The Beach Boys, together with estranged sonic genius Brian Wilson for the first time in decades, have the brand-new reunion single “That’s Why God Made The Radio.” You can close your eyes and go back in time… “Tuning in the latest star/From the dashboard of my car/Cruising at seven/Push-button heaven” The song proves without a doubt…
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Airport and The Dead Girls
Airport “Go Up” Released last year, but an overlooked treasure for sure. The band draws from the big hook filled melodies of old school 70′s AM radio classics like Cheap Trick, Blue and Pilot. Lead by Craig Small, the jangly guitar starts us off with the Eagles-influenced title track, but then on “The Plan” you…
Budokan and Beyond Veronica
Budokan “Spin A Little Gold” This Canadian band from Victoria, B.C. has the loud fiery energy that is sure to make it a rookie-of-the-year as far as I’m concerned. Yes, the name and sound are indebted to Cheap Trick (as in Live From Budokan) and those strong, layered guitars ring true on the openers “The Queen’s English” and…
Kids Power Pop: Rockford’s Rock Opera
Rockford’s Rock Opera This is a special post for parents of young children. How do you avoid your child being exposed to rotten commercialized pop found on 95% of kids TV programming today? As far as I’m concerned if I hear a certain Purple Dinosaur singing I’d rather shoot myself. Well its pretty easy, you…
Kishi Bashi and Fallon Cush
Kishi Bashi “151a” Out of the tons of bands coming to SXSW this past year, Kishi Bashi made the best impression on me. Bashi is a touring violinist for Of Montreal and Regina Spektor, and on his solo album he manages to spin both lush texture and joy in his orchestral arrangements. The swirling violins…
New dB’s album coming soon!
Wow! Power Pop legends the dB’s will be releasing their first full length album in 25 years. It’s also the first in three decades to feature the band’s original lineup of singer/songwriter/guitarists Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey, bassist Gene Holder and drummer Will Rigby, the same lineup that recorded the beloved early-’80s classics Stands for…
Bos Taurus “In The Sun”
I was happy to introduce Bos Taurus a few years ago, finally after a long wait we get Steve Chesser’s follow-up, In The Sun. The sound and atmosphere has completely changed from the debut, and the songwriting reflects a much lighter pop sound, with REM styled jangle and Belle & Sebastian like intimacy. “I’m Fine”…
The Critters “Timepieces”
Old bands don’t always die, sometimes they come back. Originally similar to The Lovin’ Spoonfuls, they scored a big hit in 1966 with “Mr. Dieingly Sad.” Known for soft vocal harmonies I wondered what the band would sound like 45 years later, lead by surviving original member Don Ciccone. Much like The Four Seasons after its prime,…
The Power Popaholic interviews: Meital Dohan and Little Barrie
It’s been quite a while since I put up an interview, but here are two that I finished last month and finally got around to editing. The UK’s Little Barrie have gotten rave reviews for their latest “King Of The Waves,” which I reviewed back in February. Lead guitarist Barrie Cadogan couldn’t have been any…
The Lemon Clocks “Now Is The Time”
The Lemon Clocks, a “power pop all-star” lineup comprising Jeremy Morris, Todd Borsch (The Ringles/The Gilligans), and Stefan Johansson (The Proper Electronic Company), divide this album up between jangle and psychedelic prog rock. So retro you will swear this is a long lost 60′s classic. The Rickenbacker riffs jump forward on the punchy “Garden Of…