Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

International Pop Overthrow “Volume 16”

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international pop overthrow

It’s always been essential that I get the new IPO compilation, because each year IPO guru David Bash knows what makes great power pop. And once again we get a bountiful 68 song, 3 CD set of bands who have played IPO festivals from all over the world. We’ll do a disc-by-disc review:

Disk 1: Dave always finds gems I’ve missed and the first track is a perfect example with Mothboxer “Shame It Always Rains,” and its nods to ’60s garage pop. Beatlesque David Minchin is another find with “Please Don’t Go,” and the crisp guitars of The Maladaptive Solution “Abacus” impressed me too. More notable newcomers include Irene Pena, Cronin Tierney Band and Stephen Bunovsky.

Disk 2: The definition of power pop isn’t strict, and we get dabbling in melodic folk pop with Mustache Fable (“Two Truths One Lie,”) and punk pop with The Baghdaddios (“No Big Deal”). Lisa Mychols new trio does a great tribute to another power popper “Bruce Foxton.” Nostalgia buffs will love The JAC’s “Record Store” and the bubble gum garage of The Cool Whips “Boom-Shang-a-Lang.” This disc’s pleasant Anglo-styled surprises includes Warm Morning Brothers, Logan Squares and The Newds.

Disk 3: Swim Atlantic does a masterful job with harmonies on “Seam To Seam” and Jared Lekites gives us a the catchy “Too Far Gone.” More gems include “Look At The Girl” by Dan Markell, and Gooey’s “Watch Out” which brings to mind the late great Lou Reed. This disc has plenty of quirky pop like John McMullan (“Mrs. Reginald”) and the Blake Jones & The Trike Shop tribute to Frank Zappa. Its the most eclectic disc in the collection, and it ends with a standout song, “Destination Unknown” by Private Jets.

As usual, this compilation is essential listening, and a perfect addition to your IPO collection.  If you don’t have an IPO collection, get this one and work your way backwards. Don’t forget that the International Pop Overthrow festival continues year-round, and is expected in New York on Wednesday, November 13 through the 17th. As always I will be there, soaking in all the musical goodness.
power pop review score 8

Kool Kat Music | Jam Recordings | Pop Geek Heaven | Amazon

Greg Pope “Pop Motion Animation”

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Greg Pope returns with another great power pop album, but he throws in a twist or two this time. Starting off with “Partner In Crime” it’s pretty straight forward power riff based melody and a memorable chorus. Even better is “More Like You” with its layered vocal, dense rhythm guitar and its lyrically inspiring message of gratitude. We then go off into Joe Walsh/Lynrd Skynrd mode for the most enjoyable track on the album, “The Mattress.” All about a bed that fell off his truck on the highway, which in the lyric becomes an analogy for a hard luck life (in a funny way).

Pope slows down a quite bit after that with the acoustic “Don’t Wait” and “Cloud and Thunder,” a contemplative pair of folk-pop songs. While these slower tunes are okay, they don’t resonate as well as the more rock oriented ballad, “Playing Along”. The “Rebel Inside” is back to the Replacements style rock we’re familiar with. The final track, “She Might” is another winner and overall this is a welcome return for Pope after his successful film work. Its good to hear Greg branch out with different styles and fans should continue to support him and artists like him.

CD Baby | Itunes | Amazon

The Poster Boy and Dylan McGuire

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The Poster Boy “Bonjour, c’est Pop deux”
A follow up to the  debut of this Hungarian band offers both improvement in song writing and performance. The band handles power pop perfectly on the heavy riffs and quiet/loud contrasts of “D-Day,” but the band changes its sound to more piano riffs and lighter guitars on “12:01,” similar to early Maroon 5. Next is one of the best songs here, “Spectre” is an amazing single with a sweet backing chorus and its catchy as hell.

The album gets softer as we move forward, “Another Person” is a mid tempo ballad that builds to a moving guitar solo at the close. The vaguely ’70s lite rock of “Raven Girl” is another enjoyable song, the solemn ballad “Down” is exactly what you think it is. Thankfully the guitars return on the six minute epic “The Waiting Room” and overall not a note of filler. Oh, and the title translates from the French, “Hello this is Pop 2.” Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp | Amazon

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Dylan McGuire “Gravity (Or Lack Thereof)”
Philadelphia-area native Dylan McGuire is a singer/songwriter who just completed his newest album with up-and-coming local producer Brett Talley (of IKE). McGuire soaks in some of those IKE influences on the opener “Sunny and 71″ with a solid guitar hook leading the way. Its also pretty clear on”My New Wings” and “Try To Stop Me” that U2’s The Edge is a major influence. His style also reminded me of a mix between The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 at certain points.

It helps that Dylan has a strong vocal, and is skilled composer as well. Both the hook filled chorus and guitar riffs kept me listening on the 5 minute “Wear It On Your Sleeve” and “Maybe This Time.” Dylan also has a great melodic instinct so its too bad we don’t get a ballad here.  However, fans of soul searching anthems and guitar-centered rock will enjoy the entire LP immensely.

CD Baby | Amazon

The Pengwins, Gentlemen Rogues and The Connection

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The Pengwins “Naive/Life After High School” EP
Way before Lannie Flowers became one of the most beloved musicians in power pop, he had a band called The Pengwins that played from 1978 into the ’90s. In fact this Texas band was one of the great “lost” power pop bands of the midwest. The band also had Alan Petsche on guitar and vocals, Delbert Raines bassist, and Danny Wilkerson on drums. This box set EP is the first of the remastered singles. Its amazing how good they were, and unfortunate that they weren’t well known outside of Texas. Now you have your chance to re-discover them.

CD Baby | Amazon

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The Gentlemen Rogues “The Gentlemen Rogues”
Speaking of Texas, A new group of guitar centric rockers from Austin wow’ed me with their riffage skills. Even if the first track “Run From The Light” is a bit long winded, the ’90s melodic skills shine through on “Persistence is Futile.” Another standout “Is Tomorrow Worth Tonight?” with its Green Day-ish pop cynicism. This is a decent start and I look forward to hearing more from these Rouges.

Amazon | Bandcamp

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The Connection “First Time”
What else can I say about The Connection?  The album Let It Rock is already on my top ten list. But while my Poperpopaholic Fest was playing,  Brad Marino and
Geoff Palmer were off touring in France. They got a day off and decided to hit the recording studio to do this nice addendum. Pick it up now only on Bandcamp.

The Bye Bye Blackbirds and The Twigs

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds “We Need The Rain”
Singer/songwriter Bradley Skaught brings a terrific power pop vision to the newest album from The Bye Bye Blackbirds. The Bay Area band has been considered “thinking man’s rock and roll” often compared to Sloan  and Big Star.  The opener “All In Light” is darn near perfect start with big hook filled riffs in the Cheap Trick vein, then “Like A Thief” reminds me of a Posies tune with its cynical lyric in the chorus, “don’t ever, ever pray for love.” The wicked riffs lead “Butterfly Drinks” and then the slightly Beatlesque “Brand New Sitting Still” offers up a sunnier outlook on relationships.

Each song is carefully produced and the musicianship is top shelf here, without a dud track to be found. That said not everything sticks right away either, but the harmonies on “Waiting For The Drums” are amazing and the deliberate paced guitar on “Secret Ride” recalls Richard X Heyman. The band also does a rocking cover of Free’s “Broad Daylight” and tries a go at “Spin Your Stars,” a Neil Young styled mid-tempo roots rocker. Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp pre-order only

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The Twigs “Jump Right In”
Are you ready for a shiny bright ray of sunshine pop? The Twigs are twin sisters, songwriters and singers Linda and Laura Good, with Laura on guitars, vocals, ukulele, bass, keys and programming and Linda on piano, Wurlitzer electric piano, guitar, and vocals. Like the Corner Laughers, the duo displays clever lyrics, catchy melodies and luscious harmonies in “I Got A Great Idea.” They’re also positively wonderful on “Sunshine” and “Baby, Don’t Cry” – guaranteed to put you in a good mood. Like a mix of Lisa Loeb and The Beach Boys.

Okay, “You Are The Sweetest Thing”  and “Panda Bear” are most definitely kids bubblegum music. But if you are willing to tolerate it, you will be rewarded with those harmonies again in “Jump Right In” and “Frere Jacques.” It ends with a bedtime lullaby “Time To Sleep” and if you have a toddler this will be the “go-to” CD for both of you.

CD Baby | Amazon