I was really thrilled to interview the lovely Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles. We talk about the new album (Sweetheart Of The Sun) of course and yes there will be a new Sid & Susie album, Under The Covers, Vol.3 coming out soon. I ask her about Prince, Dhanni Harrison, Susan Cowsill and other interesting things including a possible Bangles boxset in the future. I tried to squeeze in everything and she was very personable.
Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic
The Bangles “Sweetheart Of The Sun”
Celebrating their 30th year anniversary, The Bangles’ newest album Sweetheart of the Sun, has all the requisite power pop touch points (The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and The Byrds) and co-produced by Matthew Sweet. Combining their trademark angelic harmonies with jangling guitar riffs, the band is now a trio; Susanna Hoffs (guitar) and sisters Vicki (guitar) and Debbie Peterson (drums); former bassist Mickey Steele is the only original member to leave the group. While many will consider this a successful “retro” album – it really is the band leaning on those 60’s pop roots to produce a more confident and timeless approach. The feminine harmonies are seamless and the melody lines will instantly stick in your head, from the opening track “Anna Lee (Sweetheart of the Sun)” all the way through to the Todd Rundgren penned “Open My Eyes.”
The music here is so good it’s hard to find fault here as this is a solid comeback for the band. The lead vocal duties are split amongst the many tracks, notable are Susanna’s “I’ll Never Be Through With You” and Vicki’s “Mesmerized.” The slower mid-tempo number “Circles In The Sky” denotes the more mature Bangles, as Peterson’s vocal is deeper and assured. They still can rock a hard riff on “Sweet and Tender Romance” and the harmonies reach its apex with “Through Your Eyes.” Both musicianship and songwriting are simply perfect here – not a weak track in the bunch. This makes it an easy choice to give a top ten nomination for best power pop album this year.
Meyerman “Who Do You Think You Are?”
Theo Meyer and his band comfortably crank out infectious power pop full of crunchy riffs, handclaps and shaking tambourines. From the opening introduction to the blistering “Permission To Rock You” takes its cues from Cheap Trick, Splitsville and The Posies. It also helps that the debut was recorded and mixed by Kurt Reil of the Grip Weeds. The vintage chords flow freely on “Get To You” and it effortlessly segues into a quiet break, then builds back up. The tracks have a relentless energy, and “Immaculate Mansions” has a touch of the Grip Weeds sixties-centricity in its DNA, with a terrific rhythm and guitar solo.
A good description of the bands method is in the opening lines of “Tour of Japan” where Meyer intones “We’ve been down in the basement for over a year/writing teenage symphonies that no one will hear…” The rock and roll dreams are so honestly portrayed, its hard not to join in with air guitar yourself. Meyers nasal vocal fits the driving energy of songs pretty well, but unfortunately the two part harmonies on the well written “Indecision & Inertia” aren’t quite up to par. Aside from that, this is a wonderful debut that sure to win over fans. It’s already won over IPO‘s David Bash who called them “a great power pop band…” I totally agree and highly recommend this album.
Don Lee and Grand Atlantic
Don Lee “Fool to Even Care”
Don Lee is singer/songwriter who deserves a big following among power pop enthusiasts. He’s got a vocal style uncannily like Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) and driving guitar chords to go with the sophisticated pop songcraft. Opening with “How Do You Play?” it’s a fast paced and catchy single. Several gems follow, “Getting Together” is a sweet double tracked vocal against a easy guitar strum, and a swaggering chorus. Alina Zimmerman adds her teasing vocal in the his/her duet “Pay Your Love In Full” with Don’s short but blistering guitar solo. “Never That Far” is another angular gem, with shifting tones in the melody. The ballads are good too, “Leave Me The Light On” adds a little bongo and flamenco flavoring to a superb pop song. The album never stays in a single mood, but it slowly runs out of steam until “The Lawn” and “Get Out Of My Way” revive things with its chord play and vocal enthusiasm. Melodic rock fans will also definitely want to explore his back catalog. It’s no wonder Don was voted Best Rock/Pop/Blues Act at the Jersey Acoustic Music (JAM) Awards this year.
Grand Atlantic “Constellations”
This New Zealand band gave us a taste of the heavier Britpop sound when they released the single “Poison To The Vine” earlier this year. Like a combo of The Doves and Oasis, Grand Atlantic has slowly moved away from their power pop roots, to a heavier rock and shoegazer style. The band still has a knack for pop melody on “Carved From Stone” as it’s a strong opener. “Searchlights” is another confident tune that struts it’s blistering guitars with gleeful abandon. Lead honcho Phil Usher adds a touch of spacey pysche-pop with the title track, and on the droning ballad “Mountains Too Steep” he finds his inner Bono. “Little Traps” is my favorite track here, with it’s layered guitar work and epic vocals. Kinda makes the old Oasis look like wussies, huh? However after the driving “Fresh Ideas In Home Security” it drifts off into less memorable stuff toward the albums end. But it still is a great album in my book, and this band also sounds ready to hit the big time with this album. It ups the ante for both fans and critics of How We Survive. Get this one and feel the rush!
Dynamo Bliss and Nat & Alex Wolff
Dynamo Bliss “Circadian Rhythm”
I have a solid policy of not reviewing singles, yet this Scandinavian band has an 11 minute opus that’s longer than most EPs, so I’ll let it pass. Stafan Olofsson and Mikael Sandstrom creates this awesome follow up to the highly acclaimed 21st Century Junk. It starts out a soothing blend of synths and launches into Andrew Gold guitar styled ballad with impressive harmonies, and shifts to a dreamscape of flutes and keys. Cleanly produced with a nod to studio prog along the lines of Alan Parsons early work, its simply mesmerizing. While you enjoy that, you can also check out is a wonderful cover of Stackridge’s Dangerous Bacon.
Nat & Alex Wolff “Black Sheep”
Musicians/actors Nat and Alex Wolff starred on the hugely popular Nickelodeon series “The Naked Brothers Band” from 2007-2009. Now the brothers are prepared to grow up musically with their first album released under their own names. Much like Drake Bell did years ago, the boys need to go into a more mature direction and it helps that they list the Beatles, Weezer and Nirvana as influences. A standout is the first single “Thump Thump Thump” as it actually reminds you that love songs about girls should be sung by teens (as opposed to middle-aged dudes). The best song here, “Disappointed” is a very authentic theme for a young teen, “I’m not mad at no one else/I’m just disappointed in myself” regarding his place in the world. The harmonies and melody here are great – and its more of this and the rebellious “18” that make a very clear statement to the music audience –“we are not kids anymore!” The album comes out this October.
