Tag: The Bobbleheads

Friday Singles: The Bobbleheads, Reno Bo, The JAC, and The Co-op

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Holidays are coming soon and the artists we follow deliver singles every year during this month. Not everything here is free, but I do make sure to add a few name-your-price singles to the list. I would also encourage you to check out these artists past work.

San Francisco band The Bobbleheads, one of the most underrated of power pop bands, has a sweet holiday single for us. And this song is extra groovy as its also a name-your-price download.

Reno Bo is another amazing talent. He had one of the top albums of the year in 2015. This month he brings us his catchy “Smile Across The Universe” and a mono version is included with this single.

The JAC (aka Joe Algeri and friends) have a slightly somber take on the holiday since it’s clearly been another tough year for music lovers of the classic era of rock n’ roll – Tom Petty, Glen Campbell, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino and the Young brothers, George and Malcolm.

A collective of artists: Dw. Dunphy, Jeff Elbel, Randy Kerkman, and Dan Pavelich remind us the holidays can also be a time when “Everything Goes To Hell” Please get this song for a single dollar. Proceeds from the song will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. 

The Bobbleheads and The Lost Boys

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The Bobbleheads “Make Yourself Happy”
After 2004’s excellent album, I haven’t heard from The San Francisco based trio called Bobbleheads till now. What a great come-out-of-nowhere power pop album. If you took the cheerful vocals of Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) and married it to hard driving riffs of The Connection, it would sound a lot like “Prove Yourself,” a non-stop riff attack of Rickenbacker melody, and dense production. “Mean Girls” is just as good, and not a second of filler anywhere.

Highlights are numerous, although it is missing a quieter ballad to break things up. I dare you not to play air guitar to “Who’s Gonna Love You” or not sing along to “Turn The Radio On.” Fans of The Smithereens style of power pop will love this and I’m gonna shut up because you just need to hear it. It will stay locked into my daily playlist for a while and without a doubt, gets my nod to be considered for my top ten album list of 2014.

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The Lost Boys “Answers on a Postcard” EP
Another “lost” band that passed me by until now is Southampton, England’s The Lost Boys. Last years EP Answers On A Postcard is the follow up to 2011′s debut Not Arf It’s…The Lost Boys. Lead by Daniel Ash (not the Bauhaus and Love And Rockets guy) its full of compelling melodies and polished production techniques.

Opening with the fast tempo of “I Fall For Everyone” it reminded me of Zumpano with its echoing surf guitar tones and cheery vocals. Another gem here is the “Moving Pictures” with its hook filled chorus, chock full of great key transitions. This style is a winning formula that’s repeated on “From Love To Hate,” and it connects each melodic clip in a way that recalls XTC. The slow ballad “Broken Story” follows Daniel’s echoing lead over a methodical acoustic melody. Overall its a winner, and between the two EPs you have a band deserves to be heard. Highly Recommended.

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