The debut single “Hate Yourself” by Nashville’s Lost Hearts is radio ready gem with a swaggering rock n’ roll attitude. Max Frye’s vocals are set against a pounding guitar background and relentless energy as he sings about a toxic relationship with a former partner. Next, Novelty Island is one of those bands on the cusp of greatness (and another LP) but we have a single “Eureka, I Can See!” that will tide us over. The Blakes released some out-takes that are so good, I wonder why we haven’t heard more, as “What You Own” kicks ass. Everet Almond has discovered a very groovy Clavinet on the cool single “Insanity,” and veteran band Canadian Invasion delivers a nice freebie, Your Favorite Lies EP. I really liked “The Charms of Adeline” with its pedal steel guitar. And finally, Dazy is back with another EP of fuzz-drenched goodness called Otherbody. Check out “Every Little Thing,” “ESTAO,” in fact this is good all around. Don’t be an April’s Fool, and get this fresh batch!
Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic
Ed Ryan and The Decibels
Ed Ryan “A Big Life”
Multi-instrumentalist Ed Ryan is back with his most accomplished album to date. Starting with “Settle Down” it’s a rhythm-driven rocker, with a big finish full of handclaps and optimism across his multi-tracked vocal. The songwriting here is very strong on “As I Am,” and the slowly building “Wonder” boasts some excellent guitar work throughout. The latter is the best song on the album, as he states defiantly “I’ll never grow old.” Ed’s vocal struggles to keep up with the heavier rockers like “Mary Anne,” but the title track “A Big Life” makes good use of the story-like narrative and his verses here are great.
Ed has fun on the catchy “You Keep Me Up All Night,” as it’s very reminiscent of the gems Dave Edmunds or Nick Lowe used to produce. The finale show-ender “Overnight Romance” has a great bouncy beat, and tosses in the kitchen sink musically. Like a heavier version of Solomon Burke’s “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love,” it’s a real crowd-pleaser. There are enough gems here to make this album highly recommended. Enjoy!
The Decibels “When Red Lights Flash”
The Sacramento band has lightened up a little on its latest release, which started life during COVID with the jangling gem “Why Bother With Us?” While things are poppier with “Enough” and more 80’s retro-influenced than previous albums. But the band has a timeless sound that stands out on “There’s Just Something About You,” with its easy-flowing melody. The percussion drives a lot of the songs and for the most part, it’s all in under 2 minutes. But sometimes the vocals get buried under the guitars, like on “He Thinks He’s Right (But He’s Wrong)” or the vocals just don’t match the intensity of the playing (“Say Goodbye”).
Despite that, there are plenty of highlights here, like the catchy harmonies of “In Remembrance,” “Today Is Your Day,” the Raspberries-like “Looking Back” and “This Might Be The End.” Workman-like power pop that definitely deserves to be heard.
Eyelids and Gary Ritchie
Eyelids “A Colossal Waste Of Light”
Eyelids is a super-group of sorts from Portland, OR, including members of Camper Van Beethoven, Guided By Voices, The Decemberists, and the Elliott Smith band. Produced by Peter Buck (REM) who also plays on the record, there are no slouches here as the ascending guitar riffs lead the way on the opener “Crawling Off Your Pages.” Vocalists John Moen and Chris Slusarenko split the duties here, and the songs are definitely designed for multiple listens to grow on you.
The songs gather a multitude of influences from REM’s jangle, The Smith’s rhythms, and Big Star’s poetic loneliness. This is a departure from the more psychedelic aspects of the band’s past work, but the coolness factor is upped. “That’s Not Real At All” is a spacious, slow groove that sticks, and “Only So Much” is a haunting mid-tempo rocker. The band hits its stride on “Runaway, Yeah” with overlapping guitar melodies across a wicked synth, and gets closer to REM on “Everything That I See You See Better” and the catchy “Pink Chair.” Each song has its own flavor, and like a good musical smorgasbord, it satisfies the senses without any filler. Highly Recommended.
Gary Ritchie “Potpourri Of Harmony”
Gary Ritchie has been recording great power pop for decades as an unabashed Beatles fanatic, and it shows through this extensive retrospective of his work. Ritchie skillfully delivers an upbeat and refreshing musical experience that fans of the Fab Four or The Spongetones will surely enjoy. Way too many highlights here, but I really liked “Alright,” “You,” “Carol Says,” and “Record Store.” Like the recent Ken Sharp collection, you’ll find an impressive collection of songs that effortlessly captures the spirit of the Beatles while still feeling fresh and contemporary.
This comprehensive collection includes his 5 solo albums, with added rarities, and at 40 tracks, it’s all the Gary Ritchie you will ever need. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just someone who appreciates good music, this album is a must-listen.
Cliff Hillis and The Bug Club
Cliff Hillis “Be The Now” EP
Cliff Hillis has been such a talented fixture across so many great bands (The Orchestra, Smash Palace, Starbelly) it’s easy to forget his excellent solo career spans over 20 years. Be The Now is likely his most mature-sounding album, with songs that opine on hope and hopelessness. Starting with the pensive “Good Morning and Goodnight” its a cleverly chilled panic attack that sticks to your brain effortlessly.
Almost easy listening, but “Motel Parking Lot” is a brilliant slice-of-life theme that recalls Adam Schlesinger. “Wanna Feel Good” is a simple and economical tune that Cliff effortlessly pulls off. As with most Cliff Hillis, his approach means no filler, all killer. From the country “Spring Foreward” to the boosting “Oh, Dan Bern” with Dan Bern singing a verse about Cliff, it’s a fun highly enjoyable 8-song EP. Highly Recommended.
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
The Bug Club “Green Dream in F#”
This charming indie pop just bursts from the speakers. The Wales duo of Tilly and Sam sing about space, small-town life, love, and bad habits. These short goodies are under 2 minutes each and most of the tunes are catchy as hell. The opener “Only in Love” is a finely crafted earworm that speeds by with a grin. Sam gives us a dour Velvet Underground-on-speed approach to “The Six O’Clock News” and the next several tracks. “It’s Art” reminds me of the early new wave, and “Going Down” has a lovely baseline (even more Lou Reed-like).
Things are usually hit or miss with this many short songs, but the melodies are carefully composed, and the sharp humor keeps it moving. Very few fillers here, and “Love Letters From Jupiter” is another highlight. Plus the band has another added EP “Pure Particles” that has slightly longer songs. All this deserves to be heard and celebrated. This is a club I wouldn’t mind joining.
More March Singles, Freebies, and EPs: The Tearaways, The Deadlights, Peter Hall, The Plus4, Ransom and Subset, Friends of Cesar Romero
Great song from The Tearaways, from the upcoming album ‘And Now For Our Next Trick.’ due out at the end of the month. The jangling alt. rock alter-ego of Jeff Shelton The Deadlights returns with a new single here, and I was impressed with the melodic EP by Peter Hall called About Last Night. The title track rocks, and “For Love” has some ELO overtones, but overall very very good. Keith Hale aka The Plus 4 sings about a UFO sighting I guess and the radio-ready single by Ransom and Subset is a real treasure that’s a free download. Loud punk rock from Friends of Cesar Romero all the same tempo, but I liked the “Bittersweet Nothing Symphony” best, and it’s a free download too.