Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

I still have a pile of reviews to finish before the holidays and then I find this gem. Whoa kids, it doesn’t get any better than legally FREE power pop. And even better if the music is really good. Thank you Paul Kelly for this wonderful gift. The Martial Arts are a Glasglow Scottish band with a very Dbs meets Kinks vibe and the songs have great hooks and guitar work. ‘Your Sinclair’ evokes of 60s pop, 70s new wave and 80s indie – with a few moments of intense guitar abuse thrown in for good measure. The opener “Murry & Audree” has great glam energy and has the early Weezer meets Rubinoos type of feeling. The vocals on “Don’t Want To Talk” remind me a bit of Alex Chilton from his Big Star days. The intensity of “Mod Val” will have you thinking this track was meant for the latest Hives album. The perfect Ray Davies-like storytelling of “Frost” will get your toes tapping and head bobbing. To find such jaw dropping quality is not to be missed- so stop reading this post and get it. UPDATE: The Martial Arts have contacted me and are extending this offer of this free download to Monday January 7th. ENJOY!

My Space | Download album in .rar format or .zip format | alternate link

Listen to “Don’t Want to Talk”

Murry & Audree video, Directed by Gregor Mackay

I got a cool tip a month or two ago about this band when I was finishing reviews about The Mother Hips. Well unfortunately it took too long to get to because it’s a pleasant surprise. Y33BA is a Brooklyn based band that gets to the very roots of great lo-fi pop. Starting with “I took a Deep Breath” lead singer Josh Westfal’s vocals resemble Lou Reed of the Velvet Underground. A ton of indie bands try to emulate the Velvets and often sound horrible. Y33BA not only does the sound right, but they have a unique spin on the approach that bring in powerful melodies and excellent lyrics. Hell, even Rolling Stone’s noticed it as one of David Fricke’s picks. As the album continues, “Psycho On Your Side” is a fun bouncy slice of rock similar to The Mother Hips and Wilco, with complimentary dissonant sounds trailing the main melody. The balladry is also engaging and my favorite track is “Town and Country” which sounds as good as anything Jeff Tweedy could perform, if not better. By the time we get to “Once I Dreamed The Future” it picks up some energy and continues to encourage repeat listens. The ballad “So you say you want love?” channels classic Big Star’s 3rd album as well with a gorgeous melodic chorus including Josh and an uncredited female vocal. The offbeat and semi-instrumental “Every time I see Your Broken Face” is just as compelling as it is unpredictable. All twelve tracks have merit and you can buy the album from them directly off the My Space page.

Your 33 Black Angels Page | My Space

Listen to “Sue”

Sparkwood is one of a rare few bands that take the Jellyfish power pop model to the next level. As their last two album, the bands love of Jellyfish, Queen, ELO and Beach Boys shine through each track here. I would consider “Kaleidoscopism” the best release yet. You know it’s going to be special when you hear vocalist Bart Padar’s multitrack a capella Beach Boys inspired intro “Welcome”- the rest of the parts were arranged and performed by Joel Nesvadba and Jonathan Nesvadba, Sparkwood’s bass player. Thus begins pure ear candy so sweet, the cavities may rot your brain. Enough cannot be said about guitarist Mark Doroba, who channels Brian May perfectly in each tune. The bouncy and playful “Ooh Sha La” leads to the Squeeze-meets-Queen “Losing my Mind.” The following tune, “Bop Bop Song” could be a children’s theme song, and my only problem here is that it seems lyrics were not written for it and a lot of “la la las” and “ba ba ba’s” placed instead. Things slow down a bit by the end of the album, but everything here shines. Included is four bonus tracks with demos and a perfectly good cover of Queen’s “Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.” In some songs the mixing is a bit uneven and I feel Bart’s vocals get lost on a few tracks. The harmonies are really ingenious and catchy and that’s what great pop is all about. I could wax poetic on every track this album has even more, but you get the idea. This is a Japan only release right now, so the only place you can get it is from the Sparkwood site. I’m sure it will arrive in the US soon at the usual vendors. For those who cannot wait: Tasukete!

The Sparkwood Site | My Space

FYI: I have a handful of albums that need to be reviewed and then on 12/24 the First Annual Powerpopaholic Album Poll begins!

Pittsburgh’s Cynics, are one of America’s longest-running—and greatest—garage bands. Punk Pop done right since 1983 and now they add some power pop into the mix with the newest album “Here We Are.” Like other true garage acts, The Fuzztones, or The Chesterfield Kings, they take a hint from the great bands of the past and keep the punk DIY spirit alive. Like label mates The Ugly Beats, they add just enough pop to the stew to keep me interested. Gregg Kostelich has kept The Cynics a tightly tuned machine here, with the title track opener a nice mid tempo folk rock tune that could’ve fallen off the Nuggets box set. Then the fuzz-toys come out for the Chocolate Watchband-like “Coming Round My Way.” Amazing still is “The Ring” a song that is the Small Faces reincarnated and would fit nicely on “Odgen’s Nut Gone Flake.” A wonderful Byrdsian guitar based “Me Wanting Her” follows that and is the poppiest Cynics track I have ever heard. The track “Slide Over” complete with harmonica accents is like a lost Beau Brummels track. But things then get heavier with “Hard To Please.” The true spirit of power pop punk is in the track “What She Said” and my favorite track here. Michael Kastelic’s vocals are a refined rooty howl and fit the songs perfectly. It ends out nicely with the ballad “Courtney” (a poem about Cortney Love?) and although every song has great energy and are played with swagger, something is missing. Most of the choruses don’t have that neat pop-harmony hook and that’s my only caveat here. On the other hand, most really good punk music doesn’t need it and if you’re looking for tracks to be played loud and with killer rythym and beats look no further.

The Cynics Page | My Space | eMusic | Itunes | Not Lame

Listen to “What She Said”

Hailing from Brooklyn, The Attorneys are a talented trio poised for stardom with their energetic and engaging debut. In fact the My Space page indicates that they will change their name (good move). The band’s sound owes alot to The Strokes and Queen, with meaty guitar leads and singer William Ryan George’s very Freddie Mercury styled vocals. The album “Stereocracy” opens with the frenetic energy of “On a Whim” complete with bouncy piano and high powered guitar riffs. This is followed by “Open Up” – a great bass line that leads to a Scissor Sisters meets Maroon Five mix. Followed by the excellent “Poppies” – with it’s trippy falsettos. Another standout is “The Way I Want” which is a Cars-styled New Wave Do Wop tune with fast paced guitar breaks. The best song here is “Stay” with one tight sounding melodic hook after another that should propel them to the top. Fans of Weezer also take note, these guys really deserve to be on your playlist as well because it’s great modern power pop. Lyrically, the band channels Wings-era Paul McCartney on ocassion. “Anytime” is a breathy ballad that really brings the Freddie comparisons front and center. Get this CD and you will not be dissapointed.

The Attorneys | My Space | CD Baby | Itunes