Paste Magazine is on the verge of disappearing. This isn’t unique to music magazines. We’ve already seen a handful of great ones disappear recently (Blender, No Depression). On May 14, Decatur-based Paste magazine, dedicated to highlighting “signs of life in music, film and culture,” asked its readers for help in weathering a particularly rough economic patch. Out of all the music publications left, Paste is the last great print refuge for music lovers and I would hate for it to go away. Click on the ad to donate, and you’ll get a 70+ downloads for your trouble.
The Knobs "Breakup and Die"
Five years following the death of the lead singer/guitarist Phil Healy, the Knobs have reformed to release a serious statement of hope and sadness with “Breakup and Die.” The Knobs, are heavily influenced by The Beach Boys, The Kinks and Wilco, but the band sounds closer here to the hushed sounds of Eric Matthews playing with The Jayhawks. It’s no surprise the gem of the album is “Dublin Sky on New Year’s Eve.” It’s a perfectly tight song full of rich jangley guitars and a catchy chorus. The band also features Steve Chesser (whose most excellent Bos Taurus CD I reviewed a while ago). The studied sadness of “Room With the Fire Escape” shows off the anguished honesty, and the band’s gorgeous musicianship. Some of the heart wrenching lyrics in “After All It’s Been A While” and “Say Goodnight” almost beg the less sober of us to belly up to the bar. But it’s not all a downer here, as the lush pop arrangements prove what a talented songwriter Healy was, and both guitarists Phil Young and Ken Herblin perform each song with loving care here. While this is not a “happy” pop album, it is most definitely a well crafted one. Worth noting, the fastest paced song here is the bouncy irony of “If Died In A Car Crash,” (exactly how Phil Healy was killed). My favorite ballad here “The Way is Up,” as it echoes Neil Young’s sound slightly and provides the ethereal hope toward the albums end.
My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik
Power Pop mentioned quiet a bit on ABC’s "Cupid"
In the ABC TV show “Cupid” the episode “Left Of The Dial” is all about a DJ with musical taste looking for love. First, they mentioned and played Future Clouds and Radar song and had Robert Harrison on the show performing (albeit lip synced) and in the background of a radio station that one of the characters worked at was a poster for Jim Boggia’s “Misadventures In Stereo.” It was weird hearing the phrase “power pop” sprinkled around the dialogue. Even The Raspberries and Uncle Tupelo were mentioned too. Ended with the poppiest song The Pixies ever made, “Here Comes Your Man.” Many thanks to Michael McCartney for pointing this out to me.
Check out the full episode
Another hightlight in the middle of the show is this song…
Michael Behm "Saving America"
The good times are rolling for Michael Behm four months after releasing “Saving America,” The third single off his forthcoming album “If I could Learn To Fly” is enjoying top chart positions in Canada, Australia and finding solid ground in the US. “Saving America” is a big pop album full of accessible optimism and cheer, that could even turn your average American Idol fan into a power pop fan. The production work and mixing assisted by Pat Steward (The New Odds, Bryan Adams) and Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Elvis Costello, Metallica) give the album a crisp full sound. “If I Could Learn To Fly” is a huge highlight, with ELO-like echo effects and smart time signature changes. Next is the hook-laden “The Art of Letting Go” which has a great leading bass line and Michael’s winning vocals. Other highlights include “Ticket to Heaven” and the danceable “Honesty” resemble a Jellyfish single with a high falsetto driving the chorus. Even the ballads are done right with “Lincoln” pulls all the right heartstrings. Also of note “Underground Epic” features some amazing guitar work in the intro similar to Sloan or Cheap Trick. Behm has an extensive back catalog, and I look forward to exploring it now. This is an excellent example of modern power pop that shouldn’t be missed.
CD Baby | Michael’s website | Itunes
Moldy Oldies: The Choir "It’s Cold Outside"
It’s often mentioned that The Beatles were the inital template for Power Pop bands, but other American bands that picked up the Rickenbacker in the mid sixties did even more to shape the sound into a solid genre, instead of a mere offshoot of Merseybeat. “It’s Cold Outside” by The Choir is what really great local bands sounded like at junior high and high school dances in the mid-late ’60s – particularly in the eastern half of the country. The pride of Mentor, Ohio, The Choir would eventually join forces with Eric Carmen of Cyrus Erie to form ’70s power pop sensation, The Rasberries.