Author: powerpopaholic

First In Space and Garfield’s Birthday

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First In Space

First In Space “In The Red”

Ohio based First In Space has streamlined their sound from those early days where they were akin to The Gin Blossoms mixed with a touch of Bon Jovi. The production is more intimate, less “arena-oriented” and more focused on a solid melody. “Letters From Hell” is an excellent opener, featuring the crisp harmonies of Johnny Stanec and Dolus McCormick. “Return To Sender” is just as strong, with a wicked guitar solo at the break. “Forward Progress” is proof of this band’s new maturity when they sing the lyric “Every bridge I ever burned became a lesson to be learned…”

The positive vibe flows from the band, and it makes for excellent listening. Additional highlights include “A Captive’s Point Of View,” and “Now Or Never.” Even the grand finale “The Prescription” doesn’t feel labored or forced, so pick this one up. Highly Recommended.
power pop

CD Baby | Amazon

Garfields Birthday

Garfields Birthday “You Are Here”

The Felton Brothers (Shane and Simon) return and are joined by Alan Strawbridge (Schnauser/The Lucky Bishops) as guest drummer. The lead track “Magic Bike,” has great bass line along its psyche-pop melody with a quick catchy beat. The duo’s very British harmonies are quiet good, a bit like classic Chad and Jeremy. “Fancy Dress” bounces along like a hippy B-side with its “ba-ba-ba” chorus, but the tempo slows to crawl on “I’m A Star Tonight” which drags on past 4 minutes.

But the Feltons have many tricks up their collective sleeve and the Kinks/Monkees vibe is all over “It’s Your Lucky Day” and the trippy “Lunar Eclipse” is a lot of fun too. “Radio” is a short gem about those radio program directors who play the “same old song on the same old show.” It closes out on two great tracks, the fast moving “Sunday Best” and the majestic “Water (Looks Like Rain)” the gentle chorus “Everything’s beautiful to me…” has a soulful guitar bridge running underneath it. If you dig those mellow ’60s grooves, 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…)

Free Music Monday: Tommy Lorente and Fallon Cush

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Tommy Lorente

Tommy Lorente “Amanita Sessions (Live)”

French power pop dynamo Tommy Lorente gives us live selections from his album A Cruel Lack of Tenderness (Un Cruel Manque de Tendresse). Recorded in November during a private concert at studio Amanita in Anglet with his band La Cavalerie. His signature tune “Katerine” is first, and even if you don’t understand French you’ll enjoy the bright melodies. Get it on Bandcamp for FREE!


Fallon Cush “Tell Me Once”

Australian musician Steven Smith has released several orphan tracks from his band Fallon Cush into this FREE EP for you all as a New Years gift. Many of these songs go back as far as 1999, but sound really fresh. “Tell Me Once” is a really cool single and the loose production shows how far the band has progressed from its early days. Enjoy it on Bandcamp for FREE!

The Blood Rush Hour and The Sunset District

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The Blood Rush Hour “And Then… The Unthinkable Happened”

I’d like to start off the new year with a great release, and The Blood Rush Hour has been happy to oblige.  “And Then…” isn’t a traditional album, but more like a power pop musical with a pile of great influences from Supertramp, XTC and especially 10cc. The theatrical opener “Hello (They’re Coming To Get You)” is a stunner with a choral verse halfway through. Production work is reminiscent of 10cc’s “Original Soundtrack” or Jackdaw4. “Hard To Put Right” blends seamlessly into the mix, you almost can’t tell when one song ends and the next one begins. No filler, although the songs are so dense they don’t hook you immediately and very few have repeating choruses. So take your time and hit repeat frequently.

Lots of highlights; “A Song That Some Sing” is a beautiful ballad by guest singer Christian Phillips (The Sonic Executive Sessions) and the tropical “Nicola” displays a keen melody with a sweet falsetto. “Dancing By Yourself” and “(The Day I Finally) Stopped The War” are closer to pop singles with immediate impact. The ending pair of “You Don’t Seem To Wonder Why” and “I See Something” use more synth and the compositions remind me of Trevor Rabin-era Yes (particularly on the latter song.) Songwriter/producer Robert DeStefano has got a special album here, and it isn’t unthinkable to add this into my top 20 list from last year. Highly Recommended.
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CD Baby | Amazon

Rob Fetters

The Sunset District “The Sunset District”

This Atlanta, GA veteran band lead by John McNicholas gives us a fun debut that I missed last year, while it starts out a bit stiff on the opening (“We Can Stow Away the Sound Underground“) the next track “Candy Says” is warm and full of indie personality. You’ll hear the influences from REM to Fountains of Wayne, with the narrative structures of the catchy “I Will Always Be Your Man” showcasing a fine bass guitar lead.

The band gets a bit more aggressive on the fuzzy “Oh, Angelina!” and while not alt-country, its got that southern laid back charm, like on the duet harmonies with Kim Ware on “A Girl Like You” and “All Hail This Town.” I can definitely say that this band has potential, so check it out.
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CD Baby | Amazon

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