Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Terry Manning and The Soulphonics

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Terry Manning

Terry Manning “Heaven Knows”

If Terry Manning’s name sounds familiar it may be that he’s been one of the the most respected engineers and producers in music history — Led Zeppelin III, the first two Big Star records, Al Green, ZZ Top, the Staple Singers, Albert King, Shakira, Lenny Kravitz, and hundreds more have had Manning involved in their work. After a quirky, trippy solo LP in 1970 Manning dedicated his life to the engineers sound board until his 2013 tribute to Bobby Fuller “West Texas Skyline” which was mostly covers. With “Heaven Knows” we get to hear more originals, and Manning has amazing talent as both a songwriter and instrumentalist.

The Beatlesque opener “It’s You (Beacon)” has a great catchy bridge with some wonderful Harrison-like guitar fuzz in the solo. The title track,“Heaven Knows” makes use of an smooth orchestral opening, and the vocal overdubbing emulates the harmonies of the late-era Beach Boys. The next several tracks gravitate to this style, the slow pacing and layered production make this a sweet single, and “Look at Me (Everything About You)” keeps thing moving along with its light joyful melody. “Things are Gonna Be Fine” is another romantic pop ballad with a bright sax solo. Appropriately, Terry gives us a reverent cover of Brian Wilson’s “God Only Knows,” and another winner here is the fifties ballad “Oh My Love” which would easily fit on a Grease-themed soundtrack. A few more covers (Al Green, Otis Redding, and Jerry Lieber) till we get to the tropical “Life Is Good (‘Cause URU)” with its laid back calypso rhythm. Highly Recommended.

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The Soulphonics “Heart Full of Soulphonics”

Led by  guitarist-vocalist Glen Worley its straightforward pop-rock songs driven by jangling guitars set in the mid 1960’s style. Worley and his drummer Kevin “The Skindriver” Connolly are veteran musicians who’ve been playing together for over 25 years in a variety of musical styles and both played last years IPO in Austin.

The clean jangle of “A Million Times” makes a great start, with its crisp chorus and Byrdisan riffs. Glen’s vocals sound alot like Sal Valentino (The Beau Brummels,) on the mid tempo “The Letter Home.” Then we meet “Gwendolyn,” another early standout about a girl with “eyes of blue neon” and “Slipped” picks up the tempo. If there is a fault here, its that many songs tend to blend into each other and the hooks don’t always stick. Thankfully, the band goes off script with the rockabilly gem “Heartbreak In the First Degree,” and Worley really gets to show off his guitar licks. “Those Are The Breaks” is another driving Texas rhythm that encourages repeat listens. Fans of great jangle-pop shouldn’t miss this one.

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Yorktown Lads and Watts

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Yorktown Lads “Songs About Girls and Other Disasters”

The buzz for this release was so long in coming, that many added it to their 2014 best-of list. It started as a Kickstarter campaign, endorsed by author & drummer John Borack, it was quickly funded and finally released to the public this year.

Yorktown Lads are Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts grads Cameron Lew, Addison Love, and their teacher Michael Simmons (SparkleJets*u.k.). They start off with a note perfect Beatles-Beach Boys hybrid “Something To Write About,” that will knock your socks off. The album doesn’t stay retro but it stays melodic; “Before You Leave” is a laid back Belle and Sebastian styled pop that sticks in your head nicely. “La La” is the textbook template of a great power pop song; an upbeat and catchy melody about giving up on love until you meet that perfect girl. This is one example amongst many. The styles vary from the sullen pep talk “Dear Ethan” to louder Cheap Trick riffs of “He Got It Down” and “Cool Shoes, Bro.”

While not everything here works (“Make Her Smile” is eerily like The Spin Doctors,) most of this album hits the mark and earns its 2015 “best of ” nomination. Don’t miss it!

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Watts

Watts “Flash of White Light”

When we last heard Watts, it was an impressive collection Stones-y rockers similar to The Doughboys or The Satisfactors.  Glad to hear things haven’t changed much, its still straight-up rock n’ roll full of hot licks and high-powered riffs, with more of a modern nod to bands like Aerosmith and AC/DC. While the opening title track is traditional, “The Mess is The Makeup” has a heavier rock vibe. “Sidewinder” has a touch of Allman Brothers or Bob Segar in its DNA with some awesome guitar work here.

The tendency of heavy rock is to get ponderous, but Watts avoids this with catchy riffs like on “Wasted Angels” and also smartly trying different lead vocalists for many of the songs. Between John Blout, Dan Kopko, and drummer Johnny “Rock” Lynch you never fall into predictability. More highlights include “Better (For A Girl Like You)” and the very Guns ‘N Roses inspired “Flying Over With Bombs.” Check’em out now!

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Everet Almond and The Fraidies

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Everet Almond

Everet Almond “Four Tracks” EP

Everet Almond is the drummer for one of our favorite bands, Evil Arrows. Everet proves he’s got major songwriting chops from behind his kit with this short EP. “Start Again” is a Lennonesque piano ballad that’s a real charmer and the steady guitar beat and melody of “Are You A Man?” is very much in the vein of Emmitt Rhodes. This little DIY gem is very much inspired by early 70’s folk rock style and recorded with an iphone. Maybe he should lobby Bryan for a song or two on the next Evil Arrows LP. Best of all, it’s a FREE Bandcamp download, so give yourself a treat and grab it!

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Free Download on Bandcamp

The Fraidies “Try Again”

Seattle-based indie/alt-rock outfit, The Fraidies, released a debut last year and now I’d be remiss if I didn’t review it. Produced by Gary Reynolds, the band crafts a perfect mix of power pop melodies and late 1990’s/early 2000’s alt-rock. The dual guitar riffs and infectious verse on the great opener “X’s On Your Eyes”  keep this song stuck in your head.

The happy tempos contrast the general misery of situation, concentrating on goofy lyrics on “You’ve Got A Brand New Calculator” to “cheer up” from the “same ole blues.” This theme continues on the alt country influenced  “The Powers That Be”  or the rock-synth combo “Never Love Again (It’s Doubtful)” with its catchy la-la chorus.  More highlights include the anthemic chorus of  “Your Mouth is a Radio” and “You’ve Got Nothing But Love.” It takes a sad turn with the long ballad “Gold Miner” but fans of The Lemonheads and Matthew Sweet are sure to love this band.

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CD Baby

The Wind and The Shivvers

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The Wind

The Wind “Re-Wind”

The Wind formed in 1982 and their debut LP was a criminally overlooked by most. It was a power pop classic that had influences from Beatles and Dylan to Motown. Now thirty years later Lane Steinberg is rejoined by his mates Steve Katz and Steve Burdick. Add to this pop maestro David Grahame, who co-produced and mixed this reunion. A mature sophisticated pop sense replaces the youthful energy, but they definitely recapture that old magic.

Keeping the production simple and clean similar to the Grahame Steinberg series, “Fight Like A Girl” has a catchy hook filled gem with hand claps and a fight bell to get the point across. Those harmonies of Lane and Steve work magic on the ballad “Let Me Show You How It’s Done.” The soul pop piano of “Think On Your Feet” is another great song with a low key chorus (think Todd Rundgren’s “Something/Anything”) and solid composition. Additional standouts include Steinberg’s piano melody “Weak Spot” and Katz does his best Motown in “Baby I Can Take A Punch.” Lane remains a superb songwriter on the breakup song “Which Part Of Goodbye?” and the hopeful gem “There’s A Clamoring.” “The 99th Percentile” is another rock blues riff about romance that sticks to your head. The reunion feels like a easy going session between friends, and while these men are no longer the youths that rocked out “Bad Eloise” from the debut LP thirty years ago, the themes of the music remain the same.

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The Shivvers

The Shivvers “The Shivvers (Remixed and Remastered 2014)”

Hard to believe, but this “lost” power pop classic belongs alongside the great albums of the early 1980’s era. If you love Blondie, The Scruffs, The Toms, and The Shoes then you should make it your business to listen to Milwaukee’s first real power pop band. The debut record LP finally saw the light of day this summer with terrific vocals from Jill Kossoris and backed up by Scott Krueger, Jim Eannelli, Jim Richardson, Mike Pyle and the late Breck Burns. Although the music was available in 2006, it has been newly remixed and remastered in 2014. Its being re-discovered today (thank you, internet) and well worth the listeners effort.

“Teenline” was bona-fide hit single that got attention from Raspberries’ frontman Eric Carmen who wished to produce the bands LP. “Please Stand By” is another fast paced song with bright angular guitar chords and hand claps in the chorus. “Hold On” is built very much like a Raspberries song, even the opening chords closely resemble “I Wanna Be With You.” The slower “Why Tell Lies” is song about heartbreak that echoes those fifties ballads with repeating vocals behind the chorus. Every song here resonates and impresses, from the heavy riffs of “When I Was Younger” to the piano melody on “Don’t Tell Me.” Krueger eventually joined The Wigs, and the group was disbanded. As a lush coda to the bands career, the 1989 reunion single “Remember Tonight” is included. Despite the simple production techniques, the music doesn’t sound dated due to the solid songwriting and energetic performances that carry each tune. When building a power pop collection, The Shivvers remains an essential LP to get.
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The New Trocaderos and Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms

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The New Trocaderos “Frenzy in The Hips” EP

Formed last year, The New Trocaderos are a mini supergroup consisting of Geoffrey Palmer and Brad Marino of The Connection, and Kurt Baker. They released a few singles and an EP (or two) late in 2014. Well if you missed any of these hook-filled songs I’ve got some good news. Kook Kat Musik is distributing a compilation of these singles under the 6 song EP “Frenzy In The Hips.” The music is hard charging pop that’s rooted in the British Invasion and garage rock style. Each single is compelling, but my favorites are “Dream Girl, ” “The Kids” and “Luckiest Man in the World” which is only available on CD on this release! Fire this CD up for an instant rock and roll party. Highly Recommended.
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Kool Kat Musik Exclusive

Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms

Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms “Heart String Soul”

It’s great to hear Ryan again, his last album was nearly three years ago. After many listens, its clear that Ryan Allen bleeds rock & roll dreams. His energy and melodies are the very stuff power pop fans yearn for. “Should Be Me” is the first song, about his lack of radio play and the hopeful refrain of “one more day” to figure out how to “make it.” It’s a little like a mix of The Ramones and Richard X. Heyman. “Looking Forward to Looking Back” has Raspberries-like riffs and a catchy chorus making it an infectious rocker, “We are all born broken” starts the chorus that hits every note perfectly.

“Become a Disaster” is an anthem for disaffected young adults, building with massive harmonies and riffs like Weezer and a Fountains of Wayne styled narrative. Everything here rings true from the timeline affair of “Angela ’97” to the Big Star influenced “Not Hanging Out” to the quiet heartbreak of “Bonded By Blood,” about the difficulties of fatherhood. Ryan has blown me away here, and this easily makes my top ten album list for 2015.
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