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.
Huntington Beach, CA native Addison Love (Yorktown Lads) is a protege of Michael Simmons (Sparkle*Jets UK, Popdudes) and Big Stir Records proudly signed Addison with his first solo album. It starts with the classical piano prelude “Just One Minute” but goes into the bouncy Rubinoos-like rock of “Anything’s Right.”
Love has all the right influences, as these songs have both modern and retro touchpoints. Beatles and Beach Boys are primary here with an authenticity that reaches out through each tune. Some tunes feel a little underbaked, but Love’s multi-tracked harmonies shine and elevate nearly all the music. “I Think You’re Swell” combines the Beatlesque touches with some nice guitar work. Some added highlights include “Wee & Nancy Lee” and “Like The Beatles” (featuring guest vocals from Simmons.) Several ballads highlight Love’s romantic side, and the gentle “She” is the best of these. A strong debut, and hopefully we’ll hear a lot more from Addison in the future. Check it out!
Ken Sharp returns to an LP format with more of a Philly Soul/Todd Rundgren influence here. As with his last LP New Mourning he has enlisted the help of Fernando Perdomo, plus some additional special guests. On the opener “Rock Show” has a steady synth keyboard melody and a guitar work by Ace Frehley, next “Mona Lisa Smile” boasts a key assist from Kasim Sulton (Utopia) and it’s a playfully layered composition.
Sharp doesn’t stick in one spot, as the bubblegum pop “Lemons to Lemonade” and “No One Seems To Stay Together Anymore” are catchy highlights. Some inspired 70’s styled songwriting shows on the breezy pop of “Pull The Strings” and “Closer.” There are a few tributes here, from “The Day That David Bowie Died” to “I Wanna Be David Cassidy.” In some spots, Ken’s vocals are just too soft. “Ring On Your Finger” and “Listen To Me” are great tunes that need a more forceful vocal, or supporting vocals. In a bit of musical wish fulfillment, John Oats (Hall and Oats) lends his signature background vocals (baritone and falsetto) on the ’70s soul “Philly Kind Of Night.” My favorite here “The Hardest Part” is a solid power pop mid-tempo gem with all the trimmings. There are just enough great tunes mixed in with the indulgences to make this a Highly Recommended album.
Long Island-based brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario decided that a rock musical would make a good sophomore album. It’s a bold move with a really weird storyline; about a chimpanzee, Shane, who is raised by frustrated performers “Bill and Carol” as he comes to terms with the obstacles of life.
It starts with the bombastic “Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart” overstuffed with piano, guitars, choirs and chiming bells. You definitely hear Todd Rundgren’s influence (circa 1973) all over this album, and he actually adds himself into the narrative as “Bill.” Todd contributes his vocals at points in the story (“Never Know.”) The finely written “The Student Becomes The Teacher” and “Rock Dreams” are wonderfully realized themes that explain the story perfectly. Other tunes satisfy the ear like “Small Victories,” the sweet “Wondering Ways” and “Lonely” are all very heartfelt. Also impressive was “Queen of My School” which feels pulled off Big Star’s third album, with Big Star’s Jody Stephens as a guest drummer!
For all the greatness I hear, the entire production drags in the second half and the Broadway musical elements feel more like a forced indulgence as “Born Wrong/Heart Song” is a good example. This album succeeds in small doses, so I would take time and sit through repeat listens. As a whole it’s overwrought, but it does push the message well. And it does just enough for me to make it Highly Recommended.
We met Paul a few years ago with his solo EP, but now he’s delivered a full-length LP. The Irish singer-songwriter plays all his own instruments and knows a good hook or two. He starts with a re-do of his older single “Keep The Devil Within,” and it remains a catchy gem, with its killer chorus. The follow-ups are also impressive with “Its Only A Fantasy” and “Miss Self Depreciating” hitting all the right buttons and hooks. The production here is thick and glossy which works for most of this style of power pop.
After that, it’s a mixed bag. Paul does well with twangy guitar licks and solos like on “The Magician,” but the ballads that follow aren’t as compelling. Fortunately, that doesn’t pull the album off the rails. The title track is a stadium-sized rocker, and the compelling “Charge” has multi-tracked vocals, an ELO-styled string accompaniment, and a wicked guitar break. The final track “Blinded By The Dark” was the most intriguing with some nice vocal work and acoustic rhythms. A strong album that deserves to be to be Highly Recommended.
The duo of Scott McPherson (Liar’s Club, Pop 4, Tiny Volcano) and Jamie Grant (Victory Hits, Pop Vultures) indulge in some of the sugariest pop confections with their new LP, Song. The team goes in multiple stylistic directions, and it’s likely the most diverse album I’ve heard this year. Notable guests include Dee Long and Terry Draper (Klaatu), Andrea Perry and more. The opener is especially fun, “Little Green Men” is full of effects, an alien synth line, and catchy guitar strums. Other guests include Zak Nilsson, and if you loved his dad Harry — this album will hit your sweet spot for sure. “Housekeeper” is a great pop gem that is a perfect marriage of Nilsson and McCartney’s styles. Zak also plays drums on the Nilsson-styled ballad “My Favorite Thing.”
In fact, if you are prone to be disappointed by Sir Paul’s newest music, this is the album that you’ll really want. The wonderful “Big Picture People” is like a lost Klaatu classic, and one of my favorites here. The duo get very creative with the quirky “Cheese” and the British music hall-styled “The Marvelous and Mysterious Adventures of Sir Ollie And His Ox.” And they do the guitar-heavy power pop on “It’s The Day,” before the Beach Boys harmonies are dusted off on “Let’s Drive To Summer.” Then, Clara Moir lends her angelic vocals to the very Burt Bacharach-styled “The Love Of Her Life.”
Yes, this is all pure love of rock nostalgia, and they describe their childhood in detail on the gem “Waiting For The Sunflowers,” lamenting “those times are gone, those days were golden… No, you can’t go rocking around like the clown you were in your twenties.” Not everything resonates as well, but overall you’ve got plenty of great catchy songs and it is definitely highly recommended.
Right now it only sold at mcphersongrant.com and tinyvolcano.rocks
Nashville singer-songwriter Aaron Lee Tasjan, aka ALT is a bit of a musical chameleon. The personas and musical styles he plays aren’t static, although his primary focus is in the roots rock and country rock arena. Very much influenced by Tom Petty, George Harrison and Arlo Guthrie, and many others. So you could make a case that this is a lost Wilbury looking for an audience.
The opener “If Not Now When,” uses the riff from George’s “Wreck Of The Hesperus” and takes it in a better direction. A big highlight is “The Truth Is So Hard to Believe” with its Posies-like percussion, and swirling bass guitar riff. “The Rest Is Yet To Come,” is another winner with its easy rhythm and descending bass line. From there it settles into some longer Pettyesque mid-tempo tunes, and Aaron has a slight drawl and even a little vibrato when playing the Orbison-like “Strange Shadows.” The production is solid, with no filler even though only a few songs stick with you afterward. Fans of the artists above will like this one, and it will grow on you. Highly Recommended.
From the get-go, you will hear a band influenced by The Replacements on the opener “To Let It Go,” with its sharp guitar riffs. After 30+ years, these dudes still rock pretty well, with the slightly-psyche rock title track and the harmony-filled chorus of “Tears.” The bouncy “Hello Linda” and “A Better Chance To Take” both have that timeless power pop quality. While the majority of the songs are good, they don’t have the freshness of Portable Pop, which is a product of its time. Still, this is absolutely better than a lot of music out there, so check it out.
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John M. Borack’s Latest Book, Shake Some Action 2.0. is out!
Author John M. Borack’s upcoming book, Shake Some Action 2.0: An Updated Guide to the 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums, due in September from Not Lame Media, is an update of sorts to Borack’s now-out-of-print 2007 book, Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide.
The book is 414 pages of pure pop-inspired passion that even the most casual power pop fan will appreciate but a serious one will get totally geeked about. Newly written and/or expanded reviews of the outstanding power pop releases plus nearly 60 new entries included in the Top 200.
In addition, the book comes bundled with a 24-track CD collection from Borack’s power pop band Popdudes! The CD contains several rare and/or previously unreleased tracks.
