Link to the enitre album streaming for Sloan’s Latest “Parallel Play” — It sounds pretty good on first listen. I’ll give a review soon, but you know it’s gonna be worth the listen. From the YepRoc Records label.
There is a lot of good music currently out, and I’ll get to some major label releases as well as indie power pop over the next few weeks. Like I always say — too much music, too little time.
This is a neat little self produced gem that is only for sale at Kool Kat Musik and Unsigned Bands. Pure Beatlesque pop style is lovingly recreated by songwriters Tony Cox and Darren Finlan. With Rickenbacker strum and wistful harmonies, it will take you back to the “Rubber Soul” era. The catchy “Lonely Girl” sets the Merseybeat mood, and then add a bit of Herman’s Hermits meets Zombies on the lovely “Keep it Real.” It’s also not slavish imitation, but strikingly original songs done in that retro-style. Bits of old school psychedelic pop and folk style also come out on “Say The Word” not unlike the classic Turtles. The album closer “Here Comes Summer” is a dead on amazing Monkees-styled track played with garage-like abandon. The vocals are excellent and sun kissed melodies bear repeat listens. This CD-R was started in 2004, finally came out and thank goodness I found it, thanks to a heads up from powerpopaholic fan, Maurice. Go to the bands website to hear the several album tracks. It’s highly recommended to all classic power pop fans and especially Beatle fans.
Offbeat web site | KoolKat Musik | CDBaby
I consider this one of the best tracks off of his album “Time Across the Page” Check it out!
My Space | CD Baby
California pop artist Adrian Bourgeois starts with a great pedigree (his dad being part of the power pop band Bourgeois Tagg in the 80’s) and he’s been playing since he was three years old (no kidding). He’s been weaned on a steady diet of Beatles, Beach Boys and Neil Young growing up in Sacramento, CA. Opening with “Mr. Imaginary Friend,” it’s fresh harmonies and Beatlesque melodies are best compared with Jason Falkner and Michael Penn. This debut continues to be engaging and immediate with the gentle ballad “Clown Review” and continues with “Juniper” an Elton John meets McCartney piano ballad. Other highlights are the violin and guitar ballad “To Be (The First Man on Earth)” which brings comparisons to Elliott Smith or Nick Drake. The very Todd Rundgren-like “Silk from Ashes” picks up the tone with great melodic chorus and those fabulous “do-do-do” backing vocals. The song “My House” has a sweet catchy guitar lead with a superb vocal melody. “Melt in My Mind” continues the chord twisting theatrics with a full horn section and organ solos, that recall the best of Ben Folds. The dreamy “Summertime” continues in that style and doesn’t pull any punches either, as Adrian puts his soul out onto the table here. The Christian faith come out in “Jesus,” and is the sole overtly “Contemporary Christian Music” track. This album is pure power pop and this guy is only twenty years old (Drake Bell has some competition here) and did all of the instrumentation and arrangements. This is a very impressive debut, a top ten contender and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Don’t miss this one.
My Space | CD Baby | Adrian’s site
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