Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Danny Wilkerson and Simon Love

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Danny Wilkerson

Danny Wilkerson “Wilkerson”

Drummer Danny Wilkerson (Pengwins) had a dream. That was to make his solo album a definitive statement, so he brought in the big guns of power pop to help out. Produced by Bleu McAuley and Ducky Carlisle, mixing by David Spreng (Bob Dylan) and vocal support from Roger Joesph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish), Joe Sieders (The New Pornographers) and mastered at Abby Road by Miles Showell (Beatles, Stones, Who).

The opener “Everybody Loves To Love” is a richly crafted epic gem with layered guitars, sitars, and harmonies very much in Bleu’s wheelhouse. Its got all these great details, with a spacey synth ending before it roars to life with “Enough For Somebody,” a glossy sunshine pop song that showcases Wilkerson’s great range, full of key changes and handclaps. “Let It Go Tonight” is another sure-fire hit single. The remaining songs are all impressive, as Danny goes through each tune with care. Influences are very clear (ELO, Beatles, Tom Petty, Andrew Gold) but not derivative. Clearly inspired and the melodies are purely original. Not a dud in the block of ten songs. Makes my top ten list (it’s crowded this year!) for 2018, and highly recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby

Simon Love

Simon Love “Sincerely, S. Love X”

Simon Love (The Loves) brings us not so gentle love ballads full of sharp acerbic wit and expletives. The melodic style is full of 60’s inspired touches that stands as a contrast to bold lyrics. “God Bless the Dick Who Let You Go,” sets the tone with soaring strings and horns. The Lou Reed-inspired “Ballad Of Simon Love” is a fun rock star theme, with a neat hand-clapping section.

The Beach Boys-like ode to “Joey Ramone” is a sincere gem that wears its heart on its sleeve. Another sweet tune you wouldn’t play for your mom, “I Fucking Love You” bounces along, and the Beatlesque “Stephen Timothy West” sounds like it fell of The Magical Mystery Tour Bus. It runs out of fresh musical ideas after the midpoint but recovers with the spritely “Not If I See You First.” If you liked the influences I mentioned here, check it out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Davenports and Joel Sarakula

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The davenports

The Davenports “Don’t Be Mad At Me”

Brooklyn’s The Davenports (aka Scott Klass) are back with a concept album that gives us stories that feel timeless and personal. The simple piano ballad “Where Shall We Hang Elena?” evokes memories past, but it soon pounds to life with the heavy rhythm rocker “I Don’t Know What To Do,” with its ascending bass notes and harmony-filled chorus. It’s an early favorite here co-written with David Myhr, as the strings and piano come back for the hummable title track. There is a melancholy that sticks with you throughout most of the album, the country-waltz “Miranda in Her Room” a duet with vocalist Shirley Simms (The Magnetic Fields) is a good example.

The catchy guitar composition “Leanne” has that classic Davenports sound and “With Me Or Against Me” does a great job with a subtle minor chord change. Another big surprise here is a bouncy power pop version of George Michael’s “Freedom.” Fans of Fountains of Wayne and McCartney will find a lot to like here. Overall a very good album that grows on your after repeated listens. Highly Recommended.

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Joel Sarakula

Joel Sarakula “Love Club”

Joel Sarakula relives the golden age of 70s soul on his latest LP. There is this period in music right before disco took over, and Marvin Gaye and The Doobie Brothers ruled the airwaves. Sarakula hits that mark. The slow funk of “Understanding” gives you the albums romantic vibe. “In Trouble” brings the horns and tempo up, its perfect Philly soul music for a hot tub.

My favorite here is “Baltic Jam,” that sounds like a lost track from Todd Rundgren’s Something, Anything. It just gets better from there, with the sexy “We Used To Connect” and on the sax funk of “Coldharbour Man” I can almost smell the musk of Isaac Hayes. It experiments with some sitar, synth, and guitar on “Cinnamon Surprise.” Not power pop, but if you feel yourself in the mood for this style of retro-reflection, give it a spin.

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Richard Turgeon and Matt Dorien

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Richard Turgeon

Richard Turgeon “Lost Angeles”

San Francisco musician Richard Turgeon has a new LP about his dreams called Lost Angeles. Turgeon states he’s ”rockin’ til the day I die,” on the opener “Big Break,” a tune full of thickly layered guitar riffs. The album has a solid California feel and the catchy “Look Away,” “Sunny Day” and the title track are good examples of that.

On his debut In Between The Spaces, the infectious as “Bigfoot’s An Alien,” was the clear standout single. Here we have two gems that stand out from the rest – “Be My Wife” cracks with Who-like energy and the Weezer-like guitar rhythm of “The Squirrel” will also stay on my playlist. Turgeon stylistically goes in some different directions, as the alt-rock jangle of “I Wanna Be A Shut-In” and the talked out lyrics of “Workin’ For The Man” are a bit like They Might Be Giants. Fans of Jeff Shelton’s Well Wishers and Bob Mould will also find a lot to like here. Highly Recommended.

Kool Kat Musik

The Spindles

Matt Dorrien “Grey”

Singer-songwriter and keyboardist Matt Dorrien starts the album with the bluesy “Baby I’m So Lost.” As Matt describes it, “…a lot of the songs on this record were written after a pretty difficult breakup.” So grab a whiskey and put on those headphones. Dorrien effortlessly channels the best of Harry Nilsson and Randy Newman on Grey.

The highlight for me is “Underwear Blues,” one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard about loneliness. Then the double-tracked balladry of “I Can’t Remember” is very much in the vein of Carole King. The Newmanesque “Pretty Little Thing” and “Dayton, Ohio – 1983” are sweet musical portraits. Its pure tin pan alley pop, and even though its a downer, its a wonderful listen. Check it out.

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The Nude Party and The Longshot

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The Nude Party

The Nude Party “The Nude Party”

This North Carolina band actually started by playing at parties while attending Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. After gaining the attention of Oakley Munson (Black Lips,) he helped release this full-length debut.

The band is highly influenced by mid- to late ’60s classic rock, and country music. The catchy “Feels Alright” is like The Troggs jamming with The Rolling Stones, a very loose party atmosphere helps carry things. On “Chevrolet Van” lead singer Patton Magee channels Bob Dylan and Lou Reed in this solid story-song about seizing the moment. The band dynamics are tight and the jamming after the choruses are lots of fun. The band runs out of steam on the second half, but it’s a groovy trip you’ll be willing to go on. Check it out.

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The Longshot

The Longshot “Love is for Losers”

This side project for Billie Joe Armstrong allows him to fully let his power-pop freak flag fly. There are no political statements or snarling punk pronouncements,  just great rock and roll. Armstrong is joined by Jeff Matika on bass, guitarist Kevin Preston, and drummer David S. Field.

Starting with “The Last Time” it’s like “Please Mr. Postman” was redone by The Ramones, loaded with handclaps and harmonies. “Taxi Driver” is the most Green Day-like, and “Chasing A Ghost” is a full-throated rock anthem about his status as an old punk rocker. However “Body Bag” and “Cult Hero” are different enough to make you realize this not Armstrong’s previous band.  The Replacements-like chugging guitars on “Happiness” and other tunes here are all fun and upbeat with the exception of the ending ballad “Goodbye To Romance.” This labor of love was released with little fanfare but packs a power-pop punch. Highly Recommended!

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Lisa Mychols and Three Hour Tour

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Lisa Mychols

Lisa Mychols “Sugar”

The queen of Power Pop is back! Mychols blend of catchy melodies and girl group harmonies are in full swing on the appropriately titled Sugar. Her light vocal blend and psyche pop groove on the opener “One Revolution” does remind me of Karla Kane in spots. Stylistically Lisa visits different directions from the bubblegum of “Loving You Baby” to the coy balladry of  “My Friend And Me.” I did notice that “Endless Daydream” is a medley of three different songs stitched together.

Like most of Lisa’s discography, there is no filler here. The highlights include the rocking “Domino,” the sunshine pop of “Don’t Wanna Close My Eyes,” “Goodbye All Carousels” and the jangling gem “He’s Got Me Dreaming.” It’s tough to pick out favorites here, as the songwriting is strong all around. Highly Recommended and a contender for my top ten list of 2018.

Amazon | CD Baby

Three Hour Tour

Three Hour Tour “You Never Know”

It’s another tour of duty for the Champagne, IL band lead by singer/songwriter Darren Cooper. He’s joined by Adam Schmidt and Brad Elvis (The Elvis Brothers) to create a clean sound that will appeal to fans of Tommy Keene, Matthew Sweet, and The Well Wishers. He’s always created reliably catchy hooks, and starting off with the title track “You Never Know.” The mid-tempo gem describes a meeting with a classic rocker and closes with a sweet guitar solo. “Fallen Angel” is more typical, with a sing-along chorus and descending bass line. The chiming riffs of “Gray Waves” is another highlight, full of beautifully layered guitar rhythms.

Cooper gets notably Who-like on the brilliant instrumental “Pascal The Hypnotist,” and the starry-eyed hero worship of “The Ballad of Buddy Rich,” reminded me of Weezer a little, but overall there isn’t any real filler. This is a Three Hour Tour you’ll want to repeat often. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik