Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Wiretree “Make Up”
After two great albums, Wiretree have continued to dazzle with Make Up. In a departure from their previous efforts, the album was recorded with very few overdubs, capturing a “live” performance feel. The music moves towards a more earnest and raw rock approach, with less indie-pop elements.

With Kevin Peroni’s solid vocal performance on the opening title track, it immediately puts you into a “the zone,”with an equal blends of solid guitar melody and harmony. On “Broken Foot,” the fast paced guitar riffs and a excellent drum beat through the chorus “You better run…” raises the bar again. The band reaches its pop apex with “Tiny Hearts” and “Tonight” will make many feel that the band is the heir to indie rock legacy of The New Pornographers. “The Shore” is a pop gem that channels Green Day and Iggy Pop in equal doses here. The atmospheric and solid songwriting puts “MTH” on the next level of greatness, and at this point I think the band is just too good to remain a “best kept secret” in Austin, TX.

The album ends with the soothing ballad “Josephine,” parts Pernice Brothers and Wilco crooning harmony with nice lap guitar accents.  Overall a brilliant and immensely satisfying album that should not be missed. One of the contenders for power pop album of the year easily!

Moorelands Project “The Trip” EP
The Moorelands Project is the brainchild of production duo Mike “Kraz” Krasnowski and Mike “Greener” Greenwood. The duo describe their sound as Rock Hop and Roll, with a complex melodic spin. This certainly is different, as “The Trip” boasts pastoral elements of XTC or Martin Newell. But the band goes all over the place with tracks like “A Song For P” and the bluesy “Few More Times” and unfortunately the rapping elements on other tracks are practically unlistenable. Pick and choose here, and with an e-mail the album is free, so you can’t really go wrong.

In 2009 this L.A. based band with a very English sound made it’s debut to much acclaim and support among music’s  hoi pollio. With comfortable nods to 80s and 90s power pop, lead singer and songwriter Justin Kennedy impressed many with excellent songwriting and ear pleasing melodies. Now comes the sophomore album, and with so few well-known bands flying the power pop banner, its great to hear that Kennedy and the band are continuing to bring a new generation of fans to the genre.

Read the full review of Army Navy’s “The Last Place” here.

The  Krayolas Mexican Merseybeat continue to impress with Tipsy Topsy Turvy. Hector Saldana turns up the dial to “11” with the Dylanesque “Genuine” letting us know he bleeds San Antonio sangre. The familiar jangle on “Gonna Walk Down” is more what we expect from the band with great buzzing guitar breaks along its rolling rhythm. But this album has noticeably less light pop and more serious western blues influences than past works.

The blue collar do-wop on “Smile Away” is much like McCartney’s back-to-basics approach and a great homage to my one of my favorite Canadian pop stars, “Gordon Lightfoot” where we learn that “they don’t make ’em like that anymore.” Gordon’s influence continues on the gentle ballad “Does She Know.” A series of good mid-tempo songs are sprinkled in the albums second half that deal with immigration and economic issues, “Front Page News,” “The Working People” and “1070 (I’m Your Dirty Mexican).” Another gem is the bouncy “Twenty Miles,” with its gentle organ melody and steady bass line. The slow horns on “Love Is Gonna Getcha” is Saldana’s attempt at Marvin Gaye and a few nice diversions toward the albums end (“Louie’s Song”) make this a colorful addition to your Krayolas box.

The Webstirs “The Webstirs Re-Present Smirk”
After 15 years Chicago’s Webstirs have re-booted and remastered their debut album, with its cover spoof of Brian Wilson’s SMiLE, it comes closer to the DIY efforts of The Breetles. “You Can Hang Around” is great showcase for the band’s’s energetic pop style with its combo of fast riffs and harmonies. “Old Enough” and “I Turn Away” have melodic buzzing choruses and lyrical self determination that fans of Adam Marsland will appreciate.

Most of the tracks are great, even when a song seems mundane, like “Stone On The Ground” the hook filled chorus comes in to make it special. Lots of highlights here, the bouncy “It’s Over Now” and “Rent” are excellent examples. No filler here so if you’re looking for excellent power pop goodness, you can’t go wrong.

Sheri Miller “Winning Hand” EP
Acoustic musician and New Yorker Sheri Miller began her career co-writing with icons J.D. Souther (The Eagles), Jill Sobule and Shawn Mullins. Sheri’s highly melodic casual style serves her well on the catchy “Spoons.” Next, “Winning Hand” is a seductive mid-tempo love song that made me a fan right away with her twisting key shifts. “Satellite” is another gem with a Sheryl Crow vibe and beautiful multi-tracked chorus. The songwriting is also excellent and I hope a full length album is just around the corner. Highly recommended for sure.