Call this one, “slipped through the cracks” – as Powerpop Station blog found this one I missed. Any Version of Me is a mystery man from Paris, France. I am not fluent in French, but his music speaks volumes. “The Good Old Days” seems to me a seamless blend of Brian Wilson and Gilbert O’Sullivan with a touch of Colin Blunstone (Zombies). The touchstone here is Pet Sounds/Abbey Road production (using vintage instruments), with “More” it also recalls a gentle late 60’s songwriting style that touches pop greatness. The vocal on the lonely ballad “Tonight” has a soaring falsetto that makes it work similar to Eric Carmen doing Ziggy Stardust. The next several tracks wander into Herman’s Hermits territory, which isn’t a bad thing, but it fails to generate the excitement of the earlier tracks. “Something’s Gonna Happen” is a fun baroque sixties throwback a la The Parade, but the next track “Take Some Time” is a well written and original Beatlesque gem. And the ending track, “All I Will Keep From You” even ends with a Beach Boys multi-part harmony fade out. Some fans may think this album too derivative (which is true) but it has enough original songwriting to carry it through to highly recommended status. The entire album is streaming below and on the Any Version Of Me web site he is giving visitors a FREE single download “Don’t Fall My Friend.” Now that’s just smart marketing.
The Gideons and Serena Ryder
The Gideons “Hymns For Hers”
The Gideons are a unique combination of garage riffs and rough harmonies that will make you either root for them, or toss them away as fluff. Tracks like “Steal That Girl” have a good melody and edge to it, and “Pockets Full of Love” has that nuggets-like sound. They are able to remind some music fans of The Velvets or Marc Bolan (“Get on the Floor”), and they are not intimidated by the material at all. They need to work on those harmonies a bit though. These guys are unsigned, and right now you’ll need to contact them directly to get a CD-R. Give emerging talent a chance to grow on you.
My Space
Serena Ryder “Is it Okay”
Born and raised in Ontario, Canada, Serena Ryder grew up listening to old Beatles and Leonard Cohen records she found in her parents’ collection. In 2004 she was signed for her first album, which earned her music cred north of the border. Now several albums later, and signed by Atlantic, Serena is ready to break out into the mainstream. USA Weekend named her among its “Faces To Watch In 2008” and Billboard declared her One of Canada’s “Most Promising.” Her vocal styling and live performances have earned her comparisons to the likes of legends Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin. Serena’s sound has many different layers, from rock to folk with hints of country and soul. Her vocal delivery however, is what sets her apart from the crowd. Serena sings with so much emotion that as a listener you’d be hard-pressed not to feel where she is coming from.
My Space | Atlantic Records
Powerpopaholic interviews Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
Wow. A dream of mine since I started this blog was to interview Roger. As a founding member of power pop gods Jellyfish, Roger explains his musical process, his approach to songwriting and some of his attitude toward other musicians who are Jellyfish influenced. I made a big effort not to fawn and ask questions that fans would like to know. He also tells the story about a time touring with Beck that was unforgettable. This is a 30 minute interview, and it’s worth listening to.
Listen to The Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Interview
FYI: I bookended the interview with some of Roger’s best work, opening up with about 45 seconds of The Jellyfish track “The King Is Half Undressed” and closing with a sample of Catnip Dynamite’s “Down In Front.”
Get Catnip Dynamite at Not Lame .
Shane Barry & The Distractions "Radio Friction"
Shane Barry takes a template from Motown’s sound and adds his own white boy soul, a la Rolling Stones to the entire affair with his band The Distractions. A perfect example here has “Stop” takes a little of Stevie Wonder’s “Alright” and the Stone’s “Under My Thumb” mixed together to perfection. This seems like the best musical detour since The New Radicals tried to do it ten years ago. But band breaks that mold right away, as Barry takes on McCartney’s Wings with the compelling “Kites.” The group plays on a multitude of instruments to get the right sound. That means plenty of brass, percussion along with piano/organ and guitars. “Like I Told You So” is a wonderful track with a compelling chorus full of “Ba, ba, ba, da, da” and commanding piano lead. There is an old school warmth to the music and Barry’s vocals range from Mick’s growl to Ben Folds sarcastic everyman. “A Man Called Gerald” is a good Ben Folds’ styled song with lots of tempo changes and catchy hooks, and man those saxophone breaks! Things slow down on the “Strangest Hours” and “The World Won’t Stop” maybe a bit too much, as he croons “Things have run it’s course…” before the song picks up in tempo and energy for the chorus. Then it’s back to the energy of “There’s No Time” which recalls Joe Jackson a bit. Overall an interesting album done with superb craftsmanship, as evidenced by the free form pop of the six minute opus “The Finest Line.” There is more than enough here to keep serious pop fans happy.
The Chevelles "Accelerator"
Crunchy guitar popsters the Chevelles formed in Perth, Australia in the early 1990s; comprising singers/guitarists Duane Smith and Adrian Allen, bassist Jeff Halley and drummer Julian Buckland. They continue to be one of pop’s best secrets that carries the beat energy of The Jam and Love and Rockets with the guitar energy of The Velvet Crush. Fans of retro surf guitar will love this style as well. Tracks like “Get it On” and “Take A Chance” are a guitar driven gems that get the party started. “Wake Up Suzy” is a sure fire pop classic all about a girl told with guitar riffs and harmonies. Like fellow Aussie bands, The Stems and You Am I, it has simple sunny choruses, like “Summer Fun” and jangle filled ballads, like “Goodbye.” There is not a single bad track here and the best lyrical story is about a girl with a fix called “Stacey Loves Cocaine” with the strains of “Stacy loves cocaine/And she’s got a gun” And then a guitar fueled space epic about the heroine “Barbarella” and space madness. This is one of those bands that started out rough around the edges and has just coagulated over the years into a stellar band that cannot be ignored. Pop fans, don’t let this one blast by you.