Tag: The Well Wishers

The Junior League, The Well Wishers and Dave Caruso

powerpopaholic

Without a doubt, I missed a lot of good music in 2020. I will do my best to highlight some LPs and EPs that I didn’t review yet in the next few weeks. 

The Well Wishers

The Junior League “Fall Back”

Joe Adragna’s follow up to the summer excellence that was Summer of Lies. This album is much more laid back, with less anger but just as much anxiety as “Sad America” seems an appropriate theme for the sad state of our country. The style is more alt. country-pop, with Joe looking back on his journey with the soulful “Ladders,” and some great jangling hooks with “Leave Me Resigned.” Additional highlights include the cynical “Help It’s Strange,” “Through With Me,” and the Byrdisan title track. Highly Recommended!

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The Well Wishers

The Well Wishers “Shelf Life”

Jeff Shelton is another artist who consistently delivers great jangling guitar with a distinct layer of fuzz, and the pandemic gave him additional time to record and make more music. You know what you’re getting; “We Grow Up” and “My Desire” delivers the goods with compelling melodies and riffs.  A few mid-tempo tunes have more of a roots-pop feel like “Secrets and Lies” and “Father of The Bride” about a dad coming to terms with giving away a daughter (“take it all in stride”).  He seems to be having fun with songs like “You Never Have To Sing A Lonely Song” and The Squeeze-like “Who Cries.” Listen to this, you will too. Highly Recommended!

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David Caruso

Dave Caruso “Radiophonic Supersonic”

Dave’s new album radiates a positive vibe all around and is ranked high on many year-end lists. “Little Miss Sunshine” is a bouncy melody that gives you hope with a big hook in the chorus. Dave got assists from production pros Brad Jones and Andy Reed and he’s never sounded better.  The vocals are measured, but the compositions are carefully constructed, like “The Drop.” It’s got a touch of XTC with a big dose of pop smoothness. “A Piece of The Action” is another highlight here. The styles vary across the album, but most of the songs are in the easy-listening category; the bossa nova “Atomic Smile” evokes a jazzy mood. Some songs are a bit lightweight, but enjoyable overall.

Kool Kat Musik

Freebie Singles and LP previews: The Well Wishers, Ken Sharp, Chinofeldy, The Britannicas, Explorer’s Club, The Corner Laughers,Sunshine Boys

powerpopaholic

The Easter bunny dropped off some wonderful music in my inbox this week. Rather than hide them I’d like to share these goodies with you…

The Well Wishers reflect on flection, hope, family, and charity…all bolstered by a four-minute blast of uplifting power-pop melodicism.

Ken Sharp is offering a message of hope for a world and sales go to the United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, which provides relief to those left vulnerable by the pandemic.

Chinofeldy is the brainchild of Joe Kane and Marco Rea, two of Glasgow’s most prolific songwriter/producers. Very much in the spirit and sound of classic 10cc, I love this joyous melody about just “staying home.” A FREEBIE!

The Britannicas are a musical collective; Herb Eimerman, Joe Algeri, Magnus Karlsson and Stefan Johansson. They specialize in jangling guitar melodies that sound great. A FREEBIE!

The Corner Laughers‘ new album is coming soon! Here is a sweet track to entice you to preorder.
Sunshine Boys have a new album coming soon! I love the catchy melody here, “Summertime Kids” is a winner.

The Explorer’s Club will be planning to release two (2) albums! One is a covers album represented by the Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart classic “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight?” – the other is just original penned tunes represented by “Ruby.”

The Well Wishers and The Rallies

powerpopaholic
The Well Wishers

The Well Wishers “The Lost Soundtrack”

Jeff Shelton (aka The Well Wishers) was assigned by a production company to create a soundtrack for an indie film, but due to complications the film was never made, and the music was shelved. Jeff now brings these tunes out of the shadows to see the light of day.

The Well Wishers sound is well established and doesn’t change here; melodies full of heavy riffs, fuzz bass, and drums. “Back Door” is a good start with a catchy chorus that sinks in immediately. “Free” recalls The Smithereens with its deep rhythmic approach, and “Layover” leads with an inspired piano rhythm. The only misfire is the out of place country ballad “Dreaming My Dreams With You.” While these songs aren’t as inspired as last years A View From Above, this soundtrack has its share of highlights including “Great Day Out” and “She Already Knows.”

Amazon | CD Baby


The Rallies

The Rallies “Upside Down”

The Rallies are returning with their sophomore album and if you love positive vibes, then this is for you. Led by Steve Davis (Acoustic Guitar, lead vocals), and backed up by Lee Brown (Drums), Karl Van Der Velden (Guitar) and Ben Heege (Bass). The bouncy tempo & jangling guitar opener “All Over Town” sets the tone and begs repeat plays. A calming acapella mantra opens the catchy “It’s Okay,” as it bathes you in reassuring vocal harmonies of “Keep Calm/Carry On.”

The acoustic “All of Us” also slowly builds into a brilliant harmonic sing along. Next, “If You Do” uses a simple riff and rhythm to hook you immediately, it reminded me a little of Lannie Flowers work. Other highlights include “Brand New,” the Tom Pettyesque twang of “Alive,” and the layered vocal gem “Up To You.” While the songs are uniform in approach, there isn’t a dud to be found here. Highly Recommended for sure.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

EPs, freebies and singles: Un-Teens, Secret Friend, The Well Wishers, The Embryos and Any Version Of Me

powerpopaholic

The Un-Teens are classic sounding power pop band with infectious hooks tipping their hat to early punk from Hamilton, Ontario.

Steven Fox’s band Secret Friend is back with a sweet single. Linus of Hollywood (guitars) and Roger Manning Jr. (keyboards) contribute!

Jeff Shelton is busy at work with both The Well Wishers and Trip Wires. “Feelin’ Fine” is a strong single paired with a cover of  Fleetwood Mac’s “Second Hand News.”
Chicago band The Embryos resemble Teenage Fanclub on the standout “Wasting All Your Time,” and the other tunes are good too! FREE Download!
French retro pop enthusiast Any Version of Me is back. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we have a way to download the music – but we can stream these tunes. “Thinking of The Days” has a very Lennon-Harrison vibe, and “Look What You’ve Done” is a hybrid of The Four Tops and The Hollies!

The Well Wishers and Jackie Daytona

powerpopaholic
The Well Wishers

The Well Wishers “A View From Above”

Jeff Shelton is back with his 9th album, and while I’ve grown accustomed to solid Well Wishers albums, this time I hear a little more variety in the approach. “Gravity Waits” has all the catchy guitar crunch and infectious chorus that set it as one of Jeff’s best openers. The softer jangle of “In Another Life” has the sound of earlier Well Wishers tunes before the louder riffs return on “I Like You Better,” and the very REM-like “April Is Only A Lie.”

Jeff also included some of the better tracks from last year’s Trip Wire’s LP (“There Goes My Gun” and “I’m Not the Enemy.”) The layered buzz of the guitars on “Come Out And Play” and “Is It Me, Is It You” are also keepers that fans of Bob Mould will appreciate. Overall, another great album without filler that is without a doubt Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Jackie Daytona

Jackie Daytona “She’s So Hot” EP

Texas-based Jackie Daytona knows how to party, and he fires on all cylinders with the opener “Hot & Sweaty,” a guitar pop gem that was designed to juice up a crowd, Daytona channels Rick Miller in his vocals. “She’s So Hot” is a great follow up, with its slick bass line and rumbling riffs that The Eels don’t really do anymore. “California” is a mid-tempo gem that sounds like a lost Jackson Browne classic.

With these standouts, it’s easy to recommend and it even has a cool cover of The Beach Boys “You’re So Good To Me.” Hopefully, more people get hip to Daytona’s brand of crunchy power pop you can dance to. I would love to hear more on a full-length album. Highly Recommended.

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