Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic Archives - Page 326 of 340

Brent Cash "How Will I Know If I’m Awake"

March 23, 2008October 27, 2024 powerpopaholic 1 Comment

This is an incredible find and an amazing debut. Brent is an Athens, GA songwriter and performer with a sound that perfectly captures the glory days of Burt Bacharach, Brian Wilson, and The Carpenters. For lovers of sunshine pop, this album is the holy grail – opening with the lovely “Everything That’s Grey” the piano and flute set the mood for the lush orchestral chorus that compares well to Rick Gallego (Cloud Eleven). Then the main single kicks into gear “Digging the Fault Line” overflowing with melody lines and the multi-layered vocal harmonies that will have you swoon. This album is like a cool breeze on a summers day, sipping tropical drinks from your patio. Brent’s vocals are similar to Jeff Larson, and with a female choral on “I Think I’m Falling in Love” brings to mind The Free Design or The Cowsills. This is the style of music that the Wondermints used to do so well and I haven’t heard much of lately. “Only Time” is another winner that evokes The Association and The 5th Dimension. Every song is lovingly crafted, from the duet with Amanda Kapousouz in “Love Is Burning Down Tonight” to the extravagant arrangements and sophisticated chord changes of “Good Morning Sunshine.” Then “This Sea, These Waves” moves into a dreamy Bossa Nova that is aural relaxation until the opus “More Than Everything” wraps up everything in a bow that sparkles like a Carpenters gem. Start your summer vacation early and listen to it on Brent’s site…

Brent’s Web Site | My Space | Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame

Listen to a snippet from “Digging the Fault Line”

Handclaps And Harmonies "s/t"

March 13, 2008April 1, 2018 powerpopaholic

Here is a band that is encapsulates everything great and typical of classic Bubblegum power pop. Handclaps and Harmonies are part and parcel of what we love about this music. H & H’s self titled debut is well crafted version of pop rock, reminiscent of your favorite golden oldies of AM radio in the mid sixties. Fans of The Archies, The Cowsills and the more recent, Florapop will really flip over this. The sunshine glow of The Cowsills and Beach Boys really come through on “The Game.” The presentation is very impressive as well, from the white pant and suspender outfits to the neat CD designed to look just like a record. An awesome love note to Beach Boy Brian is presented in “Mr. Wilson” and if this was given to him back in 1969, he may have come out of that sandbox. The technique is flawless on certain songs like “My Winter Girl”, “Outta Sight” and “Wantin’ You.” The vocal harmonies are have a soft sweet approach, similar to Weezer or Moxy Fruvous ballads, and is extra impressive on “Goodnight” and “Wantin’ You.” Props also go to the nice understated percussion and the songs dovetail nicely into each other. The one caveat is that two tunes get too sickly sweet (“Sad Penguin”, “Kissing”) and these make even The Wiggles look like a Death Metal band. But if you wash down all that sugar with milk, you’ll love this exceptional album.

The H&H Website | My Space | CD Baby | KoolKat Musik | Not Lame

The Pendrakes, The Eddies & Watts

March 11, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

The Pendrakes “Sunday Punch”
This is a Nebraska combo that is led by Paul Novak in a series of great alt-country/power pop songs. The styles mix together rather nicely.”Dead Man Brake” is a catchy and melodic opener that compares well with The Honeydogs or The Jayhawks. The next track “A Real Go Getter” is an excellent Beatlesque mid-tempo song with just the right amount of twang and wry lyrics. Every track here is a winner with rich harmonies and excellent guitar work – it kind of reminds me of the earlier Tim Rogers work with the Aussie band, You Am I. Songs like “Big Changes” are immediately attractive pop numbers and others like “Closed Casket” veer closer to the country side, and seep inside your conscious. The mix of slow ballads and pop tunes are nicely spaced, although the jazz-like “Salutations” doesn’t seem to fit on the album. There is a direct contrast in tunes that are very lightweight (“All About Love”) and very profound (“A Man Barely Alive”). For the power pop and heartland rock fan this is essential musical therapy.
My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame

The Eddies “Twice Around the World”
Brothers Dale and Dean Hoth (Guitar and Bass) along with producer Earl Mankey (Drums) are The Eddies. They put together an album full of bouncy pop songs in the Mod vein. The Eddies have taken a series of 80’s hit songs and put their own spin on them. A bit like Dwight Twilley meets The Records, they do a great job on several tracks like “Stranger In The House” and “Don’t Know Where To Start.” The guitars are strong without being tinny and the bothers Hoth do a good job with the harmonies as well (“Debbie Jones”). The drums/guitar new wave percussive interplay on “Jungle Beat” will take you back to that skinny tie era for sure. I am reminded of similar bands like The Mighty Lemon Drops and Big Country. The liner notes state “No keyboards, no synthesizers, no session musicians” – I haven’t seen claims like that since Queen’s “Jazz” (the honesty is appreciated, guys). Fans of the band Buddy Love will definitely want to pick this one up.
My Space | CD Baby | Jam Recordings | Kool Kat Musik

Watts “One Below The All Time Low”
Here is a band that really follows it’s namesake (Rolling Stones drummer, Charlie Watts). The opener “20 To 12” hits you with a wall of guitars and a driving bass-guitar/drum combo straight off of “Brown Sugar” which ain’t a bad thing here. The remaining tracks are less Stones-y with variable degrees of quality. Dan Kopko’s roaring husky vocals drive the excellent “One Below” and “She’s A Rock-n-Roller” with a gusto similar to Paul Westerberg. This tends to go over the top on “Pretty Revolution.” Other tunes, like “Kiss the Girl” have a Cars-like feel similar to “Shake it Up” and “All the Rage” is done in a Psychedelic Furs style. The guitar work here tends to dominate and take over on most songs. There are also no ballads here as the raw bar band energy pours out it’s full force. The other stand-out track here is “Freeway” – another Stones-y rocker that would make Keef, Mick, Bill and Charlie proud.
My Space | CD Baby | Itunes | Kool Kat Musik

Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears "Flight of The Knife"

March 9, 2008July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic 2 Comments

After slowly downloading single tracks, the time has come to reveal the new Bryan Scary album. After roaring out of the gate last year with the debut album, Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears are ready to really spread their wings. The group has a flair for drama and here it produces a concept album worthy of comparison with mid 70’s Genesis “Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.” By throwing in everything and the kitchen sink in The “Flight of the Knife” it mixes the cinematic elements of Queen and XTC with the lyrical wordplay full of third-person narrative. This is evidenced on the opener “Flight of The Knife” with a variety of prog keyboards that recalls Tony Banks of Genesis. The story is something about a famous airship that visits planets and stuff, just read the lengthy libretto on the site. “Venus Ambassador” is a glowing mid-tempo song that adds classical piano catchiness with cool chord changes. The obvious single here is “Imitation of The Sky” with an amazing combination of piano, guitar riffs and rolling drums that will hook your ear faster than the “Ceiling on the Wall,” complete with a variety of harmonies and overlapping vocals. The supporting songs follow this theme and tell the story. “The Curious Disappearance of The Sky Ship Thunder Man” is the most operatic and is almost a musical show tune – it compares to 10cc’s “I’m Mandy Fly Me” with dazzling musicianship, and sparkling melodies. Then we get “The Purple Rocket” – a Sufaris meets Pink Floyd psyche-pop confection that has echos of Zappa all over it. “Mama Waits” almost sounds like a carryover from the debut album with a rousing circus organ solo. After a prog-rock intro, “Son of Stab” turns into a mashup of The Archies and Syd Barrett. The graceful piano work is awesome on the ballad “Heaven on A Bird” which includes a pysche-pop chorus Jellyfish fans will flip over. Like the last album, Scary uses so many influences, it can’t be pinned down on one type of style. Fans of early Genesis, ELO, Yes, Beatles and Frank Zappa will play this over and over. A truly excellent album that is an easy nominee for best of 2008 so far. Purchase direct from the label here.

Bryan Scary web site | My Space | Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame

Listen to “Son of Stab”

Lolas "Like The Sun"

March 8, 2008April 1, 2018 powerpopaholic 1 Comment

Power pop maestro Tim Boykin has done it again. The Lolas are a band that just keeps getting better with age. “Like The Sun” takes some tracks from 2006’s “Doctor Apache” and added a few newer songs to give the listener a whopping 20 tracks. So it’s almost like a double album. It opens with “Eye Eye” a touch of ELO, Byrds and Beatles that will ring through your head, and stay there. This is followed by the title track, which adds the right about of jangle and harmonies that lead you up the next song “The Laurie Song” – an awesome “Rain”-inspired psyche-pop masterpiece. And the relentless hooks keep on comin’ with the roaring guitars of “Me and Barbara Stanwyck” Fans of their previous incarnation,The Shame Idols will enjoy the great guitar work and indie power on “Going all the Way” – the solo is just awesome. The song “Blue Shadows” has a Beatlesque charm and “Watch The Movie” has Weezers innocent pop sweetness with Brian May styled guitar. Some songs get a bit more rough and garage-y, like “Action Woman” and “Ramon Ghetto Chef.” Toward the ends of album it even has a Sweet cover (“Wig Wham Bam”) and a very Mod-sounding Rolling Stones meet Early Who tune with “I Can Only Give Everything.” The songs go through every incarnation of great power pop from ballad to high powered riff machine and everything in between. With so much here and barely a miscue, it’s an easy choice to nominate this album for my Top Ten of 2008 so far. This album is essential listening – so don’t miss this one. Thanks for the music, Tim.

The Lolas site | My Space | Jam Recordings | Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame

Listen to “Eye Eye”

Listen to “Me and Barbara Stanwyck”

Listen to “Sticker”