Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Phantom Six and The Brixton Riot

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The Phantom Six “Plastic Rain”
These six rockers from West Virginia are Mark Poole (lead vocals/guitar), Billy Sheeder (guitar), Billy Matheny (bass), Clint Sutton (drums) and Woody O’Hara (percussion). Opening with “Corianna” it kicks down the doors with a sonic assault similar to The Foo Fighters and Superdrag. The followup “Inspiration” mines both British Invasion garage with Mod touches, and “About Love” keeps those tasty riffs in the chorus. The title track has everything you need, with vocal harmonies, hand claps and a fun hook that keeps your head bobbing.

Fans of The Raspberries and The Flaming Groovies will enjoy “Scenes Like This” even if Poole’s vocal gets overshadowed at times by the great guitar work. Lots of impressive reverb and energy throughout the album make it an easy recommendation. More highlights include the Kinksian “Into My Dreams,” and “Emily Einstein.” Enjoy!

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The Brixton Riot “Palace Amusements”
After the cool debut EP The Brixton Riot decided to live up to their namesake and emulate Husker Du and The Replacements with this new LP. “Hard To See The Sun” and “Canvas Shoes” are very memorable rockers. But the band’s mid-tempo numbers don’t stick as well, but the band is redeemed on the hilarious “Hipster Turns 30.”  A crafty tune that features a great strumming rhythm and memorable lyric.

When the band moves from its core 90’s sound on “Carmelita” it gets interesting with a funky beat and waltz in the middle eight! Fans of both Thin Lizzy and The Lemonheads will also dig the fast tempo riff work featured on “Ocean Avenue” and “Losing Streak.” Overall, Palace Amusements is great driving music with a vintage tone and punk-like energy.

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David Myhr and Jay Gonzalez

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David Myhr “Soundshine”
All you need to know about Sweden’s David Myhr is that he was part of the Merrymakers. And they were one of the best power pop bands of the nineties (even Jellyfish Andy Sturmer was a fan). After the band’s demise, David suddenly found he had enough material for a solo album. Collaborators on Soundshine include Peter Morén (of Peter Bjorn and John) and Andreas Dahlbäck, who co-produced.

David’s melodic talents are still top notch, so fans of The Feeling, Jellyfish and Farrah will love this. Starting with “Never Mine” its got the hooks and hummable chorus sure to stick with you. The bubbly “Looking For A Life” and “Got You Where He Wanted” comes closest to that old Merrymakers ELO inspired sound. “I Love The Feeling” has a nice Beach Boys feel and infectious bounce that make it my favorite here. “Cut To The Case” has an 80’s flavor — a bit like Aussie band, The Go-Betweens. Each tune has its own charm, like the Beatlesque “Ride Along” where the tone is so upbeat, it will lift the sourest mood. Overall the apt-titled, Soundshine is chock-full of fantastic power pop, delivering one masterful melody after another. And so far it’s at the top of my year end best album for 2012 list.

Jay Gonzalez “Mess of Happiness”
Drive-By Truckers keyboardist Jay Gonzalez has released one of the years best retro pop albums. The material recalls the best of breed 70’s DIY, a la Todd Rundgren’s Something/Anything?. The crunchy riffs of “Punch of Love” literally knock you back and the multi-tracked harmonies in the chorus keep you engaged. The complex arrangements, and awesome hooks are in each tune, from the gentle love song “Luisa” to the organ chord shifts of “Baby Tusk” (even the lyrics reference the 70’s). Another theme for this album (and this blog) could be “Turning Me On” about the joys of discovering classic pop music.

No doubt if this album came out in 1973 it would be at the top of the charts, but in the messed up era we live in it will not get the credit it deserves. The Big Star meets Seals & Crofts tune “The Will” is another example of mining those influences to for great melodic effect. The jangle and genius of “I Urge You” is another gem among many that will demand repeat listens. The short faux punk “Tension” gives way to a wicked guitar solo, and it seems a perfect set up for the mellow “The Other Side.” Another top ten best album nominee for 2012. Don’t miss it!

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Sweet Diss and the Comebacks “Emerald City Love Song”

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From Washington state comes a daring sophomore album from Sweet Diss and the Comebacks. The brainchild of Nate Reinauer and its so good, you’ll need many repeat listens. The band has vocal skills similar to The Beach Boys or The Sonic Executive Sessions, with the melodic guitar fuzz of Weezer and Green Day. It also reminded me a little of Kara’s Flowers (later they became Maroon 5). The album’s sole concept is about “getting the girl” and opening with the crisp a capella “Twenty-Something” it shows off stunning four part harmonies.

Then we get the hook filled “Never Stop Wooing You,” full of minor chords and sunshine. Next the guitars get heavier, and tempo gets faster on “Maybe Someday.” The focus of all this attention is on an “Indie Girl,” a mid-tempo ballad where the singer worries his songs are “lame” cause she’s into folk “and I’m still playing power pop.” Every track here is polished melodic gold. A musical suite named “Seattle’s Best” ends things off, with some quirky movements as our twenty-something protagonist falls in love with his Barista. However, it does end abruptly with anti-climactic demo “Nobody But She.”

When the seminal Beach Boys album Pet Sounds was released in 1966, it had a unified theme in its emotional insecurity and deep seated longing that defined a generation.  To my ears, Emerald City Love Song serves up those very same emotions to a new generation of pop fans in its own way. Essential and a contender for one of the best power pop albums of the year.

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The Marmalade Army and The Mayflowers

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Marmalade Army “All Tomorrows Yesterdays”
On the followup to 2008’s “Johnny Cake and Moon Pies,” the band moves away from 60’s pastiche and leans more on its XTC’s influences. But it starts out with a surf guitar instrumental before it dazzles us with the brilliant “Persephone.” It tells the story of falling in love with an eccentric as the falsetto intones “All the children point and snicker/ but she makes my heart beat quicker.”

“Bumped My Head On The Sky” is also impressive, with a catchy melody and Andy Partridge styled bridge. “I Think You Know” has some beautiful musical ideas, and another keeper is the frantic “Myclonic Jerk.” The bouncy beat and handclaps of “Unglued” contrasts the wicked guitar solo – its my favorite here. The band has definitely improved, but could have edited the album better (tons of filler you’ll want to skip).  However, the gems are worth digging for. Fans of Pugwash and SugarPlastic will definitely want to get this one.

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The Mayflowers “Plymouth Rock”
Power pop bands get plenty of respect in Japan, but rarely do they get coverage here. The Mayflowers have appeared on IPO compilations vol. 9 and 10, but the latest album Plymouth Rock really caught my attention with the excellent “Cat’s Boro Blues.” Lead vocalist and guitarist Osamu Satoyama really puts together a gem with drummer Tatsuya Nishimura.

The opener “Beat Stone” sounds a lot like Cirrone with a swirling lead amid solid harmonies. “Maybelline” starts with the same guitar jangle as The La’s “There She Goes” but adds a different melody. The Japanese accent isn’t really noticeable, until you get to the Ringo-like country song “Lodi.” Another gem is “Let Me Roll” with its hard charging guitar rhythm and sweet chorus. It finishes up with a Beatlesque tribute, and at 8 tracks not a trace of filler here. Japanese power pop is really tough to find in the USA – thankfully Jam Records has all 3 albums for sale!

P.S. Very funny misspelling on the bandcamp page – see if you can spot it!