtle Beach, SC. Ironically even the locals started referring to their hometown by that name. “Hum of the Neighborhood” is a gentle story about living away from home. Another highlight “The Abomination” is a political rant with just a hint of sarcasm and dismay. Soul searching takes place on “The Plan,” as it follows looking for someone and some hope. Musically its got nice string flourishes and a spacey feel. The songs are filled with anxiety but “This Old World” ends on a positive note. A good LP that deserves to be heard.

Bandcamp