Category: Power Pop Review

Ho Ho Holiday Samplers for FREE

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Suburban Sprawl Holiday Sampler
Hey! It’s totally the last month of 2012! Depending on whether or not the Mayan Apocalypse happens, this could be the last Suburban Sprawl Holiday comp! If it is, eleven years ain’t a bad run. Zach Curd has given us another treat to listen under the mistletoe. As always a huge variety of artists (most of which I never heard of) donate tracks here. A specific track here not to miss is Andy Dick and Willie Wisely singing “Happy B-Day J.C.” And if you missed samplers of years past, they are available too.

The JAC “I See Things Differently” Greatest Xmas Hits
Joe Algeri  (Jack & the Beanstalk, The Britannicas) is a songwriter/producer from Perth, Western Australia who is also know as The JAC. He’s got an off beat sense of humor and an instinct for great rock and roll. Listen to the highlights “Merry Christmas (round the world)” and the surf-syled “Psychotic Psummer.” Lots of great music here, its even better than his recent Faux Pas album. The bittersweet humor of “Santa All I Want (Is Cindy Brady) ” and “Computer Xmas” are also sure to impress. It also includes tracks from his other bands, The Britannicas and Green Beetles.

Get it FREE here!

Joe Giddings “Christmas Morning” Single
Joe has contributed to my Fest soundtrack, so in honor of that I am promoting his new Christmas single “Christmas Morning.” It’s only a dollar and worth every penny as Joe breaks out the sleigh bells and harmonies here.
Bandcamp only

Conceptus and I Am Next

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Conceptus “Trebly Feelings”
This is a refreshing jangly pop gem that marries the best of 80’s era college rock with 60’s melodic style perfectly. Fans of REM, Byrds, The Ocean Blue and Luna will really appreciate this San Deigo band. Starting with “Accidental Reverb” I thought I was reliving The La’s best moments, with perfect melodic clarity. “At The Sea” is a super catchy melody with a touch of Kinks influence.

No weak tracks here, although the lead guitarist’s considerable skill carries the lead singer across the finish line in places. Fantastic riff work on “Conceptus” and “Derrick’s Nightmare” are the stuff of legend and the lyrical playfulness of “Erica’s Trip” is akin to Ween or Pavement. I have to say after listening to “Flower Girl,” it will also win over hardcore fans of Greg Pope. One of this year’s best “hidden” power pop secrets are now exposed, so Jangle pop devotees must get this one.

I Am Next “How To Tell The Phonies From The Phakes”
This Boston-based alternative trio makes a good impression with its debut. “Shackled” is a buzz of distorted guitar melody and “Scene of One” gives us a mix of alternative hard rock and harmonies similar to The New Pornographers or Spoon with a touch of Husker Du.

The album stays on this pace for much of the time, and when the melodies stick like on “Black Hole” and “Hallucination Mania” it really works well. On the albums second half it veers toward Soundgarden-styled  rock, like on “Flashbulb” with its long guitar acrobatics. This is a band that plays on the edge between genres, and that can be uniquely appealing.

Jellyfish “Stack-a-tracks”

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Arguably the most influential power pop band of the 90’s was Jellyfish. While recording their two studio albums, (1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk), “instrumental” mixes of each record were created by Jellyfish and their producers. These “previously unheard” versions of Bellybutton and Spilt Milk were created in the studio, at the time of their original recording/mixing.

These are not “remixes” from the multi-tracks, they are authentic and transferred from the original 1/4″ masters. An individually numbered edition of 2,000, housed in a digipak for the limited first edition, with new illustrated artwork (created for the release), this 2-CD set is destined to become the newest gem in the collections of power-pop fans everywhere.

Amazon | Omnivore Recordings

Here is the band in live all its crowing glory, Andy Sturmer, Roger Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover.

International Pop Overthrow, Vol. 15

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After you’ve stuffed yourself full of turkey and cranberry sauce, it’s nice to know you can satisfy your musical hunger with IPO. Another year, another 67 tracks spread over 3 CDs from a variety of bands known and unknown, as selected by power pop guru David Bash.  As always, a great way to discover new sounds at a great price!

Disc 1: The immortal Shoes begins our journey with “Head vs. Heart,”  and it’s matched by the Byrdsian guitars on Fireking’s “So You Say You Lost Your Baby.” Old favorites are on hand like Lisa Mychols (“Taken,”)  Private Jets (“Speed Of Sound,”) and the recently reviewed Condors (“Queer Fascination.”) But what I look for are the rookies, like the playfully seductive “Crush On A Girl” by The Jooles, and the frantic punk-pop “Square Pegs” by The Issue and “Yesterday” by The Secrets.

Disc 2: King Washington‘s epic “The Gears” starts us off. The Afternoons “Wait Til You See Her” has a bit of Oasis’ echoing beat and the new track from The Sunchymes “Revelations In Her Mind” adds its light 60’s pop touch. My favorite track from the new Spygenius LP is here (“K is Menatlly ill”) and Nushu’s cover of The Cars “My Best Friend’s Girl” is a blast. A new Vegas with Randolph track here “Nikki’s Plan/Broadway” and Robin Stanley’s “Make Up Your Mind” are also highlights.

Disc 3: Strong tracks are all over this one. I really liked the harmony filled opener “Summer’s Green” by The Tor Guides, and “Never Stop Wooing You” by Sweet Diss and The Comebacks is a perfect follow up. “Get Her Off My Mind” from Throwback Suburbia thrills, and even Japan’s Mayflower is on here with “Cat’s Boro Blues!” The bluesy rock of The Pengwins (with Lannie Flowers) leads on “Naive” and The Pozers “My Maze” add a Beatles-ELO influenced gem. Overall, you’ll be coming back for repeat listens on this compilation… I guarantee it!

One disk 3 is Ashbury Keys “Wake Up” – This performance was filmed at IPO Liverpool 2012.

Giving thanks to bands like Big Star and fans like you.

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Big Star: Nothing Can Hurt Me is a feature-length documentary film about the dismal commercial failure, subsequent massive critical acclaim, and enduring legacy of pop music’s greatest cult phenomenon, Big Star. The film opened last week at the SVA theater in NYC. Probably the most important power pop band that ever existed. More info here.

ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK VOL.1 UPDATE

I am proud to say that our fundraiser for Hurricane Relief has been a success! The Power Popaholic Fest Original Soundtrack Vol.1 has raised $152.32 for The American Red Cross this month. At this point it we will be expanding distribution to CD Baby, Amazon and Itunes by this Monday. I would like to see if our sales can increase for the holiday season so we can make a second donation to The Red Cross for Christmas time.

I would like to thank all of you who donated to the Soundtrack, and a Happy Thanksgiving to power pop fans everywhere!