A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a band named Phantom Planet was a simple emo-styled power pop band lead by Alex Greenwald and with actor Jason Schwartzman playing drums. Then they got pop fame and fortune with the single “California” on the TV show, the O.C. and then somewhere along the way the major label dumped them and four years later it brings us to “Raise The Dead.” Welcome home, guys. Much like Supergrass, this band is on the comeback tour. And glad to say, this is the strongest Phantom Planet album since “The Guest.” Greenwald’s music was inspired by the slavish devotion to cult leaders like Charles Manson and Jim Jones. The songs have an undercurrent of dread to them that’s hard to pinpoint, the group sounds like a wonderful Beatles Radiohead hybrid. Opening with the strong title track, it has the emotion and grit with a catchy baseline and that leads us to the awesome follow up, “Dropped” which has a hook that won’t let go and a buzzsaw guitar that will stick like glue. “Leader” has that cult-vibe for sure with lyrics like “everyone will be reborn” and creepy kids chorus in addition. Next the single “Do The Panic” is another catchy song with a kinks-like narrative. The rest of the songs shamble along, best represented by “Geronimo” which is tangle of guitars and chaos.  The Radiohead influence comes out on “Quarantine” in a big way. Lots of well written songs with strong guitars like, “Leave Yourself For Somebody Else” with shades of The Strokes and The Who in the melody. The band, which has changed a lot over the years, feels comfortable in it’s own skin here. 

My Space | Not Lame | itunes

Listen to “Do The Panic”

Tommi Zender is a Chicago native who has worked as the Bon Mots guitarist and also done some solo work. “Will Work for Harmony” is essentially lead by Tommi’s amazing guitarwork. Starting with a Zen-like prologue the first single “Something To Hide” sets the stage. A bit of Todd Rundgren and Jon Brion styled arrangements with help from sweet guitar harmonies and Tommi’s soothing vocals. The follow up “Home At Last” is a laid back Paul McCartney-like mid-tempo number. The guitar is double tracked to weave a solid support for the melodic chorus. Most of the songs are uplifting and hopeful, a good example of this is “The World Already Knows” with it’s layered guitar breaks and accented drumming. The clean sound and superior production help elevate the melodies and, each tune is polished to it’s full potential. The dreamy wall of sound on “Cinnamon Apple Cider” is lush in detail and “Summer Vacation” continues this easy going vibe. This is clearly a musician doing what he loves as opposed to trying to get a “hit” and it’s sweet therapy. If you love good guitar pop, pick this one up. In addition, Tommi’s version “Bedspring Kiss” from The Jellyfish Tribute is on his MySpace page for listening.

Tommi Zender web site | My Space | CDBaby

Listen to a clip of “Something to Hide”

I’ve been hearing a big buzz about Paul Steel for months now. Mix even parts Brian Wilson and Roger Manning Jr. and you get a good idea of who Paul Steel is. A Singer/songwriter extraordinaire came out with “April & I” in the UK last year and as he’s about to release his newest “Moon Rock” album any day now, we across the pond get wind of this talent through this incredible debut now. How do I start with this one? Well it opens with a swirling orchestral sweep of an introduction worthy of “Pet Sounds” and “The Wizard of Oz” soundtrack combined. This leads to the Andy Partridge-like “April” a piano pop joyous ode complete with Jellyfish-styled production throughout. Then with a Wilsonesque opening, “Worst Day” tells the story of the album. A bouncy mid-tempo pop aria, with Bacharach styled horn flourishes. “Take It or Leave It” is a slick orchestral doo wop similar to The Grease soundtrack. The missteps here are “School Bully” which turns into a frenzied dance track, and the funny, but profane “Honkin‘ on the Crackpipe” which goes a bit overboard here. The ending tunes “Grown Up and Away”, “April and I” and “Imaginary” are an orchestral pop triumph on first listen. The entire album package concept is imaginative here too; made to look like a child’s book on heavy cardboard stock with stick figure drawings. If the lyrics were a bit less adult, you could play this to your kids. Steel makes the album “April & I” a big fat love letter to his childhood, complete with an imaginary girlfriend. In fact, it’s closer to “tween-age symphony to God” or Broadway Show soundtrack in 30 minutes, than a straight pop album. And if you enjoy that kind of novelty, you’ll eat this up. Apparently a host of famous musicians have. Kudos from The Wondermints and VanDyke Parks included. Beach Boys and Jellyfish fans alike will rejoice.
UPGRADE: This albums hooks just continue to eat away at my resistance. After multiple listens, I’m upgrading this rating.

The Paul Steel web site | MySpace | iTunes

Millencolin “Machine 15”
Millencolin is a Swedish punk rock band in the Green Day pop mold. This is hard hitting, power chord riffing heaven. This is brash boisterous punk with harmonies that take center stage. The big single “Detox” is a sure fire hit if it gets airplay. The other songs run from typical hard rock pop of “Done Is Done” to the punkier elegance of “Broken World” So if your tastes run across the spectrum of mainstream popular rock, like Goo Goo Dolls or Foo Fighters, you’ll enjoy this. Another great pop single is “Come On” with it’s anthemic chorus and Kinks-like guitar progression. Some tunes get closer to the harder, edgier with “Who’s laughing Now” – which is either a put down to artists who don’t “sell out” or almost a statement to fans, who may consider this album too mainstream. With 15 tracks there is something to please almost everyone, and fans of the groups earlier “Kingwood” album, will not be disappointed. It’s Recommended if you like any of the above mentioned bands. Listen to it streaming on the Epitaph label site.
MIllencolin SiteMy Space | Itunes

Stratocruiser “Egg Shells”
North Carolina power-pop group Stratocruiser’s new album “Egg Shells” is full of crunchy rock riffs and sweet pop melody. It’s following in the heavy power pop footsteps of Aerosmith, Badfinger and especially Cheap Trick. Lead singer Clay Howard’s vocals recall a mix of Ian Hunter and Bon Jovi. Mike Nicholson’s guitar rings with Brydsian clarity and coupled with Matt Brown on drums and Jack Getz on bass, Stratocruiser has a monster of an album here. Starting with the mid-tempo “Try” it sets the tone with heavy riffs and harmonies that almost could pass for a Kiss rocker. Next on “Egg Shells” the bass turns up the psych-pop bass line and gives us a sweet guitar solo in break. There are a few Beatlesque melodies here, like “I Think So” which is very close to Gene Clark in it’s style. Straight ahead rockers like “Rolling Green Fields” give way to the full blown psyche-melodies of “Make it Work.” The heavy rock of “Cherry Flavored” recalls BTO, Thin Lizzy or Grand Funk. This is a great album, that will sound even better in the car with the windows down, played loud. No duds here and it’s on emusic too! So get this now and enjoy!
The Stratocruiser web site | My Space | E Music

Singer/songwriter David Mirabella has been playing for years with people like Jeff Tweedy (Wilco), Phil Aiken (Buffalo Tom), and Dan Cray (Beyond Id). When it was time to start his own band, David used Craigslist to find band members Brian Binkowski (drums), Matt Goldfield (keyboard), John Maloney (bass) and Kevin McMahon (guitar). Together they formed the Rationales. Sounding like Whiskeytown meets Tom Petty with a bit of The Rolling Stones thrown in. They just finished the debut EP “The Going and Ther Gone” with six tracks. The Americana roots based group stradles the line between pop and rock without really planting their feet firmly in each genre for long. “Guardrail” is a Wilco-like mid tempo number with an inventive bassline and backing organ that drives the melody to a lush chorus. Another great pop song here is “No Guarantees” – it has the power pop bounce and twang that Rhett Miller and Old 97s did at their poppiest. This continues into the awesome “Far Away” with a ghostly harmonomic in chorus and Mirabella’s vocals are very Jagger-like here. The catchy driving rhythms are also on the song “On the Vine” – it compares well with Wilco’s “Summerteeth”-era roots pop. I really look forward to a full album from The Rationales, as this is an excellent EP.

The Rationales web site | MySpace | CD Baby