Tag: The Creachies

Top O’ the Power Pop Premieres: The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club and more

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The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club’s new single gets a premiere exclusively on Power Popaholic! “Hold You Up” is the first single from the band’s upcoming album Please Stand By, to be released later this year. The rhythm guitar crunches along in a Weezer-like direction, as the lead riff digs its hooks in you. Add some handclaps and jangle, and there you have it  – a super power-pop single.

The Afterglows, Sam Cook-Parrott (Radiator Hospital) and Michael Cantor (The Goodbye Party) make sweet harmonies for the lovelorn, comparisons to the Everly Brothers and Beach Boys are inevitable. A great FREE download.

A brilliant 4-song EP by Scott Robertson, mixed and mastered by Nick Bertling just deserves to be heard. Each song hooks you immediately.

Holy crap, I’m in love with Jane Lane’s music. A self-taught guitarist, Jane Lane (aka Sophie Negrini) reminds me of a poppier version of Suzanne Vega mixed with Nina Gordon and the new EP will draw you into her sun-drenched, bittersweet POV.

This duo, The Creachies just trolls people like me, using “powerpop” in the LP title. Sounds like The B-52s meets The Cars, with some sweet tunes here; Check out “Rats” and “Skylar’s Hot Glue Gun.” Definitely worth exploring.

The UniBoys aren’t just some retro-wannabees, they are the real deal. Reza Matin, Noah Nash, Artie Fitch, and Michael Cipolletti are channeling classic power pop from The Shoes, The Beat, and others they’re killing it. Very much in the mold of Italy’s Radio Days. Just listen to “On Your Lovin’ Mind” and check out the very cool retro TV spot.

The Incredible Vickers Brothers and The Creachies

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The Incredible Vickers Brothers

The Incredible Vickers Brothers “Torch Songs for Swingers”

The Incredible Vickers Brothers are no circus act, but a pair of multi-instrumentalist brothers that draw influences from British ’60s pop, and Americana with tightly written songwriting. Produced by Allan Clapp (Orange Peels) it is a more mature offering than their debut Gallimaufry from ten years ago. The focus of the music is on music dealing with loss, longing, memory and mid-life crisis. It all slightly reminded me of an Americanized version of Martin Newell’s most recent work.

Opening with “Mirrors” it’s a catchy jangling melody that begs many repeat listens, about the horrors of aging; “Mirror, mirror on the wall/ why you make me look so small?” The almost Kinks-like rant “Money Gonna Buy Me” about the loss of influence sticks with you, as the big chorus of “Faded Away” delivers an anthemic punch. “Bleaker and Bluer” is a brilliant highlight, like a late XTC styled composition it also deserves attention. Slower moments of “In Memory” and “Over and Out” have a feeling of calm resignation, but they are balanced by the solid guitar rant “Blue Collar Cruel” the best Lou Reed song he never wrote. The music has those familiar touch points, but the compositions are pure Vickers originals, and I could not find a single wasted note.

It is said a lot of power pop has a focus on blind nostalgia, days of teen longing with an optimistic point of view. This is not that kind of album, but a clear-eyed, sober look at where you are and where you’ll be going. At the end of the album, Bob Vickers sings “Sometimes we bury the living while taking care of the dead.” This plainly makes my top ten for 2018 best of list. Don’t miss it.

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The Creachies

The Creachies “The Creachies”

A hyper quirky pop band from Baltimore — the Creachies create a melodic dream pop meets Devo sound on the opener “The Creachies Are Here” and “Welcome.” Then the guitars come out on “Not Never And,” it sounds like a mix of Shonen Knife and the B-52s.

The music on hits the sugar highs a few more times with “Pants Off” and “Do You Think I’m Interesting?” There is a lot of creativity on songs like “We Were Babies” and “Error 500,” but there seems to be some filler too. Definitely worth the affordable $5 download. Enjoy!

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