Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Blood Rush Hour and The Sunset District

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The Blood Rush Hour “And Then… The Unthinkable Happened”

I’d like to start off the new year with a great release, and The Blood Rush Hour has been happy to oblige.  “And Then…” isn’t a traditional album, but more like a power pop musical with a pile of great influences from Supertramp, XTC and especially 10cc. The theatrical opener “Hello (They’re Coming To Get You)” is a stunner with a choral verse halfway through. Production work is reminiscent of 10cc’s “Original Soundtrack” or Jackdaw4. “Hard To Put Right” blends seamlessly into the mix, you almost can’t tell when one song ends and the next one begins. No filler, although the songs are so dense they don’t hook you immediately and very few have repeating choruses. So take your time and hit repeat frequently.

Lots of highlights; “A Song That Some Sing” is a beautiful ballad by guest singer Christian Phillips (The Sonic Executive Sessions) and the tropical “Nicola” displays a keen melody with a sweet falsetto. “Dancing By Yourself” and “(The Day I Finally) Stopped The War” are closer to pop singles with immediate impact. The ending pair of “You Don’t Seem To Wonder Why” and “I See Something” use more synth and the compositions remind me of Trevor Rabin-era Yes (particularly on the latter song.) Songwriter/producer Robert DeStefano has got a special album here, and it isn’t unthinkable to add this into my top 20 list from last year. Highly Recommended.
power pop

CD Baby | Amazon

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Rob Fetters

The Sunset District “The Sunset District”

This Atlanta, GA veteran band lead by John McNicholas gives us a fun debut that I missed last year, while it starts out a bit stiff on the opening (“We Can Stow Away the Sound Underground“) the next track “Candy Says” is warm and full of indie personality. You’ll hear the influences from REM to Fountains of Wayne, with the narrative structures of the catchy “I Will Always Be Your Man” showcasing a fine bass guitar lead.

The band gets a bit more aggressive on the fuzzy “Oh, Angelina!” and while not alt-country, its got that southern laid back charm, like on the duet harmonies with Kim Ware on “A Girl Like You” and “All Hail This Town.” I can definitely say that this band has potential, so check it out.
power pop

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Weezer and Rob Fetters

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Weezer

Weezer “Everything Will Be Alright In The End”

A few major label acts fall into the “power pop” category, and fewer have the longevity of Weezer. Rivers Cuomo has really come back to his roots and even got his old producer Ric Ocasek to help bring the magic back. In a major turnaround, Rivers waves goodbye to the dance-rock of 2009’s Raditude for good. He explains himself on “Back to the Shack,” that “thought I’d get a new audience, I forgot that disco sucks” and even the guitar licks refer back to the bands “Blue” debut.

“Eulogy for A Rock Band” tells us that Weezer accepts its role in the rock universe, and to cement this gives us the crunchy singles “Lonely Girl,” “The British Are Coming,” “Cleopatra,” and “Go Away.” The band still goes off on a tangent with its’ closing suite “The Futurescope Trilogy,” but there are more hooks than a tacklebox on the songs preceding it. Highly Recommended, especially if you haven’t heard any Weezer since 2001.

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Amazon

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqZBAq2AdNc[/youtube]
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Rob Fetters

Rob Fetters “Saint Ain’t”

I really enjoyed discovering Cincinnati musician Rob Fetters (Thanks Carl Chavis!) Recorded in Nashville with a pile of guest stars like Matt Malley (Counting Crows), Belinda Lipscomb (Midnight Star), and Clyde Brown (The Drifters, Ben E. King) to name a few. “Suffer” is a catchy rock gem that will get you hooked. “Nero” is plaintive light pop composition with a great hook about infamy, “who says I can’t last forever?” he says. His sound is similar to Tom Petty, Todd Rundgren or Ian Hunter.

Solid songs all along here, “Desire” and “Forever Never” are very enjoyable, but the collaborations are so stylistically different it’s jarring. The light folky “Famous Last Words” a collaboration with Bee Haskins is the polar opposite of the blues-rock on “Life and Death Boogie” with Clyde Brown. Honestly, Fetters is so good he didn’t need these duets here to fill the running time. “Walking Out” is another gem with excellent guitar work that closes out the album. Highly Recommended.
power pop

CD Baby

Graham Alexander and Pete Donnelly

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The Intercontinental Rip Off Artists

Graham Alexander “Repeat Deceiver”

With his eclectic style, Graham Alexander is back with a new album and he’s leaning more on the “rock” side of the fence than the commercial “pop” side for Repeat Deceiver. His vocals have been compared to Sir Paul before, but now he’s ready to burst out with that lead riff in the catchy title track.

Graham’s enthusiasm and authenticity ooze out of each track, “Romeo Blue” also throws on rhythms and grooves that keeps your toes tapping to the melody. He also takes no shortcuts, that’s real strings on the ballad “Games” and he doesn’t stick to a set formula either. He could go all show tune-like on “Third Wheel” or country rock for “People Are Only Sorry When They’re Caught.” I like the hummable “Cartography,” and the aching love song “American Au Pair In Paris.” It’s a finely crafted album that just makes it into the running for my top LPs list this year.
power pop

Itunes | Victrola

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRITkrpzzmQ[/youtube]
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Pete Donnelly “American Town” EP

Pete Donnelly has played with many great rockers(Tommy Stinson, Graham Parker) and bands(The Figgs, NRBQ) but the New Jersey songwriter also needs to express his personal feelings on his solo work. After last year’s excellent Face The Bird, Pete’s newest EP explores issues related to inequality and the American dream on American Town.

The music is more folk Americana than the usual pop based songs, starting out with the breezy “So Long,” featuring backup vocals from Shelby Lynne. Then comes “Making Changes Overnight” with its bouncy beat and hopeful message. The title track is a real standout, a Tommy Pettyesque chorus about those who’ve returned home from war and the horrible treatment they get. It’s a great protest song that overshadows the other lighter tracks, songs that match subtlety with style on “Pink Noise” and “Downhearted Crazy.”
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Holiday Music: Smalltown Poets and The Connection

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Smalltown Poets

Smalltown Poets “Christmas Time Again”

At this point its become a tradition here with my favorite Christmas band Smalltown Poets. They’ve got the vocals, musical chops and this year they’ve got a new album to unwrap. After a spiritual introduction, the band lets loose on “Wassail song” with drums, guitar and piano leading to a harmonious vocal chorus that hits a few different Christmas themes. The title track is an instant classic that deserves major radio play this time of year, evoking the holiday perfectly. Even if you don’t like holiday music, this song will just melt you. Highly Recommended.

CD Baby | Bandcamp | Amazon

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The Connection

The Connection “A Christmas Gift For”

Another “must have” Christmas album by the rocking-est band this season. Starting with “Money, Honey, Baby” it jingles and jangles into your head right away. “West Coast” looks at the holiday from a snow-free perspective. The boogie blues of “Better Late Than Never” is pretty cool, and “Christmas Time Again” is another layered gem. Highly Recommended.

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Best Concert Albums of 2014

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The Nines “Nine Lives”

An essential concert album this year, The Nines frontman Steve Eggers visits his discography and throws in a few extras. The recording is clear and gives an excellent representation of the live experience, right down to the shaky vocal warble that opens on “It Hurts You.” Steve has combined numerous live performances from around Toronto (most recorded at Poor Alex Theatre) and other areas into a cohesive concert experience.

Special guests include Mike Viola (Candy Butchers) playing guitar and Andy Reed (American Underdog) playing bass, both sing backing vocals on the song “Virginia.” In addition, seven tracks have never been released before, so you’ll get much more than a greatest hits compilation. As far as newer tracks “Falling Down” is an emotional and resonant highlight, tracking the aftermath of a bitter breakup. Eggers creatively mines territory similar to Billy Joel (“Average Joe”) and Ben Folds (“Gord’s Life,”) each time bringing us along his melodic journey. For those who want a taste of the excitement at a Nines concert, here you go. Get it at CD Baby

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Lannie Flowers “Live in NYC”

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The Sharp Things “Live At Galapagos Art Space “

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