Tag: The Rationales

Thursday Freebies: Quiz Kids, Smile Factory, The Rationales, Cosmos Tape Factory and Declan Snowden

powerpopaholic

Before all the holiday singles hit your inbox,  I wanted to share some great FREE bandcamp music with you — enjoy!

Brooklyn, New York, based musicians Jason Korenkiewicz and Lisa Klimkiewicz (both of Boy Genius) are joined by Northampton, Massachusetts’ Jason Bourgeois (Bourgeois Heroes) to form the trio called Quiz Kids. This EP gives you great catchy DIY bedroom pop “I Want You To Know” is a  great example.

Smile Factory is the collaboration of Torbjorn Petersson (guitars and vocals), Bill Shaouy (keyboards), Lee Wiggins (drums), Zeus Henderson (bass), and the celestial choir of angels Keith Klingensmith, Brandi Ediss and Karen Basset. Love that Swedish power pop!


Boston band The Rationales have been doing some charitable music, an LP to help Animal Rescue of Boston contains a cover of Mary Lou Lord’s “Some Jingle Jangle Morning.”  They are also releasing this single as part of the Keep Safe Boston campaign benefiting Planned Parenthood. Check it out!


Cosmos Tape Factory (Stu Kidd and Joe Kane) give us this hilarious single about a lobster dude who can’t wipe his butt! Yeah, this one isn’t free but its so much fun I had to add it. You’ll be humming this one all night!

Declan Snowden is a Dublin-based singer/songwriter hailing from Galway. This stunningly good EP was recorded at the famous Westland Studios in Dublin and its a treat for those who love classic pop. “Getting My Hopes Up”  and “Believe In Me” are a brilliant singles. Tell’em you heard it here first. 

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The New Trocaderos and The Rationales

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The New Trocaderos “Money Talks/The Kids” EP
The New Trocaderos are Brad Marino and Geoff Palmer from The Connection and fellow power popper Kurt Baker in a wild collaboration with songwriter/producer Michael Chaney.  “Money Talks” is straight from the Connection template of fast tempos, solid guitar riffs and harmonies all the way through. “The Kids” is sung by Baker and comes closer to the Ramones/Elvis Costello style. Either way this is a really nice EP and great way to start the year. Any chance a full LP will be on its way?

Bandcamp Only

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The Rationales “Dream Of Fire”
Even after giving myself a rest after my top 25 last week, I will find lots and lost of music I missed. The Rationales’ latest EP, Dream of Fire,  features 5 tracks recorded with producer Ed Valauskas (Juliana Hatfield, Graham Parker)and showcases the improved songwriting and skilled musicianship that make them a band that belongs on your radar. “Drunk all the Time,” and “Radio” are hard driving pop tracks that have plenty of melodic muscle. The remaining tracks allow the band the get denser, anthem-styled rock songs out, and I look forward to more from this talented band in 2014.

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