Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

The Explorers Club and DC Cardwell

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The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club “The Explorers Club/To Sing And Be Born Again”

The Explorers Club is a band that specializes in harmonic retro-pop, and what started as a terrific Beach Boys sound-alike band with a flair for songwriting, has gradually shifted to include many more influences of the late ’60s and early ’70s. The band’s line-up has shifted through the years, but the one constant has been lead singer-songwriter, Jason Brewer. He’s also enlisted the talent of Los Angeles-based Emeen Zarookian (recently from Bebopalula.) Brewer explores his musical milieu like his own mixtape, and you can spot influences throughout each song.

Starting with “Ruby,” you’ll hear distinct echoes of the Turtles “Elenore,” and the horns on “Don’t Cry” clearly evoke Burt Bacharach. But it’s much more as these original songs are equally strong compositionally and the execution is flawless here. That includes those sparkling Wilsonesque harmonies, which can turn “Love So Fine” from an average song to a great one. “Mystery” brings The Righteous Brothers back to life as well. There are so many highlights including “One Drop of Rain,” “Dawn,” “Say You Will,” and “Dream World.” Almost every song hits that retro “sweet spot,” and it is sure to be on my top ten list at the end of this year.

The covers album To Sing And Be Born Again puts additional emphasis on how well this music would fit in that “AM Radio Gold” era. The two LPs fit perfectly together. Boyce and Hart’s “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight,” Danny Hutton’s “Roses and Rainbows,” Paul Revere and The Raiders “Kicks,” and the rest are expertly done.

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DC Cardwell

DC Cardwell “Crystal Set”

It’s been a long time, but DC Cardwell is back with a new album full of hooks and simple, direct lyrics. The album opens with the late ‘70s power-pop of “Friendly Fire” and its charming, almost tinny guitar riffs. But the songs gets richer (and better) with each song moving forward. “The Spirit Is Willing” has a great Beatlesque Rickenbacker riff, and the breezy “I Can’t Run Fast Enough” has a brilliant bassline and it’s one of the most memorable songs he’s ever done.

Another keeper is the politically-charged “Lies Are All You Speak,” calling truth to power in the best Nick Lowe tradition. Another terrific song in the Nick Lowe mold is “Just Try Me Out” as a pitch for the author of his new book. One of the most thought-provoking songs here is “Rock and Roll Isn’t With Us Anymore.” The simple acoustic strum brings to mind Ray Davies, as he opines on the changing times and how things “will burn away.” Another fine tune is an ode to his pet “Stay At Home With Your Cat.” Highly Recommended.

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Gary Olson and Ex-Norwegian

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Ward White

Gary Olson “Gary Olson”

Gary Olson is the frontman with the band Ladybug Transistor. His first solo album is full of lush arrangements and as it opens, “Navy Boats” recalls early ’70s AOR pop with its delicate horns and strings. “Giovanna Please” has a similar wistful presentation, and the flowing folk-pop of “Some Advice” keeps things moving along. The breezy “All Points North” makes the best use of the brass here, and its a standout track.

The songs do tend to blend together as the tone and tempo barely change much. A few moments like the guitar instrumental “Initials DC” break the pattern, and the chiming jangle of “A Dream For A Memory” and “The Old Twin” quicken the tempo a little, but the lack of hooks can be an issue with these songs. There is only so much that fine musicianship can accomplish here. Still, fans of The Pearlfishers and Belle & Sebastian will definitely enjoy this album. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

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Ex-Norwegian   Ex-Norwegian

Ex-Norwegian “Hue Spotting/Spotting Hues”

Ex Norwegian chugs along with their 10th studio album “Hue Spotting.” Like the cover design suggests, its a modern psyche-pop collection that utilizes synth beats, echoing guitars and Mellotron keys. Starting with “Fear Backwards” it’s driven by a solid rhythm and lead singer Roger Houdaille’s layered vocals. “Comfort Sands” incorporates these older influences (Farfisa organ, sitar) with modern guitar and bass structures to create something unique. “Bloody Parrots!” is another standout with its warbling vocal about an occult crime scene over an organ solo. It can stray into some quite trippy moments that bring to mind Pink Floyd, Spaceman 3, and The Resonars. But there are still great hooks here, as evidenced on both “Something” and the amusing gem “Post Post Malone.”

As a bonus, Roger also released “Spotting Hues,” an album that covers rare nuggets from the psychedelic era. Songs from The Nice, The End, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Billy Nicholls, and more. Many of these songs are so obscure, for most it will be like “brand new” material, making it a perfect companion album to the originals. Both are highly recommended.

Amazon (Hue Spotting) | Amazon (Spotting Hues)
Kool Kat Musik (Hue Spotting) | Kool Kat Musik (Spotting Hues)

Dan Israel and Ward White

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Dan Israel

Dan Israel “Social Distance Anxiety Disorder”

A follow up to last year’s Social Media Anxiety Disorder Minnesota musician Dan Israel continues to develop insightful rock that sticks in your head. It’s slow going on the weary “Wit’s End,” but it picks up quickly with the spirited “Bewildered,” which is like a Tom Petty – Bruce Springsteen hybrid. Even better is the power pop of “Bustin’ Out,” with its distinct organ lead it’s my favorite song on this short LP.

The style of Bob Dylan is clearly part of Dan’s vocal approach, and it’s best shown on “Don’t Think They’ll Say.” The self-conscious lyrics and solid hooks on “Little Bit Of Your Love” make it another winner. Next, “Something For Pain” is a rocker that recalls something Joe Walsh or NRBQ used to write. There are only nine tracks and not everything here sticks, but it shows that Dan has plenty of gas in the tank. A good companion album to last year’s LP, It’s definitely music that deserves to be heard.

Bandcamp

Ward White

Ward White “Leonard at the Audit”

Los Angeles based art-rocker Ward White is an acquired taste, but it’s a gourmet meal best enjoyed in deliberate sound bites. I’ve often compared his croon to a lighter version of David Bowie, but that’s just a starting point. Leonard at the Audit is easily his most ambitious work. The concept is something about Leonard Cohen’s 1960’s-era dalliance with Scientology. 

Starting with the industrial “Bubble & Squeak,” it describes a soul-crushing day at work, “another shift another accident” and the oppressive story is punctuated by those deep synth-bass notes, and it’s pure brilliance. “Ice Capades” is another winner with it’s jangling texture in the chorus, intricate baroque arrangement, and sweet guitar solo. “Edmund Fitzgerald Is a Wreck” is a near-perfect tune of the suffering protagonist who “didn’t need to be alone.” On”Try Me” it shows Ward at his most cynical and vocally dynamic. The lyrics are acidic poetry that paints the stories just right, reminding me of Warren Zevon. Take your time with this one, it’s definitely highly recommended.

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Sunshine Boys and Bill Lloyd

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Sunshine Boys

Sunshine Boys “Work and Love”

Call it kismet or synchronicity, but the sweet combination of veteran Chicago musicians Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Mysteries of Life), Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs), and Jacqueline Schimmel (Big Hello, Justin Roberts) are tighter than ever and they have continued to develop as a band. The second full-length LP finds them with a more consistent and established style.

“I Was Already Gone” is a brilliant opener with the catchy hand-clapping chorus, and the jangling followup “Infinity Girl” is like REM meets Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices). Next, “Summertime Kids” and “The World Turning Around” have an infectious positive vibe that runs throughout the album, and the hooks are still prominent. Eventually, the songs become more introspective, like “No Showdown.” The insightful “Every Step” has Dag singing about coming to terms with his grown-up, moved out daughter, with its violins and acoustic guitar rhythms. Similarly, “Right Where You Need It” speaks to keeping things precious close to heart. The warmth of these songs continues, without any filler and it deserves multiple plays this summer. Highly Recommended.

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Bill Lloyd

Bill Lloyd “Don’t Kill the Messenger”

Bill Lloyd is a treasure with talent that doesn’t quit. Many artists have done “quarantined” albums recently, but Lloyd’s “Don’t Kill The Messenger” hits home with the facts we live in today, and “there’s nowhere safe inside a troubled mind.” This catchy title track is followed by “Undone,” a rocker with perceptive lyrics about “burning bridges” and a crunchy guitar solo.

“Etch-A-Sketch” takes an 80s new wave approach, with a simple percussion and angular guitar flourishes. Another highlight here is “The Girls of Sylvan Park” which is a jangling gem about mid-life dating. Another big highlight is “You Got Me,” a boogie guitar tune that’s pure passion about traditional rock & roll, like a lost Rockpile track. “Sorry, I Gotta Take This” is another great track that recalls Nick Lowe. “Baby’s In The Mood” and “I’ll Take It From Here” are workman-like efforts that are less memorable, however, there are no duds here and this album is still highly recommended.

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The Corner Laughers and Willie Nile

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The Corner Laughers

The Corner Laughers “Temescal Telegraph”

California’s tightest pop combo The Corner Laughers are like fresh lemonade on a summer day; cool and refreshing. The band is made up of veteran talent; Karla Kane (vocals/ukulele), Khoi Huynh (guitar/bass/vocals), Charlie Crabtree (drums), and KC Bowman (guitar/bass/piano.)

The music is a meticulously crafted mix of sunshine folk and power pop, “The Calculating Boy” starts as a character study, similar to XTC in its layered catchy structure and jangling rhythm.  Karla’s vocals lead the melody, but the remaining instrumentation holds it all together. The sing-along gem “Changeling” has a swaying beat and boasts a great guitar solo (it’s my favorite here). “The Accepted Time” is more serious, with hooks in verses about accepting life in the present. A few tracks are from Karla’s last solo album, but now given the full band treatment; best exemplified by “Sisters Of The Pollen” with those harmonic hums and buzzes. We don’t get some serious guitar buzz until the floral “Lord Richard” which plays like a rock madrigal. No filler here, as each song is accessible and deserves many listens. Highly Recommended.

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Willie Nile

Willie Nile “New York At Night”

There are so many musicians that define themselves as New York City bred, but Willie Nile owns that definition. He’s written and recorded many albums about NYC and its denizens, and his love for the place always comes through in each song. The theme “New York Is Rockin'” opens the album like a passionate response to Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” It mentions all the boroughs, sports teams, and local heroes (The Ramones). It will get even jaded city dwellers singing along.

The blues-rock guitar and Nile’s raspy vocal work to great effect on “The Backstreet Slide” as he channels both Bo Diddley and Lou Reed. “Doors of Paradise” slow synth rhythm is both calming and catchy as Nile mentions that those doors “swing both ways.” The title track is another effective rocker and “Surrender The Moon” keeps the monologue of nighttime life in NYC going strong. Nile’s ballads are stylistically comparable to Bruce Springsteen, “Under This Roof” being a standout. A solid effort and highly recommended.

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