Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Tamar Berk and Keys

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“Tamar

Tamar Berk “ocd”

Tamar Berk’s newest album, ‘ocd’, is her most polished effort yet, combining luxurious production, lyrical depth, and shoegaze sounds. As the title implies, the album delves deeply into the repeating, nervous thought patterns that characterize obsessive thinking. Berk’s greatest strength is her emotional honesty. Her cooing voice calms the tumult, and her production choices keep the songs warm and real, even when the subjects are bleak.

That said, ‘ocd’ isn’t always as memorable musically as it is thematically. Several songs lack the sharp hooks that would bring listeners back for repeat spins, however it does beat true to it’s own slowcore drum, like the laidback “indiesleeze”and “I’m In The Day After.” Big highlights for me were the sharp lyrical details of “You Ruined This City for Me” with its urgent guitar lines and the hazy arrangement of “I Had a Dream I Was Lost in an Auditorium.” For listeners drawn to the emotional landscapes, ocd will feel like a mirror. For those craving sharp, replay-ready pop craft, it’s a little more uneven. Fans of Tamar will enjoy this and ultimately this highly recommended.

Amazon

“Keys

KEYS “Acid Communism”

While it’s new to me, Welsh psych-pop outfit KEYS have been making hook-driven, genre-bending music since their 2002. Two decades on, their eighth album ‘Acid Communism’ is their boldest statement yet—raw, expansive, and unafraid to push into some power pop territory.

Acid Communism embraces grit. The opener “There’s No I in Teams” erupts with energy—clattering drums, jagged guitars, shimmering keys—while “Form A Band” channels classic rock swagger. Softer turns arrive with “Your Shoes” and the impressive “The Greatest Joke of All,” written solo on piano during lockdown with a Beatles-styled catchiness. Another gem, “Poyekhali” lightens the mood before tracks like “The Spectre” steer the record into darker territory. Each song feels distinct, yet the sequencing ties them into a bigger journey, making this a great listen overall.

The title is a meditation on connection and togetherness in an age of digital detachment. As frontman Matthew Evans puts it: “ACID” is experimentation, “COMMUNISM” is community. That philosophy shapes the record’s collaborative, unfiltered spirit. Highly Recommended.

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Davey Lane and Static Jacket

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“Davey

Davey Lane “Finally, A Party Record”

Davey Lane, an Australian musician known for his work with You Am I and The Stems, celebrates his fourth solo album “Finally, A Party Record” with eye-catching artwork that subtly references Rod Stewart’s “Atlantic Crossing.” The album demonstrates why Lane deserves greater attention. The album is a pulsating mashup of synth melodies, distorted guitar, and obvious references to rock from the early 1980s. It’s as if Mr. Roboto-era Styx had a baby with ELO making an action B-movie soundtrack.

Starting with the funky bass line of the instrumental “Mach IV” creeping synth chords build on top of it, and then the distorted guitars kick in to set up an ominous retro mood. This leads to “Not Expecting To Fly” and its deep thick synth darkness and Davey’s strong vocal make this a winner, the bright harmonies and chorus shifts recall a lost 80s classic, familiar yet brand new. My favorite song here is “Over, Over & Out” and this leans more into Tom Petty styled strum, with a richly layered chorus that builds up with great sonic details, and a terrific solo break. Other highlights include “An Absent Lover,” a thickly produced groove call-and-response play and duet with Nitida Atkinson, and “God, I’m Fucked Up Over You” a slick ballad that recalls 10cc. Lane has a unique point of view, and it seems tried to make a “party” record for those who hate parties, but love great music. Plenty of good melodies here make this one Highly Recommended.

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Static Jacket

Static Jacket “The Grape Lady Falls”

Virginia Beach, Virginia is home to the indie rock band Static Jacket. Colen LoCoco and Jason Goldberg formed the duo in 2024 after trading recordings for a year. They swiftly developed a style that is gritty, catchy, and difficult to define. Bands such as the Kinks, the Beatles, Lou Reed, Elliott Smith, Sonic Youth, Pavement, the Stooges, and Beck are supposedly among their musical influences. Their music deftly moves from pop-filled nooks to raucous, discordant explosions, drawing from a vast emotional and aural palette.

“Frown Sugar” is an excellent and memorable introduction. They sound like The Beta Band meets The Dandy Warhols; melodious and dissonant at the same time. A fantastic song with booming guitars, “Analemma” really throws everything at the listener.  The songs range from mid tempo alternative rock (“Any Wonder”) to high charged, high energy club pop (“Give Us The Money”), with the rare light harmonized gem “Undue Shine” providing a music palette cleanser. The albums first half is the strongest, but nothing here is filler. “Haunt You” and the closer “Walk Don’t Run” are also standouts here. Best of all this debut is a name-your-price download, so get it now! Highly Recommended.

Amazon

The Nines and Kevin Robertson

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The Nines

The Nines “Echoes of Past Future”

It’s been too long, but The Nines have returned at last. Steve Eggers with some help on drums from Bill Majoros records an alternative universe 1970s-era album using vintage Tascam and Yamaha consoles. He succeeds in getting that vintage sound, and there is no denying Eggers songwriting and compositional talent, even through lo-fi speakers.

Starting with “Give Your Heart Away,” it’s a solid, catchy gem with layered harmonies. And his familiar Jeff Lynn style returns for “Summer’s Never Been The Same.” For those who remember listening to a worn cassette tape, the fidelity is eerily accurate, especially on the psychedelic jam “Open Book.” The songs are so good here, you’ll be clamoring for more, like “Hit The Ground Running.”

“Sailor Girl” and “You Get By” are brilliantly period accurate and very memorable. “Away from You” is a worthy spiritual successor to 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love.” The soulful pop of “How did we get it all so wrong?” feels like a different album, and is that actually sung by a different duo? Steve tells me it’s studio trickery to change his voice. Wow! Not every idea here is fleshed out musically, but the ones that do, make this album another highly recommended Nines album.

Bandcamp

“Kevin

Kevin Robertson “Yellow Painted Moon”

Kevin Robertson (The Vapor Trails) has quickly produced a prolific collection of albums, and his latest treads familiar ground. ‘Yellow Painted Moon’ starts with the jangling gem “We Found the Summer,” a song with echoes of classic bands like The Byrds, America, and Neil Young. The album follows this template and with “Message of Love,” it gets into a very relaxed groove.

“Of the Night” is equally enjoyable with its Western harmonic touches and harmonies. Another gem is “Traveling Band,” with a really sweet Rickenbacker rhythm that gives way to a wicked solo break. Fans of The Beau Brummell’s will really enjoy that one along with “Quicksand,” which sounds like a lost track from that band. Robertson’s rich melodies and charming approach set a great mood on “Feelings Show,” a catchy folk-rock tune. Overall, a really good album that deserves repeat listens. For the fans, he’s got a group of alternate bonus tracks in a separate album. Highly Recommended.

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Interviews Update: YouTube archives and new interviews coming

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Just a heads up to check out my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@powerpopaholic

I will be doing a lot more interviews, and I have about 25 archived interviews that are stuck on an older account I am updating for easy access. Be on the lookout for these new and old interviews. Archived interviews include original conversations with Joe Satriani, Terry Adams, Nicole Atkins, Susanna Hoffs, and more. And it would really be nice if you subscribed, that way you are notified the minute they are posted.

The Lolas and Peppermint Kicks

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“The

The Lolas “Big Hits and Freak Disasters”

This is not a greatest hits compilation. Tim Boykin, the brains behind The Lolas has been releasing multiple digital-only singles since 2021, and now we get it all together in one beautiful package. Boykin never fails to deliver, whether he’s channeling psychedelic pop, British Invasion, jangle pop, or bubblegum hooks.

The album’s opening track, “Work is the Blackmail of Survival,” is very much like a jangling Byrds tune with great harmonies in the sunny chorus. “Shut Me Down” is pure West Coast bubblegum pop bliss, and “Call Your Name” is a dense guitar attack with a garage vibe. “Trick Myself” is very much like an early Who single, and when it comes to the ideal jangle of ’80s college rock, “From the Start” is spot on. As a singles collection, it varies in style from the mellow “I Wish You A Happy Journey” to the new wave synths meets guitars on “Down We Go.” With songs like these, Tim Boykin reminds us why The Lolas are one of the most reliable—and under appreciated—names in power pop.

Let’s also give props to Kool Kat Musik, which is still putting out tangible power pop CDs in the digital age, supporting musicians like Boykin and keeping the scene alive for both fans and collectors. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten album list for 2025.

Kool Kat Musik

The Peppermint Kicks

The Peppermint Kicks “Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum”

The great Sal Baglio and Dan Kopko combine their talents with a variety of drummers to create The Peppermint Kicks 2nd album, and it leads to an explosive, heavy punk-pop. “Radio Wham Bam Boom” is a great glam radio show theme song that sets the stage. “Too Sweet” is a great Cheap Trick meets bubblegum track with a kick-ass strutting riff. The garage-rocking “Little Doll (Picolla Pupa)” harkens back to the best of British pop from the 1960s.

Many tunes here follow that template and are fond memories of teen years, “Lollipop Girl” is dreaming about an English magazine model. And plenty of loving references to mid sixties anime with “Gigantor” and “Speed Racer.” Indeed, the enchanting “We Did It All For Rock N Roll” emphasizes the nagging feeling that we all long for that nostalgia when rock and roll was at the top of the cultural zeitgeist. Fans of Sweet, Mott The Hoople, and Queen will love this. Overall it demands to be played loud and its highly recommended.

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