Here is a band that is encapsulates everything great and typical of classic Bubblegum power pop. Handclaps and Harmonies are part and parcel of what we love about this music. H & H’s self titled debut is well crafted version of pop rock, reminiscent of your favorite golden oldies of AM radio in the mid sixties. Fans of The Archies, The Cowsills and the more recent, Florapop will really flip over this. The sunshine glow of The Cowsills and Beach Boys really come through on “The Game.” The presentation is very impressive as well, from the white pant and suspender outfits to the neat CD designed to look just like a record. An awesome love note to Beach Boy Brian is presented in “Mr. Wilson” and if this was given to him back in 1969, he may have come out of that sandbox. The technique is flawless on certain songs like “My Winter Girl”, “Outta Sight” and “Wantin’ You.” The vocal harmonies are have a soft sweet approach, similar to Weezer or Moxy Fruvous ballads, and is extra impressive on “Goodnight” and “Wantin’ You.” Props also go to the nice understated percussion and the songs dovetail nicely into each other. The one caveat is that two tunes get too sickly sweet (“Sad Penguin”, “Kissing”) and these make even The Wiggles look like a Death Metal band. But if you wash down all that sugar with milk, you’ll love this exceptional album.
The H&H Website | My Space | CD Baby | KoolKat Musik | Not Lame
During the 2008 SXSW festival in Austin, TX there is an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great new power pop, these guys were one of the better bands I have heard. A great hook, a steady beat and a killer bass line do wonders… Album review coming soon I hope.
The Pendrakes “Sunday Punch” This is a Nebraska combo that is led by Paul Novak in a series of great alt-country/power pop songs. The styles mix together rather nicely.”Dead Man Brake” is a catchy and melodic opener that compares well with The Honeydogs or The Jayhawks. The next track “A Real Go Getter” is an excellent Beatlesque mid-tempo song with just the right amount of twang and wry lyrics. Every track here is a winner with rich harmonies and excellent guitar work – it kind of reminds me of the earlier Tim Rogers work with the Aussie band, You Am I. Songs like “Big Changes” are immediately attractive pop numbers and others like “Closed Casket” veer closer to the country side, and seep inside your conscious. The mix of slow ballads and pop tunes are nicely spaced, although the jazz-like “Salutations” doesn’t seem to fit on the album. There is a direct contrast in tunes that are very lightweight (“All About Love”) and very profound (“A Man Barely Alive”). For the power pop and heartland rock fan this is essential musical therapy. My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame
The Eddies “Twice Around the World” Brothers Dale and Dean Hoth (Guitar and Bass) along with producer Earl Mankey (Drums) are The Eddies. They put together an album full of bouncy pop songs in the Mod vein. The Eddies have taken a series of 80’s hit songs and put their own spin on them. A bit like Dwight Twilley meets The Records, they do a great job on several tracks like “Stranger In The House” and “Don’t Know Where To Start.” The guitars are strong without being tinny and the bothers Hoth do a good job with the harmonies as well (“Debbie Jones”). The drums/guitar new wave percussive interplay on “Jungle Beat” will take you back to that skinny tie era for sure. I am reminded of similar bands like The Mighty Lemon Drops and Big Country. The liner notes state “No keyboards, no synthesizers, no session musicians” – I haven’t seen claims like that since Queen’s “Jazz” (the honesty is appreciated, guys). Fans of the band Buddy Love will definitely want to pick this one up. My Space | CD Baby | Jam Recordings | Kool Kat Musik
Watts “One Below The All Time Low” Here is a band that really follows it’s namesake (Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts). The opener “20 To 12” hits you with a wall of guitars and a driving bass-guitar/drum combo straight off of “Brown Sugar” which ain’t a bad thing here. The remaining tracks are less Stones-y with variable degrees of quality. Dan Kopko’s roaring husky vocals drive the excellent “One Below” and “She’s A Rock-n-Roller” with a gusto similar to Paul Westerberg. This tends to go over the top on “Pretty Revolution.” Other tunes, like “Kiss the Girl” have a Cars-like feel similar to “Shake it Up” and “All the Rage” is done in a Psychedelic Furs style. The guitar work here tends to dominate and take over on most songs. There are also no ballads here as the raw bar band energy pours out it’s full force. The other stand-out track here is “Freeway” – another Stones-y rocker that would make Keef, Mick, Bill and Charlie proud. My Space | CD Baby | Itunes | Kool Kat Musik
The Afternoons are a Cardiff, UK band that uses smooth vocal harmonies and percussion to get the point across. Richard Griffiths vocal style sounds a lot like Ray Davies. The Afternoons are a perfect pop combination of Belle and Sebastian and/or The Shins with the Kinks guitars and lyrical Britishness. The fourth album, “Sweet Action” builds on the previous success of “Rocket Summer” with more bouncy pop hooks than ever. “High Summer Lover” and “Giving Up On You” are excellent singles with a combination of Giffiths and Sarah Rapis’ contrasting vocals. The instrumentation of the title track (“Sweet Action”) chugs along at a good pace. The cool synths get louder in “The Silver Age” and give me flashbacks of Echo & The Bunnymen. Other good songs here are “We Could Start Over” and the amazing “Don’t Look Back” where you swear the jangle can take you back in time – it’s my favorite track here. The softer tracks on the album (“Where The Arrow Falls”) are almost too neat and tidy and aren’t as successful. The ending track here is a fitting bittersweet finale, “Winter is Dead” is a beautiful slow echoing fade with guitar, harmonica and piano. I would love a cover of “Waterloo Sunset” here, but maybe that’s asking too much. Overall, a very good album, worthy of your ipod.
After slowly downloading single tracks, the time has come to reveal the new Bryan Scary album. After roaring out of the gate last year with the debut album, Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears are ready to really spread their wings. The group has a flair for drama and here it produces a concept album worthy of comparison with mid 70’s Genesis “Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” By throwing in everything and the kitchen sink in The “Flight of the Knife” it mixes the cinematic elements of Queen and XTC with the lyrical wordplay full of third-person narrative. This is evidenced on the opener “Flight of The Knife” with a variety of prog keyboards that recalls Tony Banks of Genesis. The story is something about a famous airship that visits planets and stuff, just read the lengthy libretto on the site. “Venus Ambassador” is a glowing mid-tempo song that adds classical piano catchiness with cool chord changes. The obvious single here is “Imitation of The Sky” with an amazing combination of piano, guitar riffs and rolling drums that will hook your ear faster than the “Ceiling on the Wall,” complete with a variety of harmonies and overlapping vocals. The supporting songs follow this theme and tell the story. “The Curious Disappearance of The Sky Ship Thunder Man” is the most operatic and is almost a musical show tune – it compares to 10cc’s “I’m Mandy Fly Me” with dazzling musicianship, and sparkling melodies. Then we get “The Purple Rocket” – a Sufaris meets Pink Floyd psyche-pop confection that has echos of Zappa all over it. “Mama Waits” almost sounds like a carryover from the debut album with a rousing circus organ solo. After a prog-rock intro, “Son of Stab” turns into a mashup of The Archies and Syd Barrett. The graceful piano work is awesome on the ballad “Heaven on A Bird” which includes a pysche-pop chorus Jellyfish fans will flip over. Like the last album, Scary uses so many influences, it can’t be pinned down on one type of style. Fans of early Genesis, ELO, Yes, Beatles and Frank Zappa will play this over and over. A truly excellent album that is an easy nominee for best of 2008 so far. Purchase direct from the label here.
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