Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

North Carolinian Jon Lindsay shines on his full length debut full of melodies and magic.  He’s a favorite of musicians Ken Stringfellow (The Posies), Britt Harper Uzzell(Ben Folds) and Caitlin Cary (Whiskeytown). Opening with “These Are The End Times” it’s a mini-symphony Brian Wilson would approve of, complete with a variety of instruments including steel drum and sleigh bells. The next track “Inside Prince Paul” is just as impressive, sounding like a combination of 10cc and Apples in Stereo in the chorus. Another highlight is the anthemic “My Blue Angels” which revels in the pleasures of rock and roll set to a infectious beat with a Chapel Hill touch.

More hooks than a fisherman’s tackle box are evidenced in the tracks “Number Every Summer” and “Bring The Old You Back” with a vocal that has a big range from indie (similar to Robert Scneider or Ben Kweller) to soaring soprano on ballads (“I Take Care Of You Now”). Most every tune here resonates, additional highlights include “Frequent Flyer” where he experiments with plenty of strange instrumental flourishes and rhythms. In fact the majority of the album is so richly packed with pop arrangement magic, that the last few tracks lose momentum by comparison. Overall an amazing debut that should not be missed.

Rob Stuart continues his musical journey with Broken Promise Keeper’s fourth album “Poptimized.” I very much admired last year’s “Ice Cold Pop” and he picks up right where he left off. This is old school DIY power pop played with conviction, starting with “Scarred For Life” all the hallmarks are there (riffs, hand claps, melodic chorus). It leads seamlessly into the catchy beats and Trekkie lyrics of “Hyperdriven.” Next there are lots of layered instrumentation and vocals to highlight “Today I Do.” The lo-fi production tends to bury Rob’s vocal at times, despite the ambitious composition. The gem “We Pray For Rain” starts with a piano intro and turns into an early REM styled mid-tempo guitar tune.

The energetic “Sad But True” is a triumphant rocker that laments on the state of a dead marriage and it’s my favorite track here. Other tracks are pretty consistent, if a bit too similar sounding in the rhythm but there is enough here to keep things interesting.  The legacy of the Athens, GA sound that made it “The Liverpool of the South” lives on here with Broken Promise Keeper.

This criminally overlooked band from Australia has been rightly described as “like Crowded House being bent over the bar by XTC.” The band is represented by imaginative animated-style characters (they have a comic strip posted on myspace regularly) and has a combination of influences old and new bathed in sugary sweet pop. It’s almost like discovering The Wiggles, except it’s for adults.

Opening with the commercially viable pop of “Big Celebrity,” it shifts into “Skylarking” mode with “If You’ll Be My Adam” with multiple melodic twists and layered choral effects it makes an excellent single. “When She’s Got Her Blackboots” is another winner and invites comparisons to those Finn brothers. Guitarist/vocalist Stanton has a soothing vocal on “One Million Shirts” that proves to be a brilliant melodic ballad. The dramatic harmonies on “Act 2 Scene 3” are a treat as well. The quality of the songwriting flirts with novelty at times (“She’s So Rude”) or even sixties parody (“Didn’t Know Dumb”) but never fails to get your toe tapping. The title, “Solipsism” is the philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist. Here is an album that proves great power pop exists too.

After logging time in with his band Luzer, Timmy has spent the past four years developing this solo album (and growing a beard). In the tradition of pop impresarios like Todd Rundgren or more recently Paul Steel, Timmy  performs nearly every instrument and dabbles in virtually all his childhood influences here. Bookended by an instrumental overture and reprise it has a grandiose scope that touches on McCartney, Brain Wilson, ELO and Queen it certainly sets up your expectations. “Girl From Omaha” carries through it’s promises with a hook-filled chorus and richly textured composition. Another brilliant track is the McCartney-Wings era piano of “If Your Mother Has Her Way” full of horn flourishes and multi-tracked harmonies.

Timmy’s vocals sometimes feel lost in all the instrumental richness, but it’s best displayed on the ballad “There’s No Other Way” which actually reminds me of Extreme’s “More Than Words” a little. And Jeff Lynne fans will flip for “Wait” with it’s orchestral synth bending chords and dramatic chorus. Every track has a detailed and compelling melody from beginning to end. Overall, a brilliant debut that could be a soundtrack to a imaginary musical.  Get a the “Noisewater Overture” FREE here and judge for yourself.