Choo Choo "Choo Choo"

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Choo Choo is from Switzerland, and is a self-described “Steam Powered” garage pop band. It’s easy to get excited when I heard the opener “A Little Wiser Now” with organ, guitar, drums and a killer hook that sticks like glue. Like many Rainbow Quartz bands, the retro sixties sound is bent to suit the songwriting of lead singer Dan Joerg. “Your Heart is Breaking Down” is another good song with a Doors-like organ solo and “la la” harmony at the break. The party atmosphere is evident in “All I Know” and the band has a crisp loud sound. This sound shares a lot in common with both The Clash and The Alarm, as well as 60s garage bands, and newer retro bands like The Ugly Beats or The Cynics. At some point the hooks leave the songs (“Half as Good”, “You Don’t Understand”) and you are left with that raw party energy, nothing else here gets close to that first single. Another standout is “Losing Balance” which comes closer to the Clash’s sound than any other song here. Also by the albums mid point, the Farfisa organ takes over the lead of the band and the songwriting gets less pop and more of a punk style. This may be okay for most listeners, to me it felt like it was the band was coasting a bit. It’s also worth noting that the cool cover has the band taped to the floor with duct tape. Where have I seen this before? The last track “I Ain’t Coming Home” is a great finish where the guitar sound and the harmonies return to add to the manic energy of the finale. Worth a listen for sure and I wouldn’t mind seeing these guys on stage either.

Choo Choo Website | My Space | Itunes


Listen to “Your Heart is Breaking Down”

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Men’s Synchronized Swimming

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After reading and listening to this guilty pleasure from Popdose.com my mind began to wander and I was reminded of this great SNL skit. Before finding success with Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer combined forces on this hilarious mockumentary about a pair of men trying to qualify for the U.S. Olympic synchronized swimming team. There’s just one problem: The U.S. doesn’t allow men to compete… oh, and one of the swimmers can’t actually swim. And that cheesy theme, Frank Stallone’s “Far From Over” is parodied in the background music.

OUT OF LEFT FIELD: There is some buzz online that mentions the Faces reunion could be possible. The original members would include Ron Wood, Ian McLagan, Kenney Jones and Rod Stewart. I would love to see Stewart recapture his old glory, as this would go a long way in bringing Stewart back his street cred.

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Rob Bonfiglio "Bring On The Happy"

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Pop fans will remember Rob Bonfiglio (pronounced “Bon-feel-e-o”) as a former member of Wanderlust and The Skies Of America. Rob displays consummate musicianship in full bloom on this, his debut “Bring on The Happy.” This is the epitome of finely handcrafted power pop. It starts off with great promise on “Nothing Will Hold You Down” a full sonic modern pop blast that recalls both John Mayer, Swirl 360, Taxiride and Wanderlust. The sound of “That’s Alright” has a radio friendly nod to the seventies style guitar with the super musicanship and heavenly hooks and makes it a great single. Robs vocals recall a mix of The Chili Peppers Anthony Kiedis and Carl Wilson. It’s no wonder that Rob’s worked with Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson and Wilson Phillips, on the epic “How To Mend a broken Heart” the melody and harmonies bring to mind both the Holland-era Beach Boys and Todd Rundgren’s “Something/Anything” here. And it keeps going, the killer rhythm and attention to details on “React” make it another “air guitar” classic. The guitar lead and multi-tracked vocals of “What you Need” recall Eagles’ Joe Walsh at his most catchy. The mid-tempo ballad “Straight from the Heart” starts like a Stevie Wonder opus and then the chorus plays with a bouncy optimism, and great chord progressions. The album dials down a little toward the end with “Sympathy (Who I am)” but jumps back in with a classic Fosse piano riff in “The Best is Yet To Come.” The ending tracks do a decent job of balancing heavy arena rock (“Blow Me Away”)and another heart felt ballad on the final song “Some Days are Better.” This is an excellent solo debut for the musically literate and it also makes my top ten of 2008 list. Wow. A lot of great music came out this month so far. My pop cup runneth over with this one.

My Space | CD Baby

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The Junipers "Cut Your Key"

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The Junipers are songwriter Joe Wiltshire and vocalist Marc Johnston who, together with a group of friends in Leicester, make upbeat, chiming pitch perfect baroque and psychedelic pop with echoes of early Bee Gees, The Curiosity Shop and The Zombies. If you are looking for big loud electric guitar riffs, they are not here, but everything else is. Especially that McCartney baseline driven song structure. “Gordie Can’t Swim” opens with a Beatles meets Elephant Six collective retro sound, full of hooks that stick and harmonies that float along the melody. This sets the tone for the album, and despite a few slow instrumental breaks – it’s brilliant in every way. “Fly The Yellow Kite” is a shimmering pop confection that resembles a Wondermints composition. “Already Home” uses a Monkees-like country vibe with those impressive basslines and harmonies to great effect here and it’s a awesome pop song. Using a collection of instruments from of sitars, mellatrons, organs, kazoos, piano, strings, fuzz guitar will have fans of sunshine dappled psyche pop doing backflips. “Out of My Pocket” is adds a dash of prog organ to an acoustic guitar melody and, and “Sheena” is a very Wackers-like folk pop gem. Another standout is the Genesis-Klaatu beauty called “Song That Fades Away” with a sweet harpsichord solo in the middle. Other straight pop songs here “Mortimer” and “Sunnydown Avenue” resemble The Hudson Brothers in sound and spirit. The albums quieter moments concentrates on piano and gentle folk guitar similar to Elliot Smith.  If you don’t enjoy the retro-psyche pop genre then you should pass on this, however fans of Andrew Sandoval, The Pillbugs, and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” will gobble this one up. There are so many layers of impressive instrumentation and arrangements here I’m letting this one into the top ten of 2008. Again, no filler on this impressive debut, and I’ve added two tracks to the Lala player on the right for you to hear.

The Junipers Website | My Space | Kool Kat Musik | Lala

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