Category: EPs

New August singles and freebies: Kim McClay, John Larson, Dave Cope, Candybar, Moon Construction Kit, Colin Moulding

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Video Premiere: Back when I had a music festival, Jana Peri was dynamite. Kim McClay is built along the same lines of female empowerment and self-love, resilience, assurance and strength. Check out the tune “Velveteen Girls,” a reflection on being a woman in the music industry. McClay spent years cultivating her work in the live music scene of NYC, and she often blends indie, folk, and rock styles, so check out her new EP “Worth It.” 

Next, the first single is out for John Larson‘s upcoming LP. The song features David Uosikkinen (The Hooters) on drums and Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan) on bass. The ever-active Dave Cope has a new EP ready for you, this gentle acoustic selection features the gem “The Moment Night Ends.” After that we have Candybar’s debut EP fronted by the talented Kait Eldridge (Big Eyes) and my fave here is “Love Comes and Goes,” and it’s sweet! Then a freebie from Moon Construction Kit is a dream-like project from Swiss musician Olivier Cornu, who is Brian Wilson influenced. It’s just hypnotic. More goodies to come. Stay tuned!

Finally I’m thrilled to hear something new from Colin Moulding (XTC) –check out the video! His new single  ‘Want It Bad (The Pep Talks and Playing Fields of Old England)’. is available on Burning Shed.

Great July EPs and album previews: The High Frequencies, The Long Honeymoon, Bleu, My Raining Stars, Twin Bloom, The Private Eye

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Let’s start great fresh cover of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” courtesy of The High Frequencies with power pop queen Lisa Mychols continuing to churn out great music every year. Look out for the full Dylan comp on Jem Records.  I am thrilled to find out that Bleu is back with a new album and ‘Sargeant Pepper Grinder’ boasts his signature power pop sound, “Start a Band” is a tribute to long time friend, engineer Ducky Carlisle. Minneapolis-based The Long Honeymoon has a very deliberate songwriting method, and it’s all from the heart. Check out “Beauty in Reality.” My Raining Stars is an under rated new wave styled pop band that also deserves attention, listen to “It Will Take Me a While.” Great song writing by Thierry Haliniak. I don’t know much about Twin Bloom, but I liked the Teenage Fanclub vibes of “Summer’s Gone.” L.A. punk poppers The Private Eye have a lot of balls naming a song “Can’t Buy Me Love by the Beatles” but these guys are worth staying for the rest. I liked “Necessity Problem” and “Mary Couldn’t Carry.” Enjoy!

July 4th Musical Goodies! Hurry, Popboomerang, Telematch, Orchidelia, Trash Man

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Happy 250th Birthday, USA. So let’s get some great music to celebrate. Philadelphia band Hurry has a new LP that breaks next week, and we’ve got the video for “Moving After You” featuring Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub). A great song, and check out more prior to release. Next, the 4th compilation of Aussie artists with “Shake Yer Popboomerang” with awesome singles from Hexham Heads, Icecream Hands, The Valery Trails, and many more. 22 tracks of sugar powered gems curated by Scott Thurling is a guaranteed good time. Next up, a freebie from Madrid with Telematch. Heavy guitar crunch and fast tempo is the name of the game on “Stump” and “We Are Here” and they skillfully get your attention.

A lot of artists on Bandcamp release music year after year, often with little sign of growth or artistic evolution. Then there are the few who keep refining their songwriting, performances, and production. Those are the artists who always grab my attention. Orchidelia is a great example of this, self described as “Sheffield’s most happening power-pop quintet.” Gradually they develop and ‘Sundial’ shows a solid balance between melody and attitude, check out “Forget Me Not.” Another example is Trash Man. Alex Mojaverian (aka Trash Man) has been toiling away on songs of existential dread and emotional coping with a style akin to early Weezer. Alex has really sharpened his songwriting on this new EP and each song is a gem. Listen and you will find treasure in this “trash!” Enjoy.

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More June gems: Scott Gagner, The Amplifier Heads, Bramwell, Little Gold, Barry Walsh, The 286

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Scott Gagner is back with a serious “Sugar Rush.” His upcoming album ‘Sweet Tooth’ leans harder into pure pop than his previous work, and the first taste is irresistible.

Next up, The Amplifier Heads are ready to turn up the volume. Led by Boston power pop veteran Sal Baglio, the band delivers a crunchy preview of their forthcoming album that reminds you why rock and roll still matters.

UK outfit Bramwell channels the golden age of British AM radio on the excellent “Standing on Stones,” blending timeless melodies with sharp songwriting.

Little Gold offers another standout preview from its upcoming LP, mixing power pop hooks with a warm, lo-fi country spirit.

From Ireland, former Fireflys frontman Barry Walsh returns with the infectious new single “Star Ride,” packed with melody and charm.

Closing things out, The 286 delivers an EP worth your attention. Drawing inspiration from Jeff Lynne’s melodic style, the collection mixes strong covers with standout originals like “Midnight Symphony” and “Unbreakable.”

Memorial Day Singles and a goodie: The Martial Arts, The Tone Twins, The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, The Dreambots, Chris Alvy, Professor and The Madman

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Honor our veterans today. 🇺🇸 With most parades washed out, you might as well listen to some music. Well, we have The Martial Arts “Seeing Double,” and some panda heads, a really catchy single with a Sparks kinda vibe. Next, Andy Goldberg from the Honeymoon Stallions, joins forces with Huntington, Long Island music legend Willie Steel to form The Tone Twins, and the single is a new classic! Then we have The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club back, both rocking and groovin’ with some “Disco Demolition,” and they have a new album that just came out! Next a freebie EP goodie from a band I know nothing about, The Dreambots  are an LA band with a retro vibe, and I liked “High Road” and “Up Where The Sky Ends.” Chris Alvy gives us a worthy Smithereens cover and another up coming band Professor and The Madman have an album due soon, its a bit chaotic and ambitious. But it’s music that deserves to be heard.