Tag: The Poster Boy

EP Madness: Jamie Hoover, The Poster Boy, Gizmo

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Jamie Hoover

Jamie Hoover “Top Banana”

Jamie Hoover (Spongetones) with his first new music since 2019, and “Genghis Khan” is a loaded opening, with horns and percussion dominating the melody. Hoover almost channels Jimmy Buffet with “Bourbon Understands,” a love ballad to alcohol. The standouts here are blues rock “Repo Man” and Michael Ruiz (Paul Collins) drums on “Kim Kardashian,” a fan letter made after her split with Kanye West. A nice collection of singles that deserves more attention.


Poster Boy

The Poster Boy “Hooks”

Power pop from Budapest, Hungary, and the opener “Infinite Moment” reminds me of The Posies mixed with the Gin Blossoms and Depeche Mode with lead singer Imre Poniklo leading the way. “On Bartók, In Love” takes a minute to get its footing, but it’s worth the wait. The style gets a little more eclectic after that, and almost becomes easy listening with “Fly Away,” another highlight “Marathon” is a dramatic power ballad. Music that deserves to be heard.

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Gizmo

Gizmo “Buddy System”

Charlottetown is the capital and largest city of the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island, home of Gizmo. Fans of early-era Sloan will hear a kinship, but this impressive 4 song EP is just great hook-filled power pop. The overlapping harmonies on “Luanne” and “Deepest Skin” with deep chords running underneath are awesome. The other 2 tunes have a wall of sound built by guitars riffs and drums, and my only critique here is that it is way too short. Like all good EPs, this makes you beg for more. Highly Recommended.

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BMX Bandits and The Poster Boy

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BMX Bandits

BMX Bandits “BMX Bandits Forever”

One of the longest running power pop bands is the BMX Bandits, started in 1985 and led by singer/guitarist Duglas T. Stewart with a rotating line-up of musicians. Former members went on to form Teenage Fanclub and The Soup Dragons. After a long period of inactivity, the band reformed with vocalist Rachel Mackenzie in 2006 and made a few more albums before hibernating again.

Now Stewart’s back and concentrating on sweet love songs with Stuart Kidd (Linden), David Scott (The Pearlfishers) and Joe Kane (Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab) for BMX Bandits Forever. Opening with the earnest and easy listening “My Girl Midge” it’s an intimate style of indie pop. Recalling the simple melodies of late era Beach Boys, Stewart’s laid-back approach works on “Mais Do Que Valsa (Just A Memory)” and “Save Our Smiles.” It does get playful, with the polka kiddie tune “Way of The Wolf,” and hummable “It’s Time.” Another highlight is the dark gem “Razorblades and Honey” with Anton Newcombe (The Brian Jonestown Massacre) supplying an infectious bass line.

Some of this doesn’t work – from a painful cover of West Side Story’s “Somewhere” to the forgettable “Love Me ’Til My Heart Stops” and The Beach Boys cover “Forever.” However, some of the best new music about romance is part of this album, so check it out.

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The Poster Boy

The Poster Boy “On the Count of Three”

Its been several years since we heard from Budapest power poppers Poster Boy. Sadly, the band broke up last May and they released this final album, which is more alternative pop oriented. The opener “Heartache” and “Pedestrian Street (Sucker Punch)” still features guitarist Noel R. Mayer and bassist Imre Poniklo, but the tone is much darker.

The solid “Karen” is a song about the late Karen Carpenter with a catchy chorus and steady beat “yearning for some divinity.” The band does make an attempt to lift the mood with the quick tempo desperation of “Smile” and the bouncy harmonies in “Birthday.” Worth checking out, but it’s a long way from the joyous innocence of their debut Melody.

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The Poster Boy and Dylan McGuire

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The Poster Boy “Bonjour, c’est Pop deux”
A follow up to the  debut of this Hungarian band offers both improvement in song writing and performance. The band handles power pop perfectly on the heavy riffs and quiet/loud contrasts of “D-Day,” but the band changes its sound to more piano riffs and lighter guitars on “12:01,” similar to early Maroon 5. Next is one of the best songs here, “Spectre” is an amazing single with a sweet backing chorus and its catchy as hell.

The album gets softer as we move forward, “Another Person” is a mid tempo ballad that builds to a moving guitar solo at the close. The vaguely ’70s lite rock of “Raven Girl” is another enjoyable song, the solemn ballad “Down” is exactly what you think it is. Thankfully the guitars return on the six minute epic “The Waiting Room” and overall not a note of filler. Oh, and the title translates from the French, “Hello this is Pop 2.” Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp | Amazon

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Dylan McGuire “Gravity (Or Lack Thereof)”
Philadelphia-area native Dylan McGuire is a singer/songwriter who just completed his newest album with up-and-coming local producer Brett Talley (of IKE). McGuire soaks in some of those IKE influences on the opener “Sunny and 71″ with a solid guitar hook leading the way. Its also pretty clear on”My New Wings” and “Try To Stop Me” that U2’s The Edge is a major influence. His style also reminded me of a mix between The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 at certain points.

It helps that Dylan has a strong vocal, and is skilled composer as well. Both the hook filled chorus and guitar riffs kept me listening on the 5 minute “Wear It On Your Sleeve” and “Maybe This Time.” Dylan also has a great melodic instinct so its too bad we don’t get a ballad here.  However, fans of soul searching anthems and guitar-centered rock will enjoy the entire LP immensely.

CD Baby | Amazon