The popcasts are going strong, thanks James Deem! The next “Live” Charlotte Pop Fest Popcast will take place TONIGHT Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at 10:00 PM Eastern. There will be a SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT and FREE DOWNLOADS given away. Both Glen Burtnik and Bleu are now booked to appear.
Charlotte Pop Fest
Phil Barry brings his haunted collection of moody folk songs to his debut Between The Carolinas. The gentle strum of a 1977 Guild acoustic guitar is the primary instrument here. Opening with “Crying Shame” it brings to mind the somber ballads John Lennon was known for. Following this, the catchy jangle and echoing beats of “The Spaces” is a memorable single that will appeal to fans of David Mead, Adam Merrin, and Elliot Smith for sure. The title track “Between the Carolinas” is perfect music for those long car trips on I-95, with a steady rythym and multi-layered guitar and vocal tracks. Another gem here is “Never Gonna Be Your Man” with it’s smart verses and smart slide guitar riffs, similar to Wilco here. The track “Dark Star” lumbers along, like a weight on Barry’s shoulders. The darkness of love lost permeates the music deeply and is definitely worth a listen on your ipod after a long night of heartache.
I get lots of music and some of it doesn’t fall into the power pop genre, but may be worth a listen or two — especially if it has at least one good ipod worthy track. Here are a few artists that passed my desk this month, some come with FREE downloads – so gobble it up while it lasts.
Tereu Tereu “All That Keeps Us Together”
Dinosaur Feathers “Early Morning Risers” EP
Really out-there spaced pop, these Brooklyn boys Greg Sullo and Derek Zimmerman use synths, guitars, noise and sometimes slip in a melody or two. Fans of Animal Collective and Paul Simon may find the weird sonic textures refreshing. And hey… did I mention it’s a FREE download from the band’s site?
MySpace | Dinosaur Feathers Site – FREE DOWNLOAD
Oh My God “The Night Undoes The Work Of The Day”
Hockey “Mind Chaos”
Boh Runga “Right Here”
Golden Bloom is multi-instrumentalist and frontman, Shawn Fogel, who brings his bright energetic melodies to us with Fan The Flames. The album begins with the keyboard heavy pop song “E.H.M.” and Fogel wants the listener to soak it all in. The follow up “Doomsday Devices” is a sure fire hit single about using your last resort in a situation. Then the gorgeous strumming and descending chorus “Fan The Flames” will be appreciated by many Wilco fans for sure. The album explores Fogel’s frustrated optimism, or maybe optimistic frustration. The ballads here are strong as well, “She Leaves Me Poetry” and “The Fight At The End Of The Tunnel” have a bit of George Harrison-like melancholy and heartache. “Dead Petals” has a good catchy hook, and a cheerful rant against those ignorant to our planet’s peril. Fogel played all the instruments on Fan the Flames — piano, bass guitar, tenor sax, keyboards, harmonica, and drums — with his usual precision and passion. “Theme For An Adventure At Sea” is another well written and thought provoking song. Even the short political rant “Untitled” is fun. Enjoy this adventure in thinking man’s power pop.
My Space | Saki Store | Golden Bloom.net
Listen to “E.H.M.”
Roxy Monoxide is a five-piece rock/power-pop band that draws influences from Pretenders, Cheap Trick, and the Plimsouls. Lead singer Coree Levy has a strong vocal, along the lines of Cyndi Lauper or Grace Slick. Starting with the very Cars-like rhythm of “Insecurity” it sets the stage. The early 80’s rock style here suits the band just fine, and the melody has a good hook to it. The riff heavy “Just Cry” resembles a Heart tune and is one of the best showcases for the bands instrumental acumen. Lead guitarist Scott Samuels can play a mean axe, but his vocals didn’t float my boat here. The band lacks some consistency in spots and should work on balancing Levys vocals with the guitar parts. “Easier Said Than Done” is a soft mid-tempo pop song with Levy cruising through the jangling chorus. Songs like “Scrape Me Off The Floor” work well, despite the very disparate vocal ranges of the band members. “Waiting Around” proves the songwriting talent is evident here too, painting a vivid story in the lyric. Fans of Bazooka Jones, Joan Jett and Suzi Quatro will appreciate the good female power pop vocals here, although the band’s persona is pretty tame. If you like the above mentioned bands it’s worth a listen for sure.
