Powerpopholic

Kingsizemaybe "King Size Maybe"

April 18, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

As a collaboration between Gary Eaton (founding member of the Continental Drifters) and Robbie Rist, this is country-pop-rock with a little honky tonk and a little blues mixed in along the way. Fans of The Band, Crazy Horse and even Bruce Springsteen will appreciate the way Kingsizemaybe mix just the right amount of garage into their country. With four different vocals in the band (including Shelli Eaton), their sweet harmonies get it right and Robbie Rist’s guitar adds a bit of hard edged fuzz to the entire album. It’s pure unapologetic mid-western rock and soul and the easy shuffle of “The Treasure of Love” and “Big Maybe” charm the listener with Rist’s guitar twang and Easton’s distinct lead vocal. “Rolling Vatican Blues” is a great road tune and will appeal to Tom Petty fans with it’s jam band quality. “Dallas” is a rich jangley ballad that Lynyrd Skynyrd used to excel at, and my favorite song here. The fast paced “Keep Your Eyes on The Road” is a toe tapping, knee slapping good time. I’m a big fan of alt. country music – but this is not really it. However, I can appreciate the albums complex balance of lyric and traditional melody. And as a power pop music critic, it’s tough to render a verdict on this one. But, if your tastes allow for country music, you’ll easily enjoy this one and even if you’re not into this genre, it’s a good place to start.

My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame

Pugwash "Eleven Modern Antiquities"

April 17, 2008April 1, 2018 powerpopaholic 2 Comments

Although many iconic power pop bands are influential, very few bands can be called a standard barer for a genre. After the demise of XTC in 2002, other bands would keep alive the style and vision of Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, but none with the perfection of Pugwash (although The Sugarplastic come close). Pugwash’s newest release ‘Eleven Modern Antiquities’ is a perfect power pop album, with a dazzling array of guest musicians, including Andy Partridge & Dave Gregory of XTC (Andy co-writes two tracks with leader Thomas Walsh), Neil Hannon of The Divine comedy, Michael Penn, Jason Falkner, The Section Quartet and Nelson Bragg of The Brian Wilson Band. The result is an amazingly awesome pop sound and best described by reviewer Alan Haber, “Walsh is a pop pundit who fuels his ideas with his deep-seated love of the pop form, whose admiration of the classic pop sound brought forth by bands like the Move and the Electric Light Orchestra and XTC knows no bounds, who lives and breathes what lies at the heart of great pop music and knows how to mix all of that up and create songs steeped in ideas that sing with melodies and harmony and the odd musical quote, and has the good sense, thank God, to share it all with the world.” The songs along the album have the right amount of balance, from soft ballads to multi-harmonic mid-tempo rock. Every track works, but the highlights here are that modern single “Take Me Away” with a killer bassline that drives the melody. Other ear melting tracks are the ELO-styled ballad “Here” and the sunny perfection of “Your Friend,” my favorite on the album. XTC fans: Don’t even think of buying anything else until you get this album, a top ten of 2008 potential winner for sure. I prefer to call the album “Eleven Modern Miracles” it will cure whatever ails you.

My Space | The Pugwash website | Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame

This is Ivy League "This is Ivy League"

April 16, 2008July 13, 2024 powerpopaholic

More pop genius it seems comes from Brooklyn, New York this year than I can keep track of. The sweet indie pop/folk duo “This is Ivy League” are a perfect spring breeze, with a new easy going, soft pop album. Ryland Blackinton and Alex Suarez, gained a bit of fame as part of Cobra Starship (playing on the soundtrack for the forgettable movie “Snakes on a Plane”) and then they tried to revive the sound of the 60’s pop of “Ivy League” and took up part of the name. It opens with gentle guitar and harmonies of “The Richest Kids.” The song is an excellent single that weaves melodic jangle and wistful vocals, a lot like early Beau Brummels. Next, the sophisticated coffeehouse folk of “Viola”is just oozing cool all around (snaps, you latte sippin’ cats). With roots in the sound of Chad and Jeremy and the modern stylings of Belle and Sebastian, or Morissey the duo charm you with the bouncey pop of “London Bridges.” The classic “A Summer Chill” is my favorite track on the album, as it perfectly melds the classic and the modern. The duo’s vocal dynamic will remind casual listeners of the classic Simon & Garfunkel in the tune, “Til the Day.” The retro 60s english sound returns on “Visions of Tokyo,” that has the wonderful feeling of Gerry and The Pacemakers if updated for today. Like label mate Pelle Carlberg I reviewed last year, or Camera Obscura, “This is Ivy League” works even better. The music is filled with shimmering harmonies, slick guitar work and a punchy rhythm section that nicely usher in the spring. So far, the album is only available from 27 records.

My Space | 27 Records website

Listen to “London Bridges”

The Malibus "Now"

April 14, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic 1 Comment

Beach Boys fans rejoice! Matt Tyson, a self taught indie artist, has a rare talent for reproducing classic Brian Wilson surf/beach sound flawlessly. The sound primarily sticks to earlier Beach Boys canon (pre-1966) and uses gorgeous harmonies, catchy melodys, with a driving and dynamic sound. The Malibus debuted last year with “Keep an Eye on The Malibus”. This new album is more of the same. A whopping 14 tracks will satisfy your surfin’ jones for this summer. Opening with the vocal delight “lullaby” it leads to our first big track “Marianne” with a chord structure similar to BB’s “She’s Not The Little Girl I Once Knew”, it includes the multi-layered vocals and horns that sound great. Next “Fun when the Weekend Comes” is a perfect companion to ” I Get Around” and just as cool to listen to. But thankfully, many songs sound very fresh, especially the wonderful “You Know What I Mean” which has a bit of a Wondermints feel. Another very original highlight is the heavenly “My Big Mouth” which would sound at home on the new Brent Cash album. The oddest tune on the album is “I Don’t Mind” a direct rip of The Who’s “Can’t Explain” sung with that west coast style. These songs all sound great, including the a capella “Til Summer Comes.” The album closer “A Little More Love” is an awesome mix of classic Supertramp and ELO, and I look forward to the next album already. The biggest complaint you can come up with here is a few songs are just a bit too derivative of BB songs. But that issue shouldn’t stop you from getting this wonderful album. If you are a fan of the Beach Boys, Jan and Dean and Bruce and Terry you can’t miss this.

My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame

The Brixton Riot "(There’s) Something in the Air"

April 14, 2008April 14, 2008 powerpopaholic

In an effort to have a few hours of fun with iMovie, I created this music video for the Brixton Riot. Using a pile of clips from the movie “The Shining” already on YouTube, I stitched it together. I really could’ve gone nuts adding tons of quick edits, but it works better with just a few scenes. I wish the video wasn’t so jerky, but overall not bad for my first attempt.