Hey I just made a commercial for Powerpopaholic – what do you think?
Spinnerette Poster Contest is now over!
Congratulations to: Justine Lovell of Riverside, CA
A long-time favorite group of this blog has been The Krayolas. I reviewed La Conquistadora and Best Riffs Only, and found that the band thrives on that razors edge between latino and British pop influences. Once again, Hector Saldana and the group make catchy merseybeat melodies with trademark horns on the opener “Marie Laveau.” This third album gets very topical with the single “Corido Twelve Heads In A Bag” which starts with a festive accordion intro, and turns into a Dylanesque comment on the Mexican drug wars. “So Happy” is a transitional, rough rock song that sounds anything but, with some great guitar riffs here, although the vocals get lost and the harmonies are a bit off (on purpose). But this is just a diversion from the traditional songs about girls and falling in love. The best ones here “Chola Song” and “Hurting Me Baby” are straight out of The Monkees playbook and a a joy to listen to. We come back to the Bob Dylan blues on the title track “Long Leaf Pine” and even a little bit of Elvis Presley on “Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.” But by the albums mid-point, we get to the Krayolas we all know and expect. The gentle “Fish Out Of Water” and bar room harmonies of “I Wanna Fall in Love Again” have those great chord changes and Beatley melodies you cannot resist. The Dave Clark Five styled “Matter Of Time” is another standout here. It ends with the lounge jazz stylings of “Every Little Heart” on a weary note, but the band does successfully explore new sounds without losing it’s core audience. I also love the fact that the cover parodies The Rolling Stones “Out Of Our Heads” album design. No matter the style, The Krayolas prove they can make it sound good and catchy. Once again, Viva La Krayolas!
Ran across this recently and felt a wave of nostalgia. Led by Edmonton, Alberta singer/songwriter Moe Berg, The Pursuit of Happiness were launched in 1985 when Berg and drummer Dave Gilby moved to Toronto, Ontario. They soon met bassist Johnny Sinclair and formed the band, adding twins Tam Amabile and Tasha Amabile as backing vocalists. The album “Love Junk” was certified platinum in Canada. Produced by… who else? Todd Rundgren’s influence is all over this thing…and that’s a very good thing!
n 1985, the XTC recorded as The Dukes Of Stratosphear – an amazing tribute to late 60’s psychedelic pop. Music critic Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that this was far more than a trippy parody, but “some of the best pure pop tunes XTC ever wrote” and that the group never sounded as “immediately catchy or consistent.”
Also released is the 2nd album, “Psonic Psunspot.” Remastered from the original analogue tapes, and available for the first time on CD in its own right. Produced by John Leckie the album includes 6 bonus demo recordings and is packaged in a hard back book format with a full colour 24 page booklet with all the lyrics and reams of brand new sleeve notes written by Dave Gregory, Colin Moulding and Andy Partridge. According to the site, Buy both The Dukes CD’s and get a set of 6 FREE set of XTC as The Dukes Badges from Ape Records.
Preorder both albums directly from Andy’s label Ape Records.
Preston Pisellini and Mark Winkler have formed the Webstirs’ backbone for 16 years, and after 2000‘s indie-pop gem, “Radio Racket,” they moved on to other projects. Well, after seven long years, Chicago’s Webstirs have roared back to life. Opening with the wistful piano chords of “Summer Fades” it nods tribute to Brian Wilson’s “Smile” and then blasts into the dual guitar and horn attack of “Wesley Station” that draws from The Jellysfish, Queen and The Posies, and it will have power pop fans pulse racing — amazing melody with a multi-instrumental celebration of sound. Preston and Mark are helped by former Redwalls drummer Jordan Kozer and bassist Charlie Short to round out this excellent album. This continues with “Somewhere To Start” and “So Long” as the party just keeps going, with some great piano support, to the incredible riffs and harmonies. I was waiting for a low point on this album.. and there isn’t any. “Malaise” is a great Beatlesque romp, with that rolling baseline and Penny Lane era horn arrangements. And that doesn’t mean these guys don’t rock hard either, the next song “Apparition Shine” is an amazing Green Day meets Weezer inspired single that draws together a wall of guitar sound that will sonically mow you down. It’s followed by the ELO-inspired “Big Break” full of rich synths and echoing vocals that Jeff Lynne would be proud of. On “What Do You Believe” it goes back to both Wilson and Bacharach with it’s gorgeous harmonies and horn flourishes. “Still Drowning” mentions the frustrations of the current state of music industry, and surviving in it. Much of the songs deal with the experiences of the past eight years, and it requires multiple listens to really appreciate it. And the music here doesn’t just have obvious influences, it transcends that to form something unique. This is what many pop fans have been waiting for all year. The Webstirs have delivered genius. Don’t let this one pass you by.
My Space | CD Baby | Webstirs.com
