Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Spygenius and Once & Future Band

powerpopaholic
Spygenius

Spygenius “‘Pacéphale”

The ever inventive pop band Spygenius changes its chameleon colors over and over on the latest LP pronounced “pah-seh-fahl.” It’s a French word that means “headless” with a “P” added to it. The P is a nod to Pataphysics. The lovely start of “Shall I Show You My Mirror” opens to a chorus with compelling harmonies and catchy hook that sticks. It’s followed by the beatnik blues rock of “Backdoor Son of Man” and turns again on the subdued Robyn Hitchcock-like “Heathen.”

While the band’s eclectic style is refreshing, a few tunes here really standout. “The Friendly Stars That Glow” is a jangle pop gem, “Eucalyptus & Cigarettes” has a lovely baroque composition and “And Her Snakes Were Decked With Smiles” is a bouncy bit of English power pop. Even though the LP is all over the place, that sense of fun and melody is never far behind. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Once and Future Band

Once & Future Band “Once & Future Band”

I rarely review a prog rock band unless I hear something special. But this debut by Oakland’s Once & Future Band reminded me a lot of Dynamo Bliss, with its incredible opener “How Does It Make You Feel?” which is like Jon Anderson of Yes mixed with Schnauser. “I’ll Be Fine” is similar to a 10cc-Pink Floyd epic ballad with terrific effects and overdubbed guitar that shreds brilliantly through the song.

The album quickly goes mellow after these opening songs, despite a synth and bass jazz-inflected gem “Rolando,” it never picks up that early momentum. But just finding this style of prog rock with its craftsmanship is always a welcome treat. I just wish there was more, but I would still recommend you check this out.

Amazon

Freebie Friday: Bertling, Gay Elvis, Grouphug and The Co-Op Communique

powerpopaholic

Bertling Noise Labs is at it again with a series of faithful covers. Enjoy the Simon & Garfunkle classic “Scarborough Fair/Canticle” with full harmonies re-created. And I don’t care how many times I hear Big Star’s “Thirteen” it always brings a tear to my eye. Enjoy this freebie.

Gay Elvis was the guitarist for The Jersey band Readymade Breakup. Here he reminisces on his past with an earlier band.


Grouphug is a compilation from a Denver label with some good alt. pop sprinkled all around. Really like the albums start with Tambourines, Down Time and Marti & The Dads. Plus check out the ’70s guitar stylings of Wazonek.

The Co-Op Communique distributes music from independent artists seeking to share their artistic output with an enthusiastic audience. Some power pop mixed in like Lisa Mychols, The Bradburys and The Click Beetles. Thanks to Dw Dunphy for helping distribute this comp.

The Cheap Cassettes and Bloodthirsty Virgins

powerpopaholic
The Cheap Cassettes

The Cheap Cassettes “All Anxious, All The Time”

Seattle rockers The Cheap Cassettes come out of the gate with guitars blazing on the title track “All Anxious, All The Time” with a garage styled power pop that recalls The Buzzcocks, Redd Kross and The Jam. Lead vocalist Chaz Matthews has the proper attitude on “My Little Twin” as it charms with a tight melody and thick hook.

The anthemic guitar lines on “Reckless” and “Good And Shitty” almost flirts with punk, but they stay in melodic territory. “Get Low” is a working class love song that sticks just fine, and “Disappear With You” has a bigger jangle component than the other tunes. “Black Vinyl” has the classic boogie rhythm that is tailor made for a live show at The Cavern. Overall its unrefined rock and roll that deserves to be heard. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Bloodthirsty Virgins

Bloodthirsty Virgins “Bloodthirsty Virgins”

Like a lost soundtrack to a vintage movie unearthed, Bloodthirsty Virgins isn’t power pop but a rock guitar added to a jazzy lounge sound. The 5-minute opener “In The End” features fuzzy reverb and the silky vocals of Nikki Wonder.

“The Want Of You” and “Fire” showcase the cinematic and torch song stylings of Wonder, who’s is both subtle and seductive here. “So Wicked” is another highlight that emphasizes these qualities. Overall the guitar texture recalls The Jefferson Airplane without all the psychedelic coverings. This is all thanks to talented guitarist Scott Gorsuch (Lollipop Factory). No real filler and it’s definitely a grower for a quiet night, so turn the lights low and give it a listen.

Amazon

Brent Cash and Dana Countryman

powerpopaholic
Brent Cash

Brent Cash “The New High”

Brent Cash has been very carefully releasing finely crafted pop albums every ten years or so. On his third album, The New High Brent goes for a very sophisticated softness, on the title track it recalls Van Dyke Parks or Burt Bacharach with its orchestral strings. The great piano melody “Out for Blood” brings to mind a classic Todd Rundgren ballad, and its my favorite here. The lighter “The Wrong Thing” and “Dim Light” break up the heaviness of the earlier tracks. “The Way You Were” has a bit of McCartney mixed into its Wilsonesque melancholy.

While this is all beautiful pop, it has a downbeat and serious theme.”I’m Looking Up” is another gem with swirling chord combinations and harmonies and “Edge Of Autumn” flirts with ELO’s classical style. Highly Recommend.

Amazon

Girlville

Dana Countryman “Girlville”

Songwriter/Producer Dana Countryman has written and recorded three albums of his particular brand of “retro-pop” but now he’s taken his high-gloss template to girl groups of the early ’60s. Using a variety of vocalists he sets the mood perfectly with Lisa Mychols, Molly Felder, Kathy Hettel, Tricia Countryman, Julie Johnson Sand, Andrea Perry, Kelly Harland, and Lisa Jenio.

Some brilliant songwriting is found among the gems here, “I’ve Run All Out Of Tears (To Cry Over You)” gets the spirit and its catchy chorus stays with you. In the best tradition of these ballads, all songs are strictly from the girl’s point-of-view.  It also hits the bubble-gum style of “How Do You Know When You Love A Boy?” and “Bom Sh’Bom Sh’Bom.” Audiophiles will have a ball picking up each Brill Building cue and reference. However, with 19 tracks it could have used a bit of editing – my guess is Dana was having too much fun here. Fans of the early girl-band era must get this one.

Amazon

The Jigsaw Seen and Thorcraft Cobra

powerpopaholic
The Jigsaw Seen

The Jigsaw Seen “For The Discriminating Completist”

For The Jigsaw Seen, this career-spanning retrospective encompasses tracks originally released over their entire career that was previously unavailable. Out of the gate is the fuzz guitar version of Sinatra’s “The Best Is Yet To Come,” sure to please. The catchy gem “Celebrity Interview” has a great riff in the chorus, and the dense instrumentation on a cover of the Bee Gees “Melody Fair” make these songs stick in your head.

While not everything is a gem, there are enough unique melodies here, from the psyche-pop of “When You’re Pretty” to the twisted guitar lead on Henry Mancini’s “Baby Elephant Walk” to make this a “must hear” collection. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | KoolKat Musik

Thorcraft Cobra

Thorcraft Cobra “The Distance”

Despite the colorful name (after a vintage amp), this band is the songwriting duo Billy Zimmer (Brown Eyed Susans) and Tammy Glover (Sparks). No surprise here, the songwriting is excellent and the openers “Carolina” and “Uncoupling” have a mellow start but build to pop perfection with great chords.

“Killing Time” is comparable to a next-generation Fleetwood Mac song, and “No One Believes Her” has a great classic rock energy. It takes a bit more patience for the four-minute-plus songs like “Fade To White” and “It’s OK” but they are infused with a sincerity and thoughtfulness many other artists lack. Check these guys out and you won’t regret it.

Amazon