Joe Reyes “Worry Row”
Grammy award winning producer and musician Joe Reyes’ latest release is a detailed musical gem that speaks volumes. Highlighted by brilliant songwriting it opens with “Don’t Kid Yourself,” a tune fans of Michael Penn, Jon Brion or Neil Finn will cherish. And there’s plenty more.

“Wicked Life” is a slow country-like ballad that will make Ryan Adams jealous. The shimmering pop of “Never Look Back” is another treasure to be uncovered here. The Beatlesque “Trying To Get Used To It” and “Consolidation” are more examples of his flawless musicianship.  Nearly every song hits the mark and even when the song has a bit more production (“Just Dangling,”) Reyes works real magic here. Lyrically it’s also one of the best written albums this year, despite the depressing themes. San Antonio native Reyes is an unsung talent that should not be missed.

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The Corner Laughers “Ultraviolet Garden”
Produced by Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels) and featuring the stellar vocals of Karla Kane, Ultraviolet Garden is a shiny, happy album that sparkles with pop charm and rock smarts. Fans of female pop vocals like Kelly Jones or This Blue Heaven will be glad to add this to the music mix. An early standout is “For The Sake Of The Cat” a lyrical story with a jazzy ukulele and catchy chorus. Another gem is the folk based “Half A Mile” with a backing vocal and tinkling keys from Khoi Huynh.

Sometimes things are a bit too novelty (“Inner Archaeologist”) or too overdone (“Dead Sicilians”) but the majority are great compositions here, with pop gems like “Silver Medal” and “Yellow Jacket” both with fast paced rhythms. Overall, a real sweet pop treat that’s guaranteed to add a smile and help get that toe tapping to the beat. And don’t forget this same crew is the core of The Agony Aunts.

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Last year a mysterious Parisian musician under the name Any Version of Me caught my ear, and now he contacted me directly to promote his latest effort Wasted Sun. The sound of the band is decided retro, blending both Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) and Colin Blunstone (The Zombies) in wonderful combination. You’ll also hear bits of The Beatles, Nick Drake and The Turtles in the tracks as well, and it’s fun to spot each influence here.

“Monday” is a great starting track with a bass line similar to “Lady Madonna” that bounces along and the lush horn details flesh out the song. The echoing old piano that drives “Seems Like Everyday Is Something New” is a solid tune with a touch melancholy. AVOM uses a plethora of instruments, from ukulele to organ on the sweet “Normal Life.” The composition and instrumentation on the Wilson-influenced title track “Wasted Sun” is totally mesmerizing and can be compared to “Til I Die.” The moody brilliance continues on several tracks, notably “Don’t Try Too Hard” and “Down To The Sea.” Another standout is the 7 minute opus “With The Moon” which has awesome melodies, strong harmonies and could fit right on “Smile.” One can find fault in that several songs seem to end abruptly (“Early One Morning”), or drift off into an unrelated melody. Overall the album’s beautiful but somber mood is so effective, you’ll find repeat listens a must. Power Popaholic Exclusive: Send an e-mail to the band and mention you read about it on Powerpopaholic.com and get a FREE download code. This is for a limited time, so act fast!

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No one does English pop quite like The Brigadier (aka Matt Williams). I’ve touted his albums before, but his latest effort The Secret Of No Success is one of most light hearted and whimsical. The theme is job seeking, and the 10cc meets Aztec Camera inspired “Doing The 9 to 5” is a bouncy romp that wouldn’t sound out of place as a theme for a musical about The Office. It goes through the day, from the commute “On The Bus” and the rocking “Just A Little Kiss Miss Busy” is a real standout track, with a signature riff and casual flirt approach. Plenty of great soul searching lyrics are found in the wonderful “Middle Management” where it focuses on the hopes and dreams of the boss, with a blistering guitar break and dreamy background harmonies.

Comparisons with Pugwash and XTC are easy to hear in the weaving vocals of “C.V” and hook-filled guitar strums of the title track. The guitar and synth play on “Let Me Impress You” is impressive, as the smooth vocal work here. It ends on another pop gem “A Better Day” which tells the listener “sweet relief will come.” This is the best Brigadier album since The Rise and Fall Of Responsibility and there is more than enough here to recommend.

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