The opening track from Richard Turgeon‘s upcoming LP, “Lost Angeles.” It’s a big-sounding, California-tinged power pop track with lots of harmonies. And it’s a FREE download.
Cosmos Sunshine sounds pretty hippie-dippy, right? But no, this is a big rocker with hooks and an angst in the groove. Fans of Neil Young will like this one.
New Zealand’s SA Reyners gives us one sweet single. A bouncy piano is layered with rhythms and counter melodies. Very impressive! If you’d like another SA Reyners single, Lexiconographer was released last month and it’s a FREE download. When is this guy gonna make a full album already?
The Golden Rail is an Australian supergroup of sorts. Members have come from various bands: The Palisades, The Rainyard, Header, Summer Suns, DM3 and The Jangle Band. The singles here are simply great covers. “Shouldn’t Get Hung Up About It” was originally recorded by The Village Idiots and “Fined For Wrestling” was originally recorded by The Tokyo 5.
The Ego Ritual is a new psyche-pop band that’s about to debut on Kool Kat Musik. This is an advance single that’s very groovy and a FREE download too!
Dan Rico is just “Hot To Please” and with this FREE download, he definitely pleases.
Oui! Tommy Lorente has really come out strong here, and in his native language has produced a classic power pop album. After Tommy’s first LP, I compared him to Kurt Baker and wondered what direction was next. He has matured nicely. “Poor Tchack Pow” is so catchy you don’t even need to know French to sing along with the chorus. “Arthur” is another terrific gem about a pep talk to the heartbroken title character translated to “Tell me, tell me, tell me Arthur” featuring solid hooks all around.
The bouncy “Le Rêve Américain” (The American Dream) is about pursuing his dream in Memphis strutting like “king,” drinking bourbon and listening to rock and roll. It settles into a nice groove with “Pareil Au Même“ (Same At The Same) with another sing-along chorus. “J’ai Connu Mieux” (I Know Better) is part Bo Diddley and part Paul Collins. Its all compelling, without a note of filler – although with the fast pacing we don’t get a ballad, and that could make all this a little easier to digest. Still, this is a highly recommended LP for any power pop fan. And that says a lot! Et ça en dit beaucoup!
Álex Diez is a veteran pop artist from Madrid, Spain. He played in the mod band Los Flechazos to great success in the 80s and 90s, and after the turn of the century, he formed the indie-pop band, Cooper. His fifth full-length album focuses on meticulously crafted melodies sung in Spanish with layered harmonies and brass. The title “Time, Temperature, Agitation” refers to the old method of developing photographs.
The big highlight is the opener “El Último Tren” (The Last Train) complete with a fuzz riff ending. Next, “Salto” (Jump) reminds me of that old Katrina & The Waves hit “Walking On Sunshine” in tempo and spirit. “Ya Llegó El Verano” (Summer is here) is a naturally sunny melody full of optimism. You can hear the Beatles influence in the guitar playing, and the production is top notch. If you like your power pop with a touch of español, check out Cooper!
David Myhr (The Merrymakers) returns after six years and like many power pop legends of the last century, his quest for musical satisfaction continues on a more mature path. He has gathered an all-star group of songwriters to collaborate with him; Bleu, Linus Of Hollywood and Bill DeMain to name a few. He also enlisted producer Brad Jones in Nashville who explains: “My goal was to show David branching out from his youthful power-pop to a more reflective sound.”
David’s harmony-filled opening number “Jealous Sun’” a gem is buoyed by its simple acoustic melody and its sing-along catchiness. This is typical Myhr, and it just keeps coming. “Negative Friend” is full of McCartney-like piano and layered effects (kazoos, even!) “Room To Grow” starts out subtly and then picks up a breezy casual melody with minor keys, it literally grows on you. But the real showpiece here is the catchy and inspirational “The Perfect Place” with swelling strings it is simply brilliant. After this David shows his romantic side, with the soft pop of “Every Day It Rains,” “Lucky Day” and “Lovebug.” Every song hits the mark, no filler and it is on my short list for 2018’s top ten list. The CD version of the album has four additional singles including the sweet ELO-inspired “Spellbound.” Don’t miss it.
Dropkick knows how to jangle – they’ve been at it for 14 albums. The band, based on Scotland’s east coast, are Andrew Taylor, Ian Grier Mike Foy, and Alan Shields. Like a mix of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Jayhawks the opener “Out Of Tune” is undeniably catchy and instrumentally precise. “It’s Still Raining” is another big highlight, with frontman Andrew Taylor’s soft lead cruising on top of a jangling rhythm. Even the sparse ballad “Faraway Places,” showcases Taylor’s soul with the lyrics; “There are ways to grow up without getting older.”
More highlights include “Come Around,” the warm fuzzy riffs of “Giving Way,” “Fed Up Thinking About You.” Dropkick’s chiming guitar chords and great harmonies make this a highly recommended album.
Burlington, Vermont’s Phil Yates has released three albums and has been a fixture in the local clubs for years. But he’s packed up and moved to a bigger music scene in Chicago. In this final Vermont hurrah, he lets his power-pop freak flag really fly on the opener “My Favorite Bag,” a solid catchy melody with a speedy tempo. Yates also knows how to get a powerful narrative out about domestic violence on the impressive “Nothing Happened.” The production is dense and at times threatens to overwhelm the vocals, but the music is what ultimately wins you over. Yates vocals sound like a cross between Anton Barbeau and Tom Petty.
Yates also airs some dirty laundry with “Fixin To Die” and “One Man’s Trash (Sour Grapes)” about his struggles as a working musician. Frustrations with insomnia are the focus of the forceful “Peter Francis Geraci” and the state of our politics is accurately summed up on “Bite Your Tongue.” Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.
UK musician Paul Ryan, aka Super 8 is a laid back troubadour as he opens with “Tomorrows’ Just Another Day,” with its Spanish styled horn flourishes over a strumming melody. Ryan excels at acoustic compositions; you’ll hear varied influences from Wilco, Lou Reed, and Bob Dylan. “Catsuit” is a good highlight, with Ryan’s harmonized vocals and harmonica building a richly layered gem. Equally fun is the soulful mid-tempo “Last Final Cigarette” where you contemplate life; as he intones “Guess we’re all looking for something.”
Another notable highlight is the rhyming mantra of the title track and the deep melodies on “Traveling Light” with its impressive chorus.”Hey! Non-Believer” is like a lost Beck tune from his early period. For some, this may be a bit too laid back and sparse – for others it’s a soulful potpourri stew. The songwriting is thought-provoking, and the styles shift enough to prevent any predictability. So if you are so inclined, pick it up and let it sink in.
Power pop faves The Connection return with a strongly themed LP about breaking up with your girl on We Wish You Success. Starting with “You Know” it gives you everything you want; quick tempo, sing-along chorus and steady riffs with a terrific solo break. “Color Me Unimpressed” is a great tune that describes the internal monologue of a guy wondering why he’s going out with someone so incompatible. The title track adds a honky-tonk rhythm when going through the break up as lead singer Brad Marino sings “Don’t wanna waste my breath /cuz your tone-deaf /I’ll just watch you dig a deeper grave.”
No bad songs or filler here, as the band maintains cruising speed. In some sense, the band isn’t growing or expanding and playing it safe with its tried-and-true rock and roll. But fans love it, and it yields great songs like “Mechanical Heart,” “Heaven or Hell,” and “The Girl is Trouble.” Another Highly Recommended gem from New England’s Hit Makers.
London retro rockers Green Seagull are firmly rooted in 1966-69 psychedelic pop, with trippy Farfisa organ, Rickenbacker jangle, and light harmonies. “Not Like You And Me” and “Scarlet” open the set with a paranoid tone, but it quickly showcases the talent here. If you enjoyed The Strawberry Alarm Clock or the Lemon Pipers, then songwriters Paul Nelson and Paul Milne have the goods for you.
“Dogsbody,” is like a hippie-like musing and the baroque organ in “Remember The Time” recall The Left Banke or The Cowsills. Another solid tune is “(I Used to Dream In) Black and White” with fantastic three-part harmonies and contrasting that with crisp guitar riffs. However many tunes simply lack the hooks to make them stick or worse they remind you of the period excesses that paved the way to progressive rock. With that in mind, several standouts include the layered bubblegum gems “Shrubbery Road,” “Girls Are Coming To Town,” and The Kinks-like “I Live and Let Live.” For fans of the ’60s psyche-pop era it’s definitely recommended.
