Did people just forget about Supergrass? One of the best British bands of the mid 90’s has returned to form. The buzzing bass in the opener “Diamond Hoo Ha Man” reminds you why they can still school bands like Jet, The Strokes and The Hives. Lead vocalist Gaz Coombes hasn’t missed a step either, he still has that 70’s T-Rex swagger down pat. The Guitars and drum beat on “Bad Blood” bounce along to the chorus, and then rocks hard. One of the album’s highlights “Rebel in You” is a Bowie-like throw back to the days of “We’re in it for The Money” with blusey guitar distortion and loud harmonies that sticks in your head all day. The next track is the “When I Needed You” with it’s Beatle-influenced bass line and great melody. Then on “Rough Knuckles” you have a funky bass lead and echoy chorus that drips with cool aloofness. Then the group fires on all cylinders, with all kinds of instrumentation contributing to a song like “Whiskey and Green Tea,” it’s similar to Queen or Sparks in technique, but the hooks get lost here. Overall the album just doesn’t have consistency of earlier efforts, and a few ho hum tracks are filled in here (“Outside”) although the last song “Butterfly” is a edgy classic and the anthemic chorus here almost redeems the album. Supergrass fans will want this for sure. Others will enjoy it too, if you like your alt power pop loud and proud. 

Supergrass web site | My Space

Performing “Rough Knuckles” in the studio.

Scott’s Garage is a four-piece power pop band from Richmond, VA who’s debut came out just recently. A good mix of Beatlesque guitar and bass work open the song “She Mean’s Everything” from the self titled album. The laid back guitar solos a la George Harrison are a welcome sound on the follow up tune “Fading Away”. Bassist John Bollinger, vocalist and guitarist Gary Hankins, and multi-instrumentalist Greg Marrs joined drummer Scott Baird in his garage for jamming… and that’s how they got the name. These guys know their stuff too, the track “Girl” crackles with Southern style guitar energy, similar to bands like the dB’s and Don Dixon. “Some Day Some Way” sounds like a great lost Hudson Brothers single and my favorite here. Then the album veers a little more into country rock ballad mode with “Tell Me Why.” But the smooth choruses and rock guitar come back on “Simple Truth,” with a catchy riff and solo flourishes sure to please. “One Good Reason” even sounds a little like Badfinger, with Hankins vocal yearning desperation from a break-up. A very pleasant listen from beginning to end.

MySpace | CD Baby

Michigan based music vets The Bon Mots are one of indie rock’s best kept secrets. Opening with “Walk to California” it’s a hook filled mix of guitar jangle and sleepy organ. Leader Eric Chial has a great rock vocal, similar in cadence to Steve Winwood that evokes a blues soul and free spirit.  Mike Coy does vocals on the other half of the songs here and has a even gentler pop style, similar to Keane.”Past or Present” rely on the ambiance and bass lines of past jangle bands REM, The Church and even The La’s. You couldn’t get a better Byrds sounding opening lick than on “Oh Her Telephone.” The song is a mid-tempo ballad that flows through your ears with that lush Rickenbacker texture. The next tune, “Reasons, Dear” is truly beautiful pop and the ever changing chords and lyrical story to keep the listener interested. Almost every song here shines, including the very Zombies meets Donovan vibe on “Festival Girls” and it’s another amazing gem. The latter half of the album gets a bit softer and gentler, like in “Last Time” but is not likely to have you hit a forward on the player. The musicanship here is immpecable as well, the classic sound just works well for them and the harmonies and jazzy guitar jams in the choruses make it a perfect psychedelic pop mix that I haven’t heard since The Mother Hips. After hearing this you are more than likely to check out the earlier album on CD Baby. The fans of bands I mentioned here will love the Bon Mots, so get them and if you get a chance, see them live.

The Bon Mots web site | MySpace | CD Baby | Not Lame

Some major label indie pop sophomore releases making waves recently:

We Are Scientists “Brain Thrust Mastery”
This is the group’s second album for a major label after the hit debut “With Love and Squalor”, and it opens with the intense, bloated “Ghouls,” full of guitar squalls/feedback, a constant percussive tapping, and robotic repeating lyrics. Things get better later on with some downright catchy indie pop (“After Hours”) and some synth drum dance pop (“Lethal Enforcer”) that sounds like leftovers from an 80’s OMD album. No doubt about it here, the good tracks are worth the effort, like the smooth rock of “Impatience” and the gentle “Spoken For.” The buzzing bass backdrop of “Altered Beast” is another hooky bit of pop goodness. Unfortunately the other tracks are mediocre Duran Duran retreads at best and even songs that have all the elements of a catchy hit (“That’s What Counts”) die on the creative vine. Three or four tracks alone would make this a good EP, but that’s it for me. Cherry pickers welcome here.
We Are Scientists Page | My Space | Itunes (After Hours Single)

The Kooks “Konk”
The Kooks return with their second album “Konk” and it delivers more of that great Brit-power pop. The twelve tracks bop and bounce with catchy guitar hooks and beats, and Luke Pritchards vocals that are very much like The Cure’s Robert Smith on happy pills. Every song is enjoyable here, and “Always Where I Need To Be” rocks with a unstoppable “Do Do Do” chorus and handclaps during the bridge. The songcraft skills of these guys are also excellent. “Mr. Maker” is a bit of a nod to Mr. Davies, with it’s personality-in-a-song story. After all, this was recorded in Konk Studios (thus the album title here). “Do You Wanna” is similiar to Ok Go in approach and sound. And it’s just wonderful. The strong guitars and funky rhythm of “Stormy Weather” is another standout that can’t be ignored. It’s rock that you can dance to and that I can play over and over again, never skipping tracks. It also makes an excellent soundtrack to your workout as well. Feel the burn, baby!
The Kook’s home | My Space| Itunes