Category: Top Ten of 2014 Candidate

The Satisfactors and Russell & The Wolf Choir

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Late Cambrian

The Satisfactors “The Satisfactors”

A good old fashioned super group consisting of the best rock and roll veterans from New Jersey: Gar Francis (Mark Lindsday, The Doughboys), Kurt Reil (The Grip Weeds), Bruce Ferguson (The Easy Outs) and Kenny Aaronson (Billy Idol, Bob Dylan, Edgar Winter and Brian Setzer). These guys know hooks and riffs better than anyone and they do not disappoint here.

These pros rock the doors off starting with “She Got Charm,” and the fast-paced energy doesn’t let up for a second. “I Love Girls” is another guitar rocker that struts around without a whiff of subtlety, reminding me of Motley Crew or Kiss. Each song follows that path and its plenty of fun, “You’re So Crazy” is designed for couch jumping air-guitar performances! Plenty of highlights, not a weak track anywhere – even “Johnny Commando” uses The Ramones “hey-ho” chorus! The entire LP can be summed up with the lyrics of “Gimme My Rock and Roll,” as Bruce punctuates it – “Nuff Said!” The Satisfactors provide the perfect soundtrack for highway drive or a festive party. If I caught this LP earlier it would’ve easily hit my top ten list, fans of younger artists like Kurt Baker or The Connection shouldn’t miss it either.
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CD Baby | Amazon

Russell and The Wolf Choir

Russell and The Wolf Choir “The Ivy Leaf Agreement” EP

Russell and the Wolf Choir is a band that combines country and indie pop. The songs are mostly about change after a loss, “I think I Need An Editor” boasts a unique percussive approach. “Closure” uses the steel pedal guitar for that country effect on this mellow song about the end of a relationship.

The highlight here comes on the storybook lyrics of “The Evening Wore On Part 1” about accepting the friendship of a former crush. The thumping beat of “This Fall I Think That You’re Riding For” is another great example of songwriting. What’s missing are some hooks to encourage repeat listens, but there is enough here to demand your attention. Fans of Death Cab for Cutie or Wilco may want to pick this one up.
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Amazon

David Bash’s Top Ten Power Pop Albums and more

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DavidBashAs you might know, International Pop Overthrow CEO and Founder David Bash has an extensive list of the years best power pop music in several categories. I will only showcase his “top ten” on this post, but you can read the entire list of his Top 125 albums here.

He also gets into the Top EPs, Top Live albums,  Top Compilations, Tributes, Re-issues, etc.  so definitely check out that list. I found many on my year end list also part of his. Here is David’s top ten:

  1. Spirit Kid-Is Happening (EZ Beats)
  2. Linus Of Hollywood-Something Good (Magic Beach)
  3. The See See-Once, Forever and Again (Dell’Orso)
  4. The Paul & John-Inner Sunset (Mystery Lawn)
  5. Mothboxer-Sand and The Rain  (Self-Released)
  6. The Bobbleheads-Make Yourself Happy (Poppop)
  7. The Wicked Whispers-Maps Of The Mystic (Electone)
  8. Temples-Sun Structures (Fat Possum)
  9. The Dowling Poole-Bleak Strategies  (Sugarbush)
  10. The Jigsaw Seen-Old Man Reverb (Vibro-Phonic)
    (continue to the rest of the list…)

The Power Popaholic Top 20 albums of 2014

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This year was a very good one, and like all these lists I see on the web the order is arbitrary. I included my top 50 albums this year, including a top 10 EPs list. I listened to many on the list again, some had initial lower ratings (“8”) that got better after repeat listens and others with higher ratings (“9”) lost its luster when compared to the others. A very small group (i.e. The Sugar Stems) did not even get an official review, but were so good they made the list. And I will spend some of January reviewing a few I missed. Take what you like from here and discover some new music!

TOP ALBUMS

      1. Linus of Hollywood – Something Good
      2. Phonograph (UK) – Phonograph Vol.1
      3. The Dowling Poole – Bleak Strategies
      4. Sloan – Commonwealth
      5. The Legal Matters – The Legal Matters
      6. Edward O’Connell – Vanishing Act
      7. Spirit Kid – Is Happening
      8. The Secret Powers – 6 (six)
      9. The Jellybricks – Youngstown Tune-Up
      10. Jeremy Messersmith – Heart Murmurs
      11. Aerial – Why Don’t They Teach Heartbreak At School?
      12. The Sugar Stems – Only Come out at Night
      13. Sunday Sun – We Let Go
      14. The Hazey Janes – Language of Faint Theory
      15. Rob Bonfiglio – Freeway
      16. The Paul and John – Inner Sunset
      17. The Successful Failures – Captains of Industry, Captains of War
      18. The Autumn Defense – Fifth
      19. The Bobbleheads – Make Yourself Happy
      20. Fauna Flora – Fauna Flora
      21. Marshall Holland – And the Etceteras
      22. Joe Sullivan – Schlock Star
      23. Graham Alexander – Repeat Deceiver
      24. Adrian Bourgeois – Pop/Art
      25. The Above – Waterbury Street
      26. Burning Ferns – See Saw Seen
      27. The CRY – Dangerous Game
      28. The New Pornographers – Brill Bruisers
      29. Ransom and Subset – No Time to Lose
      30. The Well Wishers – A Shattering Sky
      31. The Mike Benign Compulsion – Here’s How It Works
      32. The Tripwires – Get Young
      33. Rob Fetters – Saint Ain’t
      34. Weezer – Everything Will Be Alright in The End
      35. The Alarms – Real Tough Love
      36. Tyson Leslie – Train Wrecks, Havoc & Heartbreak
      37. Mothboxer – Sand and the Rain
      38. Rob Cantor – Not a Trampoline
      39. Doug Gillard – Parade On
      40. Rick Hromdaka – Trippin Dinosaurs
      41. The Maureens – The Maureens
      42. Bracket – Hold Your Applause
      43. OK GO – Hungry Ghosts
      44. The Cherry Drops – Everything’s Groovy
      45. The Magic Brothers – The Magic Line
      46. Latvian Radio – For Love & Spite
      47. The Ugly Beats – Brand New Day
      48. The Britannicas – High Tea
      49. Shake Some Action – Catch The Sun!
      50. The Rip Off Artists – The Intercontinental

TOP 10 EPS

    1. Cliff Hillis – Song Machine
    2. Evil Arrows – 1,2,3,4
    3. David Myhr – Record Collection
    4. OK GO – Upside Out (no longer sold – see Hungry Ghosts )
    5. The Crush – Future Blimps
    6. The Solicitors – Blank Check
    7. Myracle Brah – The Peach
    8. Smash Palace – Extended Play
    9. Greg Ieronimo – Bi-Polar Love
    10. The Feels – Dead Skin

Graham Alexander and Pete Donnelly

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The Intercontinental Rip Off Artists

Graham Alexander “Repeat Deceiver”

With his eclectic style, Graham Alexander is back with a new album and he’s leaning more on the “rock” side of the fence than the commercial “pop” side for Repeat Deceiver. His vocals have been compared to Sir Paul before, but now he’s ready to burst out with that lead riff in the catchy title track.

Graham’s enthusiasm and authenticity ooze out of each track, “Romeo Blue” also throws on rhythms and grooves that keeps your toes tapping to the melody. He also takes no shortcuts, that’s real strings on the ballad “Games” and he doesn’t stick to a set formula either. He could go all show tune-like on “Third Wheel” or country rock for “People Are Only Sorry When They’re Caught.” I like the hummable “Cartography,” and the aching love song “American Au Pair In Paris.” It’s a finely crafted album that just makes it into the running for my top LPs list this year.
power pop

Itunes | Victrola

The Intercontinental Rip Off Artists

Pete Donnelly “American Town” EP

Pete Donnelly has played with many great rockers(Tommy Stinson, Graham Parker) and bands(The Figgs, NRBQ) but the New Jersey songwriter also needs to express his personal feelings on his solo work. After last year’s excellent Face The Bird, Pete’s newest EP explores issues related to inequality and the American dream on American Town.

The music is more folk Americana than the usual pop based songs, starting out with the breezy “So Long,” featuring backup vocals from Shelby Lynne. Then comes “Making Changes Overnight” with its bouncy beat and hopeful message. The title track is a real standout, a Tommy Pettyesque chorus about those who’ve returned home from war and the horrible treatment they get. It’s a great protest song that overshadows the other lighter tracks, songs that match subtlety with style on “Pink Noise” and “Downhearted Crazy.”
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CD Baby | Amazon

Best Concert Albums of 2014

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The Nines

The Nines “Nine Lives”

An essential concert album this year, The Nines frontman Steve Eggers visits his discography and throws in a few extras. The recording is clear and gives an excellent representation of the live experience, right down to the shaky vocal warble that opens on “It Hurts You.” Steve has combined numerous live performances from around Toronto (most recorded at Poor Alex Theatre) and other areas into a cohesive concert experience.

Special guests include Mike Viola (Candy Butchers) playing guitar and Andy Reed (American Underdog) playing bass, both sing backing vocals on the song “Virginia.” In addition, seven tracks have never been released before, so you’ll get much more than a greatest hits compilation. As far as newer tracks “Falling Down” is an emotional and resonant highlight, tracking the aftermath of a bitter breakup. Eggers creatively mines territory similar to Billy Joel (“Average Joe”) and Ben Folds (“Gord’s Life,”) each time bringing us along his melodic journey. For those who want a taste of the excitement at a Nines concert, here you go. Get it at CD Baby

Lannie Flowers “Live in NYC”

CD Baby | Amazon

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The Sharp Things “Live At Galapagos Art Space “

Bandcamp | Amazon