Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Power Popaholic Fest Original Soundtrack

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After Power Popaholic Fest, I wanted to keep the energy going and some of the performing artists (along with some others) contributed a song to a “soundtrack” album for fans. It also seemed a good method to raise money for charity. With the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy last week, it seemed the the perfect opportunity to help. All profits from the purchase of Power Popaholic Fest Original Soundtrack will go directly to The American Red Cross.  I personally know people who have lost their power, their cars and even their homes. I can think of no better way to help them and get some great tunes at the same time.

Bands on the album: Lannie Flowers, Sitcom Neighbor, Cliff Hillis, The Wellingtons, The Honeymoon Stallions, Rick Hromadka (Maple Mars), King Washington, Eytan Mirsky, John Laprade, The Heartless Devils, Joe Giddings (Star Collector), The Hillary Step, Dave Rave, Vinnie Zummo, The Turnback, The Toms and Klaatu. Over 17 songs for your listening pleasure! It’s a great way to discover new sounds at a great price and help those in need.

Get the compilation exclusively on Bandcamp 

The Doughboys and Michael Andrews

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The Doughboys “Shakin’ Our Souls”
Local New Jersey garage rock legends release their third studio album, reminiscent of The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds and The Kinks. At this point the band is a well oiled machine, and playing classic rock and roll sure to please, starting with the opening track “Land.”

The band doesn’t just recycle the old Stones R&B riffs either, with improved songwriting on “One More Time” and “Tuggin’ Me Back.” Lead singer Myke Scavone sounds great and the production is mixed with the help of Kurt Reil (The Grip Weeds). It leans more power pop on songs like “Trail Left Behind” and the Tom Petty-like “Keep Your Dog Off Me.” Another great addition to your rock and roll playlist.

CD Baby | Amazon
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Michael Andrews “Spilling a Rainbow”
If you’re looking for some psychedelic folk pop with a baroque tilt, then perhaps Mr. Andrews will float your boat.  Opening with “The Dentist” our journey begins with cascading harps as the singer goes numb in a dentist chair. It leads to the splendid “Here Are We” with acoustic flair similar to The Zombies or Paul Simon.

Andrews has a light warm vocal that recall Alan Parsons Project’s Eric Woolfson on “My Warming World.” Next we get another gem in “Bubbles In Space,” a mix of McCartney and 10cc filled with trippy wonderfulness. The next several tracks help complete the mood, with some progressive melodies akin to Wind & Wuthering era Genesis, like on  “Breathing His Last” and “Low On Memory.”Overall, highly recommended.

Three Minute Tease and The Sensibles

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Three Minute Tease “Three Minute Tease”
Three Minute Tease is the collaboration of California psychedelic cult hero Anton Barbeau with Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor (Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock). Barbeau organized and wrote songs for the band as early as 2010, and they recorded with Kimberley Rew (Katrina and The Waves) at her studio in Cambridgeshire,UK.

Barbeau has that XTC meets Robyn Hitchcock quality, angular melodies with beautiful obtuse lyrics. If you ever wondered who is the modern day equivalent to Syd Barrett — Barbeau fits it perfectly. “Love Is Onion” is a great opener with its paisley 60’s bass line and great guitar solo.  “Milko II” is a  reminded me of Julian Lennon with its slower delicate rhythm. The bouncy “Thanks For Lifting My Leg” is a highlight with its trippy lyric and driving chorus. While not immediately catchy,  it is accessible. From the jaunty “Dig My Bones” with the pastoral “Queen of Apples” its clear mood and texture are equally as important as melody to Anton. Dive right in and savor it.

Artists Website | Amazon

 

The Sensibles “7 inch” EP
Hard charging Italian punk pop not unlike The Dahlmanns or Vibeke, The Sensibles roar to the forefront on “Open Book” with strong guitars and Stella’s wailing vocal. The accent is really noticeable on “John Bambi” but it doesn’t detract from this hard charging guitar pop. Each tune here is solid, I really liked the proto power pop “Denny” which reminded me a little of Shonen Knife with its overdubbed chorus of “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” At only four songs you can’t go wrong here, they have an even more straight punk sound on another EP.

Bandcamp only | Facebook

The Galileo 7 and Amy Gore

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The Galileo 7 “Staring at the Sound“
Opening with crunchy retro riffs on “Anne Hedonia,” its a solid throwback to 60’s British bands like the Kinks, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Creation. Fans of The Action and Len Price 3 will also find a lot to like here. The compositions are clean and harmonies crisp on the organ-guitar combo of “Paradise.” Lead guitar Allan Crockford makes it all an easy listen on the ears, the swirling guitars and psychedelic synths that The Moody Blues have mastered are done with equally dazzling effect on “Waiting to Cross.”

The songs seem to get stronger as the album progresses, “Hiding From The Sun” starts winsome, and builds to a rich melodic chorus. “Not Gonna Miss You” and “Don’t Fly Too High” groove pretty hard and I didn’t find a single throw away track on the album. If anything it adheres too close those flower power sounds, and will easily fool anyone under 30 that this wasn’t a classic album from 1968 or part of the Austin Powers soundtrack.

Amazon | KoolKat Musik
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Amy Gore  “In Love”
As leader of garage rock darlings The Gore Gore Girls, Amy Gore wears her classic pop influences well. She sounds like a mix of Karla Kane (Corner Laughers) and Chrissy Hynde (Pretenders) with an sharp romantic wit. “Driving Around” is perfect crusin’ music, a hummable melody that sticks in your head for the whole trip. Continuing with The car theme, “Cadillac” has some neat guitar licks and “Just A Dream” is another memorable single. Amy shows us a softer side on “I’m Addicted” but it doesn’t stay that way, as the love obsessed chorus plays on.

Some great guitar work is heard throughout, especially on “Static” and the blistering riffs of “You Won’t Lead Me On.” Overall a solid debut that should put this former Gore-Gore girl from the garage into mainstream pop success without straying far from her rock roots.

Artists Website | CD Baby (single only)
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Sitcom Neighbor and Hot Freak Nation

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Sitcom Neighbor “Charm”
Led by singer/songwriter/guitarist John Murphy, Sitcom Neighbor recorded Charm over a two year period with bassist Pat Mitchell (The Records) and drummer Eddie Cleland. Producer Steve Refling (Seth Swirsky, Nelson Bragg, Nushu, etc.) added his talents as well. Opening with “Amphetamine” you know right away you’ve got a winner with simple acoustic strum and harmonious dual tracked vocal similar to Teenage Fanclub. “Vaseline Water Balloon” is a XTC meets Kinks styled collection of metaphors with nice cello accents.

My favorite is the majestic Badfinger-like “Let It Go” with its awesome hook. “Darlene” is another fine rocker, with a strong melody. The songs continue to evoke late period Beatles, especially in the ballads like “True Love and Medication.” No filler anywhere, it figures to be high on my year end top ten list.

CD Baby | Amazon

 

Hot Freak Nation “Lifetime To Lifetime”
Hot Freak Nation is led by the songwriting team of Greg Roberson (Tiger High, Reigning Sound, Arthur Lee’s Love) and Don Main (The Late Show).

The jangle anthem “(You Are) The Best Kind Of Poison” starts us off, sounding a bit like Superdrag. It moves quickly to pysche-pop and garage on “Nothing Stays The Same” and “All The Right Things” but it also has subtle hooks that slowly sink in after repeat listens. The ballads like “Sunshine From The Heart” have an Alex Chilton styled resignation and the march “Everything Is Everything Else” is a great party song. The band settles into the retro vibe comfortably so fans of both The Clash and Terry Anderson’s OAKT will really love everything here. A rock solid debut.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik