Ronnie D’Addario and The Favorite Things

powerpopaholic

Ronnie D’Addario “Falling For Love”

It’s always a treat finding “lost” power pop of the past. Ronnie D’Addario has been a musician for many years, mainly as a session player for Tommy Makem of The Clancy Brothers. His solo albums showcase his love of Beatles-styled melodies, and Falling For Love is a real treasure. The title track was written for The Carpenters in 1981, and even though it was recorded by them – it was never released. D’Addario’s original sounds like a perfect fit for the late Karen Carpenter.

D’Addario’s songwriting and composing is very much like Gilbert O’Sullivan or Emitt Rhodes, with a solid hook on “Just Let Me Look At You.” The bouncy McCartney-like piano melody of “I’m On To Something” is another gem, along with the amazing harmonies on “Steps” and “Waiting In The Wings.” A few songs feel more like Carpenters tunes (“Two Little Children” and “Just Passing Through”) and there is not a dud in the bunch. Highly Recommended, and his other albums are worth checking out too. FYI, he’s passed his talent down to his sons who are also known as The Lemon Twigs, a very impressive indie pop group that’s just begun to make major waves.

CD Baby


The Favorite Things “Coming Clean”

Four long time Minneapolis musicians joined forces to form The Favorite Things, taking their name from The Replacements song, “Favorite Thing” and the band counts them as a big influence. You’ll also hear echos of REM, Nada Surf, and The Gin Blossoms. The opener blasts through (“Coming Clean”) with its fast tempo and energetic chorus.

“Ashes” and “First Time” continues the party, fans of 90s-styled indie rock will enjoy the rich familiar sound. The albums second half eases up the intensity slightly with the alt. country rocker “Friday Night In Tennessee,” but gets back on the buzzing riffs with “In The Summer.” The tempo and style doesn’t vary much from there, and as a result the songs sound homogeneous. But the talent is there and I’m sure The Favorite Things will continue to grow as artists. Check them out.

Itunes

Power Pop Singles: The Perms, John Faye, Automat and The Tories

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I  rarely highlight singles, but these bands are all classic power pop artists that deserve to be heard — enjoy!

The Perms new single — very cool! Get it on Amazon.

John Faye (IKE) gets patriotic. I miss America too. Get it on Amazon.

Is it too early to think about the Christmas holidays? Automat is back with a cool holiday single “Here comes Xmas!”! Not sure when its available.

The Tories are back with “We Still Shine.” Its been a long time since we’ve heard from this band (over 15 years) and it seems like the mature sound agrees with them. Get the single on Amazon.

Rob Clark & The Wooltones and Cantina

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Beaulieu Porch

Rob Clark & The Wooltones “Are You Wooltoned”

Rob Clarke and the Wooltones, deliver Merseybeat guitars drenched in the tones of a Vox AC30 straight from Liverpool, UK. The recordings have a West Coast psyche-pop style melded to its sweaty garage riffs. “Iron Eyes Cody” is a great start, mixing the double edged styles effectively. “Colors (of The Sun)” and “Ambrosine” are decidedly very psychedelic -– closer to The Blue Magoos than anything across The Mersey.

Yet the band’s authenticity is what draws you in, and the style varies from fuzzy space-rock on “Are We Here?” to blues on “Pancake Cupcake” to jangle pop on “End of The End.” Certainly the lack of consistency may turn some off, but if you like all variety of ’60s rock and pop The Wooltones do an admirable job.  Kool Kat’s CD Release has a 7 Track bonus disc that includes covers of “Stepping Stone” and “Pushing Too Hard.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Cantina

Cantina “A Sea Of Keys”

Cantina is another collective of accomplished musicians; John Dufilho (of The Apples in Stereo, The Deathray Davies), Jason Garner (The Polyphonic Spree), Andy Lester(Deathray Davies), and Philip Peeples (Old 97’s) with a percussive emphasis (after all, most of these guys were drummers!) The player piano melody of “Lucifer” ambles along like Ray Davies meets Mark Oliver Everett (Eels) and Dufilho’s sad slow vocal in the catchy “Bulletproof” contrasts, with its fast-paced banjo, tambourine and slide guitar.

And those contrasts are compelling, with its layered rhythms often done against a drone-like reading of “A Letter of Rejection” reminded me a bit of They Might Be Giants ironic approach. “Sympathy For Strikers” is more melodic and fun to listen to. Often a song opens with a ukulele (“I Keep Floating” or “These Machines”) but sometimes you get a surfer-styled lo-fi gem like “God Is The Sun” or “Hypnotic.” In fact, you’ll hear many lo-fi bedroom pop gems here and while it may not stick in your brain too long – it will lighten your mood and lift your spirits.

Amazon

International Pop Overthrow Vol. 19

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IPO vol. 19

Although I’ve been reviewing IPO compilations since this blog has been active, this collection is the one of most eclectic I’ve heard in a long time. The breadth of artists here cannot be overstated, and the music really can’t be stuffed into a narrow genre anymore. Also, these 65 tracks appears more balanced than in the past, so there isn’t a “favored” disc out of the three.

Disc 1: Right away the man David Bash himself gets a tribute, “Bash” by The Tearaways. Another gem is “Remake The Stalls” by Cartoon Spirits, and the legendary Ron Dante appears with a Reggae beat on “Skills.” Some retro sounding tracks include “Shake It Out” by Starfire Band channeling The Who, and Hailee Rose and Dave Rave deliver a sweet Motown styled duet on “So Invisible.”

Disc 2: Always enjoyed Zach Jones Rundgrenesque “Everything’s Fine,” and its hard to match the amazing Greg Ieronimo on “Best Day Of Our Life.” I also loved the danceable mantra of “You’re Never Gonna Have Enough Money” by The Black Lemons. The plaintive mid-tempo ballad “All in This Together” by The Hard Way is another melodic and catchy gem. Lighter jangle is part of Hummingbird Syndicate’s “Waterfall Away” and Trip Wire’s “Winter Song.”

Disc 3: Starts out with quirky pop of New Man’s “Maybe I’m Feeling Fine and Jordan Andrew Jefferson’s “White Light.” The romantic “Linda’s A Maybe” by Dave Birk, is an funny ode to the girl who you wish would come to the party. The wild punk melody of “I’m Free” from The Forty Nineteens is a great party anthem, and the Beatlesque “Mohammed On Top Of The Mountain” is a gem from Butch Young. The reverbing bass guitar from The Dives “On The Spot” and Marston’s “These Blues” both make a psychedelic impression.

Overall a great value (as always) and a showcase for the ever expanding array of pop artists that fit under the IPO tent. Highly Recommended!

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon | Pop Geek Heaven

 

I was present for IPO New York at Bar Matchless, Brooklyn — Mike Daly & The Planets were introduced by my buddy Dave “The Boogieman” here. It was a great show with lots of local and international artists, and unfortunately due to illness the festival CEO David Bash couldn’t attend live. He need not worry as the artists came through for him and played to an enthusiastic audience!

The Nines and Simon Felton

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The Nines “Alejandro’s Visions”

A labor of love for Steve Eggers, with the help of Bill Majoros (the Foreign Films) this is a cinematic album that harkens back to the 1950s, from doo wop to the advent of rock and roll. Its like an audio movie musical with the cacophony of sounds opening up “Alejandro’s Visions,” and leads to the best Beach Boys meets The Platters song  you ever heard  in “I Have Found You.” The album concept is a familiar “boy-meets-girl” trope but its done both seamlessly and brilliantly.

“My Sweet Marie” brings to mind an early Buddy Holly concert, and then the charmed couple visit a amusement park in “Escape From A Small Town” with both rockabilly swagger and sweet harmonies throughout. Eggers heartfelt vocals are in peak form here, culminating in the a cappella “When Our Love Was In Bloom,” and his strongest dramatic statements “Operator (Coming Home To You)” and “And Suddenly” compare well with the best work Jeff Lynne (ELO) has ever done. Other songs recall old Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals, but overall this was an album that was impossible to put down, and that’s enough to make it a welcome addition to my top ten albums list of 2016. 

CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

Simon Felton

Simon Felton “Return To Easton Square”

Another collection of therapeutic/confessional songs from Simon Felton (Garfield’s Birthday) that range from sombre to silly. The catchy piano  of “Alibi” has interesting lyrical phrasing “I wanna be your glass of wine…” Simon still has a way with melody as demonstrated on the Donovan-like psychedelic “Goodbye (Again)” and ”It Must Be (A Nightmare).”

While some corny stuff finds its way in “Good Morning Britain” (which sounds like an update of “Act Naturally”) there are plenty of compelling songs here. More highlights include “I Would (If I Wanted To)” and “It’s Obvious.” Give this one a chance and add it to your playlist.

Bandcamp