It’s almost been three years since my final solo album – Present Sense – was released. The tepid response to that release prompted me to retire completely from releasing and performing music.
PoP RECOMMENDS | POP POWER!!! ASTRAL DRIVE – S/T
Astral Drive is songwriter and producer Phil Thornalley’s vision of a long lost album from the 1970s that only existed in his own mind. A labour of love that is very much the statement of a lifelong music fan living in the modern world. (Official bio)
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PoP RECOMMENDS | POP POWER : PAUL STEEL – CAROUSEL KITES
Back in 2009, this is what I wrote about Paul Steel’s debut album, Moon Rock.
“Favouring dense instrumentation and arrangements, melodic hooks galore, whimsical moments and trainspotting references, Moon Rock is one of those albums that true pop enthusiasts will obsess over for weeks on repeat mode, headphones on, salivating over every nuance.”
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PoP RECOMMENDS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : THE DAVENPORTS – DON’T BE MAD AT ME
Almost two decades ago, I wrote these words.
“I’m so crazy about Speaking of the Davenports that I’m almost scared stiff to write about it.”
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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : HARVEY TRISDALE – “BABY”
LA-based, indie rock outfit Harvey Trisdale recently shared their lead single “Baby” and announced their upcoming self-titled EP.
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PoP20 | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : THE BEATIFICS – THE WAY WE NEVER WERE (2003)
From 2003, a review of The Beatifics’ excellent album, The Way We Never Were, taken from the previous incarnation of Power of Pop (at tripod.com, no less!)
THE BEATIFICS
The Way We Never Were
(Bus Stop)
I’ve always loved 60s/70s styled melodic guitar pop. To me, there’s nothing that comes close musically.
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PoP RECOMMENDS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : COLORWAY – THESE ARE THE DAYS
Colorway return with another album that reflects just about everything I believe in as far as music making is concerned and how! Continue reading “PoP RECOMMENDS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : COLORWAY – THESE ARE THE DAYS”
GEEK OUT!!! SUPERHERO COMICS | COMIC BOOK LEGEND STEVE DITKO
Comic book artist Steve Ditko was found dead in his New York home this week. Ditko was 90.
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PoP RECOMMENDS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : SHELVES – EP
Five years in the making, this new Shelves EP is a kick in the arse for Singapore music as far as melodic rock is concerned.
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GEEK OUT!!! SUPERHERO FILM : ANT-MAN AND THE WASP [NO SPOILERS]
After the dark and heavy Infinity War, Ant-Man and the Wasp delivers light-hearted comedic superhero action to MCU fans.
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THE LISTENING BOOTH | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : THE OUTRYDERS – “HOLLOW VICTORY / SHOULD HAVE KNOWN”
It’s all about a love for Power Pop Rock N Roll and Western Australia’s The Outryders demonstrate this with a new double single!
GEEK OUT!!! SUPERHERO COMICS | MARVEL UNIVERSE – MAGNETO ARC
The media juggernaut that is the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) had humble beginnings in a 1961 comic book created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby – the first issue of Fantastic Four.
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GEEK OUT!!! SCIFI HORROR : A QUIET PLACE [SPOILERS]
As always, I place great important on well-crafted plot and characterisation when reviewing movies. While A Quiet Place has an intriguing premise, the story, unfortunately is illogical.
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GEEK OUT!!! | SUPERHERO FILM : GLASS
M. Night Shyamalan’s unlikely sequel to his classic 2000 superhuman film Unbreakable arrives in cinemas in January 2019.
PoPTV | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : SHELVES – “BRITTLE HEARTS”
Shelves are back with a new single and EP!
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PoPTV | POP POWER : JAMES – “COMING HOME (PT.2)”
James is back with a new anthem in the vein of their massive hit, “Sit Down”.
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PoP RECOMMENDS | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : THE SLEEVES – DELIVERANCE
The Sleeves are back with a cracking new album! The Hong Kong – based quartet self-released their debut album Arcade Rock in 2011.
The follow-up Deliverance was recorded in Cambodia, mixed in Hong Kong and mastered at Air Studios in London.
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PoP20 | PoP LEGENDS : ROBYN HITCHCOCK – LUXOR (2003)
Here’s another blast from the past for this throwback Thursday – a 2003 review of one of my favourite artists!
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LIVE IN SINGAPORE | ASH @ THE HARD ROCK CAFE SINGAPORE
90s Britrockers Ash return to Singapore to promote their latest release, Islands.
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LIVE IN SINGAPORE : PVRIS @ THE HARD ROCK CAFE
Intimate music shows with rising bands is something to seek out and experience. LAMC Productions certainly delivered with up and comers PVRIS performing an hour’s set to a rabid audience at the Hard Rock Cafe.
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SINGAPORE ROCKS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : S-ROCK FIGHTS BACK AT THE MANNEQUINS FOUR EP LAUNCH!!!
It does not matter how many social media ‘likes’ Singapore rock bands are able to muster. It does not matter how many Spotify playlists Singapore rock bands are excluded from. It does not matter if Singapore rock bands are not considered hip and cool amongst the local scenesters and hipsters.
All that matters is a love and passion for rock ‘n’ roll! And in that respect, the recent Mannequins Four EP Launch had that in spades – many not in quantity but definitely demonstrated with intensity!
PoPTV | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : ERIC FRISCH – “WATER INTO GOLD”
Always a joy to discover a new artist that embraces the full potential of rock ‘n’ roll. On his new EP – Water Into Gold – Eric Frisch, digs deep into the well of country-folk goodness to deliver three gorgeous songs.
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SINGAPORE ROCKS!!! WHY YOU NEED TO BE AT MANNEQUINS EP LAUNCH!!!
In many ways, the upcoming Mannequins EP launch show is a throwback to the recent past, a relic from a different age.
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PoPTV | PoP LEGENDS : GANG OF FOUR – “LUCKY”
Guitarist Andy Gill might be the only original member of Gang of Four remaining but that does not take away from the vitality or relevance of the band’s new music.
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PoPTV | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : COLD FRONTS – “FANTASY DU JOUR”
The Philly-based indie rock band Cold Fronts recently shared the music video for the title track off their sophomore album Fantasy Du Jour which came out April 20 through Sire Records. The video was produced and directed by Peter English.
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