Chicago native Archie Powell and The Exports are more than plain ole’ rock and roll, it’s a mini party in a 5-song EP. Powell opens things up with the rootsy “Moving To The City” which is a bit like Wilco or Old 97s poppier tracks. “Loose Change” is another good follow up that works in a hummable chorus and a punchy beat. Other other songs here are also clear winners including “Mattson Is A Flake” which reminds me of Ben Kweller with a Weezer styled chorus. On “Piggy Bank Blues” he mentions “Rock and Roll is just a pyramid scheme…” So to prove Powell’s not part of any scheme, this the EP is a free download, so you have no excuses. Highly recommended for sure.
Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic
Bill Donati "Never Like This"
Bill Donati played drums with the Goatdancers, and Lawson and Four More, a group that released two 45s on the Ardent Label in Memphis. The Ardent Label gained some fame with Big Star, but clearly missed out by not recognizing Donati’s talent earlier. As a pianist and singer, Donati wrote and recorded his own songs in Memphis and Los Angeles. Donati’s solo album is a lost treasure from 1972, and fans of Beatles, Badfinger and Big Star will be amazed at the gems here. Opening with the Merseybeat and high vocals in “Never Like This” it stays true to the Fab formula, and delivers classic songwriting as well. Donati’s Rickenbacker riffs and piano lead on “Catherine” and “I’m Not Saying” compares well with Pete Ham in his prime. “A Love Gone Mad” is also pretty interesting, a mix of Kinks-styled vocals and Beatlesque piano. Most of the songs feature strong production work by Ardent’s legendary engineer Terry Manning. It runs out of steam by the albums end a bit, but there is plenty here to recommend. Fans of the Ardent “sound” as well as Tommy Hoehn and Van Duren will also find a lot to like here. Bill also has a claim to fame as creating one of the very first modern rock videos “Nuclear Surfer”in 1982. Recently he’s also teamed up with Jimmy Pou on the group Byron’s Dream. Much like other “lost” releases this year, I am grateful that this album is seeing the light of day.
CD Baby | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik
Thowback Suburbia "s/t"
“If you should find yourself having trouble locating a pulse in today’s music, Throwback Suburbia is the proof of life in power pop.” – these words are posted on the Throwback Suburbia My Space page. Here is an awesome band that wraps itself up in the spirit of the genre. It opens with the pop explosion that is “Private Oasis” full of ringing guitars and strong melody reminiscent of The Rubinoos. The follow up “Asking Why” is a Velvet Crush/Raspberries-like tune full of great chords and impeccable harmonies. The band hits for the fences here and succeeds with the ELO-styled opening piano chords on “Head Over Heels” and it’s one of the albums many standouts. Fans of Jellyfish will appreciate this as well as the “The Same Mistake” which has such a clean pop sound, and smart songwriting that it really deserves to be a radio friendly hit. The first half of the album hits the sweet spot for sure, then it goes for a harder sound on “Say When” for the Tom Petty fans here. But really, there is not a single note of filler here, and plenty of pop gems to soothe hungry ears. “Perfectly Okay” goes all Fountains of Wayne with us and “Halfway To The Stars” is a cool Jellyfish mid-tempo that sounds as good as anything Roger Manning has written, and it’s my favorite song on the album. They’ve already blown the doors off of International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles this year and I hope to hear more of them in the years to come. This band deserves much accolades for this full length debut – easily one of the best of the year. It’s another “must-get-it-now” slice of music heaven.
MySpace | CD Baby | Not Lame
The Brigadier "Time is a Wound"
The third album from The Brigadier (Matt Williams) continues to showcase his extensive gift of music and melodies. It opens with the impressive and catchy “I’m gonna make you mine Missy” which combines a cutting lead guitar and Beach Boys backing harmonies. This is a bona fide classic track that shouldn’t be missed. Next, “Oh Paddington” is another magical melody with slight psychedelic overtones and a bit like a lost Klaatu track. Slowly, the album gets funkier beats in “Why don’t you love me?” – with very 70’s style syths and a whispering lead that beckons the listener. Much of the gentle almost narrative Roger Waters-meets-McCartney style comes across on tracks in the albums middle. Both “Traditional love songs” and “Ode to Escape” will hold your interest till the very Queen-meets-Moody Blues flavored “Time is a Wound.” The guitar work is excellent, but often a supporting player here as the mood and intricate harmonies lead the song. It’s my favorite on the disc, too. The songs gradually get both delicate and precious with the melodies and themes, like “Something Good” has a baroque current running through it. This tendency eventually leads us to the Kinks-like burlesque of “Jobseeker” and “(I Like) The Look Of You” with light harpsichord and do-wop chorus. The utterly gorgeous finale of “The Insomnia” is a Brian Wilson/Wondermints aria that tells us the author is begging all his active thoughts to stop and let him sleep. This is the kind of release that will keep smart pop fans up late nights, playing The Brigadier over and over again.
My Space | CD Baby | Listen on The Brigadier Site
Grand Atlantic "How We Survive"
It’s the return of Brisbane’s favorite power pop band, Grand Atlantic. And like the debut it goes for those large dramatic hooks and sonic assault which compares well to Oasis. However, the band has stylistically been more streamlined. The large stadium sound on “The Coast is Clear” has a massive bass line that sets the album’s tone, and touches on both Progressive and Brit-pop. The strutting guitar riffs and distorted 80’s styled synths on “Tripwires” make it a real gem, that flirts with just enough cocky brilliance. “She’s a Dreamer” is the radio friendly standard that seems to be getting a lot of attention in native Australia. Mid-tempo tracks like “Freeway” and “Hit N Run” are chiming and hypnotic breaks from the real meat here. That would be the Sgt. Pepper-like percussion and sweet choral breaks on “How We Survive.” And the band hits the money shot again with the fast paced “Just Another Ghost Town” and “Holding Pattern.” These tracks also have a bit of Madchester baked inside them, so fans of The Stone Roses and The Charlatans will love this as well. It ends perfectly with the Lennonesque “Don’t Say Goodnight” and just enough silence for me to hit the repeat button. With the break-up of the brothers Gallagher – I now pass the torch over to Phil Usher and Mat Von Diehm. Viva Grand Atlantic!
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