First IN Space "This is Not Here"

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First in Space was formed in 2006 by Johnny Stanec and Dolus McCormick. After touring the Midwest, they honed their sound and recorded this album in 2007.  As a debut the music is polished and professional and makes an excellent impression. These guys play straight up rock and roll here, “Jenny” opening the album with strong guitar chords and drumming, but it gets even better as the album plays on. I took notice of the melodic “Taken For Granted” which remind me of both Tom Petty and Joe Jackson. The awesome “What You Need” has a Posies flavor to it that was just catchy and  irresistible. The band brings classic rock harmonies to these tracks that help make them true pop gems. With the longer cuts “Anything At All” and “I Let You Down” it tends to get more standardized in sound. But the power pop comes through in the richly detailed “Lock It Away” and those great builds to a chorus in “Wasted Time” will definitely be appreciated by music connoisseurs. Other songs have varied influences, “In The Water” and “Last One” have a slight REM vibe, but the group has a sound that merely  touches these influences without sacrificing any originality. Worth the effort here, and a new album is already in the works! 

MySpace | Itunes

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Saturday EP Review Special FREE music downloads

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I heard a few worthy EPs and emerging talent these past 2 weeks that deserves some attention from you Powerpopaholics out there. Here are some groups you might want to check out.

Princeton “Bloombury” EP

Twin brothers Jesse and Matt Kivel and Ben Usen are Princeton, a very Kinks-meets-Shins Chamber pop combo. The EP Bloomsbury, lyrically focuses upon a Victorian-era intellectuals. Portraits of Leonard Woolf, Lytton Strachey, Virginia Woolf and John Maynard Keynes are each presented in a different musical framework with lush orchestral arrangements. Just lovely pop gems perfect for summer.
MySpace | Imeem

The Very Most “Summer ” EP

After a very good debut album, The Very Most of Idaho have an EP of pure summer ear candy. After a Spring themed EP, this was the next logical step. Breezey, summer harmonies that recall the Beach Boys and The Davenports greet you on tracks like “The Motor-Vue Lights” and “You’re in Love With The Sun.” This is gently tailored pop touched by magic. You can even download the latter track for free! What’s not to like here? 
MySpace | Indie Cater Records | FREE DOWNLOAD

Honey Brothers “Demonstration”

Combining banjo, ukulele, electric guitar, and three-part harmonies, their infectious rock sound touches on popular music from the Cars, Talking Heads to the Beach Boys, and further back into American folklore music of the 1920’s. The band has a pretty rich history and back catalog worth exploring too.
MySpace | Honeybrothers site | Download “Demonstration” single

Don’t Be A Stranger “Perfect Problem” EP

Little EP from this Swedish pop outfit that sounds like The Cardigans met PJ Harvey in a dark alley somewhere. I have very little information on them, but the Swedish magazine Sydsvenskan.se loved them. Anyone know how to read Swedish? No? Well you’ll just have to download the tracks to see if you like them. Why not give it a shot?
MySpace | Don’t Be A Stranger | FREE DOWNLOAD

David DiMuzio 

“I Wanna Save The Last Koala Bear”
David is a straight up pop guy, trying to get noticed. He’s got a good voice, is a world champion juggler and know how to promote himself well. Currently singing on major cruise lines (Disney, Royal Caribbean) and working with Cirque Du Soleil, his music has plenty of passion and potential for great things. The album has plenty of high energy pop songs like “Lots of Girls Like You In Malibu” and “I’d Love You If…” that sound much better than those Jonah boys. A few power pop tunes poke through here like “Hey Julie” and “Broken In” and will definitely win you over.
MySpace | David DiMuzio | Itunes | Pure Volume

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J.P. Cregan "Man Overboard"

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ESPN basketball writer John Cregan’s alter ego, J.P. Cregan has put together a stellar collection of pop songs. And he’s no rookie either, having been guitarist for alt. country band Parklane Twin. With the help of Highland Park-based wunderkind-ace producer Nik Freitas, J.P. opens with “Carolyn (The Pledge Drive)” a very Nick Lowe-ish styled pub rock with a hint of country. The smooth “Count to Three” is like Glen Tilbrook at his catchiest, with a jaunty piano and guitar melody. The Elvis Costello/Marshall Crenshaw influence is all over the album (and J.P.’s vocals are very similar) but it works best on “Barbara is Strange” and I wonder out loud why those rock “legends” don’t write like this anymore. The jangle guitar and chorus makes “Atmosphere” a real pop delight. More gems here are the chiming “Jeni” and “Miss Highland Park” with hand claps and minor chords that will have you playing air guitar in no time. A few ballads here don’t spoil the party either, as “Searched For Me” and the title track aren’t as memorable, but still highly listenable without a filler in sight. This is high quality pop that really rocks and deserves a top ten for 2009 nod. What else can I say but “Man Overboard” is a Slam Dunk (pun intended – ouch).

My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik

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The Simple Carnival "Girls Aliens Food"

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The Simple Carnival does not rock. Pittsburgh based singer/songwriter Jeff Boller couldn’t agree more. After all “there are a million musicians who play rock better” he says. Instead Boller excels at sunny pop melody so sweet and bubbly, you may even think you’re listening to a kids album. But you’re not, and like Mitch Friedman’s “Game Show Teeth,” it’s good natured and inventive pop melodies that are a joy to listen to. Try to imagine if Harry Nilsson and Brian Wilson collaborated on Sesame Street and you get the idea. Opening with the gentle harmonies on “Really, Really Weird” it sparkles with it’s catchy chorus. The impressive “Caitlin’s On The Beach” shows off for you Beach Boy fans out there. “Flirt” has a ’70s styled piano pop bounce similar to Seals & Crofts that is just infectious. The angelic a cappella overdubs on “Nothing Will Ever Be As Good” are so crisp, that it’s comparable to Jeffery Foskett. The mid tempo “Misery” is another story-styled song that reminds me lyrically of Andrew Gold or Henry Gross. Even the last track, “Hey Lancaster” builds to a shimmering crescendo of vocals and keyboard overdubs. Boller plays all thirty or so featured instruments himself, layering their sounds one at a time in his basement studio. Every track is solid throughout and “Girls Aliens Food” should rightfully be called a soft pop masterpiece. It’s a precise musical craftsmanship that shouldn’t be missed.

My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame | Amazon

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