Tag: It’s Karma It’s Cool

It’s Karma It’s Cool and 2nd Grade

powerpopaholic
It's Karma It's Cool

It’s Karma It’s Cool “Woke Up In Hollywood”

Last year Lincoln UK band It’s Karma It’s Cool delivered a quirky fun EP full of energy led by vocalist Jim Styring (The Popdogs). Now we’ve got a full-length follow-up that demands attention. Joining Styring is Danny Krash (drums), Martyn Bewick (guitars + more), and Mikey Barraclough (bass) with guest spots from Rex Broome (The Armoires), Lannie Flowers and Brian Barry (Flaming Cortinas.)

Opening with “Our Love Is An Amplifier” it brings to mind Anton Barbeau with its quick synth patterns, strong percussion, and catchy chorus. It then goes to a false ending, before it picks up even more stream. Both “Back In `78” and the title track wistfully look at a rocker’s career with its ups and downs as Jim sings “It’s not how far you’ve traveled, it’s the distance left to go.” Those guitar riffs are an integral part of the power-pop gem “The Girl Who Gave You Everything” thanks to Lannie Flowers and “Healer’s Leap” has those great jangling chords, and harmonica, as “the hipsters turn themselves around!” Next, “Sunflowers” is another keeper with great guitar textures, vocal harmonies, and Danny’s key drumming. Not everything works (“New Age Eve”) but enough does, and this is a very solid debut. Check it out.

Kool Kat Musik


2nd Grade

2nd Grade “Hit to Hit”

Are 24 tracks of music too much to handle at once? Not at all. 2nd Grade’s songs are so short, it’s like they were made for a second grader with ADD; most songs no longer than a minute. Lead singer-songwriter Peter Gill is like a mix of Adam Schlesinger and Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) in that he throws his emotions and feelings to the wall to see what sticks, and when it does stick it’s ultimately great DIY bedroom pop.

Opening with a fuzzy surf-rocker “W-2” about how annoying it is to do your taxes – it has a single chorus and then it’s gone. “Trigger Finger” is a handclapping gem about a “punk rock world” and “Velodrome” is like a mini Fountains of Wayne tune. The songs are funny and/or heartbreaking – and best of all, the good ones have killer hooks. But the short length of the songs are both a blessing and a curse, luckily we get a few tunes that really stand out like, “When You Were My Sharona” a nostalgic gem that looks back and the Big Star-like vulnerability of  “My Bike” and “You’re So Cool.” If you remove the wheat from the chaff, you’ll really enjoy this album. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon (vinyl)

New EPs: Propeller, Bananagun, Super 8, It’s Karma It’s Cool, The Coolies

powerpopaholic

Propeller “Three Steps to Better Listening” – The San Franciso duo of Greg Randall and Will Anderson are at it again! Not really an EP, but an A/B single with an acoustic version, but it’s so damn good. You will be hooked!

Bananagun “Do Yeah” – Is this a long lost gem from the early ’70s? It’s a hypnotic mix of afrobeat and psyche pop that wouldn’t sound that out of date on a retro beatnik soundtrack. Groovy.

Super 8 “Head Sounds” EP – UK-based Singer/Songwriter Paul Ryan has been very busy this year. The cover is a parody on Pet Sounds,  and the music is an interesting mix of compulsive melodies, and it does have horns and harmonies. This EP is a prelude to the full-length version scheduled for release in 2020.

It’s Karma It’s Cool “Hipsters and Aeroplanes” – Jim Styring (The Popdogs, B-Leaguers) is back with this hook-filled gem of an EP available on Kool Kat Musik. It’s got an catchy energy and Jim’s vocal inflections are similar to Buddy Holly. It’s also a grower that gets better with multiple listens.

The Coolies – “Uh Oh! It’s​.​.​. The Coolies”  Three amazing artists: Kim Shattuck (The Muffs), Palmyra Delran and Melanie Vammen. They make magic here and 100% of profits will be donated to The ALS Association in the memory of Kim’s passing. Originally released in July, It’s bittersweet that this was the only project for the three, but at least we have it.