Tag: Watts

Radio Days, Watts and David Myhr

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Radio Days

Radio Days “Rave On!”

Italian power pop band Radio Rays returns with a new LP, and like comfort food, it warms the soul with a catchy sound that combines the energy of The Beatles, The Knack, and Paul Collins Beat wrapped into three-minute jangling gems. “I Got Love” is a classic power-pop single with a signature riff repeating throughout. The party continues with “Lose Control” and its dense guitar attack similar to The Ramones. Even better is the catchy “Walk Alone” which layers its guitar line perfectly, and builds into a harmonic chorus. It’s likely the best tune here, but there’s plenty more to enjoy.

The angular guitars on “Til The End Of The Night” boasts a gentle quiet verse, followed by a loud chorus about love. “What is Life?” is a fun tune full of guest stars ( Paul Collins, Kurt Baker, The Yum Yums, and The Psychotic Youth). Nearly every track hits the mark, and it sets itself up as a contender for top power pop LP for 2021. Highly recommended, of course.

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Watts

Watts “Shady Rock and Rollers”

Boston’s local guitar heroes Watts are back with an album that turns it up to “11”. The first track says it all “Loud & Fast,” as lead vocalist Dan Kopko’s grizzled shout describe “that’s how I want my rock and roll!” In the early days of Watts history, the band’s template was The Rolling Stones, and they still have an R&B core sound on a few tunes, like “The Night The Lights Went Down.” But when I heard “Queens,” it was definitely a call out to the band KISS, even the lyric mentions “queens of the nighttime world.” Additional influences like Guns N’ Roses and Cheap Trick are heard as well.

Lots of highlights here, including “Heavy Metal Kids,”  “Seventeen,” and “All Done With Rock and Roll.” The music doesn’t falter and is consistently great. There are more than enough gems here to make this a highly recommended pick.

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David Myhr

David Myhr “And Now This” EP

David Myhr is a treasured power-pop artist from Sweden, whose band The Merrymakers was one of the best examples of the genre in the late 90s. David has continued to produce high-quality music over the years, and this EP is no exception. The opener “We Wanted To Shine” is a look back to his time in the band and its too short career. The soothing “You Spin My World Around” is a classic mid-tempo love song with bells and harmonies, and my favorite is the electric sitar gem “Egyptian Blue.” With only 4 songs, it’s a short and sweet EP. It only makes me want more Myhr music, and it’s also a top EP for 2021.

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Singles and FREEBIES: The Hendersons, Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo, Watts, Kai Danzberg, The Dahlmanns, Tommy And The Rockets

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Here’s a band from Fort Worth, Texas called The Hendersons and they’ve got this neat little gem “Grandson,” we all know someone like this at work. Lots of beautiful textures here, from Queen-like riffs to psyche-pop harmonies.

Holy crap, this is freaking amazing. Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo combine to create this true epic 7-minute pop opera. It’s a psychedelic Beatles pop / Pink Floydian progressive rock amalgam. Try not to drool and get this now!

I was just asking what happened to one of my favorite bands on Rum Bar Records, Watts. It’s so nice to hear this single “Seventeen” a rocking gem with such guitar mastery. A FREEBIE that rocks the house.

Kai Danzberg realized he needs to “Stay Home” and play this Covid-19 theme. It’s a FREEBIE. Looking for a little more hope? Listen to “Don’t Give Up The Ghost” and if you want a little more pop bounce, check out “Waiting For You.” Wonderful pop as per usual from Mr. Danzberg.



Another familiar pair of power pop bands are back! Tommy And The Rockets give us the irresistible “You Don’t Know What You Got” and then The Dahlmanns “Party Girl” is a throwback to early 60’s Girl Groups.

Linus of Hollywood and Watts

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Linus Of Hollywood

Linus Of Hollywood “Cabin Life”

Like a fine wine, Linus Dotson seems to just get better with age. The California singing/songwriter/producer is back with more irresistible songs guaranteed to live on your playlist for the rest of the year. The title track starts out with a light melody that grows with a sing-along chorus, a whistle about “goin’ to the woods” and off the grid. Next “At All” is a Squeeze-like melodic rant against an ex who cheated and lied, and then got back in touch online.

“Wasted and in Love” is another gem with “yeah, yeah, yeah” in the chorus and a bassline that leads everything else along. The simple acoustic guitar continues the narrative after “the liquor is done,” on mid-tempo “I Can’t Sleep.” The slow bossa nova beat of “Summer On Your Shoulders” stands with one of Linus’ best sun-soaked melodies. Each song is carefully constructed to lift the spirit, even the slow ballad “Snow Day” rises with its choral backing and majestic chords. It’s also notable that there isn’t an obvious single either. Without a false note or any filler, what else can I say about this album? It plays so well, the minutes fly by and then you need to put it on repeat. It clearly ends up on my top ten for 2018 list, and super duper highly recommended.

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Watts

Watts “We’re All Done With Rock and Roll” EP

Yeah, right. Like when Pete Townshend declared “Rock is dead,” we didn’t believe him then either. Watts continues to churn out riff-tastic rock and roll, and this opener is a FREE download from the band. Next, “Hi Definition” features the chorus “You wanna get me high” that climbs after each repeat.

But the best song here is the catchy “Sunlight Alleys” with a Raspberries like guitar melody, John Blout’s raspy vocals, and some hand claps. The closer “Tear It Up” lives up to its name, with an AC/DC like rhythm guitar attack. It’s always great to hear Watts, and this is another “must get” addition to our collection. Oh, you bet it’s recommended.

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Watts and Brain Circus

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Watts

Watts “The Black Heart of Rock-N-Roll”

Watts is back again with The Black Heart of Rock-N-Roll, as lead vocalist John Blout and the band starts to resemble AC/DC on the title track. “She’s So Electric” is closer to Watt’s Stones-like origins, and its got a fantastic beat with a wicked guitar solo mid-way through. The riff attack that is “Strut (Like A Champ)” is a high powered and leads into a heavy rock chorus, very much a highlight. Then “Stage Fright” has a minor key change that has a late ’70s rocker feel, think Thin Lizzy with more layered guitar arpeggios.

The band seems even more comfortable and less rigid than their last LP, as both “Fast & Loose” and “The B Side” are both tight compositions with a relaxed easy going feel, and the latter is likely the best Watts song I’ve heard to date. Watts has definitely taken the next leap forward to greatness here, This is music meant to be cranked up to “11.” Super Highly Recommended.

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Brain Circus

Brain Circus “Brain Circus”

Virginian singer-songwriter Brian Curtis (The Oohs) delivers a wonderful solo album, and Brain Circus is a bit like The Turtles albums of the late sixties, these songs are carefully crafted pop symphonies. You’ll hear the familiar influences of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, Beach Boys and Jellyfish. “Forget All About It” is pure ear candy, with a sophisticated structure and awesome chord shifts. The jangling melody on “If You Only Knew” is a bit like Klaatu with sweet woodwinds and layered harmonies throughout.

Like Dana Countryman, Brian has mastered glossy studio technique and sophisticated pop composition, as evidenced by “Try To Ignore Me” and the Wilsonesque “Keep My Hands To Yourself.” Even the jazzy “The Man Who Saw Tomorrow” has charms here. There is so much to absorb, and occasionally too much melodrama (“I Accept The Blame”) but when it hits the emotional mark (“Finally Found The One”) it’s a beautiful thing. Highly Recommended and it makes my top ten list.

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Yorktown Lads and Watts

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Songs About Girls and Other Disasters

Yorktown Lads “Songs About Girls and Other Disasters”

The buzz for this release was so long in coming, that many added it to their 2014 best-of list. It started as a Kickstarter campaign, endorsed by author & drummer John Borack, it was quickly funded and finally released to the public this year.

Yorktown Lads are Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts grads Cameron Lew, Addison Love, and their teacher Michael Simmons (SparkleJets*u.k.). They start off with a note perfect Beatles-Beach Boys hybrid “Something To Write About,” that will knock your socks off. The album doesn’t stay retro but it stays melodic; “Before You Leave” is a laid back Belle and Sebastian styled pop that sticks in your head nicely. “La La” is the textbook template of a great power pop song; an upbeat and catchy melody about giving up on love until you meet that perfect girl. This is one example amongst many. The styles vary from the sullen pep talk “Dear Ethan” to louder Cheap Trick riffs of “He Got It Down” and “Cool Shoes, Bro.”

While not everything here works (“Make Her Smile” is eerily like The Spin Doctors,) most of this album hits the mark and earns its 2015 “best of ” nomination. Don’t miss it!

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Watts

Watts “Flash of White Light”

When we last heard Watts, it was an impressive collection Stones-y rockers similar to The Doughboys or The Satisfactors.  Glad to hear things haven’t changed much, its still straight-up rock n’ roll full of hot licks and high-powered riffs, with more of a modern nod to bands like Aerosmith and AC/DC. While the opening title track is traditional, “The Mess is The Makeup” has a heavier rock vibe. “Sidewinder” has a touch of Allman Brothers or Bob Segar in its DNA with some awesome guitar work here.

The tendency of heavy rock is to get ponderous, but Watts avoids this with catchy riffs like on “Wasted Angels” and also smartly trying different lead vocalists for many of the songs. Between John Blout, Dan Kopko, and drummer Johnny “Rock” Lynch you never fall into predictability. More highlights include “Better (For A Girl Like You)” and the very Guns ‘N Roses inspired “Flying Over With Bombs.” Check’em out now!

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