Nick Piunti and The Armoires

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Up and Out of It”

Likely one of the best power pop artists we have today, Nick Piunti has consistently produced excellent music for well over ten years. In his third album with his band, The Complicated Men, he continues his run of great tunes, but with more variety of tone and style without compromising his unique sound. In terms of lyrics, each and every one of his songs is deeply personal and biographical in subject matter.

The openers “Seasick” and “Bottle it” are some of Piunti’s finest ear worms, about the songwriting process. The melodies and power chords “may be something you’ve seen before,” as he sings but they are super catchy and do the job. “Mind Reader” is another gem that effortlessly clicks. Two songs were created by guitarist Joe Daksiewicz. One of them “I’m Ready” has a slower mesmerizing tempo and Nick’s vocal brings it life. Joe also does many of the solos on the album. The remaining Complicated Men are bassist Jeff Hupp, keyboardist Kevin Darnall, and drummer Ron Vensko. Like all of Nick’s work, it’s a great listen from top to bottom. Highly Recommended and definitely on this year’s top ten list.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Armoires

The Armoires “Octoberland”

Another veteran band, The Armoires are back with Octoberland, their fifth full-length album, and a great mix of eclectic rock styles wrapped in a distinct sound.”We Absolutely Mean It,” is a densely packed melody highlighted by strings and the multi-tracked verses singing “This is where we go big.”

Christina Bulbenko’s singing on “This One is For The Swedes” and “Ridley & Me After the Apocalypse” are highlights, and includes lots of interesting pop textures with the synths and guitar rhythms. Rex Broome lends his vocals on the contemplative “Here Comes the Song,” and the choral harmonies are added to his lead on “You Oughta be Cut in Half,” which lends itself to comparisons to The Cowsills. A creative narrative about Ukraine is sung on “Snake Island Thirteen,” a lovely pop confection comparing soldiers to ancient Greeks fighting monsters. The mellow “Music & Animals” is another satisfying melody, but not everything here works as well. However, there are enough good songs to make it recommended, especially if you enjoy the Armoire sound.

Big Stir Records | Amazon

Halloween singles: Muse, Drool Brothers, Liteweight Champion, The Jack Rubies, Minky Starshine, Hidden Pictures

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So I could not find a new Halloween video, but Muse certainly has a ton of horror movie references in their video of the single “You Make Me Feel Like It’s Halloween.” The Drool Brothers have a more traditional rocker, “Halloween Teen.” I also liked the dense melody of “Everyone is Wrong Most of the Time” by an Ohio band called Liteweight Champion. From our friends at Big Stir Records, we have The Jack Rubies with “Phantom,” with plenty of spooky vibes. I’m happy to report Minky Starshine is expected to return with a new LP, so here is the advance single “Our Father,” and Hidden Pictures turns up the twang for the gem “Hayward Hall of Justice.” The band’s sound very much reminds me of The Honeydogs. At last, a sentimental pop song by Alex Dominish and Carlos Morales that reminds me of how much I used to like a particular orange, white, and yellow colored treat. Enjoy the goodies, campers!





Steve Robinson and The Junior League

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““Steve

Steve Robinson “Window Seat”

If you enjoyed the pastoral prose and delicate compositions of Swallowing The Sun (2021) then Steve Robinson has another album you’ll enjoy. And Steve once again has friend Ed Woltil as co-pilot and special guest Dave Gregory (XTC) on a few songs.

Opening with “Unnecessary War,” its a serious anti-war mid-tempo tune with an excellent guitar break. The song shows you when there is no real introspection, the shouts of war can overwhelm. “Word to the Wise” boasts a pensive guitar rhythm, and similar low-key tone, but a big highlight is the very XTC-ish “King of Scatterbrain,” with its jaunty melody, and Steve sounding great with nice trumpet flourishes.  Another wonderful highlight is “Hesitation Blues,” with its chugging melody and very Beatlesque bassline. The mellow ballads “Room With a View” and “Treasure” are enjoyable too. Highly Recommended.


“The

The Junior League “Our Broadcast Day”

Joe Adragna (aka The Junior League) and friends, Scott McCaughey (the Minus Five) and Michael Giblin (Split Squad) follows up the excellent EP Nattering Nabobs with a cracking full length follow up. Joe is on a roll here, as he opens with the shimmering guitars of “Two Ways To Go” with its echoing verses, and a catchy “bop, bop, bop” in the chorus. “Let’s Hear it for the Dead” is another catchy mid-tempo tune with a wonderfully layered bass line, over a tambourine beat.

Many of the songs, such as “Everybody Knows” and “The Me and Them,” have a mellow country sound, with a focus on harmonies in the latter. Just about each song has enough variety to prevent predictability, as Joe delivers strong narratives that deserve repeat listens. Another interesting highlight is “1973 Nervous Breakdown,” an epic slow rocker about remembering chaos with a sense of  nostalgia. Highly Recommended.

Kool Kat Musik

Bad Moves and The Low Sixes

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“Bad

Bad Moves “Wearing Out The Refrain”

Bad Moves made a solid impression with their debut in 2018 with ‘Tell No One.’ Their sophomore effort, ‘Untenable’, followed with a darker tone but retained the band’s signature energy, powered by all four members—guitarists Katie Park and David Combs, bassist Emma Cleveland, and drummer Daoud Tyler-Ameen.

Opening with “A Drowning Confession,” its loaded with dramatic synths and gripping energy. “Hallelujah,” is an infectious power-pop track that captures the harsh realities of American politics with biting wit. “Eviction Party” boasts some great overlapping harmony lines in the chorus, grappling with both harsh realities and escapism. Another highlight is “Sorry That I’m Not Better,” a combination of emotional intensity and introspection. The final three tracks showcases the band’s ability to mix heavy themes with dynamic instrumentals. “The Undertow” builds a wall of sound, while “A Lapse in the Emptiness” blends delicacy with fierce guitar work. Overall, the energy never wanes, and the music perfectly captures modern anxiety. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


““The

The Low Sixes “The Oshawa Tree”

The Low Sixes, a punk-infused power pop band from Montreal, got their start when guitarists and vocalists Jonathan Cummins and Brendan Drouillard met over drinks at the local waterhole, Barfly, after a lengthy European tour with their other project, heavy psych rock band USA Out of Vietnam. The addition of John Milchem and Jon Asencio completed the quartet. The Oshawa Tree shares its name with the city of Oshawa in Ontario, Canada, and not an intentional dig on U2.(?)

Opening with the anthemic “Turn on The Night,” it has the raw garage rock energy, but with hooks aplenty. In a world where many bands chase fleeting trends, The Low Sixties stand firm, paying homage to rock’s roots while keeping their sound fresh and relevant. “Ryan’s Favorite Song,” which was named after the album’s producer is a catchy romp akin to Redd Kross, The Buzzcocks, and Cheap Trick. “Teenage Crime Wave” is a mid-tempo about looking at teen musicians with youthful envy.  The pivotal “The Worst is Yet to Come” has epic Beatlesque sweeping verses, as they go from quiet to loud. “New Action” recalls Thin Lizzy in the chorus, and the band makes an authentic attempt to honor these influences. The short 9-tracks breaks my EP/LP rule, but each song is really good here, so crank it up loud. Highly recommended.

Amazon

Fresh sounds: Joe Dilillo, The Fatal Flaw, Lolas, The Hutchinsons, The Jaws of Brooklyn, The Candy Whips, Curling

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Joe Dilillo gives us “Who We Are Now” boasts some strong songwriting, a good “end-of-September” song. The Fatal Flaw has a classic power pop sound, and this excellent single is a freebie, so don’t be shy. Tim Boykin’s band The Lolas continue to put out great music, he’s been so good for so long I take for granted singles like “From the Start.” The Hutchinsons were a great power pop duo in the 90s, and they’re re-mastered now, so check ‘em out. The Jaws of Brooklyn are really from the other side of the country (Seattle, WA) but the soulful pop is top notch. If you crave something 80s-like, listen to The Candy Whips “TV Set” very much in the Devo-esque category. Finally Curling brings melodic noise pop with lots of depth on “Radio King.” The leaves are changing, so change your playlist to a few of these artists, OK?