Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Austin, TX singer/songwriter Craig Marshall has put forth his third album “Point of View” and it’s a pure delight to those who like pop similar to Marshall Crenshaw, Richard X. Heyman or P. Hux. Marshall’s deep perspective on life and melodic gifts can best compare him to Badfinger’s late Pete Ham. Carefully arranged songs with a dynamic chorus are par for the course here and the opener “Difficult” is a good example. Then the next track,” I Know What it’s Like” is a bouncy Beatlesque melody with a dynamic catchy chorus and beautiful middle break. Pop Culture Press has called Craig, “Austin’s best-kept power pop secret, and has been quietly releasing records of true melodic grandeur in recent years.” The adult themes match the achingly poignant melody in the ballad “Paper Cut” and the jangle-tambourine goodness of “Radio Girl” are exactly what you expect and can enjoy from this album. Some songs add blissful layered harmonies like in “When You Come Back Down” or mine the Mersey-beat guitar play of “One Face in The Crowd” to perfection. With all these great songs it’s easy to recommend this album, or even give his past albums a second listen.

Craig’s web site | My Space | CDBaby | Not Lame

A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a band named Phantom Planet was a simple emo-styled power pop band lead by Alex Greenwald and with actor Jason Schwartzman playing drums. Then they got pop fame and fortune with the single “California” on the TV show, the O.C. and then somewhere along the way the major label dumped them and four years later it brings us to “Raise The Dead.” Welcome home, guys. Much like Supergrass, this band is on the comeback tour. And glad to say, this is the strongest Phantom Planet album since “The Guest.” Greenwald’s music was inspired by the slavish devotion to cult leaders like Charles Manson and Jim Jones. The songs have an undercurrent of dread to them that’s hard to pinpoint, the group sounds like a wonderful Beatles Radiohead hybrid. Opening with the strong title track, it has the emotion and grit with a catchy baseline and that leads us to the awesome follow up, “Dropped” which has a hook that won’t let go and a buzzsaw guitar that will stick like glue. “Leader” has that cult-vibe for sure with lyrics like “everyone will be reborn” and creepy kids chorus in addition. Next the single “Do The Panic” is another catchy song with a kinks-like narrative. The rest of the songs shamble along, best represented by “Geronimo” which is tangle of guitars and chaos.  The Radiohead influence comes out on “Quarantine” in a big way. Lots of well written songs with strong guitars like, “Leave Yourself For Somebody Else” with shades of The Strokes and The Who in the melody. The band, which has changed a lot over the years, feels comfortable in it’s own skin here. 

My Space | Not Lame | itunes

Listen to “Do The Panic”

Tommi Zender is a Chicago native who has worked as the Bon Mots guitarist and also done some solo work. “Will Work for Harmony” is essentially lead by Tommi’s amazing guitarwork. Starting with a Zen-like prologue the first single “Something To Hide” sets the stage. A bit of Todd Rundgren and Jon Brion styled arrangements with help from sweet guitar harmonies and Tommi’s soothing vocals. The follow up “Home At Last” is a laid back Paul McCartney-like mid-tempo number. The guitar is double tracked to weave a solid support for the melodic chorus. Most of the songs are uplifting and hopeful, a good example of this is “The World Already Knows” with it’s layered guitar breaks and accented drumming. The clean sound and superior production help elevate the melodies and, each tune is polished to it’s full potential. The dreamy wall of sound on “Cinnamon Apple Cider” is lush in detail and “Summer Vacation” continues this easy going vibe. This is clearly a musician doing what he loves as opposed to trying to get a “hit” and it’s sweet therapy. If you love good guitar pop, pick this one up. In addition, Tommi’s version “Bedspring Kiss” from The Jellyfish Tribute is on his MySpace page for listening.

Tommi Zender web site | My Space | CDBaby

Listen to a clip of “Something to Hide”

I’ve been hearing a big buzz about Paul Steel for months now. Mix even parts Brian Wilson and Roger Manning Jr. and you get a good idea of who Paul Steel is. A Singer/songwriter extraordinaire came out with “April & I” in the UK last year and as he’s about to release his newest “Moon Rock” album any day now, we across the pond get wind of this talent through this incredible debut now. How do I start with this one? Well it opens with a swirling orchestral sweep of an introduction worthy of “Pet Sounds” and “The Wizard of Oz” soundtrack combined. This leads to the Andy Partridge-like “April” a piano pop joyous ode complete with Jellyfish-styled production throughout. Then with a Wilsonesque opening, “Worst Day” tells the story of the album. A bouncy mid-tempo pop aria, with Bacharach styled horn flourishes. “Take It or Leave It” is a slick orchestral doo wop similar to The Grease soundtrack. The missteps here are “School Bully” which turns into a frenzied dance track, and the funny, but profane “Honkin‘ on the Crackpipe” which goes a bit overboard here. The ending tunes “Grown Up and Away”, “April and I” and “Imaginary” are an orchestral pop triumph on first listen. The entire album package concept is imaginative here too; made to look like a child’s book on heavy cardboard stock with stick figure drawings. If the lyrics were a bit less adult, you could play this to your kids. Steel makes the album “April & I” a big fat love letter to his childhood, complete with an imaginary girlfriend. In fact, it’s closer to “tween-age symphony to God” or Broadway Show soundtrack in 30 minutes, than a straight pop album. And if you enjoy that kind of novelty, you’ll eat this up. Apparently a host of famous musicians have. Kudos from The Wondermints and VanDyke Parks included. Beach Boys and Jellyfish fans alike will rejoice.
UPGRADE: This albums hooks just continue to eat away at my resistance. After multiple listens, I’m upgrading this rating.

The Paul Steel web site | MySpace | iTunes