Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Some bands can boast a good lead vocal that can carry even the most mundane songs into memory. And then there is Good Old War. Keith Goodwin, Tim Arnold (Days Away) and Dan Schwartz carry a three part harmony better than the Pernice Brothers ever did. The vocal harmonies here are stunning. This came out last year, but it’s one of those albums that will hook you immediately. It skirts the edges of folk-country and pop, with strong melodies and magical chord changes throughout. Starting out with the Paul Simonesque “Coney Island” all the way to the gospel-tinged “Stay By My Side” the entire album doesn’t have a wasted track. Fans of The Jayhawks and Limbeck will find plenty here to like from the driving “Looking For Shelter” and jaunty “Weak Man” to the solid guitar strum and lyric of “I’m Not For You.” Not playing it safe, the band jangles “We’ve Come A Long Way” as a carousel waltz ballad. A real treat — just listen.

Bob Evans is one of those rare imported artists that is worth searching for and treasuring. The Australian singer/songwriter Kevin Mitchell, frontman for the Aussie band Jebediah took on the name “Bob Evans” for his solo material. His last album, Suburban Kid was a year end favorite a few years ago, produced by Brad Jones (The Shazam, Marshall Crenshaw). The album was recoreded in Nashville, Tennessee with Jones producing once again. Bull Creek is the name of the southern suburb of Perth where Mitchell grew up. The opener “Someone So Much” is majestic farewell to a childhood friend. Much of the music is instantly catchy and full of those jangling guitars, as evidenced by the single “Pasha Bulker.” The theme of the album is growing up and out, “Hand Me Downs” has smart hooks in the chorus that draw you in and keeps you listening. The wistful “Wintersong” is a lovely ballad that leads to the brilliant “We’re A Mess” – with flowing psyche-pop guitars, multi-tracked vocals and hand claps, all in the name of insecurity. The light and breezy “Power Of Speech” is a sweet bossanova duet with vocalist Melissa Mathers. Every track is wonderful here and it’s recommended to seek this album out. Right now it’s only available as an import (not even on Itunes in the USA yet), hopefully it will find it’s way stateside soon.

My Space | Amazon | Bob Evans Website

If you’d like to hear the older material, check out lala.com which has
Crying in my Sleep and Suburban Songbook

A new Washington DC band where no one is actually named Randolph. Lead by John Ratts (Vocals/Guitars) and Eric Kern (Keyboards/Vocals) they approach the music with a smart enthusiasm reminiscent of Fountains of Wayne and early Joe Jackson. The opening track “Be The One” starts the party atmosphere going (you can easily imagine this live) with strong lead guitars, keys and a beat that recalls The Isley Brothers “Shout.” The next tune “Happy” is a straight ahead power pop song, and the harmonies between Ratts and Kern are tight. The next few songs, “Milky Way Girl,” “The Same” and “When” seem to channel mid-nineties college rock pretty well. The tracks slow down a bit after the Oasis meets Sloan “Versailles” with changes in both tone and tempo. Both “Arizona Blue” and “Yours and Mine” have almost an alt. country earnestness. The album ends with a huge song cycle called “Longplay” which is almost a whole different album. Highlights here are the stellar “Got To Have Your Love” and piano ballad “Dreams of The Night” could be a full musical show tune. When you add it up that’s almost 18 tracks – a lot to absorb here. Maybe too much – as the throw it out and see what sticks method doesn’t always produce a cohesive album experience (sometimes it does work). But you’ll have to judge that yourself. Either way you’ll get an excellent value for your musical dollar.

Boatclub is a five piece rock band that has a wonderfully organic sound that reminds me of Buffalo Springfield crossed with The Lemonheads. The band boasts a potent line up Mark Hanley flanked by grizzled Rain Parade veterans Matt Piucci and John Thoman, bassist Tommy Carns and drummer Stephan Junca. The loose harmonies of “I Used To Fly In My Dreams” is a brilliant Dennis Wilson styled intro to this album. The laid back follow up “Love” has that Neil Young meets Byrds expansive guitar sound. “My Bad Self” compares well with Evan Dando’s catchiest tunes and the ever present guitar rhythm drives everything forward. “Never Gonna Let You Down” then takes guitar textures to the extreme with this Beatles meets Pink Floyd jam, which uses the “Dear Prudence” riff across a dissonant chorus. The ballads approach Robert Pollard-land with great experimental distortions and minimalist melodic beauty. Examples of this contrast are the oppressive “Close” and majestic “Reason for Living.” After a few more listens, you’ll appreciate all the great sonic details stuffed into songs like “Peace and Quiet” and “Tell Me Things,” where they sing “it’s all good fun until someone loses an eye..” It’s almost a revolutionary approach on this massive 18 track beast of an album. The quality of songs don’t drop off here and get both surreal  (“Mouse’s Head”) and psychedelic (“Complacent Americans”). In other words, the band’s batting average is pretty good. Find a nice low lit room, headphones and lose yourself in the boatclub.