Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Tributes and Compilations: Peter Ham and The Mosquitos

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Pete Ham Tribute

Assorted Artists “Shine On: A Tribute To Pete Ham”

Pete Ham, the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist for the band Badfinger, was one of the great emerging stars of the early 1970s. One of the first power pop bands, the Beatle’s shadow loomed large over the group, and despite his tragic story, his musical skill was undeniable. Rather than me go into history on the band – get Without You: The Tragic Story of Badfinger by the late great Dan Matovina. That tells the tale.

All of Badfinger’s hits are here “No Matter What,” “Day After Day,” “Baby Blue,” and many more. The project, which includes 35 new recordings of songs Ham wrote or co-wrote, will benefit Mental Health America of Southeast Florida. The project’s goal is boosted by the wide range of musicians who pay homage to Ham classics and deep cuts on the two-disc set.

I enjoyed many of the covers, including Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites) as part of The Chefs on a fun, infectious “I Can’t Take It.” I also liked The Smokin Novas faithful take on “Shine On” and the reverent approach by Shelby Lynne on “Day After Day.” Other standouts include “Mary Lou Lord’s “Baby Blue,” Rob Bonfiglio’s “Lonely You,” and the spirited country version of “Lay Me Down” by Diane Ward. Like all big compilations, there are tracks I didn’t like – but don’t let them sway you. Badfinger fans will enjoy this for sure. Highly Recommended.

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The Mosquitos

The Mosquitos “This then are The Mosquitos!”

Long Island musician Vance Brescia formed a Beatles-influenced punk-pop band in the early ’80s, very much in parallel to Tommy Marolda (The Toms) from New Jersey or Paul Collins’s band The Beat from Los Angeles. The Mosquitos were also ahead of their time, as the sound was a mix of Merseybeat, punk, and new wave. They were poised for 80s stardom. The title track from the band’s EP “That Was Then, This Is Now” was chosen by Arista Records’ Clive Davis for The Monkees to record as their comeback single in 1986 following a couple of nominations at the New York Music Awards. The Monkees version entered the Top 20 that summer. Shortly thereafter, the band split up.

The band never really had a major album release, so this massive project was expanded to a 47-song double CD by Kool Kat Musik. This allowed for the publication of nearly all of their original songs, demos, and covers. Highlights include “I Know A Secret,” “I’m So Ashamed,” “Put Your Foot Down,” and others. More than enough to make this highly recommended.

Kool Kat Musik

The Midnight Callers and Mason Lowe

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The Midnight Callers

The Midnight Callers “Rattled Humming Heart”

The Midnight Callers are back, and after a fantastic debut, their sound overall honors the classic ’70s influences (The Raspberries, and early Cheap Trick) with a touch of Glam (Sweet, T-Rex) here, so there is no “sophomore slump.” Lots of short crunchy guitar gems, the production and musicianship here are near perfect. Opening with “New York Tramp” it buzzes through the verses and the lead even sounds a little like Robin Zander in the chorus. “Step!” and “Closer” picks up the tempo, and are great catchy tunes that really stick. The Callers have an innate sense of rock, and “Girl On The Run” from its jangling melody to the harmonies is very much like a lost Tom Petty hit. In the dramatic “Without Ya” those harmonies come to the foreground at the start and then the song morphs into a brilliant rocker, it’s my favorite tune here. Other highlights include “Little Runaround” and the love ballad “Maggie.” No filler here, but a few tunes are missing the hooks they need. However the batting average is very high for this album, so don’t miss it. Highly Recommended for sure.

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Mason Lowe

Mason Lowe “Morning People”

Seattle-based drummer Mason Lowe (Bread & Butter) opted to record an album in his basement to burn off the stress of work during a global pandemic. It boasts a nice fuzzy bedroom pop opener “Plastered” with a catchy chorus/verse combo, and it gets better from there. “Whiplash” is a bright swaggering grunge-pop tune that follows the same template.

The songs take influences from the past (The Creation, The Jam, The Sorrows) and re-configure them into original rockers, the one critique is the tempo and approach for each song don’t vary much, and it causes most songs to blend into each other. But some of the melodies stick nicely like “Stoned and Cold” and “You Took A Chance On Me”

Other tunes like “What Took You So Long” and “You’ve Got The Touch” develops nice vibes, but it could’ve used a tempo change at some point. Despite all this Lowe has lots of potential here, so check this album out.

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Dave Cope and the Sass and Ronnie D’Addario

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Dave Cope and the Sass

Dave Cope and the Sass “Killer Mods From Inner Space”

The follow-up to  last year’s highly rated Julee, Dave Cope and the Sass have mastered the sound of the British Invasion, and other genres (and eras) while creatively delivering original gems. The album begins with “A Good Idea At The Time,” a sweet example of 1970s vintage rock a la The Guess Who.

“She Don’t Care About That” and “More” have a terrific glammy pop vibe, and Mod-era Who/Small Faces are mined with the excellent “In Circles.” He doesn’t always hit the target, as “Butterfly Heart” didn’t really hook me, and “Start” felt like a poor man’s Stephen Sondheim musical. But it’s okay that Dave goes outside his comfort zones, and occasionally the shift in style works out, like on the smooth easy listening pop of “Season of Love.” That said, Cope has just enough goodies on tap to make this album Highly Recommended.

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Ronnie D'Addario

Ronnie D’Addario “All Gathered In One Room”

Ronnie D’Addario (Papa Twig) is back and continues to charm like last year’s Egg Yolks And Artichokes. Similar in style to Paul McCartney or Gilbert O’Sullivan, Ronnie does light rock and music hall pop throughout All Gathered In One Room. “A Shot in The Dark” is a bouncy haiku set to a catchy melody and while the scenarios spun in his tunes can get excessively sentimental, D’Addario skillfully pulls it off.

Taking a different twist, the title track “All Gathered In One Room” is a Gilbert & Sullivan-styled opera number. His Beatles-lite “Come One, Come All” and “The Journey” are meticulously produced, but merely okay. Ronnie’s creative composition really comes out on the dance hall ballad of “Belle of the Ball” and the creative process turned into a baroque waltz on “Dwight Makes Right.” The Lemon Twigs contribute instrumentally, but this is a “Papa Twig” production all the way through. Check it out.

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The Alarm and The Lemon Twigs

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The Anderson Council

The Alarm “Forwards”

The list of active veteran rock musicians still writing and performing is dwindling. That’s why we celebrate when they not only perform but continue to create new songs. Sadly this list is narrowed further when you include artists who still sound as good as they did in their prime. Mike Peters of The Alarm has not only survived the test of time but he’s boldly defied leukemia and cancer — and he’s become a legend, earning 16 Top 50 UK singles over the years. The new album Forwards was written while in the hospital during chemotherapy treatments, and vividly describes the persistence and will to continue.

Opening with the anthemic title track, “Forwards” shares a lot stylistically with former tourmates U2, full of ringing guitar rhythm as he sings “I’m living for today,”  and the heartfelt ballad “Love and Forgiveness” is a shout-out to those who’ve fallen on hard times. The next big anthem “Next” is another defiant melody as he shouts “I feel alright when I’m with you” to his audience. Other standouts include “Whatever” and “New Standards.” It’s not all great, as “10 X” is a 6-minute plus preachy session, and other tracks don’t really distinguish themselves and seem to blend together. However this will appeal to fans, and for those who haven’t heard Mike since the days of “68 Guns,” I ask “Where have you been?” Check it out.

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The Anderson Council

The Lemon Twigs “Everything Harmony”

Long Island-bred brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario have been raised on classic rock and pop, so it’s in their DNA. As the title suggests they take a much softer approach, and the opener “When Winter Comes Around” recalls prime John Denver or David Gates. Next, the duo confronts the difficult reality of who they are in contrast to how others see them in the song “In My Head,” with sweet harmonizing and a melodic structure similar to Todd Rundgren.

“Corner Of My Eye” is a delicate ballad vocally bringing to mind Art Garfunkel, and the guitars come out for the rare Big Star-like power pop of “What You Were Doing.” While the influences are clear, the boys make unique songs that are clearly Lemon Twigs classics. It is as light and carefree as music can be, yet it is also intricate and full of depth. There are enough stylistic differences to keep things unpredictable and the performances lift the music to a shimmering height when the brothers harmonize. Without a doubt, this is Highly Recommended.

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The Anderson Council and Dennis Schocket

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The Anderson Council

The Anderson Council “The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon”

The Anderson Council’s most recent album, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, offers a refreshing dose of memorable songs. This New Jersey-based band transports listeners on a mesmerizing sonic journey by skillfully fusing elements of the 60s British Invasion, psychedelic rock, power pop, and a dash of contemporary indie flair.

Opening with the captivating track “Tarot Toronto,” The Anderson Council sets the tone for the album, immediately immersing us in their lyrical alliteration and nostalgia-infused sound. The band effortlessly channels influences while adding its own power pop twist. “Alone With You” boasts a sing-along chorus with layers of vocals and guitars, another potential hit. “Million Miles A Day” and “Times on the Thames” both feature pulsating rhythms and catchy chorus making them instant earworms that beg for repeated listens.

Overall the music doesn’t get as densely fuzzy as previous albums (Although “Sunday Afternoon” is an exception). But it also allows the melodies to rise to the forefront. Overall, one of the best albums this year. Yes, it’s high on my list and super highly recommended.

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Dennis Schocket

Dennis Schocket “Weathervane”

Dennis Schocket (Starbelly) goes solo on this new adult-oriented potpourri pop album.  It starts with a welcoming confessional in the title track that warmly greets you with its easy strum, and guitar solo. The bittersweet melody of “More Than Anything” is a richly produced ballad with its wonderful slide guitar leading the way. “Please Don’t Let Me Down” is a Jeff Lynne-ish rocker that feels a bit off, and I’m not sure why.

The mid-tempo ballads suit him much better, “Suddenly June” and “She Loves The Sun” are both melodic and wonderfully composed. The album explores introspective themes in tracks like “Love Untold,” and “I Forgive It All.” The bouncy “Madam Chaparral” is a big standout track, about a possible denizen of “Penny Lane.” It’s unsurprising that the Beatles’ DNA follows through with the sweet “Take Your Time With Me.”

Overall the production and mixing are excellent. The songs are more of a mixed bag, but with more treats here than I expected. Highly Recommended.

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