Tag: Disq

Future Teens and Disq

powerpopaholic
Future Teens

Future Teens “Self Help”

This Boston quartet may call themselves a “bummer pop band,” but Self Help really packs an emo-punch. The album was created over ten days with producer Andy Park (Death Can For Cutie).  The concept is wrapped around the emotional journeys one takes through therapy. The lyrics are strong, the melodies are loaded with power, and Amy Hoffman’s strong vocals on the opener “Doorknob Confessional” recalls Alanis Morissette. Daniel Radin’s vocals in “Good Reason” are equally impressive, noting that “everything that happens is for some goddamn good reason.”

“Smile With Your Teeth” is another tune that deserves attention, and “BYOB” muses on the emotional spiral of alcoholism. The stories are neatly matched instrumentally, but the approach loses some stream in the second half. On “Team Sports” Amy confesses “Lately I could use a hand, but I’m not sure how to ask for it.” This album is a definite helping hand to anyone dealing with intense feelings. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

qDisq

Disq “Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet”

The young Madison, Wisconsin band is desperately trying to grow after their brilliant debut, Collector in 2020. They throw in a lot of ideas here, some work and others don’t. The massive variety of styles and shifting instrumental changes make for unpredictable and exciting listening.

The light harmonies of “Prize Contest Life” in the song’s middle are contrasted with its screaming noise-pop bookends. Next, “Cujo Kiddies” shuffles along its catchy verses with just enough synth & beat to make it very danceable. They still can play loud and fuzzy with “This Time” and “The Hardest Part,” as it brings to mind the band’s debut. Then “If Only” adds a friendly little Wilco-styled alt. Americana to the mix, while “Tightrope” is like a long-lost Weezer song. The most impressive tune here “(With Respect To) Loyal Serfs” is a slowly building gem that settles in with its heavy riffs and hooks. Overall, a good album that has plenty of fun music. Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

October Surprises: Singles, EPs, Compilations and a Cartoon

powerpopaholic

On a rare occasion, I hear some EMD that does it right. On “Tarantino,” Steve Aoki & Timmy Trumpet modernize the classic surf guitar riff of Dick Dake, later made famous via Pulp Fiction. Aoki’s mesmerizing electro beats combined with Trumpet’s eccentric horn licks are very entertaining. The cartoon is also a hoot!

Willie Dowling’s infamous Jackdaw 4 discography is now on 369music (with his Dowling Poole albums). If you missed it, this was a free download for a while. But this was a great XTC inspired band – check it out.

Wisconsin’s Disq does a decent cover of this Wilco song. They also have a collection of demos from their break-thru LP from March.

Einstein’s Sister, a legendary power-pop/indie rock band from the late ’80s is back! The old discography is on Bandcamp now, and these brand new singles sound fresh!

Zach Jones has a way of updating that old pop sound that is pure magic. I was very impressed with this sharp sounding “Must Be On My Way,” which resembles a lost Monkees single.

Melbourne’s four-piece Girlatones have a gentler approach towards pop. There is a sense of acceptance in the combination of guitar, vocals, and piano. Lead singer Jesse William’s vocal delivery is akin to the vocal stylings of Belle & Sebastian.

Crown Vic Royal is not a whiskey, but a band from Chicago that plays blues-infected rock and roll. Check out this new EP.

Garfield’s Birthday is a band from Weymouth, England and for 25 years Simon Felton (Head honcho of Pink Hedgehog Records) has done a smashing job. Now a long-awaited “best-of” compilation is finally available. Plenty of rarities and alternate mixes.

Disq and An XTC Celebration

powerpopaholic
Disq

Disq “Collector”

Disq is a fresh Wisconsin band started by middle school classmates Raina Bock and Isaac DeBroux-Slone. Now at 19 they recently expanded the band to a five-piece band and from the album’s beginning, it makes a great impression. “Daily Routine” is a very relatable look at modern drudgery as Issac sings “This is my daily routine. Spend my hours on a computer screen…” I love the video too, which borrows the appearance of old The Monkees TV show. The duo has a great knack for hooks and layered melodies reminiscent of Pavement, Weezer and Teenage Fanclub.

The earnest “D19” is a love song about a microphone (and not a metaphor for anything else). “Loneliness” is a great tune that builds to its defiant strummed chorus mourning a lost relationship,  and “Gentle” is very much in the Weezer style, with a crunchy layer of fuzz guitar between verses. The tone shifts from the acoustic “Trash,” then it goes into the riff-heavy garage tongue-in-cheek nihilism of “I Wanna Die.” Each song is carefully constructed to fuse all of the band’s influences to a single distinct sound, so no filler here. Yeah, power pop is not dead to this new generation of kids. Highly recommended.

Amazon


The Overtures

Assorted Artists “Garden of Earthly Delights – An XTC Celebration”

This is not the first artist tribute to XTC, that honor goes to 1995’s Testimonial Dinner.  But Futureman Records new tribute is much larger (49 tracks!) and a more comprehensive selection from the entire career of this well-loved band.  I really like it when an artist puts their own spin on Partridge and Moulding’s songs;  a few good examples include The Shellye Valauskas Experience “Wonderland,” Chris Price’s acoustic “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead,” and Michael Simmons “Wrapped in Grey.”

With so many tracks here it can be hit or miss at times, but these talented artists with strong pop sensibilities can’t do much better than to cover some of XTC’s songs. Overall an impressive collection and downloads benefit The Wild Honey Foundation.

Bandcamp only