Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Streetcar Conductors and Brian Jay Cline

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Streetcar Conductors

Streetcar Conductors “The Very Best of Streetcar Conductors”

It’s pretty ballsy to label your debut “The Very Best of,” but Streetcar Conductors deliver what amounts to an impressive selection of modern rock singles. The glorious opening track, “Pushover,” is has a Weezer-Cheap Trick feel and an earworm chorus that is full of layered piano and guitar. It’s so good, the other tracks suffer a bit by comparison.

Streetcar Conductors do a good job mixing classic pop influences into the modern rock song structures. “Let’s Not And Say We Did,” is almost a novelty tune; catchy in the tradition of Bowling For Soup. There is an undercurrent of Beach Boys influence on “Throw Your Love Away” and especially on “Summer, What Became Of You” with its earnest harmonies. Another great tune “Pictures Of Ourselves” is a great commentary on today’s selfie culture. Some tunes try to get punkier (“It Sounded Like The End Of The World”) or just plain goofy (“The Absurdity of Life.”) But then it sounds like the guys are trying too hard. The band is at its best with simpler melodies like “You Are The Brightest Star” and “True Love, They Say.” Overall, no filler and more than enough “hits” to be Highly Recommended.

Amazon


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Brian Jay Cline “Idle Chatter”

Veteran jangle artist Cline shines on this – his most pop-oriented album – opening with the wicked riffs of “Would You Stay?” it’s a strong opener that sticks with you. Brian’s combination of country, pop, and rock elements blend perfectly on the second half of “Sic Transit Gloria,” with its sing-along chorus and steel pedal lead. 

“Latch Key Kid” and “I Get You” are shambling melodic narratives similar to Tom Petty or Marshall Crenshaw.  Other great tunes are “The Ballad of Rosetta Stone,” “Last of The Great Atomic Heartbreakers,” and “Never Saw It Coming.” Cline hits his stride here, with no real duds and plenty of diversity in sound. This is also the best BJC album I’ve heard so far, so yes… it’s Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Nick Piunti and Peter Holsapple

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Temporary High”

Nick Piunti is back and better than ever. Like other power pop contemporary artists (David Mhyr, Rob Bonfiglio) he’s firing on all cylinders here. The opening title track is a great summer anthem with Nick’s distinct raspy vocal and layered guitar riffs. The strong melody lines of “You Invented Hell,” and”If This Was Right” were co-written by Ryan Allen and fit in perfectly.

Nick’s expressive lyrics and jangly guitars on “No Return” are like musical comfort food. The rough edges of some songs are polished just right, like “Blameless” and “Keep Me Guessing.” Nick is amazingly consistent throughout the album, with his all-star band Donny Brown, Andy Reed, Geoff Michael, Plink Giglio and Chris Richards. A joy to listen to from start to finish. Highly Recommended and yes, it’s on my crowded year-end top ten list!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

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Peter Holsapple

Peter Holsapple “Game Day”

After 21 years, Peter Holsapple (dB’s, Continental Drifters, REM) returns with his second solo album. I loved Out of My Way in 1997 – it was a classic indie LP with a lot of quirky melodies that stuck. Game Day takes a very different approach. It’s classic freeform musical expression with thoughts that float around to a musical soundtrack. On “Game Day” he wonders “do I still have what it takes to pull this off?” and pays tribute to his road days with “Continental Drifters.”

Holsapple has a lot of space to get weird and wild. “In Too Deep” and “Tuff Day” are great highlights that prove the old man still has it. Another fun track is “I Got High With You” about late nights with friends. The “Inventory” of his life is a long look back at all the possessions he accumulated during his youth. Other notable tracks are the strong “She Handed Him A Pencil” and the Hendrix-like “Them Changes.” This potpourri of tracks is like finding a box of old records — some you will love, others will go in the sale bin. But you’re glad you found them. Check it out!

Amazon 

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Tom Curless and The Stan Laurels

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Tom Curless

Tom Curless “Songs Of Movement”

Tom Curless (Your Gracious Host) decides to use his real name for this new release of songs for Futureman Records. Curless did not change his approach too much, as the solid “Genesee County Stomp” has a catchy riff leading its chorus. “The Dream is a Lie” is reminiscent of the Posies and The Connells in spots, and the acoustic “Oceans of Love” has those light harmonies before it builds into a more Klaatu-like ballad.

“Always Bloom Forever” has a fuzzier guitar similar to The Well Wishers. So stylistically, it travels all over the place – and maybe that’s the goal here. Curless is trying new things, which is fine. Not everything sticks (“Guilt Free”) but enough does. Curless is very good with aspirational melodies (“Accelerated Moon”) and rocking cynicism (“Washington DC” and “Certain Additions”).  Overall a good album, with a little something for everyone.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Stan Laurels

The Stan Laurels “Maybe”

It’s rare to have a band create an original film soundtrack that also functions as a stand-alone album, but John Lathrop (aka The Stan Laurels) has done it. The songs were all used in the indie film “Maybe Shower” and most of the lyrics are about the characters and themes in the film. But you don’t need to see the movie to enjoy this soundtrack. Lathrop’s melodies recall Weezer in spots, but its a completely original sound. That’s jangling rhythms, spacey synths and chunky riffs leading the charge, like the opener “Maybe.”

The big sound grows on you quickly, as “Life, Lemons and An Alien” warn you that life can take an unexpected turn quickly, so be ready. And the full story lyrics are as compelling as the melodies on “Where I Want To Be,” and “Maximum Zen” adds a psyche-pop spin to things. No weak songs here, so its a highly recommended release.

Amazon (Vinyl) | Kool Kat Musik

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

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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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Amazon
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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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Amazon
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