Tag: Dropkick

Mo Troper and Dropkick

powerpopaholic
Mo Troper

Mo Troper “Natural Beauty”

Mo Troper is back with his third full-length album, where he opines on relationships, obsessions, love and does it with an unmistakable vocal style. “I Eat” opens the set as a slow-building gem about self-destructive habits. The jangling “Your Boy” has a little DNA from The La’s “There She Goes” and it’s every bit as infectious. Each tune builds this picture of a hopeless romantic like “In Love With Everyone” and the multi-tracked acapella “Everything.” Mo goes on about long-distance relationships in “Jas From Australia” and the catchy jealousy of “Your New Friend.”

Few I know can make regret and loss sound so bright and sunny in under two minutes. “Potential” is another lush melody with strong guitars “we had so much potential when
we were young and stupid/but nothing ever came of it/we left it there and now it’s dead.” You almost wish there were more verses here to fill it out and keep those hooks fresh in your head. Eventually, Mo comes crashing back to sober reality on the church organ dirge of “Business As Usual.” Overall a wonderful album, that will get many repeats on my playlist. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Dropkick

Dropkick “The Scenic Route”

After his stint in last years hit The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness, Andrew Taylor returns to his home-band Dropkick to continue making great indie-pop. The band sounds like Elliot Smith fronting for Teenage Fanclub on the jangling opener “Feeling Never Goes Away.” Taylor’s light vocal floats above the rhythms on “Catching On” and the mid-tempo ballad “I’m Over You, Goodbye.”

The slower tempo rockers “For Too Long” and “Disappearing”  emphasize the guitars a bit more, but overall as the title suggests, the band’s tone is mostly mellow here. After the up-tempo catchy “A Matter of Time,” the songs slow considerably. The ballad “Broken From The Start” boasts great guitar solos between the verses and helps make this an above-average album that deserves to be heard all the way through. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

David Myhr and Dropkick

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David Myhr

David Myhr “Lucky Day”

David Myhr (The Merrymakers) returns after six years and like many power pop legends of the last century, his quest for musical satisfaction continues on a more mature path. He has gathered an all-star group of songwriters to collaborate with him; Bleu, Linus Of Hollywood and Bill DeMain to name a few. He also enlisted producer Brad Jones in Nashville who explains: “My goal was to show David branching out from his youthful power-pop to a more reflective sound.”

David’s harmony-filled opening number “Jealous Sun’” a gem is buoyed by its simple acoustic melody and its sing-along catchiness. This is typical Myhr, and it just keeps coming. “Negative Friend” is full of McCartney-like piano and layered effects (kazoos, even!) “Room To Grow” starts out subtly and then picks up a breezy casual melody with minor keys, it literally grows on you. But the real showpiece here is the catchy and inspirational “The Perfect Place” with swelling strings it is simply brilliant. After this David shows his romantic side, with the soft pop of “Every Day It Rains,” “Lucky Day” and “Lovebug.” Every song hits the mark, no filler and it is on my short list for 2018’s top ten list. The CD version of the album has four additional singles including the sweet ELO-inspired “Spellbound.” Don’t miss it.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Dropkick

Dropkick “Longwave”

Dropkick knows how to jangle – they’ve been at it for 14 albums. The band, based on Scotland’s east coast, are Andrew Taylor, Ian Grier Mike Foy, and Alan Shields. Like a mix of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Jayhawks the opener “Out Of Tune” is undeniably catchy and instrumentally precise.  “It’s Still Raining” is another big highlight, with frontman Andrew Taylor’s soft lead cruising on top of a jangling rhythm. Even the sparse ballad “Faraway Places,” showcases Taylor’s soul with the lyrics; “There are ways to grow up without getting older.” 

More highlights include “Come Around,” the warm fuzzy riffs of “Giving Way,” “Fed Up Thinking About You.” Dropkick’s chiming guitar chords and great harmonies make this a highly recommended album.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Cliff Hillis and Dropkick

powerpopaholic

Cliff Hillis “Love Not War” EP

Cliff is back! Another EP loaded with excellent songs. The catchy title track is finely crafted gem that works on several levels in the pristine production. The follow up “The Buddha’s Belly” has a little honky-tonk styling that just encourages spontaneous dancing. From there the styles shift from folk pop (“Don’t Drown The Wind”) to mid tempo power pop (“Mayor Of Midnight,”) each song a worthy gem that deserves repeat listens. Of course highly recommended, so pick it up!

Itunes

Dropkick

Dropkick “Balance The Light”

The prolific Scottish band formed by brothers Andrew and Alastair Taylor and friend Ian Grier continues to develop some of the best pop on its latest album. The bands influences include The Jayhawks, The Byrds, and Wilco with a West Coast easy going sensibility.  “Save Myself” is a slow mellow confessional that beautifully opens up mid-way through the song to an instrumental cacophony. The tempo stays the same on the excellent ballads “I’m Over It” and “I Wish I Knew.”

The album theme is a meditation on sadness after a breakup, “Where Do You Think I Went Wrong?” continues the relationship post-mortem. “Out Of Love Again” is a highlight with its jangling guitars and sharp harmonies. Another gem is “Homeward,” with its Neil Young-like melody, and the most upbeat song here “Slow Down” compares well with Teenage Fanclub. Despite it being a somber listen, the compositions are well written. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Jingle Jangle Pop, Shake Some Action, Dropkick

powerpopaholic

“Jingle Jangle Pop”

Holiday music from the guitar & pen of Andy Goldberg (the driving force behind The Honeymoon Stallions, The Goldbergs & The Sun Kings). This 5 song EP compiles holiday songs from each of the bands mentioned, all remixed by Paul Umbach. Some of these song have been “missing” for many years, so it’s great to have them back for the holiday season.

CD Baby


Shake Some Action

Shake Some Action “Christmas in The Sun”

One of my favorites, Shake Some Action delivers a great holiday single for FREE download. But I would like you to pay for it. All proceeds from the sale of this single go to the Toys For Tots Foundation, a top rated charity that provides toys, books and other gifts to less fortunate children. Bandcamp only.

Dropkick

Dropkick “25th December” EP

British band Dropkick certainly has been very active this year, and this goody is a small collection of holiday themed songs for FREE download. Love the jangling melody of “When Santa Comes Round” — you will too. Bandcamp only.

Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab and Dropkick

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Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab “Ever Evolving Lounge”
Joe Kane (The Owsley Sunshine, Them Beatles) and Stu Kidd (BMX Bandits, Wellgreen) do a great job capturing the spirit and sound of late sixties bubblegum pop with Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab. Fans of The Monkees, The Ohio Express and The Strawberry Alarm Clock will really love this album. The duo faithfully re-creates the swinging sound, but the music itself is something wholly original, so you won’t be simply playing a game of “spot the influence.”

“A Sting In The Tale” has funky beat and a catchy, suggestive chorus perfect for go-go dancing. “Adopt A Rabbit” has plenty of vocal gymnastics and moog effects that one up Syd Barrett, then “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?” chugs along like those Turtles hits with silly lyrics and key changes. You can break out the incense for the psychedelic “The Secret Of The Tibetan Grapefruit Is…?” And the fascinating “Trading Time” plays out like a lost High Llamas track. Overall, not a filler track to be found. Highly Recommended to all those with a healthy love of nostalgia and sunny melodies.

Amazon | Bandcamp


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Dropkick “Homeward”
Scotland’s Dropkick delivers their most polished effort to date with it’s strong compositions and heavenly harmonies, it will please fans of The Jayhawks, Wilco, and The Pernice Brothers. “Come Home” starts with simple strums and some steel pedal and sweet West Coast styled harmonies. “When It Starts” has a jarring discordant chord that gives way to brothers Andrew and Alastair Taylor’s sorrowful balladry.Then “Halfway Round Again” bounces in, with its hypnotic, rhythmic riff. The best tune here is the superb “Jump Start” with its soulful organ melody and rich layered sounds.

The remaining tracks on the second half are almost as memorable, the quality musicianship keeps your attention with “Style” the poppiest track on the album and the catchy percussive rhythm of “Wishing” brings a glimmer of optimism to a fairly melancholy album. The band puts its heart on its sleeve here, as one of those great sad albums you listen to in a darkened room.

Amazon | Bandcamp