Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Mockers and Willow

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The Mockers “Men of La Mancha” EP
Power pop veterans The Mockers have been dripping out singles all year, but finally we get a nice group together in one EP. A cover of “Impossible Dream” from the Broadway show Man of La Mancha, it starts off traditionally… then speeds off into Mockersville. The Spanish pop gem “Que Vida” sounds like it fell off the Los Imposibles album. And the liberal dream single “Republican Girl” is a bona fide viral hit. Add to this two new holiday songs and you have all killer, no filler — one of the best EPs this year. Highly recommended!

Bandcamp | CD Baby (Christmas singles only)

Willow “Charcoal & Blue”
Once again we follow guitarist Mike Barnett to his new project. Willow is a collaboration between Barnett, Jerry Risner (bass) and Denise Risner (vocals, keyboards). The trio leans on Denise’s jazzy vocal and Barnett’s jangle styled guitar playing. Opening with “Nobody Does It Like You” its a Dylanesque gem, and I enjoyed the soulful lyric and Byrdsian riffs on “Good Love Is Hard To Find” and “Counting On You.” Unfortunately weariness on some of the vocals is evident, and some songs lack energy. Fans of both Dylan and Steve Forbert may appreciate it more than I did.

CD Baby | Amazon

International Power Pop: Peelgreems and Los Autonautas

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Peelgreems “Big Adventure”
This is a perfect example of why I get excited over power pop from outside the USA.  This a French orchestral-experimental pop band that fills each song with dense composition and innovative chord combos that are impossible to ignore.  Sung in English, “8th of December” opens with dramatic piano progressions, and the follow up “Acquario-Aria” is pure innovation. Fans of The Wondermints, ELO and Japanese pop will find lots to love here all from the minds of Alexis Hadefi, Morgan Agren and Michael Manring. And don’t miss the heavenly harmony opening on “Tsuruuchi.” A big thanks to Miyuki again for finding this gem.

Bandcamp | Amazon

Los Autonautas “Lo Que Quiero “
Once again we have another Spanish power pop gem from Madrid. Los Autonautas have been around since 2007, according to Facebook, “The Autonautas formed when Clara Guitar, Caesar and Mr. Pazos traveled through space and time only to land by mistake in the state of California during the 60s.” And the Caesar/Clara duo really know their way around a guitar riff. Get a download at Bandcamp or a CD through Waterslide Records.

Jellyfish “Stack-a-tracks”

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Arguably the most influential power pop band of the 90’s was Jellyfish. While recording their two studio albums, (1990’s Bellybutton and 1993’s Spilt Milk), “instrumental” mixes of each record were created by Jellyfish and their producers. These “previously unheard” versions of Bellybutton and Spilt Milk were created in the studio, at the time of their original recording/mixing.

These are not “remixes” from the multi-tracks, they are authentic and transferred from the original 1/4″ masters. An individually numbered edition of 2,000, housed in a digipak for the limited first edition, with new illustrated artwork (created for the release), this 2-CD set is destined to become the newest gem in the collections of power-pop fans everywhere.

Amazon | Omnivore Recordings

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Here is the band in live all its crowing glory, Andy Sturmer, Roger Manning Jr., Tim Smith and Eric Dover.

International Pop Overthrow, Vol. 15

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After you’ve stuffed yourself full of turkey and cranberry sauce, it’s nice to know you can satisfy your musical hunger with IPO. Another year, another 67 tracks spread over 3 CDs from a variety of bands known and unknown, as selected by power pop guru David Bash.  As always, a great way to discover new sounds at a great price!

Disc 1: The immortal Shoes begins our journey with “Head vs. Heart,”  and it’s matched by the Byrdsian guitars on Fireking’s “So You Say You Lost Your Baby.” Old favorites are on hand like Lisa Mychols (“Taken,”)  Private Jets (“Speed Of Sound,”) and the recently reviewed Condors (“Queer Fascination.”) But what I look for are the rookies, like the playfully seductive “Crush On A Girl” by The Jooles, and the frantic punk-pop “Square Pegs” by The Issue and “Yesterday” by The Secrets.

Disc 2: King Washington‘s epic “The Gears” starts us off. The Afternoons “Wait Til You See Her” has a bit of Oasis’ echoing beat and the new track from The Sunchymes “Revelations In Her Mind” adds its light 60’s pop touch. My favorite track from the new Spygenius LP is here (“K is Menatlly ill”) and Nushu’s cover of The Cars “My Best Friend’s Girl” is a blast. A new Vegas with Randolph track here “Nikki’s Plan/Broadway” and Robin Stanley’s “Make Up Your Mind” are also highlights.

Disc 3: Strong tracks are all over this one. I really liked the harmony filled opener “Summer’s Green” by The Tor Guides, and “Never Stop Wooing You” by Sweet Diss and The Comebacks is a perfect follow up. “Get Her Off My Mind” from Throwback Suburbia thrills, and even Japan’s Mayflower is on here with “Cat’s Boro Blues!” The bluesy rock of The Pengwins (with Lannie Flowers) leads on “Naive” and The Pozers “My Maze” add a Beatles-ELO influenced gem. Overall, you’ll be coming back for repeat listens on this compilation… I guarantee it!

Pop Geek Heaven | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
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One disk 3 is Ashbury Keys “Wake Up” – This performance was filmed at IPO Liverpool 2012.