Category: EPs

EP and Singles: Pat Buchanan, Clean Spill, Karla Kane, Armchair Oracles

powerpopaholic
Pat Buchanan is a mainstay of the Nashville music scene and was a founding member of the well-respected power pop group Idle Jets whose 1999 release Atomic Fireball garnered rave reviews. Pat’s new single “Sandbox” is a look back at Brian Wilson’s late ’60s state of mind.

Get it at CD Baby | Amazon

Clean Spill is a Santa Barbara laid-back rock band that just pushes my buttons. These guys are literal beach boys; frontman Pat Curren’s dad is a world champion surfer, and he and bassist Geoff Shae, guitarist Cameron Crabtree, and drummer Charlie Fawcett can often be found out riding waves in between band practices. Get the full EP “Nothings On My Mind” on Amazon

The Armchair Oracles, Norway’s best-kept secret has a new single out! The band is Atle Skogrand (vocals/guitar), Jan Ove Engeset (bass), Charlie Wise (drums) and Bjorn Gamlem (guitar) and they’ve played at IPO festival, so you know they’re good! Get it on CD Baby | Amazon

Karla Kane is our final treat, an autumn gem written in England by Martin Newell (Cleaners from Venus)and performed/arranged in California by Karla and her pals; KC Bowman, Khoi Huynh, Bradley Skaught and Gina Sperinde. The song is being released in conjunction with the autumn issue of Big Stir Magazine (in which Kane interviews both Newell and Robyn Hitchcock).

Get it at Amazon

Sunday Night Singles! Bob of The Pops, Timmy Sean, Andy Reed, Jay Stansfield, Bryan Estepa, The John Sally Ride

powerpopaholic

Bob of The Pops! Vol.3 – Robyn Gibson (The Junipers) gets better with each group of covers he delivers. Love all this, and it’s a FREE download. Get it now!

Timmy Sean is back with a pure power pop single sure to stay on my playlist all year long.

Andy Reed gives us a slow ballad, and it’s his first solo work this year.

Jay Stansfield hasn’t had an LP ready in a long time, but this new single is a little like Jason Falkner.

Aussie Bryan Estepa delivers a very sweet power-pop tune.  Can an album be far behind?

John Dunbar is back with his band The John Sally Ride and he offers some very sage advice. It’s a pep talk set to a catchy beat.

Freebie Fridays: William Duke, Richard Turgeon, Lund Brothers

powerpopaholic

Richard Turgeon just keeps going! After the release of his new LP Lost Angeles, he decided to cover one of the most popular power pop bands of early the 2000’s, The Gin Blossoms (who have a new release out, btw.)  Richard does a pretty faithful rendition of that band’s biggest hits. These are both FREE downloads. Enjoy!


William Duke

William Duke “Quatro”

William Duke is back with a fine short LP (or extended EP) with an assortment of goodies. Duke’s sound is like a mix of The Pernice Brothers and Eric Matthews, with elements of Roots, Soft Psyche, and Baroque pop. He gives us the opening “Caroline And The Silver Screen,” a near five-minute jangling epic. The infectious beat and harmonies stay with you on “Junk #2,” and the moody mid-tempo “Hotel’s End” and “As Good As It Gets” tugs at your emotions. No real filler, and super highly recommended. Plus, it’s a FREE download.

Lund Brothers

Lund Brothers “Live!”

OK, it’s NOT a freebie. I rarely review live concert albums, but this one was worth it. The Lund Bros’ historic set at Seattle’s Experience Music Project (EMP) showcases a band that captures that “live” vibe with maximum impact. As a stripped-down trio of Chris Lund, his brother, Sean and Gwon Chang – they pull off a great set. Highlights include “Plastiscene” and “In My Hands,” fans of Cheap Trick and Redd Kross will want to check this out!

Amazon | CD Baby

Singles, EPS and Freebies: Vegas With Randolph, You’re Among Friends, Yani Martinelli, The Susan Constant and Scott Brookman

powerpopaholic

Vegas With Randolph returns with the power-pop goodness of “Women in Airports” in advance of their next album, Legs & Luggage.

You’re Among Friends are a casual rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Their music has been described as “rollicking blues at its core with a sugary coating of power pop” by Scene Magazine. check out this FREE download.

Yani Martinelli features some wonderful vocal harmonies and light acoustic melodies. The classical soft-pop style of “Radiohouse 12am” is similar to The Free Design. Simply beautiful and this is a FREE download.

The Susan Constant is a Boston indie band with just plenty of punch to keep power pop fans interested. Check out the solid rant “Constructive Summer,” and it’s a FREE download.

Scott Brookman has decided to go unplugged for good. He’s not going for the polished pop sounds of his past and is now concentrating on low-fi acoustic songs. “How Could I Let It Win?” and “Whatever She Was She’s Gone” have that McCartney vibe. Yani Martinelli,  Mario Pilarte López lend a hand, and it’s a FREE download.

Let’s cap things off with a new single from Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) called “White Noise’, the first track from Steven Page’s new album ‘Discipline: Heal Thyself Pt. II’ which is coming out on September 14th.

Saturday Night EPs: Wilkerson, Brad Marino, Lia Pamina & Dario Persi

powerpopaholic

The first single from Danny Wilkerson‘s forthcoming album Wilkerson.  The album produced by Bleu and featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr. will be released July 20, 2018. I like this one a lot, its got the goods!  Get it on Amazon

We saw this coming from Brad Marino (The Connection) last month and now his solo EP is here! Brad plays all the instruments and sings all the vocals. Fans of The Connection will not be disappointed.”Hey Girl” has got a little Stones-like R&B guitar lead, and “Special Friend” is also charged up (and also has a Stones reference!) His first Ramones styled single “C’mon C’mon C’mon” is also available. Get it on Bandcamp or Amazon.

A perfect European combination! Spain’s Lia Pamina and Italy’s Dario Persi (Radio Days) recreate a sweet sixties sounds on So Far Tonight. They shared the songwriting, and the result of this joint effort is pure magic. “So Far Tonight” and “Time’s Passing By” are real Beatlesque gems and “Midnight Walk” is a catchy tune that takes advantage of Lia’s hushed vocals.

Get it on Bandcamp or Amazon