Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Sun Sawed in Half and Magatha Trysty

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The Sun Sawed In Half “Elephants Into Swans”
It’s great to have one of my favorite bands from the 90’s return to form – The St. Louis based group led by guitar-loving brothers Ken (bass) and Tim Rose (lead). Back in the Not Lame heyday, they were a similar to Crowed House (another brotherly duo) but with a Jellyfish-like sense of melody and pitch perfect harmonies.

Well with Elephants into Swans, the band picks up where it left off, “You’re Into Something” gives us a minor chord melody with glorious horn flourishes. The title track is another jaunty melody with the kitchen sink thrown in – harmonies abound, almost to prove they haven’t missed a step. I did notice many more key changes in these songs, the lively chorus of “Brittle Star” being one example. The songs are great ear candy, but won’t exactly stick in your head immediately. Of course the exceptions are everywhere – the dreamy “Countess I Fear Something’s Wrong” with its chorus “they stole your song” oozing subtext. And the joyous “She Offers Her Heart” and amazing “You’re Getting Warm” are high points for me. Its not all perfect, the ambitious “Hobby Horse” doesn’t quite work. However, the Rose brothers stuff this LP with just enough gems that it merits inclusion into my 2013 best of list. Spend at least a week with this one.

CD Baby | Itunes

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Magatha Trysty “Your Clothes Will Wear Themselves”
This Chicago band is the husband-wife team of Catherine Louise and Chris Bevard. This debut is a sure footed indie pop with a shared male-female vocal, that opens with the bouncy “Want To Stay,” with its catchy hummable chorus.

It also reminded me of 90’s bands like Velocity Girl, Til Tuesday or The Crash Test Dummies (without the Brad Roberts bass-baritone). On “Clairvoyant” Catherine really channels early Aimee Mann, and both “Brighter” and “Be Safe” are excellent songs. The group lets loose on “Sunday Dress” with new wave beats and shimmering guitar riffs. Uncommonly strong debut that deserves your attention.

CD Baby  | Amazon

Stephen Lawrenson and Hot Nun

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Stephen Lawrenson “OBSCURiOSiTY”
Stephen Lawrenson makes a huge impression here, starting with “Your Karma” it channels early pysche-pop of The Idle Race and The Move. The title track runs at a faster tempo, adding a fantastic chorus worthy of The Pillbugs. Then chiming 12 string Rickenbacker strums greet us on “Words to Say” with George Harrison-style slide guitar flourishes. “Small White House” is a SMiLE-styled character study tribute to Brian Wilson, and the jangley “Ordinary” is like a lost Gripweeds track. Stephen slows down for the moving “Forever And A Day,” with its West Coast feel and banjo backing – very much a treat for fans of The Autumn Defense. It closes out with the early-ELO inspired ” Pale Yellow.” So as you can see from all the links, this becomes a mix tape of power pop influences from across four decades. It’s hard to find fault here, as the songwriting and musicianship are top notch. It’s another addition to my new top ten for 2013.

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon | CD Baby

Hot Nun “Hot Nun”
Jeff Shelton (Spinning Jennies, The Well Wishers) opens up 2013 with more than just a new album. He has a new band called Hot Nun. Still the crunchy riffs and catchy melodies remain the focus, as “Brave New World” the opening track blasts through the headphones. A bit harder rock than The Well Wishers, reminding me of the Posies or Velvet Crush. Lots of great tracks here include “Thank You For That” and “Who Do You Love,” “Queen Bitch” where you’ll hear a distinct glam (Sweet) influence. No ballads to balance things, but its a very short album. Only 8 tracks here but they are all killer examples of great power pop, so crank it up to 11 mate!

Bandcamp Only expect CD release in February.

The Figgs and Rosie Abbott

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The Figgs “1000 People Grinning” Anthology

If you’re not familiar with The Figgs, then shame on you as they’ve been in the melodic rock business for 25 years. I am guilty of neglect here too, as I’ve lost track of the band after its earlier punk pop beginnings, represented by “Favorite Shirt” and “Wasted Pretty.”

This anthology can be considered a primer and a re-introduction to band with a hard core cult following that deserves another look. The songwriting tandem of Mike Gent, Pete Donnelly, and Guy Lyons have plenty of crunchy guitars and undeniable hooks. Gents vocals are comparable to Adam Marsland, but with less strain and more sneering confidence.The band has evolved from melodic punks, with occasional Rolling Stones and Replacements worship, to a tight unit with impeccably crafted rock gems. There are more than enough tracks here (25!) to make you a full fledged convert. I’ll be picking up plenty of the bands back catalog now ..so consider me schooled.

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Rosie Abbott “Rosie Abbott”

Rosie Abbott, a UK talent from Nottingham, really caught my ear with “If Everything Was Up To Me” a melodic couplet repeated on a old sounding piano, kind of like Martin Newell mixed with Jen Oliver. Her focus then goes to atmospheric composition, matching a owl’s hoot to the melody of “Woodpigeon Translation,” but the sound effects tend to sound forced.

“Hard To Sleep” does better as a showcase for Abbot’s clear vocal. “All Skies Are Blue” feels like a Lesley Gore ballad and I wasn’t thrilled with the punk attempt “Victim Of My Imagination.” However the remaining album won me over, from “Winter’s Over” with its rolling pastoral melody. Rosie has fun with the very Bryan Scary-like “If You’re Happy And You Don’t Know It” with its theatrical organ flourishes. Like the song “One More Glass,” the best song about getting smashed from a female POV, you’ll want more than one listen to Rosie’s self-titled debut.

CD Baby | Amazon

Mark Lane “Something New”

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West coast singer songwriter Mark Lane has grown since his debut Golden State of Mind. The disciple of Jason Faulkner (Jellyfish) and Rusty Andserson (Paul McCartney’s band) knew his way around a great melody early on, rooted in classic hooks on the debut – now he adds more muscle to his compositions on Something New.

Explaining the title track, Mark says he’s “looking at all stuff you have in your life, the things you might take for granted or think are mundane, and fabricating something new from them.” The grand opening “For Whom It Concerns” slowly builds into a dreamy rock lullaby. “Back In The Swing” is a sweet Lennonesque piano tune that fans of Paul Bertolino or Ryan Lerman will hum along to. Each song is carefully crafted, the ornate “Her” is a dramatic action theme, and “The King Of Silence” is a ghostly pop gem with a killer guitar solo at the break. The album goes at a deliberate measured pace, so soak up each melody line. This is another 2012 album that deserves to be shoe-horned into my top 10 list somewhere.

The Charlestones and Secret Friend

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The Charlestones “Off The Beat”
This impressive Italian band sounds very similar to Supergrass and Oasis on the opener “Off The Beat” full of driving rhythm and Mattia Bonanni’s wailing vocal. “Love Is A Cadillac” has the airy guitar work and echoing melody along the lines of Coldplay, its a great stadium-sized rocker and proof that Brit pop can still find a home beyond the borders of the UK. Each song is compelling, like “The Girl Who Came To Stay,” it has great melody and one of the many highlights of this album. Unlike the debut, no filler here and fans of great alt. rock like The Kooks or The Stokes will also love this. Highly recommended!

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Secret Friend “Time Machine” 
Secret Friend is a new all star collective that includes Willie Wisely, Kelly Jones, Linus of Hollywood, and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Organized by Australian songwriter Steven Fox, Time Machine is rooted in classic 70’s singer songwriter pop. Wisely has a cadence like James Taylor here, but the rich melody and backing make the opener “Who Am I?” a sure-fire hit.

“Starting Today” is another gem with sweet harmonies, and “Never Before” has subtle strings and lyrically falls into Gilbert O’Sullivan territory. Wisely’s “Oblivious” is a note perfect pop ballad and Kelly Jones “He’ll Never Know Me” is the jazzy answer to the narrative. Each musician helps make this LP a success. Foxs’ songwriting is very much like Andrew Gold, albeit with a modern POV. Many great songs here — it makes my Top Ten list for 2013 easily! A delectable slice of adult piano pop heaven.