Team Genius "Team Genius"

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For those looking for a indie campfire sing-along, I give you Team Genius, who released the Hooray EP earlier this year and have now put out a full length CD. If you are into funky falsettos, blissful choruses, tonal experiments of some fairly primitive music, you’ll have a lot of fun with this group. But that doesn’t mean they don’t create some addictive pop too. Team Genius provides irreverent indie pop for the ipod generation. The opener “Take Me Home” showcases it’s strength in melody and instrumental skill similar to Matt Mahaffey (Self). This is followed by the GBV-like “Surely The Sun Will Explode” another excellent pop song that weaves together vocals of Drew Hermiller and Emma Firth. It then plays a catchy campfire sing-along with “Sing Song” with a strained shout of vocals that reminds me of the Proclaimers at a forest jamboree. “The Wise Ones All Give Up” is almost like a Talking Heads tune, and a few other tracks merit a listen but the album runs out of gas slightly by the end. The group is really close to breaking through, but some songs are quirky beyond accessibility. The band’s strength is it’s geek bravado and diverse use of instruments (cello, ukulele, harmonica, bells, percussion) as well as Firths angelic vocals. Fans of Magnetic Fields, Talking Heads, and newer Brooklyn quirky pop will love this one. Others would be advised to jump in the pool as well. The water’s fine.

Team Genius Website | CD Baby

Listen to the “Sing Song”

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Greg Pope "Popmonster"

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Greg Pope, the lead guitarist of Edmund’s Crown has a new solo CD out now. As much as I loved Regrets of a Company Man a few years ago, this album is even better. In fact, this is outstanding power pop that blows the doors off most other bands out there. He fires off a great leading track “Sky Burn Down” has the buzz and crashing cymbals of The Who and the guitar licks that recall Badfinger’s best moments. This template continues with “I Got A Life” which rips through the chorus with infectious glee, kind of like Sweet and Lenny Kravitz on speed. Every song here is a choice cut, “Lost My Friend” and “Playing Nashville” being closer to Edmunds Crown style with a more diverse pattern of instrumentation, the latter resembling Robert Pollard playing for The Monkees. Another highlight, “Burden” has a nice 70s roots feel as he sings “I can’t tell my Dad. I can’t tell my Mom. Tell me, who can I dump this on.”, one of the best songs about teen guilt ever. “All Day Long” really pushes the Who/Badfinger buttons for me, with power chords and harmonies interlaced together. I could talk about how “New Song” has hotter guitar licks than anything Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) has done lately. I could go through the entire fourteen track list, but lets just say to quote comic book guru Stan Lee, “Nuff Said!” This is also one of the rare moments Steve at absolutepowerpop blog and I have reviewed the CD at the exact same day, and we both agree it’s an amazing “pop monster” of an album. Great minds think alike, it gets a Top Ten of 2008 nod.

My Space | CD Baby

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Another Steve Eggers demo

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It’s really cool seeing Steve’s creative process. Like before, he plays the piano and gives us a song. This one’s called “Laura, Maybe She’s The One ” – Steve just finished a live set with MIke Viola at Joe’s Pub in NYC recently. Steve Eggers is working on new material for a digital only release in late 2008. A full Nines album is scheduled for Spring 2009.

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Skoober "Say!"

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This took me by complete surprise, a plain white album cover, reveals an amazing power pop album inside. Armed with a relentless work ethic, and a natural gift for crafting pop hooks, the upstate NY songwriting partnership of Tawni Bates and Andy Weaver quickly evolved into the power-pop/rock band Skoober in early 2006. Skoober got on the map by first composing the closing theme for Adam Waltermire’s Pop Garden Radio Show. The duo, supported by various other talented musicians during live shows, spent the majority of that year recording demos and honing their skills. Boy, did it pay off here. With a sound that effortlessly mixed classic pop hooks and a modern power pop sound SKooBER really delivers the goods on this debut. Tawni Bates vocals are clear and crisp, like a modern mix of both Marykate O’Neil and Natalie Merchant in places. The opening track “Now What Do We Do?” is a stunner, Weaver’s guitar is similar to Queen, Cheap Trick and Rooney in sound and slickness. It gets even louder in “Make A Liar Out Of Me” and Tawni’s full range vocal soars above the buzzing guitar riffs. “Second Chances” sounds like a lost Cheap Trick track (“Dream Police” era). The album’s triumph here is the Jellyfish-inspired title track,”Say!” with those mind bending chords, guitar accents and an inspiring vocal performance. The Beatlesque flute, and gentle tone for “Your Heart” downshifts from the power, to a pure pop delight. The album stays in sophisticated pop on “Pinch Me” with more concentration on Tawni’s beautiful voice. It includes two bonus tracks done with acoustic guitar. Right alongside Vibeke, this album exceeds expectations and is one of the best power pop albums I’ve heard with a female vocal. Super Recommended here! Already booked for IPO in Youngstown, OH on Nov.14

SKooBER Website (streaming tracks) | MySpace | CD Baby

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The Strand "Another Season Pass"

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Much like Doug Derek and The Hoax, The Strand is another band from the early 80’s that had some success on college radio, and decided to start a come back. But in this case, rather than dig out those old tracks, the band (James Garner, John Hubbell and Bill Lasley) all tuned up the instruments in 2007 and picked up right where they left off. Okay rather than that earlier example, these guys are closer to the band Buddy Love. Fans of early Jam, Paul Collins and Stiff-era Elvis Costello will feel at home with this nostalgic, “skinny-tie” guitar pop. The songs are well produced and sound crisp and clean, with the opener “Rising Tide” lead by great songwriting and guitar work (no cheap synths here!) is easily the best song here. “Why’d You Call” is a typical 80’s throwback track, and you can make a game of guessing which songs were written recently vs. penned almost 20 years ago. Another good song is “Along for the ride” with a steady drum driven melody and guitar accents. The older tunes are okay, but the newer sounding material is better, for example the ballad “Begin Again” has a great story and piano melody. A curiosity here is “Scared Streets 1” which takes a page from The Ramones and early punk. If you wanted a glittering curiosity from another era, give this one a shot.  

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

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