Tag: Mothboxer

Mothboxer and Panthervision

powerpopaholic
Steve Stoeckel

Mothboxer “Breathe”

Dave Ody (aka Mothboxer) has been reliably producing good albums for a while now with some superb melodic rock and roll. While he has wandered into other genres from time to time, Breathe finds Ody firmly in the power pop camp.

“Free Ride” is an easygoing psychedelic-pop romp, but things really kick into gear with the piano-led “All The Things,” a mid-period Beatlesque gem about memory loss, complete with a gentle middle-eight. Each song builds on the theme of past memories, the ballad “When I Had The Time” and “Jump Back” are compelling catchy listens. “Operator” recalls 10cc with its many key shifts, and Ody’s stylistic consistency is impressive here. The rocker “Everything is Gonna Be Alright” is another standout. In fact, the quality of great melodies here makes this a better-than-average Mothboxer album.  Highly Recommended, and it makes my early list for best of 2023.

Amazon

Panthervision

Panthervision “Now in 3-D”

Bonnie Veronica (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Kirk Larsen (lead guitar, backing vocals) were formerly of the Portland, OR band Beyond Veronica for fifteen years until they re-formed as Panthervision in 2019 and soon played the International Pop Overthrow festival soon afterward.

Their sound is comparable to The Muffs, Palmyra Delran, and The Go-Gos with a touch of garage pop. The catchy “Trouble” and “Can’t Explain” will have you playing air guitar and “Mister Riley” has an 80s edge with a little jangle. The only caveat here is several tunes sound way too similar to each other. But overall, this is a fine collection of guitar-driven rockers. It definitely deserves to be heard, so check’em out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Kai Danzberg and Mothboxer

powerpopaholic
Kai Danzberg

Kai Danzberg “Not Only Sunshine”

It was right around this time last year German musician Kai Danzberg introduced us to the infectious Pop-Up Radio, and with a new year, we have a new album. With Not Only Sunshine Kai is more consistent in his style, as the primary influences are Jeff Lynne (ELO) and Roger J. Manning Jr. (Jellyfish). He also has several collaborations with a variety of experienced power pop talent.

The cinematic intro (title track) is a simple multi-tracked hymn that leads into the sunshine-fueled “My Beautiful Day” with Dana Countryman. This is the sole burst of pure pop happiness, with its Beach Boys-styled harmonies. “Nothing In My Head” with David Myhr is a worthy follow-up, with a sweet hook in the chorus. From there the LP slowly sinks into the sadness of love lost, as “Turn Away” is a beautifully rendered power ballad on par with Jellyfish (and Roger J. Manning Jr. contributes). While the atmospherics are effective, the next several songs don’t reach the highs of those before it. But on his own Kai still delivers excellent music as “Help” is a big highlight, and the personal “Empty Room” is a sweet reflection on childhood with some nice acoustic guitar work. Other highlights include “Where Can I Sleep” and “Let Me Know,” a duet with Lisa Mychols that borrows its intro riff from Cheap Trick! Kai continues to grow as an artist, and I highly recommend this album. Bravo!

Amazon


Mothboxer

Mothboxer “Open Sky”

Production wizard & master of ceremonies Dave Ody expands the Mothboxer sound to include orchestral and progressive genres. “Sunshine Sound” is a slowly expansive epic that combines Pink Floyd, John Lennon and 1969-era Beach Boys into something akin to The Beta Band. This vaguely familiar setting has its trippy moments on “Got To Wake You Up” to “Better When It Rains,” with low chords and brass flourishes. “We Could Be Right” goes in many directions at once, but still feels cohesive with odd drum fills and Move-like guitar progressions.

The gem here is “Million Miles Away” with its hidden hook in the piano chords and harmonies. Ody manages to make something unique out of the familiar, and even with four minute plus indulgences it never feels like filler. Another good comparison would be the first time I listened to Electric Light Orchestra’s “No Answer,” and hearing those lumbering melodies by Roy Wood. Especially on the finale “Yesterdays Are Tomorrow.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Hornal and Mothboxer

powerpopaholic
Hornal

Hornal ”The Game Begins with the Lights Out”

Iain Hornal is a UK singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist who lives in London, UK. Known as an in-demand session player for Jeff Lynne’s ELO, 10cc, and The Feeling he felt it was time to put his experience towards a solo album. He enlisted a large collective of musical talent to help polish the effort (a guest list too long display here).

Starting with “Staring At The Sky” the honey-voiced harmonies float along a cloud of synths and guitar melody. “Running Away” with added vocals from Sophie Ellis-Bextor makes for a solid adult pop chorus. “Jennifer” showcases all the influences above into another stellar single. “Caledone” shows off its ELO roots as a brilliant pop ballad and “She Doesn’t Have Anyone” is as catchy an ear-worm as anything. Much of the album is mid-tempo without a single misstep or wasted note. In fact, 10cc almost reunites here on “Say The Word” with Graham Gouldman and Kevin Godley adding vocals and inspiration. It’s an amazing closer with spoken poetry midway through by actor Matt Berry (The IT Crowd). Overall one of the best albums I’ve heard this year – it’s earned a spot on my top ten list for 2017.

Amazon

https://youtu.be/G19_4IGsLX4

“Mothboxer“

Mothboxer ”The Secret Art of Saying Nothing”

Mothboxer burst onto the power pop scene ten years ago, and its still got the “goods” all these years later. Lead Moth Dave Ody continues to dazzle with the help of Robbie Burley, Phil Davies and Jon Hawes on the opener “Get It Right,” a solid anthem with a great hook. You’ll hear the clear ELO-Move influence on “Don’t Forget To Breathe” and “Everyone Knows” with its expansive echoing guitar sound.

The band does explore other styles; “Right Time To Say Goodnight” and “Rest My Mind” have more of a prog rock vibe, with the six-minute-plus “Half Light” mixing hard rock and psych-pop (reminding me of early Yes.) Toward the album’s end, it gets back on track with the Beatlesque guitar licks of “I Don’t Mind” and the title track. It’s good that Ody indulges his inner Pink Floyd, but it doesn’t compare with the catchy gems earlier on. Still a very highly recommended album.

Amazon

Mothboxer and The Vickers

powerpopaholic
Mothboxer

Mothboxer “We’re All Out Of Our Minds” EP

It seems we just finished listening to Mothboxer’s latest LP which made our year end list, when an equally awesome and groovy EP shows up. “We’re All Out Of Our Minds” has Dave Ody doing his Lennonesque pop confection from Sand and The Rain plus three bonus tracks. “One Day At A Time” is a little more measured till we get to the thick chorus. “I’m Working” is a music hall piano melody that fans of the new Dowling Poole album with enjoy. “Laughing Out Loud” is slow tempo epic with a circus like atmosphere and it fits nicely here. Each track shines and overall this is a highly recommended addition to your Mothboxer collection.
power pop
Bandcamp


The Vickers

The Vickers “Ghosts”

An Italian band, The Vickers will take you on a musical kaleidoscopic journey chock full of spatial guitars, keyboards, and whirling bass lines. This psyche pop album starts with the dynamic “She’s Lost,” a good mix of Beatles and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.

The echoing fuzz of “I Don’t Know What It Is” builds as it continues, then trails off into a slow jam punctuated by a guitar solos. The Vickers also have a garage-styled punk sensibility on “All I Need” with its swirling rhythms and fuzzed vocals. “Here Me Now” sounds a little more modern, but its no less hypnotic.  Additional highlights include the Beatlesque “Walking On A Rope” and the lighter than air title track. This is most definitely an album to check out on your best set of headphones in a darkened room. Worth multiple listens it could become your favorite head-trip.
power pop
Bandcamp | Amazon

The Rip Off Artists and Mothboxer

powerpopaholic
The Intercontinental Rip Off Artists

The Rip Off Artists “The Intercontinental”

Nick Pipitone and Peter Batchelder (The Rip Off Artists) are the same band that brought you Esque a few years ago. The Intercontinental tells the tales of a variety of characters from creative fields all failing: An Artist, an Actor, Tennis Instructor, Photographer, etc. We start with “Commuter’s Blues,” a very Ben Folds meets Adam Marsland styled narrative, about the long morning commute – some nice details in the bass and drum work make it a standout. Likewise, “In The Actor’s Studio Apartment” has a driving chorus and catchy melody along with the chance of “one night only” and striking out with the girl.

Another highlight, “Mr. Right and Mrs. Right” tells of the perfect couple who never got along, and the foreboding “Inspector Valentino” is very much like Elvis Costello’s slower compositions.  The bouncy “Bachelor of Arts” is one of my favorites here, with its “ba-ba” backup chorus. Nick and Peter do a great job on these songs and it’s highly recommended.
power pop
Bandcamp | Amazon


Mothboxer

Mothboxer “Sand and The Rain”

Mothboxer really made a great impression on the 2012 LP Three, and the band continues to create great power pop with its new album. The band is Dave Ody with help from Robbie Burley, Phil Davies and Jon Hawes. “One and Only” is a catchy ear-worm that reminds me of Julian Lennon mixed with XTC. “Looking Out For Summer” is another richly layered melody that effortlessly floats along.

The album is mostly light and breezy, a real treat and its got a sense of humor too with “Stop,” which adds heavier guitar lines, it slowly builds to the frantic, fast paced puchline. It’s got an echoing pastoral sweetness on the title track that fans of The Brigadier or Martin Newell will enjoy. In an era that favors stripped-down, no-fi production, the rich bass oriented sound is surprisingly refreshing to hear. Although the last track “All That I Want” could put you to sleep, this is full of great music and gets a nomination to my best LP of the year list.
power pop
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik (with bonus disc)