beabadoobee is the first artist under this fresh continuing series (hopefully) covering young bands/artists making new music that qualifies as Power Pop Rock N’ Roll. Yes, despite our protestations to the contrary, it does seem that there are young people out there still stubbornly utilising guitars, bass, drums (and keyboards) to write and record music. Not a review so much as a discovery feature that will shine a spotlight on deserving bands/artists who produce the kind of music that Power Pop Rock N’ Roll fans of all ages will enjoy and appreciate.
So, Chris Church is a Facebook ‘friend’ and I am only now finding out that he is a Power Pop Rock N Roll singer-songwriter of the highest order? Dayum. Church’s new album, Backwards Compatible, is exactly what we need to cope with the clusterfuck that Covid—19 has turned the world into. For music fans out there who still hold the 90s Pop Underground close to their hearts, Backwards Compatible is a literal godsend, evoking the likes of Cheap Trick, Guided By Voices, Splitsville, Fountains of Wayne et al with 12 gorgeous gems that bear repeating. C’mon, anyone who has ever read my music writing will know what I dig – memorable melodies, heavenly harmonies, pommeling percussions of course guitars that gleam, jangle and crunch! And Chris Church’s Backwards Compatible ticks every single box. And how! Not much else I need to say – if like me you swear by Power Pop Rock N Roll, this album is for YOU!
Bill Lloyd returns with a smart new album that will appeal to the PoP Faithful with its sophisticated take on Power Pop Rock N Roll. Lloyd is a Nashville based songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer who is most often remembered as half of the late ‘80’s RCA country-rock duo, Foster and Lloyd.
The moment one gets into Ken Sharp’s latest album, Beauty in the Backseat, one is transported back to the ’70s, where pop-rock was king of the airwaves.
If the announcement of a new ELO album, after a 15-year absence, raised eyebrows, then the realisation that Zoom is essentially Jeff Lynne playing everything caused many brows to furrow.
My favourite music revels in eclecticism – taking basic building blocks and constructing wildly imaginative creations that impress and surprise even the most jaded of music experts.
I have previously covered the music of DC power trio Dot Dash and will always be pleased to do so as they competently encapsulate everything Power of Pop stands for.
My 1st encounter with P. Hux came in the unlikeliest places. A discount CD store somewhere in a Sydney suburb in 1997. That’s where I found Deluxe, which I consider to be one of the finer power pop albums in that pristine period of pop renaissance that was the late 90s.
It says a lot about the current state of the live music scene in Singapore that Northern Irish power trio, ASH’s display of melodic crunch last night at the Hard Rock Cafe was a rare occasion for music fans to truly rock out in an intimate setting!
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!
