The Trolleyvox "Your Secret Safe/Luzerne"

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Let me start by saying The Trolleyvox are consistently good. They have produced four albums, each with the smooth professional vocals of Beth Filla, and the Byrdsian guitar work of Andrew Chalfen. And to add to this rarity, we have a double CD album. The discs are musically from different worlds, “Your Secret Safe” is power pop, and “Luzerne” is ambient folk instrumentals. If you’re familiar with this blog, you’ll understand as I will put aside “Luzerne” and talk about “Your Secret Safe.” After the success and positive critical reception of the last album “The Karaoke Meltdowns,” the Trolleyvox have accelerated to the forefront of the Philadelphia indie scene. Chalfen’s songwriting and pacing has only improved with time here. Unlike earlier records, the melodic guitar stylings are more prominent and early Peter Townshend seems a bigger influence than Roger McGuinn. This is evidenced by an awesome cover of “Our Love Was” (from The Who Sell Out). Beginning the album with “I Call on You” it sets the tone as jangle pop similar to REM, Dream Syndicate or especially, The Blake Babies. The band’s combination of moody sixities guitar and free form lyrical approach works well for songs like “Rabbit in the Sun” and “Jean Jacket.” Both are standouts here and with great hooks that warrant repeat listens. Beth’s vocals are hypnotizing and carry every tune along. There are plenty of nods to psych-pop lite with the understated brilliance of “Fume of Sighs” – a gentle mid-tempo song with wonderful harmonies and lyrics, it’s my favorite song on this album. Toward the end of the album it mellows a bit with songs like “Can you find a way down?” and the 11 minute jam of “Cricket in Euphoria” after which you could easily put on the “Luzerne” CD and sip coffee and read a novel in your favorite Starbucks. It beats the “song of the day” any day of the week.

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Listen to “Jean Jacket” from “Your Secret Safe” CD

Listen to “Call on You” from “Your Secret Safe” CD

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Jackdaw4 "Bipolar Diversions"

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This was a very hyped release – and for good reason. It isn’t the second coming of The Jellyfish, but it’s pretty damn close. The opening number “SOOMA (All this Vision)” is pure genius. My imagination runs wild with this humorous take on corporate hubris. To me, it’s the opening number in “Steve Jobs, The Musical” and will run through your head for weeks. “Frobisher’s Last Stand” has the perfect hooks and minor chords that take the Jellyfish/XTC sound to a new level. This track also reminds me of the latest Honeydogs album. The McCarnety light flavor of “Jesus Wants My Soul Back” then leads to “Bipolar Diversions” which is such a massive mash-up of melodies that it would make 10cc blush. “My little Gangster” continues with equal parts Todd Rundgren, Styx and Queen. The production on the entire album is flawless as well. Like Bryan Scary’s album last year, you may give up trying to spot the influence and enjoy this carnival of sounds. Speaking of carnival, the goofy “Heimlich’s Manoeuvres” takes the concept a bit over the edge, like listening to Pink Floyd’s “The Trial” with another song slowly fading in. “Illuminati” is the note perfect missing track from Jellyfish’s “Split Milk.” My favorite track (it’s hard to pick) is “The End of The Party” a perfect mix of melodic hook and hard rock riff. Even the last track “Sleep” is a lullaby that Roger Manning could not have done better himself. Every track is relevatory, without any weakness and will have you crying for more. Thank you Willie Dowling, chief singer, songwriter and producer of “Bipolar Diversions,” one of the best of the year – easily.

Jackdaw4 website | My Space | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik | Itunes

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The Swivel Chairs "The Slow Transmission"

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Jason Brown and Jeremy Grites make up the Swivel Chairs, a low key indie-pop group with some Wilco influences. If you like you power pop sweet and mellow, the Swivel Chairs new album “The Slow Transmission” will do it for you, like hot tea on a winter’s night. The style of the album is a bit all over the place though. The smooth mellowness of “Here Out of Reach” and “Easy Now” is interrupted by the Replacements-like songs “All at Once” and “Breaking Up” Then we settle back into the nice Jayhawks-ish “Just a Little Girl.” This kind of sonic diversity will win over some fans, but may annoy others. Some songs feel like they belong on a different album, like the experimental “Clockwise” and dreamy “December Ghosts.” Most of the tunes are great mid-tempo alt. pop – especially real keepers like “Breaking Up” and the song “Afterthought” bears a striking similarity to the UK band Field Music. The end of the album starts to resemble Belle and Sebastian with precious melodies on “Caloused Hands” and “Let’s Get Down to it.” Like Matt Pond PA or The Trollyvox, it’s easy to listen to and enjoy. However the final track “Wasting Time” seems designed to put you to sleep. This group of songs definitely takes a bit more time to digest than others out this year, but most of it is a very satisfying listen.

Swivel Chairs website | My Space | Not Lame | Transit of Venus

Listen to “All at Once”

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Favorita "Favorita"

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Beagle was a major music force in 1992, and brought the power pop sound from Sweden to the US. In 1997, Magnus Borjeson, brainchild of the legendary group formed his new band Favorita. After the album was complete, the record label had problems surviving and never released it to the public. Years later, he started another pop band, Metro Jets – but rumors of a Beagle/Favorita reunion continued to circulate throughout the web. Now, the entire Favorita album, plus a bevy of bonus tracks have been released. Magnus made Favorita, a lot harder in sound than Beagle was, with the buzz-punk guitar of “Unamerican Activities” and the excellent single “I Can Change the World.” Lots of Favorita is wild, manic and full of noise, like “Seven Comforts” but Magnus never gave up a good hook in his music. Like Pulp, Supergrass or Manic Street Peachers, Favorita can hold it’s own to the punk-pop made during the mid ninties. In the middle of the album the melodies start to poke through the noise on “Slowfox and Waltz” and the relaxed ballad “Innocence.” Other songs, like “Now” just demand to be played loud and it’s hard to resist the hook of the great chorus on “Left of right.” Enjoy this recently unearthed treasure while it’s here! Excellent music for fans of hard guitar Brit-pop.

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Listen to “I can change the world (yeah)”

power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.