These treats are so sweet! An aquatic mermaid lair, fairy wings, a candlelit room filled with potions, and a pet lion are just a few of the fantastical aspects that add to the whimsical storyline of the “Campari” music video from popster Toni Cornell. Everyone’s favorite DIY bedroom pop producer Mo Troper is back, and you have “The Best Seat In The House” to this bouncy power pop gem. Seattle’s The Rallies compile some of their newest singles, please listen to my fave, “I Believe.” Another excellent modern power pop band Dazy has an excellent EP ready, and ‘Bad Penny’ doesn’t have a bad song, really! Another real sweet gem here is the return of the mod-influenced Shake Some Action and you are ‘Running Out of Place To Run’ so you may as well enjoy these excellent tunes.Finally, the ever lovin’ Vista Blue. This new freebie single fits today’s theme, but the band has a great tradition of baseball themed EPs, and the new one ‘The Shift Is Dead’ is a fun soundtrack to this year’s World Series. Enjoy the sugar rush, kiddies!
Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic
Cody Piper and Greg Pope
Cody Piper “Revealed”
Pittsburgh-based singer, songwriter, and producer Cody Piper popped up on my radar as an artist of piano-driven pop that feels as emotionally honest as it is musically intricate. His debut album is a mix of contemplation and catharsis, displaying a songwriting instinct and style similar to Ben Folds.
Almost every song here stands out, and feels handcrafted. From the opener “Run Home,” it feels like the raw emotion and honesty of a true storyteller. The confessional “Be Quiet,” haunting “Hibernating,” and “Ode to a Lost Love,” speaks to Cody’s emotional anxiety. Recorded and mixed in his home studio, the record never feels small; instead, it radiates intimacy. His piano work anchors everything, on “Maybe It’s Time” and “Nothing To Tell Me,” brings to mind a Runt-era Todd Rundgren.
The love songs are keys throughout, “Leaking Me” and “Things May Change” balance the melancholy and grace in equal measure. The arrangements have catchy hooks and delicate touches of strings, synths, and guitars, giving these songs real depth. Throughout, he avoids the trap of overproduction; this is music that values clarity over gloss, sincerity over spectacle. ‘Revealed’ is both intimate and ambitious—crafted with sweeping strings, subtle synths, guitars and heartfelt lyrics. While technically not power pop, it’s melodic as hell. Super Highly recommended.
Greg Pope “The Roar of Silence”
I’ve been following Greg Pope’s career since 2008, and with ‘The Roar of Silence’ he delivers one of his strongest albums yet. From the first chords, this album feels like the work of an artist fully in command of his craft—but still willing to surprise you.
While “Worthy Son” and “Fallen Star” have both compelling melodies and arrangements, but with “Trick of the Light” he hits gold with its shifting key in the chorus. You’ll hear classic power-pop hooks, but rarely in a predictable way. Several tracks shift gears midstream; he doesn’t just repeat the chorus, he builds around it. The title track starts as an anthemic rock instrumental, then takes a different path. He does a similar thing with “It’s All Pretend.”
That chameleon-like ability to write a memorable chorus no matter where the verse goes has become something of a signature, and it’s on full display throughout this record. There are points where the momentum drags, but it has plenty of variety with the acoustic ballad “Still A Kid” and the sea shanty “Pirate Paddy.” And he goes back to the familiar riff candy that ends things with “Immovable Feast.” Longtime fans will enjoy this album overall, and newcomers will love those sharp hooks and descriptive lyrics. Highly recommended.
Spooky Stuff: Halloween Sounds and Timmy Sean
Various Artists “Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimoire”
Big Stir Records brews up a perfectly ghoulish collection for the season with Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies. The label’s roster dives headfirst into Halloween fun, mixing hooks, humor, and just enough creep factor to keep things lively. Each song opens with a brief spoken-word intro—mostly unnecessary, but it does help set the spooky tone.
Sparkle*jets U.K. bounce in with “Eyeball Eater,” a candy-coated cousin to “The Purple People Eater” and The Incurables “Halloween Bride” are made for any Halloween dance floor. The Armoires shift gears with “Full On Witch Mode,” all dreamy séance energy and ghostly charm. The Spongetones deliver a crisp jangle on “Spirit World,” Shplang goes darker with the reverb-laden “Frankie’s Back,” and Graham Parker & The Goldtops stir up some bluesy mischief on “Music of the Devil.” With over 20 songs, not every spell hits its mark, but the spirit of the season shines through. For fans of smart pop with a spooky twist, this collection is a playful and tuneful treat bag worth digging into.
Timmy Sean “Transmissions From The Timmyverse”
Similarly along the lines of Steve Eggers (The Nines) and Fernando Perdomo, Timmy Sean has embraced some AI tools to create “The Timmyverse,” a universe of “artists” with their own musical style. But each of these personas are created with an Artificial Intelligence assist. Timmy Sean has dived headfirst into this new technology with a massive amount of music. Volume 1 of “The Timmyverse” has funk, disco, glam and more. He continued this in a second volume this month, and the best part is that he includes the non-AI altered “original” versions of the songs (and in most cases I like them better) with “the enhanced versions.”
In the hands of a skilled musician and producer, the AI versions sound great. He’s done wonders with Beatles covers, and he gets better with each attempt. Because it jumps around style-wise, its easy to pick and choose your favorites. Stay tuned to his Bandcamp page as he grows this universe, you may find some surprises like the solid “7teen.” Check it out!
Bandcamp only
Comps and Tributes: The Raspberries and Direct Records
Various Artists “Play On: A Raspberries Tribute”
We all know The Raspberries as the template for what a 1970s power pop band should be—tight harmonies, big guitars, and hooks that refuse to quit. Sure, Badfinger may have coined the term first, but The Raspberries perfected the formula. Their catalog has inspired generations of melodic rockers, and while tributes have come before, Play On: A Raspberries Tribute hits differently—it’s a love letter from the artists who truly get it.
Right from the start, Rick Springfield injects new life into “Go All The Way,” making it sound as vital as ever. In a different take, Vicki and Debbi Peterson (Bangles) do a solid “I Wanna Be With You,” and the Lemon Twigs crush “Let’s Pretend.” Plenty of muscle with Eric Dover’s version of “Ecstasy” and Shoes cover “Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)” with technical perfection. With 37 tracks, and a wide variety of artists, it really breathes fresh life into most of these classic songs.
Credit goes to producers Ken Sharp and Fernando Perdomo, who’ve assembled a dream lineup—chart-toppers, cult heroes, and rising indie names—all celebrating the band that nailed the perfect blend of Beatlesque melody and driving American rock. Play On doesn’t just revisit the Raspberries; it reminds us why they still matter. Super highly recommended.
Think Like A Key Music | Amazon
Various Artists “The Direct Records Story”
What would you do if you stumbled across a dusty box full of DIY cassette tapes from the early ’80s? Direct Records did just that—reviving a treasure trove of Mod, Pop, Beat, and Psychedelic gems that never made it past local scenes and college radio. The label’s vast archive captures a lost era of post-punk melody chasers and jangly romantics, and thanks to Kool Kat Musik, these songs finally have a second life across three volumes.
Most of these acts are unknown for a reason, though a few cuts capture genuine spark. Others feel more like demos stuck in nostalgia mode, imitating the past rather than reinventing it. Volumes 2 and 3 stretch into the late ’80s and early 2000s with mixed results. There are nuggets to be found, but you’ll have to dig through a fair bit of filler to uncover them. But for diehard pop archaeologists, the digging is half the fun.
New October singles and more: Speedfossil, Silk Cut, Cindy Lawson, Richard Turgeon, Dave Cope and The Sass, The Pozers
Another month in the books, and we welcome October with a new anthology collection from Boston’s Speedfossil, starting with a new track “Peg Leg.” It’s got a choice f-bomb in the chorus, so pay attention! Not sure where I found Silk Cut but the opener “Good Morning” was a brisk reminder that fall is coming. Next, the legendary punk queen Cindy Lawson‘s “The Reckoning” has an energy and attitude. Next we again recognize Richard Turgeon fresh off his amazing ‘Shungite’ EP we have a freebie Pavement cover of “Date with IKEA.” Next, Dave Cope and The Sass pop in with a quick rocker “Don’t Let My Dreams Come True,” like a grunge tune without the grunge (can you picture an alternate universe where Nirvana would cover this?) Finally, a shout out to Kool Kat Musik for the compilation POP AID 3. A good cause and good music always are a perfect match, plus you have a new Pozers song! How cool is that?