Lead singer for the Knack, Doug was battling cancer and was unable to make it to last year’s Charlotte Pop Fest, unfortunately the continuing battle took it’s final toll. Let’s remember him as a part of the power pop pantheon and a hard working performer that never faded into musical obscurity. The Knack helped make the entire country aware of the power pop genre in 1979. Despite numerous come back attempts they never really got the respect they deserved – the excellent albums they left behind deserve to be heard again and again. You will be missed Doug.
Patrick & Eugene "Altogether Now"
The Patrick & Eugene sound is comprised of banjos, ukuleles and sunshine pop vocals combined with whistles, bells and bongos to produce unique but accessible music for post-modern vaudevillians. Already several tracks are featured in commercials (Laughing Cow Cheese), TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy) and film (Burn After Reading). Patrick Dawes (Groove Armada) & Eugene Bezodis combine stellar musical ability, English whimsy and uncanny catchy melodies. The leading track “The Birds and The Bees” is a musical party that combines the ever present banjo and tuba with ease. Like the Beatles and Muppet Show combined, it’s impossible to listen to without letting your inner child grin. “Llama” is the highlight here comparable with the best of Harry Nilsson. “Don’t Stop” and “Altogether Now” are party tracks that chug along it’s merry way. The songs don’t always work – I found “I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” a bit grating, and by the time we get to “A Dog’s Tale” the tuba rhythms get repetitive. But overall it’s the pure quirky fun of They Might Be Giants combined with Pugwash’s stage humor. Enjoy it, mate!
Baby Scream and The Brigadier EP
Baby Scream “Identity Theft” EP
Argentinean transplant Juan Mazzola follows up his catchy debut with is this new release that features 7 songs, including 2 covers: John Lennon’s “Mucho Mungo “and Rinaldo Rafanelli’s “Ojos Orientales.” There is much more of Lennon’s influence and sound over the entire EP. Many songs use a simple slow rhythm and have a weary resignation about them. “Dead Woman Walking” sounds like a pop funeral dirge about a woman “running out of friends, running out of life.” The song “Memories” has some nice guitar work over a simple bass drumbeat that keeps things a bit more lively, but even on “Nicole” Juan admits he’s “run out of lyrics.” Much of the heavy mood is undone by the over produced vocal echo of “Underground Blues.” Fans of both Lennon and even his son Julian may like this, but it’s missing the hooks that made John’s songs so memorable.
The Brigadier “The Edge Of Spring” EP
My Space | Amazon
The Brigadier “The Edge Of Spring” EP
Have have enjoyed the music of Matt Williams aka The Brigadier for quiet a while now, and after his last album we find him stretching his songwriting legs with a seasonal theme. It opens quietly with “Song for a New Year” which strums along and builds to a sweet melodic chorus. “Be my Valentine” and “February” have a Ray Davies styled cynicism and dry wit to them. The four minute mostly instrumental “Last Day of Winter” has a magical quality and then “She brings the Spring” is very much in the light pop mold of The Orange Peels. Part of this cycle began with “Rhymes for Rainy Days (Autumn)”. I would encourage Matt to finish the cycle on his next offering (Summer). This EP is only offered digitally from Matt’s site.
My Space | Brigadier’s Site
The Telepathic Butterflies "Wow & Flutter"
Still getting to a few albums that slipped by last year. Rainbow Quartz regulars The Telepathic Butterflies returned with their fourth album. Both guitarist/vocalist Rejean Ricard and super drummer Jacques Dubois are in high gear, and the band has been consistently excellent. Whether they do straight up power pop, retro-garage or psyche-pop each tune carries those awesome chord shifts and quick tempo beats. One listen to opener “Circle Man” and you’ll be hooked. The ringing guitars of “Lilacs” and “The Dillinger Plan” showcase the superior songwriting and musicianship here. “Like Esme” is a great mid-tempo love song with Rejean’s vocal fitting perfectly alongside the guitar strums. In fact, every song is a winner, especially a very Teenage Fanclub-sounding gem “Elegy” with sweet hooks on every verse. It doesn’t vary too much from it’s fast pace from one song to the next, but it all goes by so fast you may not even notice. Reminiscent of The Kinks and Beatles with a touch of Sloan for good measure, it’s what I call exemplary power pop and not much else needs to be said. It deservedly made it to #11 on Dave Bash’s best of 2009 list, what else do you need?
MySpace | Amazon | Not Lame | AimeStreet
Green River Ordinance and The Fore
Green River Ordinance “Out Of My Hands”
Out of all the pablum that the music industry throws out to the public, sometimes quality musicians can emerge. Ft. Worth, TX rockers Green River Ordinance are being increasingly recognized as headed to stardom with their debut album “Out Of My Hands.” With a big push by label EMI/Virgin Records, the band has been making the rounds and getting good reviews. If you are into today’s modern rock sound (The Fray, Matchbox 20, or Third Eye Blind) then listen to the single “Come On,” driven by a powerful melody and slick production values. The songwriting is consistent and the group’s performance isn’t extraordinary, but they are still better than most modern rock bands trying to make it out there. Brothers Geoff and Jamey Ice, Josh Jenkins, Joshua Wilkerson and Denton Hunker have been playing since high school and have finally graduated here to the big time, touring with David Cook and getting airplay on MTV and other TV shows. Highlights include “Out Of My Hands” and the power pop tune “Goodbye L.A.” with soaring background harmonies and the power ballad “Last October.” On “Sleep It Off” lead singer Josh Jenkins croons “The best is yet to come…” The band is definitely pointed in the right direction.
The Fore “Run and Hide”
The Fore “Run and Hide”
When we last left The Fore, I found it to be the very best Merseybeat revival band I’ve heard since the early Spongetones. After all, very few artists are willing to tackle the genre mastered by The Beatles themselves. As expected, the band does not disappoint on it’s sophomore album as we are treated to fifteen bouncing, rocking melodies. Simple guitar based songs with those fab hooks all over the place, you’ll swear this was a lost classic collection. For fans of all those old Liverpool bands of the British Invasion (Gerry & The Pacemakers, The Searchers, The Cryin’ Shames) this is a no-brainer – just go and get it now. With so many songs, some tunes stuck out as exceptional here: “We Were Meant To Be,” “Have Me Back Again,”It’s You Girl” and “Leave Me Alone” – but there are no duds here either, it’s all just pure rock and roll excitement especially when the band starts screaming on “Tell Your Friend”. It would’ve been nice if the band tried a few variations from the formula, as the album has a homogeneous quality that may put off some listeners. But other than the new album from Alan Bernhoft, you’re not going to find a better tribute to the era.
My Space | CD Baby