Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Magic Eight Ball “Sorry We’re Late But We’re Worth the Wait”

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Magic Eight Ball are an energetic trio from the south of England led by musician Baz Francis. After several EPs and singles, the band brings us its first LP (with the appropriate title). One thing you get immediately from the opener, “Something Better Has Come Along,” Baz is a big fan of Jellyfish and Enuff Znuff. His vocals are amazingly similar to Andy Sturmer here and Jellyfish fans will just feed off that and the swirling guitar riffs. It continues throughout this fast-paced album. The sweet “Baby, Is It So?” slows the pace a little just to let us know everything is fine, and its highlighted by an amazing guitar solo at the break. The band also pays tribute with the song “Big Star,” delivering the jangle and harmonies similar to the classic “September Gurls.”

Every song on this album has a compelling big hook and melody from the heavy crunch guitars (“Before It Was Murder” featuring Donnie Vie) to the gentle ballads (“Monkey Bars.”) A great mix of the crunchy-sweet is found in the standout “Russian Ballet” (reminded me of Ice Cream Hands as well) and it deserves a spot as a contender for my 2013 top ten list. Better late than never.
power pop review score 9

Amazon | Itunes

Arthur Nasson and The Well Wishers

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Arthur Nasson “West Cambridge Cowboys”
Nasson just finished playing IPO Boston, and I was shocked not to have heard him before. Clearly a lover of melodic pop in the Beatles meets Joe Jackson vein, starting with “She Was Never Really There,” the piano chords are accompanied by Nasson’s Lennonesque harmonies. “Watch Your Back Now” and “Phil’s Pony” are also great catchy songs with the unmistakeable Todd Rundgren influence. “Blind To Reason” is a bass heavy slice of electric guitar with a catchy beat.

“I’ve Got A Flanger In My Heart” is another dense guitar tune filled with echoing riffs and synths. Stylistically he keeps to the 60s through the 80s on most songs. He also has an inventive use of sound effects on the textured mid-tempo “From A Window On A Train.” At times the sonic experiments feel more like an indulgence, (“Robot Trouble” and “Auntie-Matter”) but they are mercifully short. Enough great tunes here to make this highly recommended listening.

CD Baby | Amazon

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The Well Wishers “Dunwoody” EP
The brand new EP from San Francisco’s Jeff Shelton (aka The Well Wishers) encapsulates five acoustic styled vignettes of some mythical folk in Dunwoody, Georgia – a real suburb of Atlanta. In a change from the heavy rock of his other project  Hot Nun, this Well Wishers EP comes from a mellower melodic place.

“Peel Away” starts off with gentle acoustic and electric guitars to a bouncy pastoral melody. This style continues on “Good Luck” another optimistic love song with some a gentle harmonies in the chorus. Next “Real Today” and “Open Up Your Eyes” are more standard Well Wishers jangle-pop. Overall, the wonderful melodic compositions without any filler, makes a great holiday gift. Highly Recommended.

Well Wishers Direct (with bonus CD) | CD Baby

1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco and Nick Vernier Band

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The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco “The Cruise Control EP”
I know almost nothing about this UK band, but it does have a slick melodic style very much in the mode of early Steely Dan with a touch of Squeeze or Randy Newman. Most impressive is “The Legend of Josie & The Juke” with its catchy melody in the chorus, solid harmonies and lead guitar. “List Study” is a detailed study with classic jazz rhythm guitar punctuating each chorus.”Breakfast Of Kings” is a rousing bar sing-along.

The band has a few other singles on Bandcamp from earlier this year, one I liked here was “Jackie & Norm & The Hairdresser to The Stars.” a livid character study.  And the earlier LP Private Jet Flashback is a “name-your-price” download. A real buried treasure of a band that deserves to be heard!

Bandcamp

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Nick Vernier Band “Don’t Know What To Say”
Eric Van Den Brink (Nick Vernier Band) has a knack for picking great collaborators. He’s worked with Gerry Beckley (America), The Monkees, and Probyn Gregory (The Wondermints, Brian Wilson Band). Now with David Paton (Pilot,) Eric has put together a single called “Don’t Know What To Say.” Its a nice catchy song, and we hope a full album follows.

Itunes

Lamar Holley and David Brookings

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Lamar Holley “The Color of Day”
Lamar Holley has been busy making childrens pop music since we heard his Confessions as a College Student. And he certainly starts off with the goofy kiddy theme “Planet Puzz,” but he examines the growth and death of teenage romance with the remainder of the album. “Roller Coaster” is a peppy pop tune, that gradually grows from kiddie theme to full fledged teen crush on the catchy “One and One.” This song is the album highlight, most similar to Confessions layered pop style.

Holley’s next song is the subtle moving ballad keyboard focused, “Beside You.” Next, “Acting in Love” is the true story of a New York City actor who met his future wife at an audition. With “Are You Really Mine?” he begins to question whether his girl really loves him in a show-tune styled monologue. “Feeling Famous” is a burst of optimism with its Beatlesque rhythm guitar. Things start to slow down after that, as the tone of the songs gradually trace the break up. The song cycle ends with the dramatic “Who Am I?” and the renewal of spirit in “Joe.” While it doesn’t surpass his debut, Holley’s vision holds as a very satisfying follow-up.

Bandcamp


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David Brookings “the maze”
Seattle singer/songwriter David Bookings is back with his 6th album. As a songwriter Brookings growth since 2009 is subtle but equally visible, since his move to the West Coast. Brookings guitar centric style is a hybrid of Kenny Howes and Jeremy, and he gets right to it on “If I Don’t Make It Back” with up-beat, hand clapping rhythms and solid solo breaks. The songs are sort of semi-autobiographical, “Cora” is a standout with rich instrumentation and fuzz guitar chorus; a great character study tune.

I’m sure most indie musicians appreciate “The Greatest Songwriter No One Ever Heard,” who “used to be an outcast, used to be a nerd” channeling his soul into music. Another highlight is the crunchy “Heroin Donna” and the title track with its Lennonesque echoing melody. “I’ll Wait Up For You” is another easy-going slice of life, with a tight composition and a terrific middle eight. Brookings is a young artist with a melodic gift and we should encourage him to continue his journey. Highly Recommended.

CD Baby

Goodfellows “The Name of These Girls”

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Normally I would not recommend an album that isn’t available in the US, but for the power pop fanatic this one is worth seeking out. From Madrid, Spain the Goodfellows have a history of inventive packaging, and excellent songs. The latest LP, The Name of These Girls disc is lovingly packed in an actual denim jean pocket.

Musically, the band follows a traditional power pop template, very similar to Teenage Fanclub and The Gin Blossoms. Starting with “Virginia,” it isn’t revolutionary, but a steady jangle pop opening. The band ups it’s game with “Rocket Girl” by getting an assist from the legendary Paul Collins adding his vocals/guitar in the second verse. Lead vocalist Gabriel Palmer doesn’t have the strongest pipes, but the song composition and instrumentation go a long way on the Beatlesque “I’m Coming Back to You” and the guitar crunchiness of “Marianne.” The highlight of the album for me is “Just A Minute,” with a perfect chorus worthy of The Wonders. Lots of references to musical nostalgia are themes to songs like “Happy Days,” “Good Old Days” and even the lone short ballad “Times Are Never Changing.” Keep up the great work amigos!
power pop review score 9

Goodfellows.es | Rock Indiana

This is footage from a recent concert in Madrid, to listen to the album visit Rock Indiana.