Major label picks for August

powerpopaholic 4 Comments

Here are some Amazon.com mini-reviews of current major label releases that I’ve been listening to in the past month (click on an album cover on the widget to the right if you’d like to hear it).

The Black Hollies “Casting Shadows”
Put on the black light and smoke the hookah to this album. The Black Hollies retro psychedelic rock fits well with your rainbow quartz groups. Obsessively recreated itchy twanging guitars, vocal reverb and harmonies like The Zombies. Like a lost 60’s psyche classic.

P.J. O’Connell “Careful”
Fans of Tom Petty styled power pop will love this. Mixing Rockpile-like twang and muscle riffs with the country steel petal and piano touches it’s an excellent album. Don’t let this one fly under your radar. O’Connell writes great songs and even his voice sounds like Pettys mixed with Paul Westerberg. Not a single bad track either.

R.E.M. “Accelerate”
Not since “Monster” have we had this aggressive Michael Stipe. I guess this is the backlash of keyboard-heavy, adult-contemporary music of “Around The Sun.” This is a return to form for sure, the music is played with great gusto and other than the ballad “Until the Day is Done” you’ve got a great bunch of catchy rock here. And they don’t pander to today’s trends (unlike “Monster”) and play classic R.E.M. – my favorite track here is “Mr. Richards”

Ray Davies “Working Man’s Cafe”
The master songwriter at his usual best. Ray produces a great album with his unique perspective on  things. Globalization is his target on the catchy “Vietnam Cowboys” but the best song here is his answer to his worshipping fans in “You’re Asking Me” (“Don’t take my advice… Get a life”). Also of note, the rockin’ riffs on  “Hymn For A New Age” where he takes on religion.

Robyn “Robyn”
Not something I normally listen to, but the buzz on Robyn is loud and deserved. This hip hop pop queen is the heir apparent to Gwen Steffani. Listen to “Bum Like You” and try not to move, I dare you. This is where Janet Jackson should’ve gone by now.

Ron Sexsmith “Exit Strategy Of The Soul”
Sexsmith has such talent, that even this uplifting sermon will squarely inspire pop fans. Rooted in the sounds of  Paul McCartney, Harry Nilsson, Paul Simon, from jazz to country to folk, this is his finest album since “Retriever.” Using more horns and piano than usual, listen to “One Last Round” for a good representation.

She & Him “Volume One”
Who knew cute actress Zooey Deschanel had these pipes? One ups Scarlett Johansson, by pairing with M.Ward and emulating those great pop icons with a great selection of songs. If you miss classic Linda Ronstadt and Rita Coolidge soft rock, don’t miss this loving tribute. Notable is the Dusty Springfield-like single “Why Do You Let Me stay Here?”

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Frank Bango "The Sweet Songs of Decay"

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What took so long? When you consider that Frank Bango’s “Fugitive Girls” has been on my list of greatest albums of all time, his latest “The Sweet Songs of Decay” is a long overdue summer classic. Often compared to Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe, Bango has earned plenty of fans over the years and has played with artists from Frank Black to Nancy Sinatra.  The album is a series of finely textured, and gentle musing on mortality, starting with the ballad “You Always Begin By Saying Goodbye” just Frank and a lone guitar that recalls Big Star’s Chris Bell. Then the shimmering mid-tempo “Summerdress” has those swirling chords and harmonies that give you goose bumps. “Angela Eagleton” is another standout,  lead by acoustic strumming and a few keyboards. The song cycle of a “children’s album for adults” begins with the ballad ““Bunny in a Bunny Suit” where Frank is “pretending to be myself again” – it then goes upbeat on “I Saw The Size Of The World” it’s a relaxing, laid-back melody with a kid friendly repeating chorus (“And the rain came down”). The sadness of the some songs like “She’ll Miss the Spider” recall Ray Davies english countryside. And the darker overtones here cannot be overlooked – the moral Bango leaves us with is that everything must be embraced and enjoyed to it’s fullest while we are here. An impressive album from a brilliant artist.

Frank Bango Website | My Space | CD Baby | itunes | Not Lame

Listen to “I Saw The Size Of the World”

Listen to “Worm was Wood”

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Josh Fix "Free At Last"

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This was one of those discs from last year that passed under the radar, but no more. San Francisco native Josh Fix is a true phenomenon with his debut album “Free At Last.” If you combine a host of 70’s rock icons like Queen, Billy Joel and Elton John and the majestic sweeping pop they are known for, you’ve got a good idea of Josh’s sound. The rousing opener “Don’t Call Me In The Morning” uses all these influences to perfect effect. The densely produced, rocking, accessible Elton-esque mid-tempo ballad “Jethro” uses amazing piano, unconventional chord changes and that multi-track chorus to great effect. And Josh does this all almost single-handed (except for Andy Korn’s drums). Like Jackdaw 4 last year, fans will appreciate the familiar sounds gift wrapped in new melodies.”Whiskey & Speed” and “Rock and Roll Slut” would feel at home on Queen’s “Day At The Races.” Some of the other songs lean more towards the piano based, “Burn it Down” and “Bad With Superbad” remind some listeners of Ben Folds for sure. The multi-choral, multi-instrumental flourishes of “The Water on My Brain” echo the sound of 10cc. The piano in “I Thought About it First” is a classic mid-tempo end of the album finale with some guitar thrown in. Some may dismiss the derivative nature of the sound but a good line emerges from the albums end, “Well, if everyone’s heard this before, what’s the point?” The point is it’s great power pop and like comfort food, it is mouth watering and a pleasure to consume.

Josh Fix Website | My Space | Emusic | itunes | Not Lame

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The Gronks "Cats and Dogs"

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Yeah, I know the question. What the hell is a Gronk? Well the short answer is this band named after an obscure comic book villain. The long answer is there is a bunch of other references to the word “Gronk” across the wiki-verse. But for our purposes, it’s an Aussie band that clings to the geeky, quirky and melodic. Opening with “Dirt” that resemble a Devo meets Ween guitar antics and a simple beat. There are bits of Pink Floyd and Midnight Oil you’ll hear on “Tribeca” and it’s pretty catchy too. The album’s songs all have the harmonies and hooks that power pop fans will cling too. “Touch the Sun” is a cleaner Guided By Voices-like track that hums along in an 80’s like fashion. And “Pot O Gold” has a shimmering dreamy quality that evokes great 60’s psyche pop like The Move and The Nazz. My favorite song here is “Robot” which references The Ramones, GBV and has a solid hook full of great effects. The very XTC like “Suicide and Fine Wine” is a welcome surprise here. In addition, a sweet Beatlesque “la-la” chorus finds it’s way on “Birds Buzzin.” Another band to use for comparison here is The Lucky Bishops with less guitar fuzziness and more “Gronkiness.” Most songs here shine (other than the snoozer “Language”) and worthy of your ipod playlist. Get it and may the Gronk be with you.

My Space | Foghorn Records | Not Lame

Listen to “”Dirt and Worms”

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Black Bunny "Black Bunny"

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A side project from Brandon Wilde and Chris Foley, this is a superb album full of great mid-tempo indie pop and alt country styled ballads. The opener “Hero” is a dead-on classic that Radiohead should have put on “Ok Computer” (Brandon even sounds like Thom Yorke on this track). Keeping the dark, but easy going mood “Survival” is a nice follow up, that has a catchy lament about a solider in Iraq (and those he leaves behind) with great storytelling. By the time we get to “Hello” it gets brighter and more Beatlesque. The very nice Wilco-meets-The Shins styled “Love Unknown” is another standout that’s impressive. Foley’s vocal on “inside” resembles a mellower version of Eddie Vedder, with a hint of John Mayer. The song has nice touches, including horns and overdubs that make compelling listening. Acoustic ballads like “Daydream” are woven around mid-tempo political nihilism and commentary from “This is Nowhere” (which recall The Kinks, Ray Davies). The catchy political theme continues with “Digital Bystander” as a call to arms to the Internet masses. At points near the end of the album it combines the above influences into something wonderful and unique (“Butterfly”). After a few listens you’ll be hooked by this Bunny.

My Space | CD Baby

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