The Honest Mistakes and Susan James

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The Honest Mistakes “Get It Right”

Baltimore band continues to push out great music, lead by Joylene Dalia and guitarist Chris Ehrich.  The strong chords and catchy beat dominate the opener “This Is Where I Gave Up” and Joylene hits it out of the park with an emotional chorus. Her vocal inflections on “Get It Right” are distinctive, alternating soft and powerful here. “Don’t Leave Me Alone Too Long” is a lyrical treat about dealing with relationship problems before they get worse.

The songs settle into a comfortable groove with long jangling guitar rhythms on “Sun Tea” and “Free,” but they pick up the tempo on “We Used To Be Friends” and then “It’s Hard,” with it’s simple message “it’s hard to know what we do this for…” Another terrific song is “Anybody’s Girl.” While the harmonies are kept to a minimum, and the arrangements are pretty simple throughout, its anchored by Joylene’s powerful voice. Definitely worth repeat listens. If you would like to see The Honest Mistakes LIVE, they will be playing Power Popaholic Fest this September!

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Susan James “Sea Glass”

Susan James musical influences are from a variety of strong singer-songwriters from Joni Mitchell to Tori Amos. Her delicate ethereal vocal and angelic harmony is what stands out in “Posiedon’s Daughter,” a folk pop tune about a mermaid’s plight, as this message is all about saving our seas from pollution (“Is there nothing you can do for her?”).

“Awful Lot” is another bittersweet story, but the magic really starts with “Hey Julianne” using a Brian Wilson styled composition, full of beautiful orchestration courtesy of Sean O’Hagan (High Llamas). The Spanish “Ay Manzanita” is another highlight about female empowerment, and “Tell Me Cosmo” is a wonderful psychedelic tribute to the hippie era with its shimmering chords and echoing chorus. Overall a highly recommended folk pop album that impresses with each listen.

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Singles: The Jangle Band, Hidden Pictures and Angelo Celli

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Some of my favorite free music downloads!

The Jangle Band – a new project by Joe Algeri, songwriter and producer from Perth, Western Australia. He is also a member of Jack & the Beanstalk, The Britannicas  and one listen explains the band name here. Joe teamed up with Jeff Baker and Ian Freeman at the 2015 In The Pines Music Festival to create the band. Heavily reminiscent of the member’s key B-band influences – Byrds, Beatles and Badfinger – the single is a chime and harmony festival typical of the group’s sound. A perfect start to your week its a FREE download, we can’t wait for a full album guys!

Hidden Pictures – one of our favorite bands from Oakland, CA have quietly released several great albums for a name your price download. 2012’s Rainbow Records made our top 10 list that year. These guys are just amazing, with clean crisp melodies — so just get this!

Angelo Celli – the lead singer from last years acclaimed band Bracket. Here it’s just a simple ukelele, I love the approach and writing here. If you liked his bands last album, then download the follow up single, “A Choke of Grief (Heart Hardened)” as it sounds like a bonus track from Hold Your Applause.

Gary Frenay and The Dewars

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Gary Frenay

Gary Frenay “File Under Pop Vocal”

One of the most under appreciated power pop bands of the early ’80s was Syracuse, NY-based The Flashcubes. Featured in Ken Sharp’s just released Play On! Powerpop Heroes Volume II, the band did get some fan love later on at IPO and during a Japanese reunion. Thankfully, lead singer-songwriter Gary Frenay has continued to make music.

File Under Pop Vocal is a bit of adult oriented pop and rock that boasts fine melodies and an excellent supporting cast; Tommy Allen (The Flashcubes, Television), Arty Lenin (The Flashcubes, Paul Collins Band),  Maura and Pete Kennedy and Marshall Crenshaw to name a few.

“Blue Topaz” is a smooth pop gem that channels Elvis Costello, and the romantic love song “Our Eyes Have Voices” reminds me of Todd Rundgren balladry. A cover of Brian Wilson’s “Its Like Heaven” has plenty of great harmonies and fits perfectly here. A few tracks like “Winterview” are generic adult pop, with “It’s Your Heart” serving as a faux Bacharach tune (with horn accents.) Still most songs hit the mark, listen to it all on You Tube below.
power pop

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Gary Frenay

The Dewars “All A Part Of The Show”

Vaguely creepy twin brothers Anthony and Zachary Dewar write music for the downtrodden in love. “Sucker For Your Hometown” opens with the compelling harmonies about broken dreams – comparable to Ween or The Beta Band at its most irreverent. “Music In The Money Industry” is another gem that’s catchy and dripping with irony. “Come Back Baby Girl” increases the tempo, but keeps the same dramatic desperation.

The slow deliberate horns and echoing vocals do start to drone on in “Beach Country,” and the elegant “Switzerland” has classical strings that shift to a slow guitar march about the numbness of World War II, with tension bubbling just under the surface. The fun continues on the soft-shoe of the title track, which casually says “we lost a drummer to heroin” but really serves as an introduction – only this is the last song here (oh I get it).
power pop

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Your Gracious Host and Leaders in The Clubhouse

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Your Gracious Host “The Writers of Our Destiny”
 Your Gracious Host (aka Tom Curless) gives us a concept album about a man dealing with assorted life issues. “Trying to Remember” is both driving and meandering, but “Love Or Fear (pt.2)” is a compelling anthem for the album concept. The musical styles shifts from heavy rock to new wave pop – occasionally within the same song. It works on “Tonight All You Will See” and the second half of “Invisible Girl.” Like a staged rock musical, some transitions are jarring and others mesmerizing.

Tom does hit his stride with the brilliant piano melody “Heart On The Table” with its layered composition and spacey chorus. “If You Have Your Doubts” and “Facing Me” are great songs and the instrumental “Train Passing” is pure magic too. It may take a few listens for this one to grow on you. But trust me it will.

CD Baby | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Leaders in the Clubhouse

Leaders in the Clubhouse “Won”
San Diego duo “Spud” Davenport and Charlie Recksieck (The Bigfellas) formed this band as a musical outlet to highlight their talents and tame a few pet peeves. Starting with the funny and naughty “She Gets Loud,” it’s a catchy piano melody that celebrates sexual addiction and even throws in a wicked guitar break. The style is similar to a mix of Billy Joel, ELO and 10cc, with a casual demeanor and lyrical wit similar to Joe Walsh.

They rant about modern technology (“These Goddamn Devices”) and of course have a baseball related song (“Law Of The Jungle”). My favorite here is “Hater,” with a very explicit chorus that I think everyone will agree with and can easily sing along to. Similar is the rousing anti-politically correct “Trophies” with its dramatic swells and epic finale. It’s just too well made to fall into the novelty music category and deserves to be heard. Kind of like Parry Grip (Nerf Herder) for grown-ups. Highly Recommended.

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