Some music veterans from the golden age are still producing, Beach Boy Al Jardine gives us a poignant “Wish” and legend Graham Gouldman (10cc) reminds us to seize the day with “We’re Alive.” Technically, Gouldman has a new album ‘I Have Notes’ and it deserves to be heard! The Well Wishers continue to deliver great music too with “Missing Person,” as The Popravinas give a us a new album including “The Girl Who Didn’t Want To Hear Any Tunes.” Sounds like someone I don’t wanna date. John Wlaysewski (Late Cambrian) continues his journey across the pop landscape with a new EP with the help of Brendan Brown (Wheatus) and Dave Hill (Valley Lodge). It’s worth the trip, so check it out. The Cheap Cassettes give us meat-and-potatoes rock and roll, and Squire releases focused soundscape in mono with a brilliant mix of the Big Star classic.
Tag: The Popravinas
Dolour and The Popravinas
Dolour “Origin Story”
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Dolour’s debut LP creator Shane Tutmarc took a selection of early songs and re-recorded them. After the great ‘Televangelist’ earlier this year – it’s interesting to hear some reimagined music that I wasn’t that familiar with. It’s essentially a combination of several EPs, and Shane still has an ear for catchy singles as the bouncy “Cleopatra Eyes” proves to be both light and infectious. “Naive” similarly charms with its layered harmonies in the chorus. The fuzz guitar enters the fray with “CPR” a terrific post-breakup song, and Shane’s approach is similar to Fountains of Wayne on “Before Tonight’s Big Party.”
The ballads have high points as well, with “Next 2 U” with its flowing verses and melody. There are also a few experiments that are interesting, like “Suburbiac,” a murder plot between two lovers. Some songs seem a little overproduced, like the dense “Ready To Fly” and the wonderfully written indictment of the music industry “I Smell A Lawsuit.” While not on par with his last LP, this is still a great group of Dolour tracks. Highly Recommended.
The Popravinas “Goons West”
The Popravinas (pope-rah-veen-ahs) are back! The California band led by Eddy Sill (The Mutts) is joined by John Adair (guitars, keyboards,) Dean Lyons (rhythm guitar,) and David Rodgers (drums) to create a well-tooled guitar sound influenced by The Rolling Stones, Soul Asylum, Whiskeytown, and The Old 97’s. While they do have a ’90s garage-pop sensibility with songs like “Do The Creep” and “Minor Resistance,” when they add that country twang it takes them to another level.
“Self Made Derecho” is a distinctive catchy song and Ed’s vocal provides the perfect amount of sarcasm, and the cornpone approach of “Bunkin’ in Reno” is a joyful tale of couch surfing that brings to mind Mojo Nixon. The more traditional R&B, Stones-y tunes are similar to The Connection or Watts, with “Feasibility Holdout” and “Might Want Out” being standout tracks. Overall, a fine album that deserves to be heard.
Ho ho holiday singles! The Weeklings, Johnathan Pushkar, Peggy Sue, The Lunar Laugh, The Popravinas, The JAC
The holiday season is upon us, and the holiday singles are already here! The Popravinas of sunny California are looking for presents, while Joe Algeri, aka The JAC has reliably delivered a stocking stuffer every year. Peggy Sue is a vocalist from UK that I just found and liked – new LP is expected in February. All these singles are FREE downloads. And at the last minute, The Lunar Laugh share a festive moment recorded live at VZDs in Oklahoma City, OK.
The Weeklings celebrate the season with the original “Gonna Be Christmas”- Get the single on Amazon
Johnathan Pushkar covers The Beach Boys “Little St. Nick” – Get the single on Amazon
More singles will be posted as we get closer to Chanukah and Christmas
The Popravinas! and The Drywall Heels
The Popravinas! “California Sonic”
The Popravinas! are back almost ten years later, as Eddy Sill (The Mutts) is joined by John Adair (Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin, Vocals) Dean Lyons (Guitar, Vocals) and David Rogers (Drums). The band has its own roots-based California pop sound, sure to appeal to fans of The Connection and/or Whiskeytown. “She’s Going South” is like an updated Beach Boys theme about disaster during summer break as they sing “It gonna get ugly, ugly.”
Eddy has a really unique deep vocal, and it makes the ballad “Santa Monica Moon” both catchy and romantic, with a touch of twang. That country-style covers most of the songs here, “Wow” smartly references the movie Days of Wine and Roses and the Rockpile-like gem “Alone Ain’t So Bad” is another good one. The band then does some good ole honky-tonk on “Great Western Fiasco” and “Checked Out Love,” but all the efforts aren’t as lyrically creative; “I Gotta Hope” and “Sent Callin” seem to just drone on. However, if you enjoy the country rock genre this is definitely a great addition to your playlist.
CD Baby
The Drywall Heels “The Drywall Heels” EP
What a nice surprise! This Toronto band dazzles us with its subtle melodies and sweet harmonies.The band is the combo of Mike Ciani, Jesse Mirsky, Shane Weir, and Matt Goldman. And boy, have they got the hooks. From the first listen of “You Should Know,” it has that jingle jangle guitar and the crooning “uh-uh-oh” played to minor chords. Then they layer on the harmonies and you have a winner.
“Richmond Hill” and “Questionable” follow a similar style, and “Claudia” is a mid-tempo ballad that recalls those perfect DIY melodies The Toms were famous for. And on top of all this, it’s a FREE download. Highly Recommended and no excuses.
Sunday Singles: The Popravinas, Lannie Flowers, Lily Sparks, Spirit Kid, Nick Piunti
Although I don’t review singles, we still want to let readers know when an artist comes out with something cool. And with a lot of new singles floating around, I wanted to feature a few standouts:
The Popravinas release their first tunes since the full-length CD Everybody’s Fault But Ours in 2008. The Santa Monica, CA based band continues to crank out great tunes and this single proves they haven’t lost a thing since then.
CD Baby
Lannie Flowers was a highlight at IPO this year and he released a new single at the show, the Big Star classic “Back of A Car”. It was recorded live at the Trash Bar in New York taken from the Live In NYC album. It also has an unreleased new song “Best I Can” which is so good, I’d call it another “A-side.”
CD Baby
Lily Sparks is a new trio that deserves your attention that performed at IPO. Lead vocalist Niamh (pronounced “neev”) is a rock diva comparable to Grace Potter or Ann Wilson (Heart) and the guitars really rock on this brand new single. Check it out!
CD Baby
Nick Piunti is hard at work on his next album after the top-ten winner of Thirteen In My Head last year. I enjoyed meeting him and listening to his excellence at Power Popaholic Fest this past August. Once again comparisons to Mike Viola are apt, and I can’t wait for this new one as “Time Machine” is an awesome start. Bandcamp