The L.A. power pop group Tsar signed a deal with Hollywood Records and delivered their self-titled debut album in mid-2000. While the album earned critical praise and the band toured with Duran Duran, it was criminally overlooked by the public. Citing their primary influences as Guns ‘N Roses and the Monkees, Tsar’s music is a hybrid of post-grunge alternative, power pop, and glam rock. The group never got the label promotion it needed and split up in 2005.
But all is not lost, as Jeff Whalen (frontman and primary songwriter of Tsar) is back with his first solo album ever. “10 More Rock Super Hits” has everything you liked about Tsar and more. And its all brilliantly produced by power pop maestro Linus Of Hollywood (Nerf Herder, Bowling For Soup). Check out the Pledge Campaign!
This is a sweet single by a new band called Coach Hop, the brainchild of London musician Charlie Laurence. It’s very much in the Weezer-style and while on the surface its a love song to the titular pop star by a fan, upon closer inspection is an observation on the state of the modern music industry. Get it on Amazon
Andy Ketch of Mooner has a solo LP here with a grungy sounding set of pop tunes. “Oh Summer” and “New Day” would’ve fit nicely on a ’90s rock comp. “Things Fall Apart” is another good one. FREE download.
Chicago-area artist Gerry O’Keefe was part of powerpop act The Hideouts. His melodic style blends classic popcraft with roots- and folk-based elements. “Tenth Round Punches” and “Never Was A Dancer” are standouts on this unusual solo release. FREE download.
Boy, do I miss Skeleton Staff. It sounds like the funk that the band has been in since the Cabaret-like musical KURFÜRSTENDAMMNED remains, as “It’s Murder” is a low key paean to gun culture apathy. But it does have a neat break at the 2:50 mark and it is a FREE download.
After a long while, Jeremy Messersmith returns with the message; “I have a knack for awkward silences,” from the song “Purple Hearts.” The song is all about the mundanity of loneliness and “Monday You’re Not So Bad” is a melodic jangling gem that recalls The Monkees and The La’s. Messersmith’s late ’60s and ’70s pop influences are on his sleeve, with the bossa nova beat of “Postmodern Girl” and “Happy” sounds like a mashup of Brian Wilson and Neil Diamond. It’s a great singalong that sticks with you and includes a densely packed finale.
Acoustic ballads dominate the second half of the album, with the exception of the rockabilly rouser “Jim Bakker.” The message of Late Stage Capitalism is about life’s precious ordinary moments and how we should appreciate them. “Once You Get To Know Us” reminds us to stop chasing consumerism, as Jeremy states “We have everything you’ll ever need… the internet, daytime TV…” and the amusing closer “No Superheros” takes its shots at Cleveland, and the fact that all the superheroes live in NYC or LA! Highly Recommended.
Get out the incense! The Laissez Fairs are a band that does exceptionally trippy psyche-pop. Lead by John Fallon (The Steppes) and Joe Lawless, the great opener “High Horse” is a perfect meld of The Beatles, The Byrds, Troggs, and The Creation. The echo of the fuzz guitars on “Like Mrs. Peel In Leather” and”Wanna Make You Mine” has some great overdubbing and layered guitar rhythms.
In fact, each track sounds like a lost nugget from the ’60s psychedelic era, “Almost Got You Made” has crisp vocal harmonies alongside the sitars and Rickenbackers. The droning title track is amazingly mesmerizing, as good as any Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd tune. And it’s more than period musical accuracy, the songs are also well written. Fans of this brand of retro pop will not be disappointed. Highly Recommended!
Jeff Shelton is back with his 9th album, and while I’ve grown accustomed to solid Well Wishers albums, this time I hear a little more variety in the approach. “Gravity Waits” has all the catchy guitar crunch and infectious chorus that set it as one of Jeff’s best openers. The softer jangle of “In Another Life” has the sound of earlier Well Wishers tunes before the louder riffs return on “I Like You Better,” and the very REM-like “April Is Only A Lie.”
Jeff also included some of the better tracks from last year’s Trip Wire’s LP (“There Goes My Gun” and “I’m Not the Enemy.”) The layered buzz of the guitars on “Come Out And Play” and “Is It Me, Is It You” are also keepers that fans of Bob Mould will appreciate. Overall, another great album without filler that is without a doubt Highly Recommended.
Texas-based Jackie Daytona knows how to party, and he fires on all cylinders with the opener “Hot & Sweaty,” a guitar pop gem that was designed to juice up a crowd, Daytona channels Rick Miller in his vocals. “She’s So Hot” is a great follow up, with its slick bass line and rumbling riffs that The Eels don’t really do anymore. “California” is a mid-tempo gem that sounds like a lost Jackson Browne classic.
With these standouts, it’s easy to recommend and it even has a cool cover of The Beach Boys “You’re So Good To Me.” Hopefully, more people get hip to Daytona’s brand of crunchy power pop you can dance to. I would love to hear more on a full-length album. Highly Recommended.
“There’s only so much time we can kill here” states Chris Murphy on the opening track “Spin Our Wheels,” from the band’s 12th album. Sloan is without question the most consistent and longest lasting power pop band with its original line-up (27 years!) It’s easy to take for granted just how good Sloan is, as the melodies, harmonies and hooks always deliver. Like 2014’s Commonwealth, each member contributes a few songs to what is a “normal” sized Sloan album.
Murphy’s “All of The Voices” has a simple melody line and sounds a little like a power pop version of Nirvana. “Right to Roam” is a jangle-pop gem, that’s more traditionally Sloan-like. Guitarist Patrick Pentland’s “The Day Will Be Mine” boasts those thick riffs and rising chords, as the chugging “Essential Services” breaks things up with a 10cc styled piano and harmonies about the relationship between themselves and the fans. More greatness is found on the rocking “Don’t Stop (If It Feels Good Do It)” and it keeps getting better with “Have Faith.” No real dull songs and the album has a positive vibe mostly, and an epic slow moving finish; “44 Teenagers.” Like most Sloan albums I’ve reviewed, this hits my top ten list for 2018. Highly Recommended (well, DUH).
NYC indie musician Jeff Litman is back and he’s going in a different direction. The opener “One Foot Forward” is an aching ballad with simple electro-beat that grows with the addition of Andi Rae Healy’s vocals to become a strong affirmation. “Only You” is closer to the Jeff we are familiar with but after that, it’s all atmospheric soul searching. It works best on the title track, where a strong melody, lyrics and echoing production deliver greatness. Fans of early-’80s Peter Gabriel and Joe Jackson will enjoy this one.
