The great P. Hux has a new album he’s finishing up, mixing, mastering, and other details. You only have a few days left to contribute to one of the best power pop artists around. Visit the Kickstarter site. Old Town Cryer has a bluesy live performance last year at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood, MA and half the proceeds go to The Pine Street Inn, a charitable organization whose mission is to end homelessness. From Marseille, France comes Flathead, an energetic power pop band that advertises “No Synths… Only Guitars.” Another great power pop veteran, Andy Bopp is back with an EP of sweet tunes; “Roger” and “Poison Girl” which is like a mix of Bowie meets Robert Pollard. Love this! The Photocopies have a neat new release that hums along, check out the fuzzy pop “Holiday Romance” and “Like Teenage Love.” Finally, The Pozers video for “Two” comes from Crybaby Bridge. It’s my favorite song from the album. Enjoy!
Tag: Andy Bopp
December Videos and Singles: The Kut, The Shang Hi Los, Rob Clarke, Green Seagull, Richard Öhrn, Andy Bopp, Hidden Pictures
The FIFA World Cup is a “thing” now that the USA beat Iran, but to me what kicks ass is The Kut with a badass guitar riff and a theme “Fun When You’re Winning.” When it comes to winning, it “Takes One To Know One” courtesy of The Shang Hi Los. It’s melodic hard rock at its finest. Then we calm down for Rob Clarke with “Tik Tok” which doesn’t appear to be about that social media app.
London-based Green Seagull is a retro-pop outfit, and “They’re Coming For You Barbara” is a wonderful Kinksian gem. Sweden’s Richard Öhrn gives us a jangling “Take This Bottle” from his debut album Sounds in English. Andy Bopp has a new single too, and “King of the Day” is on a new compilation of his music remixed by Nick Bertling. Finally, Richard Gintowt (aka Hidden Pictures) releases the fuzzy guitar pop of “Randi.” Sweet!
Andy Bopp and Styx
Andy Bopp “AB”
Andy Bopp is a power-pop legend and guitarist from Baltimore Maryland. From Bastards of Melody to Myracle Brah, for over 25 years Bopp has carried the melodic rock flag and never waivered. On AB, he delivers a great variety of rock and power pop styles, as he falls neatly into a musical space somewhere between Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) and Chris Stamey (the Db’s.)
Starting with “Ashes” it’s a definitive cry for immortality and “not letting go” unless he knows he’s been heard, with layered percussive rhythms over his guitar riffs. The echoing jangle of “I Am A Jetfighter” is another anthemic tune that rings true. Most of these tunes are accessible, short, and immediate; boiled down to a pure hook that begs to be repeated, like the 2-minute “Arlo and Joan.” It’s tough to keep calling out favorites because everything here works, like the fantastic “Abbie Karey,” which sounds like a lost Pete Ham (Badfinger) mid-tempo ballad. The second half rocks harder, “Bending All The Jets,” “EM543” and “Blood 66” are quick garage jams that soften you up for more methodical GBV-styled rockers like “Bicycle Parts” and “Think About You.” Overall not a weak track in the bunch and makes my top ten LP list for 2021. Highly Recommended!
Bandcamp only
Styx “Crash of The Crown”
Let’s get this out of the way first, I know Styx is not power-pop, but they are a band that has earnestly been moving to update their prog art-rock sound for the past five years without losing their uniqueness. The Tommy Shaw/JY-fronted Styx is still dedicated to that sound but has managed to change things since 2017’s The Mission. Very few legacy rock bands have managed to do this successfully — but Styx has cracked that code. While old-time fans of Styx may balk at this effort, it adds several new musical influences to keep things fresh.
Starting with “The Fight of Our Lives” it establishes the classic Styx prog sound, with soaring guitar and harmonies all in under 2 minutes. “A Monster” continues the momentum, and “Reveries” has Lawrence Gowan’s vocal carry things, along with a wicked guitar break. The title track is where we shift into a new sound, as all three vocalists contribute here, and I hear echoes of Queen(!) mixed in. “Long Live The King” is another gem with this new sound. “Our Wonderful Lives” moves us slowly back into Styx land reminding me of “Sing For The Day” mixed with “Penny Lane.” Tommy Shaw and company do enough to establish their virtuosity, but the hooks are missing on some of these songs (“Sound The Alarm” and “Coming Out The Otherside.”) That said, this is a good direction for the band to go in, and fans will find plenty to enjoy here. Check it out.
Super Singles, EPs and Freebies: The Morning Line, Mo Troper, Voltz, Eddie Mooney & The Grave, BPMCollective, Andy Bopp, Michael Carpenter, Sofa City Sweetheart, Vista Blue, Reno Bo
Glad to bring you some new songs, as we close out July. First is a neat freebie, The Morning Line‘s collection of outtakes. The opener “Straight Lines” is a solid single, and the rest aren’t shabby either. Mo Troper‘s freebie is the grinding grungey single “Ballad of Big Nothing” in the best Posies tradition, with a bit too much texture. Voltz from Sheffield, UK gives us a bit o’ glam mixed with pop on “Glitterbomb.” German band Eddie Mooney & The Grave has an 80s-styled pop gem with the catchy “Telephones.” I was also impressed with this debut EP from Seattle’s BPM Collective; “Adelaide” hooked me right away, and “Mr. Congeniality” has fantastic chord changes. I so much missed the music of Andy Bopp, and his single “Camera” is worth the wait. The first song I ever heard from Michael Carpenter gets a remix treatment, and Sofa City Sweetheart does a sweet Brian Wilson cover. Vista Blue‘s Ramones-styled pop returns with an Olympic-themed freebie and Reno Bo rocks both “Count Your Karma,” and a Todd Rundgren cover. Quiet a nice mixtape we have here.
Andy Bopp and The James Rocket
Andy Bopp “Blisters and Thorns”
Veteran alt. rocker Andy Bopp (Myracle Brah) showcases his formidable songwriting skills here with the mid-tempo gems “Cannibal” and “Lowe.” The music retains Bopp’s signature ‘90s style and each one is perfectly pleasing. A few gems standout; the earnest “Hello” has a wonderful melody with nice twangy guitar and “Every Word” has a well textured arrangement. Those wonderful harmonies come out under the chorus of “Barely Hanging On,” so plenty stylistic variety through 15 tracks.
The country elements stand out here, from the banjo on “Simple Thing” to the steel lap guitar present on several songs, notably “Broken Highway.” The Rickenbacker guitar leads other gems like “Broken Ties” and “Grey Matter.” Overall, a solid collection of tunes that stands up to repeat listens and deserves more attention. Highly Recommended.
The James Rocket “Thrust”
Brooklyn rockers James William Roy (songwriting, vocals, guitars, bass) and Markleford Friedman (drums, production) give the James Rocket its fuel. The sound is like Guided By Voices mixed with The Replacements. “Musicbox” and “Clothers Make The Man” have melodic energy and a touch of punk that makes it compelling. The punk elements are upfront on “Money Rope” and brisk tempo of “The Things I Saw.”
The James Rocket does mix it up stylistically with simple bass-driven “Call to Hearts” and catchy “Melt Away.” You also hear the influence of The Who (a major GBV influencer) throughout the album. A nice character study “The Bartender’s Boyfriend” ends things. No duds here, and definitely worth a listen.