April has been a monster month for music. The pent-up output from artists can no longer be held back and a flurry of singles and EPs are here now. Dany Laj and The Looks have a new single and a new sound, with a pop-folk spin. The new album Ten Easy Pieces is expected on June 11, 2021. Bill Majoros is back with The Foreign Films’ new single “The Fortune Teller (Pretty in the City),” a sweet mid-tempo love song, with little ELO flourishes. Meanwhile, Jim Trainor and The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club put the power into their pop singles, with the latter “Tremor Control II” oozing Queen-like cool and Glam rhythm. Paul Ryan (aka Super 8) gives us a very John Lennonesque ballad “All My Worries” and David Woodward‘s new EP Butterfly Effect is a sharply written gem with highlights like “About New York” and “Ghosts.” Rob Kovacs is not power pop, but a pianist with a great pop sensibility. Check out “Fizzle” with its light vocals, the pastoral “Momentary Bliss,” and the artistry of “Here In The Future.”
Category: EPs
EP and Singles Potpourri: Sandy McKnight, Beebe Gallini, Brad Marino, Vanilla, Jon Klages, Barton Hartshorn
Sandy McKnight‘s follow-up to last year’s San Fernando Beat EP continues his string of “shoulda-been” hit songs with Fernando Perdomo. If you’re looking for DIY rock and roll, look no further than Beebe Gallini and Brad Marino. Beebe’s got a rough garage sound, but it’s chock full of hooks, and Brad’s sound is vintage gold, similar to The Rolling Stones. Going back in time further, Vanilla ’66 is an instrumental album for a 1960’s movie that never existed, retro pop fans can bask in the fluorescent glow of nostalgia. Will there be another Austin Powers movie? We got the soundtrack.
Jon Klages new single “1133 Ave. of the Americas (For Enoch Light),” is a subtle jazzy tribute to his grandfather, akin to Harry Nilsson in its brilliant simplicity and a great mood setter. UK artist Barton Hartshorn has a new single, “Listen For A Change,” and it recalls Prefab Sprout and early Style Council. Very nice.
EP Reviews: The Poppermost, Tommy and The Rockets, The Peaces, Brisbane Radio
Glasgow native Joe Kane (aka The Poppermost) follows up his single from November with a smashing EP pulled out of the 1964 – 1965 Merseybeat era. “Well I Will” nails that early Moptop style, but “Laziest Fella In The Realm” is more like Freddie and The Dreamers, and the catchy “In & Out” is another winner. Excellent retro-pop that’s highly recommended.
Dutch power poppers Tommy & The Rockets do several simple three-chord gems as part of twofer with the band Psychotic Youth. Punchy songs that recall Kurt Baker and The Connection in approach are primarily covers, and my faves are The Jags “Back of My Hand and Chris Montez’s “Some Kind of Fun.” Check it out!
Peaces is a quartet from Germany. Love the opening heavy jangle of the title track and even though the vocals are a bit lacking, the spirit is there on “40 Days & 40 Nights.” A sweet rock song about Harry Potter’s wizard school is lamented on “Sorcerers Get All the Girls.” This is a band that deserves to be heard.
Stephen’s Shore is a band from Stockholm, Sweden with a dreamy jangle not unlike Dropkick with a bit more laidback attitude. “Skogen” and “Up To No Good” have a sound akin to the moody late 60s folk-pop of Scott McKenzie. Worth checking out for sure.
Singles and EPs: The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, Nerd Magnet, Squire, Devon Kay, The Unswept, The Dowling Poole, Katie Kuffel
So much singles goodness here, starting with the strong riffs of The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club. The Nerd Magnet (from Japan) also delivers crunchy guitar goodness that will attract power pop fans. Squire recalls a bit of the ’80s rhythm with that echoing jangle and a Beatlesque composition. Devon Kay & The Solutions has rich harmonies and a catchy chorus that made me like them “a little bit.” Our EPs feature The Unswept covering some power pop greats and The Dowling Poole has a fitting tribute to our former President. Katie Kuffel is releasing “1999” as a wistful look at parent-child relationships. Enjoy!
EP Reviews: The Airport 77, The Cheap Cassettes and The Lickerish Quartet
The Airport 77s “Rotation”
The Airport 77s embody the classic power pop spirit of 20/20, Pezband, and The Knack with a modern spin; “When you’re kissing on me do you think of James McAvoy?” is a great tune that simply rocks with both attitude and desperation. “I mean, I get it — he rocks your world…” implores lead singer Andy Sullivan.
The anthemic “All The Way” has a touch of Cheap Trick in its DNA and it’s all about making that special moment memorable. A good cover of the Bram Tchaikovsky hit “Girl of My Dreams” fits right in with the band’s style. “Bad Mom!” is another highlight, with a jagged new wave rhythm, great bass line, and lyrics that obsess about that MILF in the PTA. The band really delivers lyrically and musically. Highly recommended.
The Cheap Cassettes “See Her In Action!”
Punk pop stalwarts The Cheep Cassettes recalls The Buzzcocks and Ramones, with its catchy garage riffs and rough-hewn vocals courtesy of lead songwriter Charles Matthews. The title track bobs along with gusto, and a fantastic guitar break before the final verse. “Only Lovers” and “Lil Bit Everyday” are great in-your-face tunes that stick, especially the latter, with a great hook in the chorus. As a bonus, we get some live tracks including The Replacements “Valentine.” Highly Recommended.
The Lickerish Quartet “Threesome, Vol. 2”
Those ex-Jellyfish boys (Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Tim Smith, and Eric Dover) are back! After the highly anticipated and well-received Threesome Vol.1, the band’s follow up is more of the same. Opening with the spacey “Do You Feel Better?” with sweet
highly recommended.
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