KEVIN SAYS …

I believe in rock ‘n’ roll.

That’s probably a corny sentiment to share but music is all I have in life now. Living the virtually solitary existence can be a mental challenge but eased immensely by the power of my favourite music.

To me, the terms “rock ‘n’ roll” or “pop” are meaningless especially when applied in a cold technical manner.

It has to be about how the music makes me think and feel. And that’s what the best rock or pop music does, in my humble opinion.

It’s all about the art, the craft, the emotion invested by music creators to express a real idea or feeling to the listener – making a genuine connection.

That’s what it has to be all about.

LIVE IN SINGAPORE | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : WHY ASH @ HARD ROCK CAFE IS ESSENTIAL

Our kind of music is under threat! But thank heavens ASH will be in town this coming Tuesday to give us a timely reminder of what the music world is missing!

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PoP20 | PoP LEGENDS : XTC – COAT OF MANY CUPBOARDS (2002)

Continuing our look back at our review history. Here’s one from 2002!

XTC
Coat of Many Cupboards
(Virgin)

Be warned! This 4-CD box is NOT for neophytes but for the diehard fans who can’t wait to get their grubby hands on any XTC material.

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PoP RECOMMENDS | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : SUMMER MAGIC – SHARKS AND OTHER DANGERS

Photo credit: Nate Burrell

Another authentic Power Pop Rock N Roll treasure dropping our way soon with Summer Magic’s Sharks and Other Dangers!

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PoP RECOMMENDS | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : THE OBSERVATORY X MOE – SHADOWS

Two experimental artrock bands get together to make sweet music together.

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PoP RECOMMENDS | POP POWER !!! BITTERSWEET MACHINES – NO BAD HORIZON

I have been a fan of Bittersweet Machines (a.k.a. Matt Mocharnuk) ever since I reviewed his debut release, Solituda, in 2012. I believe I described the experience as an “eargasm!”

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PoP20 | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : THE ROSENBERGS – MISSION : YOU (2001)

Another blast from the past out of the PoP archives. One of our favourite albums of 2001!

THE ROSENBERGS
Mission: You
[DGM]

The Rosenbergs have created a bit of brouhaha with their turning down a spot on Jimmy (Iovine) and Doug’s (Morris) Farmclub.com due to unfavorable contractual terms in favor of a more progressive deal with Discipline Global Mobile, the label co-owned by Robert (King Crimson) Fripp and David Singleton.

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : THE LEMON TWIGS – “SMALL VICTORIES”

The Lemon Twigs (aka Brian and Michael D’Addario) recently announced that their second album, Go to School, would be released by 4AD on August 24th.

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PoPTV | POWER POP ROCK N ROLL : CLASSIFIED FREQUENCY – “NO MORE SEX”

Photo credit : Ben Powell

Maryland power pop quartet Classified Frequency has released a super fun new music video for their single “No More Sex.”

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THE LISTENING BOOTH | THE NEW ROCK N ROLL : HOTEL MIRA – “GINGER ALE”

Vancouver-based trio Hotel Mira (fka JPNSGRLS) is building up nicely to the new EP with its latest single, “Ginger Ale”.

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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 | 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]

Marvel Studios ANT-MAN AND THE WASP..L to R: The Wasp/Hope van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) and Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Paul Rudd) ..Photo: Ben Rothstein..©Marvel Studios 2018

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!

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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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