Powerpop » POWER OF POP: Music, Film, Comics & Book Reviews

MOONER – UNPRONOUNCEABLE NAME EP [REVIEW]

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Mar 302013

Truth be told, I am pretty sick and tired of the ubiquitous generic contemporary hipster synth-pop sound already. Man! So yeah, right now, I am aching for sweet rock n’ roll music that features real instruments, real vocals and fucking real songs. Y’know, songs I can sing along to (intelligently) and shake to (without looking stupid).

So Mooner! A self-described powerpop band from Chicago which new EP is like balm to my electronically sated ears. This EP only has four tracks but I’d rather listen four tracks that hit the spot over an LP’s worth of meaningless drivel trying to pass itself off as 2013′s version of hip and cool. Don’t what I mean?

Indeed! It’s comforting and re-assuring to hear a new band take the tired-and-tested influences of Television, Elvis Costello, The Replacements and early Wilco and fashion distinctive material. Certainly, powerpop fans are totally gonna fall in love with the midtempo groove of “Shapeshifter”, the twangy goodness of “White Lines”, the knowing country-soul balladry of “Never Alone” and the new wave raunch of “Overrated”.

Recommended!

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FUZZY VOX – TECHNICOLOR [REVIEW]

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Feb 112013

The French rock n’ roll band known as Fuzzy Vox behaves as if no new music was made after 1969! This myopic vision provides incredible focus as this five-track EP amply demonstrates. The music here is simple yet powerful, straight-forward and visceral. If push came to shove, probably the most accurate reference point would be the first Stooges album. Sure, one could also point to the influences of the mod greats (The Who) and blues-rock legends (The Rolling Stones) but there’s a basic garage-punk energy that suggests Iggy and his band of freaks held greater sway. In the modern context, The Hives come to mind immediately and every other garage-punk revivalist you would care to mention. The scintillating cover of Jerry Lee Lewis’ “Great Balls of Fire” provides a clarity of purpose, translated well on the meaty title track, the beaty “Same Old Story”, the big “I’ll Be Gone” and the bouncy “Hurricane”. Pure & easy.

Listen to “I’d Be Gone” and the rest of the EP at Soundcloud.

Like Fuzzy Vox at Facebook | Buy the EP at Deezer

PoPTV: POWER POP: THE NEXT WAVE

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Jan 122013

What will be the next rock trend the new kids on the block will cotton on to? Well, in the last five years the post-punk/new wave of the 80s has been fairly squeezed dry by new bands so perhaps now it’s time to move up a decade. If we look at the early 90s, power pop definitely was popular enough for major labels to sign the likes of Weezer, Jellyfish, Teenage Fanclub, Semisonic, Fastball, Superdrag, The Grays, Wanderlust and the like.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE POP UNDERGROUND

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Sep 072012

Back in the good ol’ days, Power of Pop focused mainly on the Pop Underground – melodic pop-rock inspired by the 60s/70s. Much of the content is no longer available and so this special feature will correct that oversight. Get ready to be educated, hipster kids!

SPLITSVILLE Incorporated (Houston Party, 2003)

Discounting the Beatles-Beach Boys pastiche cum tribute that was The Complete Pet Soul, Incorporated is actually Splitsville’s first album of all-new material in close to five years (since 1998’s Repeater in fact).

BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE POP UNDERGROUND

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Aug 242012

ALVA STAR - Down Escalator (Princess, 2006)

John Hermanson is perhaps best known as one half of Storyhill, a folk duo that has achieved minor commercial success – the press release boldly proclaims that Storyhill has sold more than 35,000 CDs. Personally, I am not sure if such a statement is a pro or con in respect of promoting Alva Star. Whatever.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE POP UNDERGROUND

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Aug 122012

WISELY – Parador (Not Lame, 2006)

Wisely returns with a rustic snapshot of arch powerpop that (largely) eschews orchestration for a more earthy flavour. Gone is the lush soft pop Wisely has long been associated with and in its place a pleasing sinewy melodic folk-rock that grabs hold of your heart from track one and never lets go.

PoPTV: JEFF LITMAN – OVER AND OVER

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Jul 122012

Now, this is a video that brings me back to the 80s! For one, it’s inspired by that classic Bill Murray movie Groundhog Day and has the conceptual nous of a 80s MTV music video. All kinds of win!

SMASH PALACE

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Jun 102012

RETRO STYLE

Smash Palace has been a stalwart of the Pop Underground scene for some time now and new album Do It Again (from Zip Records) is its seventh effort. Power pop is not an easy ‘genre’ to excel in due to the stringent comparisons with the seminal music of the past but it must be said that Smash Palace succeeds better than most. The key factor that sets Smash Palace apart is the superior songwriting that the Butler brothers Stephen and Brian bring to the party.

SWEET DISS AND THE COMEBACKS

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Mar 282012

DIG DISS!

To be honest I didn’t like Sweet Diss and the Comebacks‘ Emerald City Love Song on first listen. Somehow, my state of mind dictated that the band was twee, fey and (probably) listened to too many Broadway musicals (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Well, obviously I was wrong (so what’s new?). Subsequent critical listens have revealed that Sweet Diss and the Comebacks (which is an unfortunate name) is a powerpop band in every sense of that word. Equal parts power and pop!

Power – crunching guitars help of course but it’s really about the dynamism of those song arrangements – hooks that stick in your head and the little sonic details (like percussive patterns) that make you go – “aha that’s cool!” Not to mention the sheer ambition (and balls!) of including a song suite (hence the earlier Broadway musical reference) viz. “Seattle’s Best” which consists of five parts and documents the eclecticism of Sweet Diss and the Comebacks (yeah it’s a mouthful). Sophisticated melodies, careening variations in mood and tone with tongue firmly in cheek. Genius!

Pop – think of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Badfinger, Sparks, Queen, Todd Rundgren, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, Weezer, Fountains of Wayne as Emerald City Love Song transport the faithful true blue POP listener (that’s you, kind visitor!) into the kind of pop Shangri-la that almost doesn’t exist anymore. I mean, “Never Stop Wooing You”, “Maybe Someday” and “Hey Indie Girl” are examples of driving, hummable powerpop magic that would teach those so-called ‘punk-pop’ (UGH!) poseurs (you know who the fuck you are!) how it’s all supposed to be done! They remind me of the sadly missed Splitsville (to these ears anyways) and other mighty 90s pop underground legends.

So if you have been reading this review all this while and you are still not convinced on the merits of powerpop and in particular Sweet Diss and the Comebacks then perhaps a pop cleansing of sorts need to be conducted in order to align the planets once more in the direction of true blue pop! Picking up Emerald City Love Song would be the perfect start…

Official Site

Check out “Hey Indie Girl” below.

BRAD BROOKS

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Mar 262012

RE-INVENTING THE CLASSICS

I am going to cut to the chase. If you love sophisticated music-making that draws from the deep well of 60s and 70s classic pop-rock, then you must get yourself a copy of Brad Brook‘s new LP – Harmony of Passing Light. Brooks is a San Francisco singer-songwriter who may well have delivered the finest album of his life. Well certainly, Brooks’ album will sit comfortably alongside his avowed influences viz. Elvis Costello, Wilco, Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) and Queen. What truly shines through is the sheer range of styles and ‘genres’ that Brooks employs – nothing is utilized for effect alone – instead, every stylistic choice enhances the strong songwriting in evidence.

Imagine your favourite 60s and 70s music being distilled into a heady brew that is at once sweet and sharp and you might just have a grasp of what Brooks has achieved here. My personal favourites (and believe me, I am digging every single track) would include the opening authentic R&B-inflected “Calling Everyone”. The sitar embellishment keeps the pop footing steady as Brook’s blue-eyed soul evocation of the likes of Todd Rundgren and Daryl Hall is a distinctive joy to behold. High on my list as well is the baroque “Night Fades” with its Zombies/Left Banke-referencing chamber pop twists and turns. The banjo and string quartet arrangements do turn one’s mind to Brian Wilson’s singular music visions though, it must be said. No mean feat!

Elsewhere, “Exemplary Girl” brings Beatlesque psychedelic rock channeling to its logical conclusion with melodic hooks coming at you left, right and centre, in particular the revolving violins! The obligatory faux-classical piano ballad comes at the end with “Grand Manner” but true to the 70s singer-songwriter tradition, this comes with genuine pathos and an erudite charm that will stir hearts and place lump firmly in throat.

Believe me, folks, the delights come at every milestone on this brilliant album. No exaggeration to say in an age of throwaway pop, Brooks has concocted a mini pop masterpiece that gives true pop music lovers that there may still be hope for us yet. Essential listening.

Official Site

JEREMY

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Jan 092012

Alpha & Omega | Guitar Heaven (Jam)

Singer-songwriter Jeremy (Morris) has been self-releasing his eclectic, versatile & prodigious musical output since the 90s and his voluminous repertoire runs the gamut from powerpop to progressive rock to instrumentals. Jeremy also writes and produces worship music in powerpop form and that’s what Alpha & Omega is premised on with titles like Let It Shine, I Just Want to Praise You and With God All Things Are Possible filtered through mainly jangle-pop and folk-rock.

Guitar Heaven, on the other hand is a all-instrumental album performed almost exclusively by Jeremy on acoustic guitar. Lyrical content is absent but there’s no denying the intent of songs like Glory Road, Kingdom Come and Jesus Loves Me. The fact that Jeremy is able to release two albums (simultaneously) with such diversity in sonic approach is a testament to the man’s talent and vision.

Check out the video of Glory Road below.

Official Site

THE HUNTING ACCIDENT

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Dec 232011

Formed from the ashes of two fairly well-known indie outfits viz Piebald and Arlo, The Hunting Accident parlay powerpop-centric goodness into edgy indie rock constructs. The band has a debut 4-track EP available for FREE download over at its official website. All four tracks are worth listening to/downloading for their sharp tunage and smart licks. A band to keep a close watch on…

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REDONDO BEAT

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Sep 142011

German power pop band Redondo Beat is currently touring the USA. Check them out!

REDONDO BEAT US TOUR

Sept. 14th – Denton, TX

Sept. 15th – New Orleans
Siberia

Sept. 19th – Jackson, MS

Sept. 21st – Oxford, MS
Blind Pig

Sept. 24th – Memphis, TN
Gonerfest after party!!!
Buccaneer

Sept. 27th – Memphis, TN
Hi-Tone

Sept. 28th – Nashville, TN
Foobar

Sept. 30th – West Ashville, NC
The Get Down

Oct. 1st – Athens, OH
The Union

Oct. 5th – Columbus, OH
Café Bourbon St.

Oct. 6th – Milwaukee, WI
Quarters

Oct. 7th – Detroit, MI

Oct. 8th – Lafayette, IN
Black Sparrow Pub

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FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

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Jul 062011

26 DAYS TO SKY FULL OF HOLES

(continuing Power of Pop’s song by song review of the new Fountains of Wayne album)

If there’s a criticism that may be leveled at the new Fountains of Wayne LP, it’s that there’s hardly any straight out rock songs amongst the 13 songs on the album. Acela is probably one of the rockier numbers and even then it’s a pretty mid-tempo track overall, with the guitars barely in overdrive.

Probably one of the few modern rock songs dedicated to a train service viz. The Acela Express (often simply Acela). Acela is Amtrak’s high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in the Northeast United States between Washington, D.C., and Boston via Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. Haha now you know!

You got to hand it to the band for keeping the song content always fresh and intriguing. Not one of the main highlights on Sky Full of Holes but certainly an interesting track in its own right. If nothing else, the song is memorable for the truly melodic bridge and Collingwood’s assured vocal delivery.

Official Site

PoPTV – NATURE SET

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Jun 282011

Nature Set – Enough is Enough

Good fun girl pop done in the Brit style. What’s not to like?

Official Site

THE BRIGHT WHITE

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Apr 282011

THE BRIGHT WHITE Until Then

It takes a certain amount of cojones to claim for yourself instantly recognizable acts like The Beatles and Oasis as your influences. After all, the number of bands out there who fall over themselves trying to mimick their idols and end up making bland, generic MOR rock are aplenty (exactly the case with Oasis and the Beatles, actually).

THE KRINKLES

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Mar 312011

THE KRINKLES Dusty Ribbons (Self-released)

The story of the The Krinkles, four-man Chicago powerpop act, is one of those classic “What-might-have-been” tales.   What if, for example, they hadn’t disbanded in an acrimonious shouting match on stage at the start of last decade? What if their third album, 3 – The Mordorloff Collection, had ridden the momentum of their sophomore effort, Revenge of The Krinkles, instead of taking nine years to drop? Would their blazing brand of loud power pop music have taken them to the top then?   It’s always hard to know for sure when you’re reminiscing. In the spirit of looking back at the past though, the band themselves have cleaned out their archives and come up with Dusty Ribbons, a 19-track collection of acoustic versions, demos and unreleased songs, as well as the odd piece of live on-stage banter.   It’s a hodgepodge motley crue of raw mixes and unpolished recordings. Nevertheless, on tracks like the unreleased opener Still In Love (strongly reminiscent of The Who), the record manages to showcase the visceral power of a rock and roll band in full flight. You’ll also hear shades of Cheap Trick (their spiritual and geographical fathers) when they let rip into one of those big, joyful choruses stuffed full of tight harmonies on the demo tracks of So Many Girls and Dirty Girl, and if you have the patience to sit through the rawness of their rehearsal tapes, you’ll find yourself admiring the tightness of their playing.   Of course, there are the odd misses here and there, but if you’re a fan of melodic, ballsy guitar-driven powerpop by way of The Cars and Weezer, you’ll find quite enough good material here to keep you entertained.

(Samuel C Wee)

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LISTENING BOOTH – THE CORNER LAUGHERS

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Mar 192011

San Francisco indie-pop band The Corner Laughers are back with a new single, produced by Allen Clapp of the Orange Peels, as a sneak peek into our upcoming album. Rollicking good girl pop fun. Enjoy…

PoP10 – REDONDO BEAT

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Mar 172011

(Answered by Roman Aul)

1. Why play music?

It makes me feel good. I started buying records when I was a little boy and knew quite early what I wanted to do with my life. I tend to feel a little disharmonious whenever I don’t get to play music for a longer time.

Continue reading »

REDONDO BEAT

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Mar 102011

REDONDO BEAT Meet Redondo Beat (Dionysus)

Bring out those dancing shoes, cause if everything and everyone is going forward in time, let all of us music lovers out there, go back in time to a period with no worries, and dancing is all that matters.

LISTENING BOOTH – DAVID MYHR

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Mar 012011

Swedish power pop band The Merrymakers was one of the leading lights of the 90s pop underground scene. Well, Merrymakers may be no more but here comes David Myhr to carry off where his former band left off with a spanking new single – Got You Where He Wanted – the first offering from upcoming album, Sunshine. Chock full of hooks and wondrous melodies, this is a classic pop gem in the making. Check it out, folks!

Got you where he wanted (.mp3) by davidmyhr

AIRPLANE NOISE

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Aug 232010

AIRPLANE NOISE Getting Down EP (Back to Work)

The sophomore EP of the New Jersey-based indie and powerpop band Airplane Noise, Getting Down is highly interesting. At the first listen, it sounds rather simple and straightforward like the obvious angst in a teenage boy. However like the emotions of an adolescent, it is a lot more complex with the intricate vocal harmonies and the solid drum beats. I found the track Go Ahead to be fun and catchy which was highly ironic as it lyrics were of a darker theme.

TYPEWRITER

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Aug 212010

TYPEWRITER Indian Head Massage (Universal)

Seven years in the making, is the wait for the debut Typewriter LP worth it? You bloody well better believe that it is!

JUSTIN KLINE

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Jul 082010

JUSTIN KLINE Triangle (Self-released)

It does not take too long to suss Justin Kline’s pop inspirations. Over at his Myspace page, his top friends just happen to be Jellyfish, the Beatles, Superdrag and the Beach Boys. So what you see is simply what you get. The four pure pop tracks on this EP are all whimsical, melodic, shiny affairs and if you’re a fan of the Andy Sturmer-Roger Manning Jr type of clean and happy pop song, then this EP is definitely for you.

Tracks like Baby You’re A Mess, Alison or Coffee Song do what they designed to do i.e. hit your sweet pop tooth, if that’s your thing. Me? I can appreciate where Kline is coming from but it’s sounds too comfortable for my liking at times, its almost too much of a perfect fit for the powerpop pigeonhole. I guess wish Kline would stir things up a little, get some edge and generally give me a vague idea what who Justin Kline really is.

Official Site | Facebook | Myspace

Buy Justin Kline at Amazon.

THE BRITANNICAS

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Jun 222010

THE BRITANNICAS S/t (Kool Kat Musik)

I guess you could say that the Britannicas (Magnus Karlsson – Guitar/Vocals, Herb Eimerman – Bass/Vocals, Joe Algeri – Drums/Vocals) offer a encyclopedic approach to their power pop music making. The eponymous album covers quintessential power pop viz. 60s Merseybeat (Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Beatles), jangle pop (the Searchers, the Byrds) and 70s classic pop-rock (Raspberries, Badfinger).

Recorded in the members’ home studios spread out over three continents – Sweden, USA and Australia – the execution of the pristine power pop ideas suffers a little due to this, in my view. In particular, I feel that a fair amount of the vocals just do not complement the music and lets down the overall melodic content somewhat.

That said, a number of songs do offer sumptuous tunes (Eg. Stars, Ordinary Day and Blue Sky Grey) with welcomed diversions into country and chamber pop, that raises the material above the technical and production difficulties. I would certainly recommend the Britannicas to lovers of power pop the way it was meant to be approached and presented.

Myspace | Kool Kat Musik

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SPLITSVILLE Incorporated (Houston Party, 2003)

ALVA STAR - Down Escalator (Princess, 2006)

WISELY – Parador (Not Lame, 2006)

RETRO STYLE

DIG DISS!

RE-INVENTING THE CLASSICS

Alpha & Omega | Guitar Heaven (Jam)

26 DAYS TO SKY FULL OF HOLES

Nature Set – Enough is Enough

THE BRIGHT WHITE Until Then

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