Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Airport 77s and The Smithereens

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The Airport 77s

The Airport 77s “We Realize You Have a Choice”

After a year of teasers, videos, and singles, The Airport 77s finally released their full-length album, and I’m glad to say it was worth the wait. The trio consists of guitarist Andy Sullivan, bassist Chuck Dolan, and drummer John Kelly. From the opening riffs of “One Good Thing About Summer,” you’ll hear a compelling combination of The Who, The Cars, and even T-Rex.

The band really delivers lyrically and musically. “Birthday Girl” has a great party spirit, and “Losers Win” has a fun descriptive lyric set to a Raspberries-like riff. The band rocks out on the fast-paced “The Way She Moves,” and goes full bore 1980s with the synth-driven “Bad Together.” Stylistically it moves from the glam-styled guitars on “The Illustrated Book of Cupid” to the Rubinoos-like power pop of “All Torn Up Over Tina.” Not a note of filler here and it makes my top ten list for best power pop album of 2022. Highly recommended, so don’t miss it.

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The Smithereens

The Smithereens “The Lost Album”

It’s been nearly 5 years since the passing of Smithereens lead singer Pat Dinizio, but the band has remained a fan favorite and continues to play at venues, often in tribute to his distinct songwriting skills. Originally recorded back in 1993, after the New Jersey quartet found themselves dropped by Capitol Records, and before they signed with RCA. It’s a time capsule for the band, and surely a “lost” treasure by fans.

As an album, it does feel more like a group of clean demos. The band admits the album is “80 percent finished and rough mixed.” The trademark guitar sound that exemplifies the Smithereens is not always there, but you can imagine it there in songs like “Everyday World” and “Pretty Little Lies.” In fact, you do have plenty of potential hits here including “Out of This World,” “A World Apart,” and “Face The World With Pride.” Other tracks aren’t filler, but just don’t stick as well. Fans will surely love this, and that’s who this album is for. A great addition to the band’s catalog.

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Uni-Boys and No. 2

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Uni Boys

Uni Boys “Do It All Next Week”

California-based Uni-Boys channel power pop’s late 70’s and early 80’s era, and fans of The Plimsouls, 20/20, and The Jags will embrace their sound. While “You Worry About Me” and “Downtown” has the style down perfectly, it really fires things up with the hook-filled “On Your Lovin’ Mind,” where the guitars remind me of Bram Tchaikovsky. The production is mostly, clean and avoids the overly processed problems of that time period.

The “boys” are Noah Nash (guitar/vocals), Reza Matin (guitar/vocals), Artie Fitch (drums), and Michael Chipolletti (bass/vocals). The terrific guitars ensure most everything here works, although some tunes need stronger vocals (“Long Time No See”) or a less tinny production (“Hypocrite”). Plenty of highlights include “Up To You,” the multi-tracked strum of “Caroline Kills,” “Daily Dose,” and the Lou Reed-like strut of “I Wanna Rock You.” Highly Recommended.

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No. 2

No. 2 “First Love”

Portland’s No.2 has a compelling sound courtesy of singer/guitarist Neil Gust (Heatmiser). The opener “I’m On A Mission” has deep KISS-like riffs, about first loves, lusts, and heartbreak. While the songs are written from a queer perspective, the themes are universal. “Ravers In The Sky” is a good follow-up with a wicked guitar break. The energy level of the album eventually devolves into mid-tempo noir stories, as “A.O.R.” tells of a relationship at a college radio station.

Some nice prog-like melodies emerge with “Time’s Up,” and the rocker “You Might Be Right” is another highlight. The title track “First Love” is a slowly building tune that eventually gains momentum with some layered harmonies. However, the lack of riffs on other songs makes them forgettable. Overall a decent album that deserves to be heard.

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EP Reviews: Late Cambrian, Michael Simmons, The Glad Machine, Mom, Los Andes, The Legal Matters

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Lately, there has been so much good music in my inbox that I simply can’t put both singles and EPs together in a single post so…. here are my favorite EPs for September.

Late Cambrian have always been a unique blend of pop, dance, and experimental rock without sounding artificial. Future Snacks starts with the synth-blended “The Last Wave,” but comes up with a plenty of compelling melodies, like the bouncy “Its Always Something” and multi-tracked harmonies of “Sydney Sweeney.”

Michael Simmons, the super talent behind Sparkle*Jets U.K. has a lot on his plate. He has a massive group of covers called Singing In My Heart, but even better is his musical versions of rare Dutch power pop band Darryl-Ann’s singles. Each track of Happy Traum is a winner. Pure magic, so don’t miss it.

The Glad Machine goes full throttle on power pop, and fans of The Posies, Jellyfish, and Velvet Crush will appreciate the catchy “San Francisco” and the looser guitar on “Baby It’s You.” Not a bad track here, swirling guitar riffs of “Virginia” rule the day. One of the best EPs of the year among a crop of treasures.

UK-based Mom has been pumping out catchy 70’s inspired guitar nuggets every few months, and fans of The Ramones, The Cars, and The Rubinoos will dig this one. Highlight here is “To The Beat” and “Now Until Forever.”

Buenos Aires-based Los Andes has the formula down, and “Julie” featuring Xoel Lopez will hook you even if you don’t “hablar español”. The band also pulls the talents of legendary musicians Lukah Boo, Star Trip, and Hank Idory. No filler and gorgeous musicianship that proves power pop is much loved beyond the borders of the USA. Bravo!

Your token FREEBIE, The Legal Matters give you a Trapper Keeper stuffed with beautiful covers of their favorite tunes. Big Star’s “When My Baby’s Beside Me” and Teenage Fanclub’s “Don’t Look Back” are my faves here.

Collective Soul and Young Guv

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Collective Soul

Collective Soul “Vibrating”

The days of classic rock bands soldiering on with new material are fewer and further between, but Collective Soul has an enviable track record. They have nearly 30 years of solid anthemic rock under their collective veteran belts, and Vibrating continues that tradition. Densely saturated melodies and hooks continue to be the focus of the songwriting, and Ed Roland knows his fan base well. Drawing from the band’s grungey roots, he always manages to craft expressive and emotional statements, and the “power” in this pop is undeniable.

The first 3 songs are easy to love, “Cut The Cord,” and “Reason,” are loaded with that familiar energy, especially “All Our Pieces,” which boasts an excellent sing-along hook. The band then calms down a bit with mid-tempo rockers, “Take” and “Undone” and Roland and the band do a great job with these tracks. Past the midpoint, it gets less predictable as “A Conversation With” reminds me of Peter Gabriel a little. Things aren’t as memorable until “Back Again” a slow-building rocker that seems to be directed at an ex-lover and Roland sells it well with his deep tremolo. Overall, a highly recommended addition to the Collective Soul catalog.

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The Airport 77s

Young Guv “III & IV”

One of the brightest young power pop artists I’ve heard recently is Toronto’s Ben Cook, aka Young Guv. His first EP made my 2019 Best-of list and his continued growth as an artist is heartening to rock fans who fear those classic influences are on the wane. Drawn from the influences of The Byrds, Beatles, Todd Rundgren, and others he creates irresistible melodies than evoke the past without sounding like a tribute band. This collection is a combination of two albums with a bonus track. Both albums were created in the isolated New Mexico wilderness, and are focused on the power of love.

Starting with the opening jangle of  “I Couldn’t Leave You If I Tried” it feels like a lost Teenage Fanclub classic, with a hook that doesn’t overstay its welcome. If anything III is nearly flawless. For example, the Big Star-like “Only Wanna See You Tonight” and the Britpop fuzz of “Scam Likely,” each song is efficiently composed and rendered. Once we get to IV, Ben takes a few more stylistic liberties but the earworms are still here, from the tambourine shakes and handclaps of “Too Far Gone” to the West Coast strum and slide guitar of “Change Your Mind.” Further on the songs get longer, and they don’t always stick (“Overcome”) or feel more like sketches (“Cold In The Summer.”)  However, Guv’s batting average over 24 tracks is pretty darn good. Highly Recommended.

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Nick Frater and Phil Thornalley

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Nick Frater

Nick Frater “Aerodrome Motel”

Crydon, UK resident Nick Frater follows up his blockbuster Earworms album with a much lighter pop touch on Aerodrome Motel. Opening with the jaunty “The Pleasure is Mine,” it has a sweet melody that reminds me of Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) with its easy-going hook. A power pop crunch comes from “Love Heist” as it pulls out every lyrical police cliche “Calling all cars there’s a love heist happening to me!” But this single is a great earworm with a worthy mix of Elvis Costello-styled organ and guitar punch.

Frater has given us a chorus of upward scales on the Anglophilic “Aerodrome Motel” and lively horns on “Rough & Tumble” but not everything sticks. The lovelorn “No Hard Feelings” is missing the dramatic power needed in a chorus, and “Dancing With A Gertrude” feels like an old 1980s sitcom theme. Despite the misfires, there are plenty of tunes to enjoy, including Beatle-adjacent “Dear Modern Times.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik | Big Stir Records

Phil Thornalley

Phil Thornalley “Now That I Have Your Attention”

Phil Thornalley has moved beyond his Astral Drive projects and turned himself into a one-man Traveling Wilburys. “Maybe we should have called it the Traveling Phil-burys,” Thornalley jokes, “but I enjoyed the earlier ELO records, and the way they married a crummy beat combo with the grandeur of a full orchestra – it was over-the-top but infectiously musical..”

Taking musical cues from Jeff Lynne (Electric Light Orchestra), Phil is clearly having fun with the opener “Heaven in a Hash Pipe” with its blues riffs and orchestral flourishes. But Phil’s vocal is much closer to Tom Petty, especially on the follow-up “Hell Bent on Compromise,” with its strat guitar and layered harmonies. It comes together perfectly on “Fast Car” with a killer hook in the chorus, guaranteed to have you singing in a “traffic ja-a-a-am.” The song concepts are simple, and succeed with the catchy “High on Your Supply” and “Stand By Love” as they are also easy to sing along to. While a few tunes veer over into fan service too much, you’ll be having too much fun to notice when you hear the glam rock beat of “Solid Gold Sunshine.” Highly Recommended.

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