Powerpopholic

Small Sins "Mood Swings"

November 4, 2007April 1, 2018 powerpopaholic

Small Sins could be classified as indie electronica pop, but with a melodic sense that brings them into the power pop camp. It’s shimmering electronics meets infectious pop guitar hooks. Thomas D’Arcy, the main force behind the band has fashioned a true rock album with elements of electronica. The opening track, “I Need a Friend” has harmonies with an undercurrent of menace that bring to mind 10cc. The Banjo and handclaps of “Morning Face” continue this trend. Fans of Ween or Sparks will appreciate the catchy falsetto of “What Your Baby’s Been Doing.” The hooks in the music are what draw you here, despite the quirky instrumentation of “On The Line” or the electro-synth noodling of “Drunk E-Mail.” Sometimes the songs take a turn into a New Order-styled dance music like on “It Keeps Me on My Toes,” and fans of Sissor Sisters will enjoy that too. The lyrics are often at odds with the sunny electro-pop melodies. The exception is the melancholy “Bullet.” Most of the songs do hit the mark correctly and if you like a bit of something different from usual power pop fare, this is it.

Small Sins Main Site | My Space | Itunes

Listen to “On The Line”

Marmalade Souls "In Stereo"

November 3, 2007July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Fans of Rainbow Quartz bands rejoice! The Marmalade Souls are a band that will warm the heart of anyone who loves Beatlesque power pop. Fans of The Spongetones and The Winnerys will gobble this release up. Some critics will attack this kind of power pop as too derivative of late 60’s bands, lacking any originality. That’s like calling all country music derviative of Hank Williams. Coming up with catchy melodies and using this style to do it is not so easy and I appreciate the effort. Many Rickenbacker guitar fans do too. Marmalade Souls add a good female vocal into the mix in Johanna Klemme, and some notable tracks are the excellent single “My Heart Belongs to You” and “Belly Butterfly” – songs which any Beatle fan can relate to. Other songs also are worthy of attention, like the Kinks-like “Fall Into The Sky” and The Byrds meets 10,000 Maniacs in “Daydreams.” Even the faux blues attempt “Baby Come Back” is a welcome track. No duds on this album. A guilty pleasure if ever there was one.

Marmalade Souls Site | My Space | Not Lame | E Music

Listen to “My Heart Belongs To You”

The Treasury "The Treasury"

November 2, 2007July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Although this is a new band from Ashville, North Carolina, they are stocked with experienced musical journeymen. The various members have toured with the likes of Brand New and Manchester Orchestra, played at the world famous Cavern Club in Liverpool, England, and opened for bands such as No Doubt and Less Than Jake. Amazing EP debut from a group that has a great sound. From the opening track “What’s forever” to the end track “memory lane” it is near perfect. Clean production and sticky guitar hooks make them stand out from other groups. Every song will surely have you hitting the repeat button. Elements of ELO and the Beatles are mixed with newer alternative bands Spoon and Guster – it’s just incredible. I dare you to not be hooked here, from the Badfinger-like “All for Love” to the Beatlesque perfection of “Running out of Time.” I really want them to come out with a full album soon. This is the best EP debut of the year by a new band. period. Sorry Holy Fields – you come in second. Simply, get this EP if you love great music.

Treasury Website | MySpace | CD Baby

The Foreign Films "Distant Star"

October 30, 2007July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Earlier this month www.absolutepowerpop raved over this artist and I wanted to confirm this amazing find. Bill Majoros is a fixture of Hamilton Ontario’s music scene having been in many local bands, including The Cloudsmen in 2003. After he hooked up with Carl Jennings, they started this new project. This newest creation is The Foreign Films and if you’re into Robert Harrison’s Future Clouds and Radar or any Cotton Mather this is manna for your soul. The Foreign Films stylistically sound like John Lennon meets Guided By Voices with a bit of 10cc thrown in. The opening track “Remember to Forget” draws you in and the rest of the album won’t let you go. Rather than a group of disconnect songs, you get a sense of the epic themes of lost love, and alienation throughout the two disc set. “Invisible Heart” is the cool psych-pop tune that the Lonely H did well with a bit of Todd Rundgren thrown in. Like classic albums of the past – the Who’s “Quadrophenia” or The Beatles “White Album” – this is a classic double album. During the three years he worked on it Bill put his heart and soul into this and make no mistake, it sounds like it. The entire arc of 22 songs hits it’s stride with Badfinger-like “Lonely #1” and picks up tempo and steam with the poppy Beatles influenced “Smoke and Mirrors.” Not a bad track here either, amazingly the album continues to get brighter in tone and better the longer it plays. My one of my favorites here is the amazing “Polar Opposites” complete with Beach Boys inspired “ba-ba” vocal flourishes. “Cinema Light” is another winner with lush harmonies and great hooks. Blistering guitars take over on “Arcade By The Beach” and it ends with the baroque and complex suite “The Snowglobe.” This makes my top ten list (which is now turning into a top twenty). If ever an artist deserves to be “discovered” outside his native Canada, Bill Majoros and The Foreign Films is it. Order this from CD Baby and you will not be dissapointed.

Foreign Films Main Site | My Space | CD Baby

Collective Soul "Afterwords"

October 29, 2007April 1, 2018 powerpopaholic

Once in a while, a mainstream album comes along that deserves attention from me. Collective Soul are back with their 7th studio album in 13 years. The public stopped paying attention to this band after “Blender” in 2000 and it’s a damn shame. With “Afterwords” Ed Rolland and the band have come full circle back to the sound and style that put them on the map. It’s those big clean hook-filled rock anthems that they did so well in the late 90s. Things kick off with the blistering “New Vibration”, a powerhouse tour de force that is anchored by new drummer Ryan Hoyle and a killer guitar riff. Next up is “What I Can Give You” a catchy tune with layers of guitars, a pounding backbeat, and smooth vocals. “All That I Know” continues the hit parade, and although it’s very good, it’s nothing new for this band. “I Don’t Need Anymore Friends” tries a new vocal here and Joel Kosche does a decent job. “Good Morning After All” has steady rhythm section and inspiring lyrics (“But you swear there’s always hope/Always hope from above/Now everything starts to fall into place”) and it is my favorite track. If you are a Collective Soul fan, tracks like this feel like a favorite pair of comfortable old sneakers. The next track “Hollywood” is a very Cars inspired track – it’s pretty good, but ultimately sounds like a throwaway tribute track. “Adored” and “Georgia Girl” close the album nicely as inspirational ballads. No tunes here are really throwaways (unless you count “Hollywood”). Overall it’s good, solid power pop that isn’t heard much nowadays. Go to the band’s site to hear the whole album streaming.

Collective Soul’s Main Site | My Space | Itunes

Listen to “New Vibration”

Listen to “Hollywood”