Ex-Norwegian and Alphanaut

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Ex-Norwegian “Pure Gold”

Roger Houdaille is a genuine pop savant, and after a near death experience, he took to the studio with his band Ex-Norwegian to work on his 6th album. Classic influences are all here; the Beatles, the Kinks, Bowie and the Move. Notable guest stars are Fernando Perdomo on slide guitar and Chris Price on organ. What you end up with is pure rock and roll bliss.

“It’s A Game” has those beats, but also got strong melodies and the guitars are everywhere. And the follow-up “Asking Too Much” has thick glam riffs across a chorus of Roger and Michelle Grand’s vocals. “Beeside” is another gem with slower droning rhythm and the frantic chords and beat of “On The Sidelines” is a little Ramones and Blondie combined. Each track carries a stylistic shift, “Keep Under Cover” is brilliant lyrical twist which asks “What good is art when it hurts your head?” It stays unpredictable throughout, and each track is compelling. This is the best Ex-Norwegian album in a while and earns a spot on my top ten list this year. Yes it’s “Pure Gold,” Roger!

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Alphanaut

Alphanaut “Meanwhile Back on Earth”

Alphanaut was conceived as a musical collective by Los Angeles-based songwriter Mark Alan, coordinating the talents of a wide variety of musician friends and acquaintances. Like a cross between OMD, David Bowie, and modern electro pop, the opener “Think Too Much” has a great hook in the chorus.

If you’d like a slow disco groove “Electricity” plays a lot like George Michael without the crooning. Lots of nice retro synth experimentation here (not something I normally listen to) but “Is This My Country?” is a standout. Similar to The Art of Noise, its subtle and keeps you hooked. Also recommended are “The Catalyst” and “Father’s Day.”

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The Db’s and Friends Christmas and The Genuine Fakes!

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The Db's Christmas

The Db’s & Friends “Christmas Time Again”

When the Christmas Time EP appeared in 1986, it was a joyous occasion. It shouldn’t be surprising that it’s endeared and has been expanded for generations to come! The dB’s & Friends’ Christmas Time Again! enters its third decade of holiday fun with an incredible mix of what’s been previously cherished and adds new tidings of comfort and joy. Chris Stamey (Sneakers, The dB’s) has revised this gift of seasonal music for under your tree and into your ears. Classic tracks from Stamey, The dB’s, Whiskeytown (with Ryan Adams), and Alex Chilton are joined by new performances by Yo La Tengo & Jeff Tweedy, Marshall Crenshaw, Robyn Hitchcock, and Big Star’s Third (featuring Mike Mills of R.E.M. taking lead vocals on Big Star’s “Jesus Christ”), among many others. It’s not just Christmas time, it’s Christmas Time Again!

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Ho ho ho! Are you in the Christmas spirit yet? Maybe the Genuine Fakes can help you build a snowman with the popular theme from Disney’s Frozen! As the b-side, they’ve included last year’s “You Always Come Back Home (for X-mas)”, which was previously only available on the CD A Kool Kat Kristmas Volume Two. Get these singles now on iTunes

Rediscover: 10cc

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https://youtu.be/2HdoocAtdSQ

If you ask me who the most influential band was in the 20th century, you’d have to say The Beatles. But not far behind them I’d have to say is 10cc. The bands constant innovation in pop music is felt even today. The catalog is pretty extensive and eclectic as you had two strong songwriting teams with appositional goals.  The Stewart-Gouldman team provided the grounded hits and lyrical pop narrative, while the Godley-Creme team provided the stylistic brilliance and cutting edge influence. Check out the recent BBC biography of 10cc on You Tube above while it lasts. And just a single example of how other artists took 10cc’s techniques as producer Phil Ramone describes how they made Billy Joel’s hit “Just The Way You Are.” If you are new to 10cc, check out my recommended albums at 50thirdandthird.com.

Hemmit and Mono In Stereo

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Hemmit

Hemmit “Straight Outta Nowhere”

Portland, Oregon rock duo of songwriters Adam Rohosy and Keith Fleming are the hard charging band Hemmit. Opening with “Brohemoth,” it references the Beatie Boys with its power chord and cow bell anthem. Next is a perfect cover of The Rolling Stones “19th Nervous Breakdown,” sounding almost better than the original. The sound shifts to a poppier vibe on “Thank You” with its tightly crafted melody. The late’ 60s influence is mixed with 90’s hard rock on “I’m The Man” and “ADHD,” and it never gets predictable, “So Deluxe” is another riff busting gem that’s sure to please. You know these guys are fun, as “Happy Friday” mixes wah-wah bass and synth chords with the those meaty guitar riffs. Nothing really mediocre here, and the band’s enthusiasm and talent goes a long way to making this LP one of my highly recommended picks.

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Mono in Stereo

Mono in Stereo “Long For Yesterday”

Rockford, Illinois’s Mono in Stereo falls somewhere between the lines of punk rock and power pop but they’re not too far stylistically from Watts or The Satisfactors. “Late Night Confessor,” opens with fast riffs and a throaty delivery that sets the template for most of the album. “Long For Yesterday” is rant of regret that recalls The Ramones with its fast tight melody and stripped punk vocals. “Start Again” is another song that treads the same ground thematically. Slowly the sound gets grungier and songs get much longer like “Never Coming Down” and “Feels Alright.” I felt the songwriting loses its way a little here, but it still sounds good. My favorite on the LP is the power pop gem “Bakersfield” with its simple catchy chorus that I couldn’t get out of my head, like a Kinks classic. Hopefully future releases will have more of this.

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The Steve Deaton Three and Kevin Martin

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The Steve Deaton Three

The Steve Deaton Three “The Steve Deaton Three”

Mississippi rocker Steve Deaton (formerly of Buffalo Nickel) is joined by bass (Adam Perry), drums (Denny Burkes) to form The Steve Deaton Three. The chiming guitar chorus of “Duke of High School” is about a legendary burnout who everyone knows. The sound is very much like The Raspberries and Cheap Trick, done in a tight 70’s FM style. Next “Watching You Drown” has a great chord structure, sleigh bells, and that sweet jangling strum.

A harder fuzz is found on “Beautiful Believers” about a Christian rock band. You hear some Southern influences on “The Big Cheese” which recall ZZ Top and Rick Derringer, who gets his own tribute here (“Derringer Lays It Down”). Even twanging country rock comes up on “Peroxide Blonde in a Hopped Up Model Ford.” This is a band that understands the need more cowbell and makes its debut a ton of fun. “If you were listening to the radio in 1978, this record will make sense to you,” says Deaton. A faithful cover of the Nazz classic “Open My Eyes” rounds out this highly recommended album!

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Kevin Martin

Kevin Martin “Future Friends ”

San Diego singer-songwriter Kevin Martin moves away from the classic power pop influences of his debut Throwback Pop for his second album. But he does move forward in time. “Julia” is a ’80s styled pop extravaganza with deep synths and beats, it continues with “Loaded Gun” sure to appeal to fans of Ah-Ha, Level 42 and The Fixx. Thankfully, it isn’t stuck in the ’80s for long.

“Not Gonna Let You Go” comes a little closer to the piano pop from his debut, with its classical flourishes recalling Elton John. “The Unknown” throws in more style, a little bit like Queen or The Fratellis and its a big standout. “Diamonds” starts with a waltz but shifts to a hook filled chorus and boasts a terrific guitar coda.”Goodbye” is a gorgeous piano ballad supported by strings, and makes a solid closer. There are plenty of quality songs here, richly produced and worth adding to your playlist. Definitely Recommended.

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