Liquid Mike and On The Runway

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Liquid Mike

Liquid Mike “Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot”

I am admittedly late to the Liquid Mike bandwagon. Michigan musician Mike Maple (aka Liquid Mike) has been toiling away in obscurity doing pretty impressive indie rock for the past few years. With last year’s self-titled LP, Mike added more of a melodic power pop structure, and it gained some recognition amongst the power pop community. And he is quickly capitalizing on his new fame with Paul Bunyan’s Slingshot.

Liquid Mike’s sound is a link that sits between emo, grunge, and power pop that is rarely done correctly, similar to The Foo Fighters but compressed into 2-minute melody bombs. The new album comes out of the gate pounding away on “Drinking and Driving,” but it catches you with the hook on “K2” about idyllic school days. The buzzing rumble of “Town Ease,” the Nirvana-like “Mouse Trap,” and the Velvet Crush adjacent “Drug Dealer” are all excellent songs that deliver the goods. “USPS” and “Small Giants” are compelling character studies that you almost wish were longer. Almost all these songs stick fast with no pretension. Highly Recommended!

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On the Runway

On The Runway “Tell Yourself It’s Pretty”

Atlanta-based frontman and band leader Dave Norris (Crash into June) has a new band, and it starts with the light jangle of “Loser of the Year.” The easygoing feel is similar to Dropkick, but with a bit more of an Americana vibe. The songs take on a more majestic tone on the excellent “Consolation Prize” as it effortlessly draws you into its melody. The moody narrative of “This Charade” and “House Is Not A Home” continues with jangling guitars and Dave’s steady vocal, Neilson Hubbard’s bass and keyboard, and Will Kimbrough’s shimmering guitar. It draws from college rock of the late 1980s a bit but still feels quite timeless in approach.

“Lifeline” and ” This Will Be Your Year” almost reminded me of a sedate version of the Gin Blossoms, and while nicely performed, they don’t stick in your head long. The ending track is another great tune; “Bring Yourself Down” goes back to a faster tempo, but it shows the contrast here. This is an album that deserves to be heard, and I hope Norris can take a few more stylistic chances with future works.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Campbell Apartment and The Maureens

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The Campbell Apartment

The Campbell Apartment “Under The Influence Of Love”

San Francisco band The Campbell Apartment is back after a several-year break, and they try some new things here. The opener, “Sand and Glue,” is a solid indie punk track with a compelling chorus of “What I do,” with plenty of Kinks-like verses in between.

“Bay Area Robot Farm” is almost like a lost Bill Lloyd tune, but the band breaks out on “PATH Train of Least Resistance.” This is the type of pop song in which the band excels, with a touch of jangle and a descriptive lyric of a certain time and place. Then “Boys Like Driving” is another winner, playing with gender stereotypes, and it seems like it stepped out of last summer’s Barbie movie. “Fun In The Sun” is a perfect follow-up, with flowing harmonies everywhere. The “sublime” ballad “452 Square Feet” feels like an epic album closer. Overall, plenty of interesting and unpredictable songs round out this album. Highly Recommended.

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The Maureens

The Maureens “Everyone Smiles”

The Dutch band The Maureens are back with a new record. The harmonies and instrumentation are still reminiscent of the early Beatles, but this band has expanded their sound with the jangling opener “Stand Up!” The compositions are all originals; “Lost & Found” boasts a catchy rhythm, and “Sunday Driver” is an aching ballad with a great chorus.

“Fell in Love” recalls Sloan or The Posies with a lighter pop touch, and “Rainy Day” is another highlight, which sounds a bit like Teenage Fanclub, with a quiet opening then the harmonies crash in. Another great tune is “Only Child,” with its slow-building, rich composition. Not all the songs are as memorable, and my biggest issue with the album is that the style and cadence don’t vary much, and the lead guitar on most songs takes a back seat to the harmonies. Overall, this is a really beautiful album that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

Power Popaholic Interview: The Weeklings

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The Weeklings

Power Popaholic interviewed The Weeklings a few years ago, and now they’ve returned with a new album! Raspberry Park goes in a few different directions. There are still unique Beatles covers, but some new original sounds that recall other 60’s bands, and I dig through the origins of these songs.

Once again, I spoke with Glen Burtnik (Lefty Weekling) and Bob Burger (Zeek Weekling) about the album and how they have evolved with this new album.

You can read the review here, or 🎸  listen below:

 

February singles are here: Flying Underground, Late Cambrian, Extra Arms, Real Estate, Willie Dowling, François Premiers

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I am still finding lots of great music that shouldn’t be swept under the rug because it’s a new year. Flying Underground is a terrific Cincinnati, Ohio band that deserves your attention with its debut album. The video above has really good sound and showcases Kelly McCracken’s great lead vocal. My friends, Late Cambrian have modified their sound on “Late Bloomer” to have a more melodic vibe, and I love it. Extra Arms is back with a bunch of strong riffs on its new single, “Gates of Steel.” The band Real Estate has a new album coming out, and what I hear so far is excellent songwriting. We still have a freebie for you with Willie Dowling‘s “The Simpleton,” a cool narrative of a protagonist, and dig that piano solo midway through! French band François Premiers has a glammy gem with the “Salamander Shuffle,” and that riff just sticks in your head. Great music continues!



Power Popaholic Interview: Jim Basnight

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Jim Basnight

Power Popaholic has been the happy distributor and album designer of Jim Basnight’s albums for many years. This past November, he released his most eclectic album, Summertime Peculiar. You’ll hear some pop, rock, jazz, folk, etc. We talk about the genesis of this diverse album. You can read the review here, or 🎸  listen below:

You can also check out our main Bandcamp page for all seven of Mr. Basnight’s albums, and more.