Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Move over Maroon Five, we got the Virgins in the house! The hook filled single “One Week Of Danger” is lightning captured in a bottle here. A hybrid of Franz Ferdinand and the Strokes… they’ve got an awesome danceable pop sound. “She’s Expensive” is another true pop gem that will ring in your head for days. The style then changes for the next few tracks, and “Rich Girls”and “Teen Lovers” has a 80’s funk that sports high angular rhythms and tinny beats, the songs continue to be very catchy in a retro-pop way.  The extreme here is the track, “Murder” that recalls Frankie Goes To Hollywood (Remember them?) It’s full of hooks, catchy melodies, and plenty of fun. The middle of the album sags a bit, but it ends strong with two more sticky gems — “Private Affair” hints at ELO and The Thompson Twins and “Radio Christiane” reminds me of The Motors. If you’re a fan of the 80’s, and Strokes, this is some awesome ear candy. The production is solid and clean and takes some of the grit out of the originals and bumps up the power of the dance grooves, so hit “repeat” and shake it, man. Mark my words, this band has hit the big time.

My Space | The Virgins | Amazon | Itunes

If you want a great rockin’ head boppin’ pop album, Winnipeg’s The Perms latest “Keep You Up When You’re Down” will fit the bill. In fact this album pushes The Perms as a major player in the power pop genre. The opening single “Give Me All Your Lovin” is a catchy high energy song that sounds a bit like KISS meets Sloan.  This is followed by the gem “As You Were” with a driving chorus and roaring guitars along the lines of the Posies or Velvet Crush.  Both “Running Away” and “World To Me” continues to kick things up with harmonious guitars and vocals. The band flirts with a bigger arena sound on “You Don’t Know” but stop short of Bon Jovi/Def Leppard territory. Another slew of gems follow with the great melodies in “Nightshift” and the gentle vocal harmonies on “Who are you Fooling” recalling Weezer. The album is pretty consistent, with a bunch of good mid-tempo rockers like “Big Mistake” and “It Won’t Hurt Us At All.” I do hear a 70s rock element here with Thin Lizzy styled guitar licks, and Chad Smith’s deep vocals do seem to be channeling Paul Stanley. Every track is good here, and it ends just as strong as it begins with the excellent “Salvation.” If the Perms were not on your radar before — now is the time to pay attention. 

My Space | CD Baby | Itunes

This is a studio update on The Perms sound.

Few artists are as timeless as former Smiths frontman Morrissey. On his ninth solo album, he’s as sharp as ever. Lyrically not too many people can get away with lines like “It’s not your birthday anymore, there’s no need to be kind to you.” There is not so much a single standout track (although “I’m Throwing My Arms Around Paris” comes close), as this is a solid consistent album. Unlike earlier works, his optimism is on full display here. He even mentions “It’s a miracle I made it this far…” in the first track “Something Is Squeezing My Skull.” 

Well here’s some insanely creative and eccentric pop. With Beatlefest kicking off in New Jersey this year on March 27th, we present a group that certainly has a Fab fetish. The Poor Richards are R.A and J.A. Richard with an 18 song debut that recalls both The Pillbugs and The Spongetones, with a vast array of pop hooks. Opening with the bass lead “Remember, Remember” gets the celebration going, with enough well placed riffs and make it’s repetitive lyrics tolerable. One of the best songs here “Don The Suit,” is a Magical Mystery Tour era treat. The duo takes bits from different Beatles eras for “La La Love” with a touch of those DIY harmonies, that recall Chris Breetveld. “Mr. Travers” has a killer riff and structure, similar to “Day Tripper” and makes it easy to enjoy. Other tracks get a bit dodgy, as “All His Falling Downs” which plays off-sync until the wonderful chorus, in a clear nod to XTC. But for every miss, there are at least two charming tracks, for example “Norwegian Friend” guitar and piano recall Emmitt Rhodes. Some songs are clearly demos, and some are fun experiments (“Every Single Day”) that would be real gems if taken to the next level. If you noted all the bands I referenced then you’ll find this album is worth inclusion on your playlist.

CD Baby | Emusic | Lala

Starbelly genius, Dennis Schocket released a solo album last year, and it’s as good as you think it is. “The Cinderblock Mansion” is power pop with an alt. country flavor, that crosses the genre a bit like Wilco’s “Summerteeth” did. With an assist from Myracle Brah’s Andy Bopp, and he starts with the rootys Stones-like “Lovesick Blue” and the very Tom Pettyesque “About the Girl” with a relaxed guitar strum and melodic narrative straight out of “Full Moon Fever”. But the alt-country vibe doesn’t dominate the album and the jangle of “Another Perfect Breakup Song” is a nice highlight. By the time we get to “Breathe” we start to move into a more Wilburys’ styled pop song that has a sweet hook. Then the wicked bluesy opening of the guitars in “Tangerine Scene” gets slightly into a Beatlesque honky tonk and it’s one of my favorites here. The “Girl of the Year” is one of the best singles you’ll hear, with nice multi-tracked harmony in the chorus and descending baselines which recall former band mate Cliff Hillis. Not a bad track is to be found on the album, from the bouncy alt. country pop of “Ghosts” to the sing-a-long tamborine and guitar gem “Unified” – everything is good here. It could’ve made my top ten last year (if I found it then). Fans of the above mentioned bands, and fans of The Jayhawks or Old 97’s may want to give it a try too.

My Space | Kool Kat | Not Lame