There is nothing better than relaxing by the fireplace with some Christmas tunes… and it looks like The Poppermost left us a big FREEBIE gift under the tree! Dan Markell keeps the spirit festive, reminds me of Andrew Gold a bit. The Easy Button is a new discovery (full LP review next week) but here is the Christmas EP. Finally, as the holiday fades, I love to listen to original instrumentals by Jack Rugan. Merry Christmas everyone.
Christmas Eve Power Pop Party: Willie Wisely, Futureman Records, Kai Danzberg, Beebe Gallini, The Slingsby Hornets, The Fabulous Playground Family
Quick Takes: Silvertwin, Life on Mars, Well Wishers, Novelty Island
Silvertwin “Silvertwin”
The work of UK musician Isaac Shalam, who uses 1970s pop-rock as an influence and touchpoint. Fans of Supertramp, Andy Pratt, and ELO will really enjoy this but rarely do the songs go above and beyond their influences. “Ploy” and “Doubted” are early highlights, and Isaac’s technique is perfect. Keep your eye on this band for next year. Highly Recommended. Get it on Amazon
Life On Mars “At Stars End”
Earl Kayoss, Denny Seiwell, and Fernando Perdomo deliver a subtle rock gem. Kayoss sounds a bit like Cat Stevens and Perdomo is able to let his inner Steve Howe (Yes) fly free, or is that his inner David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)? Denny Seiwell (Wings) keeps each song anchored, and provides needed structure. What a treat. Highlights include; “She’s Already Gone,” “Rock People” and “What Have I Done” Get it on Bandcamp
The Well Wishers “Spare Parts”
Jeff Shelton gathers his outtakes and turns it into a pretty good album. “Growing Old” is a terrific rocker that follows The Well Wisher formula, and the other songs are just as interesting. Highlights include “Let’s Drive (All Better Now)” and a cool take on Love and Rockets “It’s All In My Mind.” Jeff even emulates Gary Numan in “Love and Science.” Check it out. Get it on Amazon
Novelty Island “How Are You Coping With THis Century?”
Liverpool-based songwriter/producer, Tom McConnell made this charming bedroom pop project. Mostly acoustic with memorable melodies like the opener “This Bird.” The quirky “Cowboy On A Bicycle” boasts a creative video along with Tom’s twee vocalizations. Fans of early McCartney and Emitt Rhodes will fall for these effective hooks. Not a single dud here, and the earworms are plentiful. Highly Recommended. Get it on Amazon
Más Power Pop español: Octubre, Coke Belda, Javier Miramontes, The Starkwells, George Harrison
Since my last Spanish power pop post, a few notable new releases still needed to be highlighted. Octubre from Madrid, Spain has been a local favorite, and a few called it the best pop album of the year, and the opening track “Todo se lo lleva el viento” (translates to “Everything is carried away by the wind”) compares well to Teenage Fanclub. The grand jangle of “No sé qué hacer” is another standout track with plenty more. The sound is just mesmerizing! Get on Amazon
Javier Miramontes (aka Howdy) and his previous band, The Starkwells pay tribute to Big Star here with an original and a cover.
Not Spanish, but in case you missed it… a Celeb-filled “My Sweet Lord” video in celebration of the 50th anniversary of George Harrison‘s classic solo album, All Things Must Pass.
It’s Karma It’s Cool and The Laissez Fairs
It’s Karma It’s Cool “Homesick for our Future Destinations”
James Styring and his Lincoln, UK band take on a more subdued approach with their latest album. The low-key instrumental “Homesick” leads to “All Branches Break In Time,” a slow-building song with a jangling atmosphere and guitar dramatics at its peak. Unlike past work, the atmosphere is key as opposed to melody, and a song like “Wild Fire Flames,” is a good example, with its complex rhythm. The spacey “Absent Transient” is another highlight with echoing textures and riffs.
Overall it incorporates more psych-pop and prog influences than past works. That’s not to say the singles don’t stand out. “She Slept With The Radio On” is fantastic, and the big guitar hooks of “Coffee Cup Circles” are true highlights. A good combination of the melodic and atmospheric is “Guest on a TV Talk Show,” and most of the songs go past the four-minute mark, so you will need a few spins to appreciate this. A very good album that deserves to be heard.
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
The Laissez Fairs “Curiosity Killed The Laissez Fairs”
God bless John Fallon and his band of electric acid dandies! The retro-fuzzed guitars and Farfisa organs recall the golden age of late 60s psych-pop mixed with the Paisley Underground of the mid-80s across 11 tracks. The musical structure of each song is densely composed, sometimes crowding out the vocals — but the spirit and skill of these musicians cannot be denied. Listening to the opener “Image” and Joe Lawless guitar jangle is all you need to get a perfect mashup of The Byrds, Stones, and The Who.
“Sunshine Tuff” is a garage-laden mod rocker loaded with the kitchen sink, and “Tell You What It Means” is very much like The Small Faces. “Somewhere Man” and “Two Sides of The Same Coin” are also highlighted with bits of The Move and The Rain Parade in their DNA. Almost every song hits its mark, with the album’s end track “Upside Downer” a stoner meditation. Turn off the lights and stare at some blacklight posters while listening to this. Highly Recommended.
Amazon