Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Pete Donnelly “Face The Bird”

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Figgs bassist/songwriter Pete Donnelly, has quietly gone about establishing his solo career with inventive melodies and soulful rock without the Figgs harder punk edge. Like a younger, more playful Paul Westerberg, Donnelly starts out with the quick beat and bounce of “Face The Bird,” its truly infectious and will have you tapping along right away.

The catchy piano melody “Always Something” follows, and the Lou Reed meets Springsteen “Got Caught Up” just radiates cool. No fillers here, as easy going rhythms like “Going On This Way” ooze soulful street charm. Another gem is “Hear It From Me First,” which feels like a Van Morrison classic single. The tone and style vary enough to keep things from getting predictable, making this album a highly recommended collection of songs. Best of all, Donnelly sounds like he’s having just as much fun making this music as you are listening to it.

CD Baby | Amazon

Power Popaholic Fest: Almost ready to rock…

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Almost one week away from Power Popaholic Fest in Brooklyn. As an added incentive to get you down to the show on Sept. 7th @ 7:00pm – we have some special goodies for all those who attend the concert. Each attendee will receive a wristband with a code for a FREE album download of The Power Popaholic Fest original soundtrack Vol. 2  (while supplies last) and we will be selling limited edition commemorative album-cover sized posters (12″ x 12″ suitable for framing) at the merch booth. Get your favorite Fest artist to sign the cover as your own personal keepsake. Now who wants to go? Let me know on Facebook if you’re coming.

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Coke Belda “Coke Belda I”

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Coke Belda “Coke Belda I”
 Coke Belda is part of the power pop covers band Cokeroque, doing awesome things (like a mashup of Badfinger and Jellyfish). This is a guy who know his way around every musical cliche to craft something totally original. His new solo album has been produced by Anders Hellgren (The Merrymakers) and it shows. Beldas style is mainly baroque-styled pop, flowing across a massive 16 tracks.

It all starts with the epic “Last Show (part 1)” which has an ELP/Pink Floyd concert vibe. Then “Vero Suite” blasts us with a sweetly layered mix of chords and harmonies. “18 Miles” is a bedroom suite that takes from Brian Wilson, and “I Understand” is like a mix of Richard X. Heyman and Gilbert O’Sullivan. Plenty of great songs are here, from the fast-paced “Roses” to the orchestral Left Bank meets ELO “Daylight.” Not everything here is a catchy classic, but enough tracks succeed to make this album a highly enjoyable treat. This is a Bandcamp download only.

The Nomads, Athanor and Radio Ready

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The Nomads “Solna”
 The Nomads are Sweden’s premier garage rock band, and their latest offering Solna is the most accessible album in years. Starting with the catchy single “Miles Away,” its got the riffs, power and melody in perfect balance. If you are a fan of The Stooges or The Hives you will really dig this. Guitarist Hans Ostlund shines here, “The Bad Times Will Do Me Good” has that minor chord fuzz with an excellent solo midway in. In fact there is a lot more pop here than I expected, “You Wont Break My Heart” has a good mix of countrified mix of guitar underneath a “la-la” chorus.

Still, plenty of crash and stomp rockers are here. “Don’t Kill The Messenger” is a good example of this and some Ramones-like punk rock appears on “American Slang.” Rounding it out are the ringing riffs and 60’s beat style on “Make Up My Mind.” Overall you have a pretty complete album with no filler and a great mix of hard-edged riffs and solid melodies. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | KoolKat Musik

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Althanor “Flashback”
Advertised as “late 60s influenced psychedelic proto power pop band from Chicago,” Althnor is a the collaboration of Greg Herriges and Rick Vittenson. The pair dreamed of rock ’n’ roll stardom, toiling away in their basement back in 1972 and they released a single “Inner Space” that got some local radio play. Forty years later (!) they finally got a record contract from an indie British label looking to release the bands entire output.

While most of the bands music falls into the psychedelic folk genre, it boasts nice Beatlesque harmonies on “I Don’t Mind” and “Memory (Don’t Fail Me)” which is akin to Badfinger or The Aerovons. The fuzzy Lennoneque “Habits” and “Read Me” sound good, given these were made in 1975. This a perfect compliment for fans of other rare psyche-pop bands like Lazy Smoke, Creme Soda, and The Only Ones. For power pop completists, the four songs mentioned above are essential listening.

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Radio Ready “Lost Power Pop Hits 1978-1983: Texas, Vol 1”
This is a fantastic new regional power pop compilation series from Cheap Rewards Records. This first volume covers bands from the Lone Star state and contains many hard to find singles and unreleased demos. Fully authorized by all the bands and expertly mastered, it rightly belongs in your power pop collection.

Staring with Lannie Flowers first band The Pengwins “What You Gonna Do” is a fantastic single, and the rarely heard Bruce Moody “This Is It” reminds me of The Toms. A few gems included are The Take “Tonight” and True Hearts “All My Time.” Lots of punk influences here with local bands like The Rattlecats, The Spies and others I’ve never heard of.

Bandcamp | Cheaprewards.net

The Very Most and Adam Daniel

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The Very Most “Just A Pup” EP
The Very Most are an indie band from Idaho, clearly influenced by both The Beach Boys and Belle & Sebastian. The use of tinkling percussion and vocal harmonies create a delicate arrangement for the title track and its seamless transition to “Idaho, America in 2049.”

The light, dreamlike melodies pass over you like cool breeze. In fact the use of sleigh bells does give it a wintery feel. The upbeat “We Don’t Have Any Cuts To Waste” recall ’90s pop of The Beautiful South and The Ocean Blue. Even a spritely cover of Tom Jones “It’s Not Unusual” featuring Liz Hunt, feels welcoming here. Overall a very satisfying release that will leave you wanting more.

Bandcamp | Amazon

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Adam Daniel “Pop, Baby”
 L.A. songwriter and musician Adam Daniel hasn’t given us an album in over 12 years, but the memory of that debut Blue Pop was strong. Like a mix of Elton John and John Mayer, he storms out of the gate with “Summer’s Comin.” Next comes Adam’s statement on male romantic ambivalence with “In and Out Of Love,” a glossy pop single.

Adam varies his styles here, loud horn-guitar density with “Regret Shuffle,” and “Invisible” going in the opposite (softer) direction. Some great melodic tracks include “Your Gravity” and the ballad, “Lullaby.” It doesn’t always work, as “Dream Out Loud” has a ’90s AOR rock undertone that sounds dated. But there is enough here to recommend, as its more varied and dramatic than his debut.

Amazon | CD Baby