Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Jellyfish and Alex Chilton

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Jellyfish “Radio Jellyfish”
 This was mentioned a while back, but it’s worth another shout out. This is a stripped down acoustic set by one the greatest power pop bands of the last century. Each song is pulled from live performances in radio stations across Holland and Australia.

The harmonies are pristine and clear with only Roger Manning’s keyboard and Jason Falkner’s acoustic guitar backing them — this is proof that the band had real magic. Omnivore has done a great job pulling it together as the band flows through highlighted tracks from their 2 albums. Included are covers of Badfinger’s “No Matter What” and The Move’s “I Can Hear The Grass Grow.” Essential for all power pop fans, especially Jellyfish fanatics.

 

Alex Chilton “Electricity By Candlelight: NYC 2/13/97 “
Alex Chilton was performing a show at NYC’s Knitting Factory when without warning, the power went out and the show was “cancelled.” Amazingly Chilton came out to the remaining audience with an acoustic guitar and started playing romantic gems like “Someone To Watch Over Me.” It’s a great story, but unfortunately the moments are captured with a cheap bootleg recording. Often you hear lots of crowd noise, audience singing, glasses clinking, but Alex’s charming vocal is often buried. He does cover a lot of ground, even doing The Beach Boys “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” But this album is for die-hard fans only.

Highly Recommended: Favorites from 2013

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With so many albums to listen to each year, I’m still sorting through favorites. Here is a list of bands that were all on my “Highly Recommended” list that deserve some love. Some were on other bloggers “best of” music lists, so give these artists a listen and you won’t be disappointed:

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The New Trocaderos and The Rationales

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The New Trocaderos “Money Talks/The Kids” EP
The New Trocaderos are Brad Marino and Geoff Palmer from The Connection and fellow power popper Kurt Baker in a wild collaboration with songwriter/producer Michael Chaney.  “Money Talks” is straight from the Connection template of fast tempos, solid guitar riffs and harmonies all the way through. “The Kids” is sung by Baker and comes closer to the Ramones/Elvis Costello style. Either way this is a really nice EP and great way to start the year. Any chance a full LP will be on its way?

Bandcamp Only

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The Rationales “Dream Of Fire”
Even after giving myself a rest after my top 25 last week, I will find lots and lost of music I missed. The Rationales’ latest EP, Dream of Fire,  features 5 tracks recorded with producer Ed Valauskas (Juliana Hatfield, Graham Parker)and showcases the improved songwriting and skilled musicianship that make them a band that belongs on your radar. “Drunk all the Time,” and “Radio” are hard driving pop tracks that have plenty of melodic muscle. The remaining tracks allow the band the get denser, anthem-styled rock songs out, and I look forward to more from this talented band in 2014.

CD Baby | Amazon

Jeff Litman and Smalltown Poets

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Jeff Litman’s Christmas cover of a Beach Boys classic is perfect for a quiet Christmas eve night with a warm beverage in your hand. In addition, Jeff’s got a very cool NEW single out for “name-your-price.”  You can even send this single as a gift. Check it out!  

The Smalltown Poets had a really brilliant Christmas album last year. These guys know their way around a three part harmonies or two. This time the new album is Under The New Sun and if you buy The Smalltown Poets Christmas on Bandcamp it comes included for FREE.

The Candle Thieves and Parthenon Huxley

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The Candle Thieves “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Peterborough, England’s The Candle Thieves have struck again. Two unassuming guys, lead vocalist Scott McEwan and a dude simply named “The Glock” burst forth with a very glossy brand of heartfelt, optimistic pop. The opening song “Tomorrow Is Another Day” is a full on mix of Beach Boys/Carpenters layered harmonies with a melody as sweet as buttered toast. “Ocean of Storms” is a more standard pop approach with synths and soft falsetto. “Sugarcandy Mountain” is another bouncy gem of a love song, and “Keys To My World” is a measured ballad that almost turns to syrup. Vocally, the duo kind of reminds me of an English version of The Rembrandts.

But without a wasted track, it successfully navigates through an early confidence builder “The Little Engine That Could” to the rousing “Don’t Grow Up Too Soon.” The concept of holding on to childhood so tightly it drives romance away is artfully done and with the inspiring ending “Honey I’m Home,” it brings the listener back from the sugar rush. No filler here and even though I almost missed it, I’m happy to add it to my year end “best of” list.

Amazon


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Parthenon Huxley “Thank You Bethesda”
Parthenon Huxley or P.Hux as he’s called, is a veteran power pop artist I’ve known for a long time. Earlier this year he produced a new album and one of my fellow readers recommended a review. A new found energy is on the title track, a busy mix of Lou Reed-ish vocal phrasing and bass lines. In fact, Reed’s influence is all over this album. An early highlight is the catchy rocker “Angeleno,” about the search for fame and fortune in L.A.

He moves from from the slow soulful “Luckiest Man” to the smooth pop of “Long Way To Go.” His Beatlesque side comes out on “Roller Coaster” and “A Feeling That Won’t Fade Away.” The tonal shifts almost feel like you’re listening to a singles compilation album, it doesn’t stick to a single mood, but the overall theme is gratitude. This is a terrific album brimming with excellent guitar work and joyous melody. My last “top ten” recommendation of 2013.

Amazon

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