Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Nick Lowe, The Morning Line and Sofa City Sweetheart

powerpopaholic
Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe “Love Starvation” EP

Nick Lowe is like a fine wine — and his ability to craft catchy melodies with meaningful lyrics get better with age.  Supported by masked guitar greats Los Straitjackets, Lowe has penned three original tracks: “Love Starvation,” “Trombone,” and “Blue on Blue.”  The A/B sides have a Spanish flavor similar to Richie Valens. However, the real classic here is the tender ballad “Blue On Blue.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon

The Morning Line

The Morning Line “North”

San Francisco, CA-based The Morning Line delivers a follow up to 2017’s Smoke. They start with the slow building “Antennas,” a droning guitar melody with reverbed basslines. “Given Up” has a good guitar riff, with a 90’s style very much like Collective Soul.

The band picks up the speed a bit on “1982” and lead vocalist Stephen Smith is like a mellowed Elvis Costello at times. Wistful midtempo songs like “Complicated” and “Sickness” are good, but the folk-rock “Tripwire” slows the momentum. Thankfully the energy level is just right on “Nostradamus” and “No Love Lost.” The catchy “South Carolina” is another highlight. Check it out!

Kool Kat Musik

Sofa City Sweetheart

Sofa City Sweetheart “Super(b) Exitos”

LA musician Juan Antonio Lopez (and assorted bandmates) have made a deeply personal statement and a hell of an album. “The Same Old Song (You Were Always On My Mind” is a great low-key opener comparable to Elliot Smith with its “la di da” chorus and “Stanely Waited” is a richly textured character study with a western rhythm that soars during the bridge. Acoustic guitar and strings echo along with the verses of “Annie Stays Home” and the gentle falsetto and harmonies all by itself carry “Floating” along. Every song here is a pocket symphony with really high peaks like “Stop The Thinking” that are simply catchy power pop with the addition of Spanish horn accents that takes it over the top.

“In This Lifetime” is another brilliant single that’s a hopeful pep talk, and following that are the melancholy “I am On My Own” and “Song For Alex.” The album slowly unwinds with more balladry, but it remains compelling musically, especially the ender “So Long / Lucky Nuff.” Lopez pours his heart out in the lyrics and even on the few instrumentals. He designed this album to be listened to as a complete concept, a little adventure that begins when you drop the needle down before the first song and isn’t over until you hear the record crackle at the end. It serves that purpose and earns praise as one of the best LPs of 2019. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Amoeba Teen and Talkie

powerpopaholic
Amoeba Teen

Amoeba Teen “Medium Wave”

Stourbridge, England’s Amoeba Teen are back and the songwriting team of Mark Britton and Mike Turner continue to craft catchy tunes, but the band stretches its boundaries and colors outside the lines on Medium Wave. The pop sophistication on the opener “Clementine,” starts out like an Anton Barbeau gem with a mid-tempo narrative but it then launches into a Beach Boys-like coda.

“Babycakes” and “(Coming On) Stronger” mines the familiar Beatles meets Nilsson influences perfectly with driving hooks and sweet guitar breaks. The acoustic folk-like “Wandering Bullets” boasts strings and harmonies comparable with Wilco about life’s everyday addictions. Then it’s back to crunchy power pop with the middle-aged anxiety of “Suit and Tie,” but the band revisits roots pop on “Ship to Shore” and “Hickory Hill,” the latter being a gentle jangling melody that sticks with repeat plays. The Lennonesque ballad “Save” is another tune that dazzles. Each song reveals more and Amoeba Teen proves to be much deeper than the surface. While a few songs are immediate, this is an album that grows on you and doesn’t let go. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Big Stir Records

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/7QlznN0Sc9s”]

Talkie

Talkie “Everything Matters”

San Francisco band Talkie continues to formulate lush California soundscapes and pick up right where they left off with 2018’s Fundamental Things. “Headphone, Pt 2” is perfect summer beach music, almost dream-like where “Everybody’s hanging out for the weekend.” But all is not bliss and we start to hear on “Boring Now” that “something is wrong” with that new job… all set to sweet harmonies. The band constructs its catchy narrative perfectly on “Bummer Summerrr,” an anthem for slacking as lead Christopher Isaacs croons “I can’t seem to find my way.” The story takes a dark turn after this.

The reflective “Proper Way” hints at an “easy way out” and the energy level moves up on “Eraser” a catchy guitar gem with just the right amount of guitar fuzz buried in it’s desperate lyric “I wish I could erase myself.” But the band doesn’t wallow in the negative, as the laid back “Turning Over” looks at realistic solutions, and the frantic tempo “I’m Alright” gets into acceptance and “Walk Away” approaches self-renewal. Talkie seamlessly blends each song into the narrative with hints of surf rock and folk. The album coda leads us to the opening piano chords of Fundamental Things, so for the “full concept” listen to both albums in order. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Geoff Palmer and Cloud Eleven

powerpopaholic
Geoff Palmer

Geoff Palmer “Pulling Out All The Stops”

Geoff is a power pop veteran from numerous bands (The Connection, New Trocaderos, and The Kurt Baker Band) in addition, he has written and performed many of their biggest hits. So when Connection bandmate Brad Marino went solo earlier this year, Geoff decided to go solo too and throw in the kitchen sink when it comes to pop punk and melodic rock anthems. Geoff delivers his signature sound but without a dominant bass vocal, so he layers his songs in harmonies and rich guitar rhythms.

“This One Is Gonna Be Hot” sets the template with a quick tempo and take-no-prisoners abandon, akin to an early Green Day hit. “Cha-Ching” is a soundtrack to a fast-paced bank robbery, then it slows a bit for the amazingly catchy “Giving In.” The non-stop action continues without everything sounding alike, “I Got The Skinny” could be a Kurt Baker tune with its punk energy and “We Can’t Do It” is another gem with a Beach Boys-like intro about turning down a gig while touring (Maybe this was about 2016?) It was hard to find anything that felt like filler, “All The Hits” is a great sing-along tune, and my favorite song was “Velcro Shoes” about a dude “past his prime.” He even shouts out to Kurt (I believe) when he sings “Punker Than Me.” With 16 short and sweet tracks, it’s a perfect party album for summer and a nominee for best album of 2019.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Cloud Eleven

Cloud Eleven “Footnote”

Rick Gallego (aka Cloud Eleven) makes music for himself and we are blessed he is able to share it with us. It’s pure bedroom-psych-pop from the Brian Wilson/Wondermints school of soundscapes. “On Pismo Beach” has a lovely building chorus with soaring harmonies, and  “Aural Illusion” attempts to explain that “magic to my ears” with slow swirling chords and strings similar to ELO. “Bound To Follow” embraces the California sound with lush melody lines, overlapping vocals and sleigh bells.

The poetic folk of “For Weal and Woe” and “L.A. County” is a slight shift in approach, with brightly strummed chords over a light percussive rhythm. Gallego looks back philosophically at his career with “Skywriting” and then “One Big Hideaway” feels like an interpretation of Brian Wilson’s mid 70’s isolation. The title track explains Rick’s contentment to be a “Footnote” in music history. Overall, while the album’s theme is slightly melancholy, it’s not too depressing either. It appears these melodies are just right for quiet contemplation with headphones. Check it out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik | CD Baby

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/0rL17PASMm0″]

Coleman Gota and Armchair Oracles

powerpopaholic
Coleman Gota

Coleman Gota “And The Loser’s Choir Sings”

Colman Gota is back with producer Mitch Easter on this rocking ode to a grievance. Gota’s vocal style has always reminded me of Tom Petty, but musically he forges his own unique path. Starting with “Catholic School,” he laments that “good guys only win in the movies,” as the catchy chorus sticks with you.

“Victim of Society” is a bit atonal, with his vocal melody running alongside the echoing rhythmic guitar. The remaining songs are all pretty compelling, and Gota’s voice grows on you quickly. In fact, as the album progresses it gets better, a little like a Dylan playing with REM and John Cougar Mellencamp. I love the little details and guitar riffs in “Lonely Tonight” and “Practice Room.”  The melodic menagerie of techniques on “Do You Really Wanna Know” is also really great. “Do It All Over Again” starts out quiet, but leads to a hand-clapping joyous chorus. No duds here, enjoy! Highly Recommended.

Amazon

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/UVsuJ4nQ7wc”]

Armchair Oracles

Armchair Oracles “Caught By Light”

Norway’s Armchair Oracles are back with a new LP (their 3rd) and the band continues to giving us dramatic and melodic rock and roll. “Porcelain Heart” is an early favorite with its gentle harmonies and guitar jangle. Lead vocalist Atle Skogrand’s tone is hushed and soothing on most songs. “She Gets Me High” has a Big Star meets Beatles quality with a solid hook and it’s my favorite song here.

The band turns up the jangle and Matthew Sweet chords on “Don’t Let It Break You” and “Might Be Wrong.” The dense production threatens to obscure the guitar solos, and at times makes the music homogenous. Thankfully on “Silver Nights” it adds a psychedelic sitar sound that adds a little variety. And the slower tempo gem “Last of All Suns” dazzles with it’s Mott The Hoople-like guitar breaks and haunting bassline. There are enough good songs here to make this one highly recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

The Pearlfishers and Sorethumb

powerpopaholic
The Pearlfishers

The Pearlfishers “Love and Other Hopeless Things”

It’s been five years since their last album, and Glasgow’s magnificent Pearlfishers return with another wonderful album. Lead singer-songwriter David Scott has always mined the rich vein of adult-oriented pop, with influences like Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Laura Nyro. The title track out of the gate is a brilliant example of the rich melody Scott can produce, burnished by strings and brass. The combination of joy and sadness are a reoccurring theme, best heard on “Could Be A Street, Could Be A Saint” with the wistful refrain that “people are beautiful. So beautiful.”

Scott makes his lyrics both inspired and deeply personal. The autobiographical “Once I Lived In London,” starts with a simple acoustic guitar melody as he describes the memories of how he “went busking every day… cold and nervous, closed my eyes and kept believing.” That pastoral track and the wistful “You’ll Miss Her When She’s Gone” reminds me a little of Martin Newell’s recent nostalgia for youth. The charm of a show tune mixed with a little soul makes “You Can Take Me There” another winner. The music is permeated in rich details and each composition is delicately arranged. I vote this album most likely to make you tear up in 2019. Highly recommended.

Amazon

[su_youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cia8_hAWll8″]

Sorethumb

Sorethumb “Sorethumb Remastered”

Back in the 1980’s Freddy Monday started his music career with a band out on Lindenhurst, Long Island. Sorethumb was a true product of its time, as the opening track “Not Ready For Love” is a “shoulda been” hit mix of Hall and Oats, Billy Joel, and Huey Lewis. The band played legendary bars and clubs all over Long Island and NYC: Oak Beach Inn, Right Track Inn, Kenny’s Castaway’s and The Bitter End to name a few.

Many of the songs are stylistically similar to Billy Joel circa Innocent Man. We also get a live track from Xenon nightclub (“She’s A Teazer”) and “Sentimental Heartache” definitely had hit potential. Unfortunately, the band ran into a streak of bad luck including numerous record deals that fell apart and a major label showcase that quickly descended into a fiasco. Sorethumb never got the fame it deserved, but if you are a fan of the era this is a true hidden treasure. Check it out!

CD Baby

[su_youtube url=”https://youtu.be/49s4x5Kf9-k”]