Category: Album Preview

Video Singles: Eli Musser, The Turnback, The Laissez Fairs, Orouni

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So many albums of great music… so little time. These are a few advance singles to upcoming albums. Really excited to hear some of these, and I hope you look out for these artists!


Eli Musser “Smile (‘Cause Somebody Loves You)” – Eli is a West Virginian, now living in New York. This soulful track is one of the best singles I’ve heard in a while.

The Turnback “You Kill Me” – The Turnback return with this neat animated video and a “killer” single. The band plays to its melodic strengths and we are all the richer for it.

The Laissez Fairs “Lillie May” This band has the retro sound down perfectly. “Count” Peter Zaremba (The Fleshtones) listened and called it “Pretty psychedelicotic!” I agree!

Orouni “The Lives Of Elevators” The song is inspired by a New Yorker article, that tells the story of an employee stuck for 41 hours in an elevator of the Rockefeller Center. Very interesting.

Weekend Freebies and Kai Danzberg’s “Euphoria” is coming!

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Cleveland, Ohio band You’re Among Friends has a good sampler here. “Name-your-price” download.

Ballard is always a mixed bag, but I dig the Kinks-like “Tracksuit Man.”

Support Dana and Carl’s Rock and Roll Radio with this Kinks tribute album

Kai Danzberg’s “Euphoria” is coming! But he needs your help.

One of the best young power-pop artist to emerge in the past five years has been Germany’s Kai Danzberg. I’ve really enjoyed his last albums Not Only Sunshine and Pop Up Radio. The new Euphoria is a 7-track-EP full of brand new songs. This CD will be limited to only 200 copies click on the link below to reserve your copy!

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Deluxe Editions and Kickstarter News update!

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One of our recommended go-to power pop artists is Chris Richards & The Subtractions. In addition to this year’s Peaks & Valleys – the band has added new and updated deluxe editions of three earlier LPs. Loaded with demos and alternate takes, check it out:




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Paul Melancon, a critical-darling indie-pop rocker from Atlanta, GA is debuting “Hyperventilate” along with a very Scooby-Doo/Archies like animated video from his forthcoming album. Melancon’s first new music in 13 years tells the story of his struggle with depression.

“Anyone can relate to this feeling of being completely trapped by ongoing discouragement. When under the thumb of depression, my discouragement verged on hopelessness that I couldn’t shake, but couldn’t give into,” Melancon said. “In Hyperventilate, I try to capture that dual sense of both feeling like I’ll have to give up and needing not to give up no matter what.”

Order the album through Kickstarter and help spread the word!

Jeff Whalen (Tsar) Pledge Campaign

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The L.A. power pop group Tsar signed a deal with Hollywood Records and delivered their self-titled debut album in mid-2000. While the album earned critical praise and the band toured with Duran Duran, it was criminally overlooked by the public. Citing their primary influences as Guns ‘N Roses and the Monkees, Tsar’s music is a hybrid of post-grunge alternative, power pop, and glam rock. The group never got the label promotion it needed and split up in 2005.

But all is not lost, as Jeff Whalen (frontman and primary songwriter of Tsar) is back with his first solo album ever. “10 More Rock Super Hits” has everything you liked about Tsar and more. And its all brilliantly produced by power pop maestro Linus Of Hollywood (Nerf Herder, Bowling For Soup). Check out the Pledge Campaign!

Dana Countryman and more

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Dana Countryman

Dana Countryman “The Joy Of Pop”

Dana Countryman is a treasured talent that has devotes himself to the lost art of 70’s styled AM pop, his songwriting and compositions are a perfect amalgam of Richard Carpenter and Neil Sedaka on his latest Joy of Pop. The opener “Perfect Sunny Day” is a excellent example of Beach Boys styled sunshine pop, full of bubblegum and rainbows. “No Other Guy” is a great follow up, a sugary mid-tempo love song with great rhythms and criss-crossing harmonies. Dana gets help from Dee Long (Klaatu), Matt Tyson, Chad Quist, Mike Marinig and his wife, Tricia Countryman.

Most of the songs are romantic yearnings, like the near-obsessive “Can’t Stop Thinking ‘Bout You” and “Oh, Roxanne” about crushing shyness. Dana goes doo-wop “With All My Heart” and “Hang On Little Girl,” so you’ll hear some Four Seasons influences too. A harmony duet with Tyson “Tell Me That You Love Me” is a very Everly styled gem. Unfortunately, with 14 tracks Dana loses steam towards the album’s end as the songs get more saccharine, and overly sentimental. Like gorging on cotton candy, you can only take so much. However, a majority of the music is pure magic. Get it!

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Video Album Previews

Canadian music icon and former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page will be touring again, here is the video from his recent solo LP “Surprise, Surprise”
They Might Be Giants are back with “I Like Fun” and they sound better than ever. Album drops on January 19, 2018.