The JTG Implosion “All The People Some of The Time”
This resissue of Joe Gidding’s band from 2002 is a welcome addition if you’ve missed it when it was part of Not Lame Record’s catalog (which is now gone forever). This is a classic melodic power pop album that needs to be re-discovered. Giddings crunchy riffs get the party started on “Delta 88″ and the hand clapping goodness of “This Is What You Get” is another gem. Best compared to Enuff Z’nuff and Velvet Crush these tunes have layers of fuzzy rock guitars against bouncy melodies (“The Biggest Liar In The World”), with the occasional harmony laden mellower tune (“Puzzle Peace”). Every song here is exemplary, not a weak track in the bunch – and if you’re looking for a yardstick in this genre it’s hard to find better. For newbies to power pop this is required listening.
The Connection “New England’s Newest Hit Makers”
Retro to the max, baby! If you love those “classic oldies,” we’re not talking about Boston or REO Speedwagon. We’re talking about Chuck Berry, Beatles, and The Swinging Blue Jeans. Musicians Brad Marino, Geoff Palmer, Chris Faulkner,and Andy Casey have decide to form The Connection, and deliver balls to the wall Merseybeat in its best form. The short punchy compositions start with the bouncy riffs in “It’s All Right.” Each of the eight songs here follow the feel-good high energy vibe – in fact I’ve been listening to the guys on my treadmill (“Stop Talking” has got the perfect BPM). Despite the lack of a ballad, the songs are catchy as hell, much like The Romantics early efforts and their hit single “What I Like About You.” Enjoy!
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The internet has enabled like minded artists to collaborate like never before. 8X8 is the transatlantic collaboration between Lane Steinberg and Ukrainian musician Alex Khodchenko. Like The Britannicas, they both live on different continents, and have never met in person, but through e-mail they’ve managed to create an amazing work of musical art. This is the best prog/psychedelic pop I’ve heard in a long time.
Bringing forth influences from Todd Rundgren, The Zombies, The Beach Boys and Procol Harum, it requires multiple listens – but it really sticks. Opening with “Fantastic Sun” it’s the most immediate and catchy track with a rich layered musical palette. The vocal harmonies are transcendental here and continue on “Layabout” and “Time And Tender Love.” Even Colin Blunstone would be impressed by the swirling “Live in Dreamland.” This isn’t simply music you listen to – you let it wash over you like lush warm breeze. Good headphones are a must for this material. Many other highlights include the epic melodies of “Snowflake In The Rain” and “Sweetness In Your Life.” Credit also must go to Gregory White on a variety of keys (Hammond organ, mellotron, etc.), Rebecca Ona (backing vocals) and Rick R. (drums). Easily makes my top ten list for 2012, and will remain on my ipod for a long, long time.
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Secret Powers have been a favorite of this site from the beginning, and each year Ryan “Schmedly” Manes has released one great LP after another. Last year’s What Every Rose Grower Should Know cracked by top 25, but frankly it was a small step back as earlier releases made my top ten. Well almost as a response – the band is back with a set of sticky tunes that puts it back into top ten contention for 2012.
“Dragon Slide” starts us off, and what is noticeable here is the ELO styled flourishes and techniques are toned down compared to previous albums. In fact the growling chords are closer to Bad Company than anything else, as Shmedly recalls his childhood thrills with a great Queen-styled break in the solo. John Brownell continues the pace with “Impossible Girl” and the hooks are plentiful on his best composition “Post War.” The band spreads out the songwriting/singing duties a lot more, and Shmedly’s vocals are clearer too. Other gems here include “Drip Drop Drip,” “Not That Girl” and in his best Randy Newman mode, Shmedly gives us a tribute to the struggling musician in “Hard To Be Someone.” Every track here is great, although “Caroline” feels like it belongs on a different album. Anyway, add this to your “must-get” list.
Jeff Litman gave us a terrific debut in 2009 with Postscript. This new sophomore LP is more than just a showcase for Jeff’s musical skills, Outside shows us a burgeoning maturity. The Tom Pettyesque opener “Over and Over” has steady piano chorus and cynical attitude, followed by the fast tempo single “Runaway,” which gives us a great hook and bouncing bass line. Giving power pop fans a tasty treat in the title track, “Outside” has Jeff channeling Elvis Costello, and includes Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. doing backing vocals and keyboards.
This album also boasts some tender moments on the duet with Maddy Wyatt in “What Hasn’t Happened Yet,” it brings to mind Mike Viola’s recent work. Just about every song here is impressive and varies in tempo and style, from the rocking “Chasing My Tail” to the alt. country strums of “til Someone Got Hurt.” There are echoes of Postscript’s pain in “Back To You” and “Time Heals Nothing,” and although these tracks aren’t as immediate as the debut, they still resonate and should easily find a place on your playlist.
I reviewed The Breakups a few years ago when they had an EP, so now these guys have a new album and are definitely ready for the major leagues. Opening with “I’m Thinking of a Number,” it’s a slow grower with smart harmonies in the chorus, it builds its strummy melody similar to The Honeydogs. And it gets better from there, “Run From Rock n’ Roll” is a brilliant gem with a synth hook that would make Ken Stringfellow proud. Then “Better Off Alone” increases the tempo, synth rhythms and the handclaps are infectious.
The ballad “I Don’t Want To Know” is a weary but beautiful song about “ignorance is bliss… I’ll try to savor it while it lasts” accentuated by horns. The horns continue to emphasis the Beatlesque “Shelf life of Butterflies,” and its another winner. Each tune is highly melodic and although it takes a darker turn toward the albums end with more conventional alt. pop compositions (“Amelia”) it manages to hold your attention throughout. Officially releases on Feb.14 (Valentine’s Day) a perfect occasion for The Breakups.
Written over a two month period, Jet Electro is the musical autobiography of a guitarist superhero. The opener “I’ll Never Find Another Girl Like You,” is certainly a catchy slice of rock and roll, and Craig Daniels lead vocal reminds me of Sammy Hagar if he played in the Rubinoos here. We get the Memphis soul of “Buckle Up” and then “For Sale By Owner” describes selling his boyhood home with a background chorus of “Buy it, Buy it.” A Big Star vibe is present in the ballads “I Don’t Know How” and “Fingerprint.”
Next we get some wonderful Gretsch bass and horns for the gem “Walter Cronkite” as the band celebrates the man who gives us “unity and truth.” Some wonderful Beach Boys styled harmonies open up “This Baby Of Mine,” a sweet tune about a man’s love for a 1965 Cadillac. The lone quirky misstep, “100 Girls” is like a great Allan Sherman tune – but it belongs on a comedy LP, not here. Overall a loose, fun pop album with some inspiring guitar riffs and memorable stories sure to put a smile on your face.
With his sixth release Jeff Shelton has fallen into a great groove that makes him so prolific, I would call him the power pop version of Robert Pollard (GBV). Driven by tight, punchy rhythms from drummer Nick Laquintano (Spinning Jennies) the Well Wishers hit the ground running on “Escape The Light” with its mix of REM jangle and Posies styled vocal phrasing. “Allison” has a great fuzzy riff similar to Bob Mould’s Sugar and the piano led “Nothing Ever Changes” is another standout with a great hooks.
The impressive thing here is that Shelton’s sound has more variety than any previous release, and as always no filler to be found. He gets positively inspirational on “Free? No,” the heavy reverb on “Have Some More Tea” keeps things moving, and he gets downright punk on “All I Got.” A great start to the new year and our first nominee for the Top Ten of 2012!
Hannah Cranna “A Real Nice Parade”
With some help from Badfinger alum Joey Molland, Hannah Cranna does a “re-boot” of its 1997 debut from defunct power pop label Big Deal Records. We get an impressive start with “Hello,” a catchy tune in the best Badfinger tradition. This take us to a rootsy “Are You Going Home, Polly?” and some nice harmonizing on “Paul McCartney and Wings,” although the band mentioned in the title has absolutely nothing to do with the song. After a solid first half, the album relies on re-mastered or re-recoreded tracks from the debut, and while pleasant enough there is nothing here that really sticks, until we get the slow compelling jam “Heroine on Ohio” and this tempo leads nicely into a live cover of Badfinger’s “Money/Flying” with Joey leading the band. Hannah Cranna would do much better if they leaned less on him, and did more to distinguish their sound, but for Badfinger completists this will be essential.
Kensington “Borders”
I saw this on a “best-of” list and gave it a spin. This is a Dutch band with a melodic-rock meets new wave dance sound. “Let Go” opens up with fast dance beats and it’s chorus does grow on you after a few listens. There are plenty of angular riffs and handclaps in “Youth” that qualifies it as power pop (barely). They’ve shared the stage with bands like Razorlight, The Wombats and My Chemical Romance and the duel vocals of Caspar Starreveld and Eloi Youssef mesh quite nicely. “All That I Know” has some wonderful harmonies and then switches to a manic tempo with shotgun riffs. This falls squarely in the alternative pop category, with classical overtones in the songwriting so fans of Sparks and Roxy Music may like it too. Other tracks that impressed me are “Not As Bright” and “Friendly Fire.” Definitely worth exploring.
Wanna see George Harrison’s private guitar collection in detail? A new ipad app will make that possible. For the first time, with the help of unique 360° imaging by photographer Steven Sebring, fans can see the scratches, dings, and worn threads on the guitars as if they were themselves holding the instruments.
Fans will be able to examine Harrison’s private guitar collection, through personal audio recordings from Harrison himself as he introduces many of the guitars and plays sections of songs.
The Guitar Collection: George Harrison iPad app will be released through iTunes on February 23, two days before Harrison’s birthdate.
Johnny Stanec “Narrow Is This Ghost Town”
Former frontman for First In Space, Stanec’s solo debut has a variety of styles on display from guitar pop to alt. country. The echoing jangle of “Goodnight My Love” opens the album a little like a U2 anthem. “Let Me Know The Enemy” is a much better song with a strong vocal performance and memorable guitar-led chorus.The next few songs start to drag a bit, although “I’m Not Young Anymore” is moving mid-tempo ballad that reeks of bitterness. Thankfully there are a few gems here as “Sunny Days Are Nothing New” and “Going Tonight” – both are terrific singles. The album finishes strong enough, but it’s a little uneven in spots. However, this is a great showcase for Johnny’s vocal moods and songwriting.
Dirtywings “Off The Earth”
Australian band anchored by Bec Wolfers falls somewhere between Liz Phair and Christina Aguilera. “Gingerbread” and “Superglue Myself” are comfortable slices of ear candy and Paul Patterson (lead guitar) knows his way around a riff or two. Lyrically they pull no punches and go from morbid musings (“When My Body Dies”) to weird love songs (“I’m Your Jesus”). Unfortunately it’s tough to sustain interest pass the album’s second half, although the best written song here “Big Brother’s Watching” really taps into the problem of today’s mindless PC censorship. I would hope the band grows stylistically and keeps their warped POV intact on the next album.
