Category: Power Pop Compilation

July 4th Musical Goodies! Hurry, Popboomerang, Telematch, Orchidelia, Trash Man

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Happy 250th Birthday, USA. So let’s get some great music to celebrate. Philadelphia band Hurry has a new LP that breaks next week, and we’ve got the video for “Moving After You” featuring Gerard Love (Teenage Fanclub). A great song, and check out more prior to release. Next, the 4th compilation of Aussie artists with “Shake Yer Popboomerang” with awesome singles from Hexham Heads, Icecream Hands, The Valery Trails, and many more. 22 tracks of sugar powered gems curated by Scott Thurling is a guaranteed good time. Next up, a freebie from Madrid with Telematch. Heavy guitar crunch and fast tempo is the name of the game on “Stump” and “We Are Here” and they skillfully get your attention.

A lot of artists on Bandcamp release music year after year, often with little sign of growth or artistic evolution. Then there are the few who keep refining their songwriting, performances, and production. Those are the artists who always grab my attention. Orchidelia is a great example of this, self described as “Sheffield’s most happening power-pop quintet.” Gradually they develop and ‘Sundial’ shows a solid balance between melody and attitude, check out “Forget Me Not.” Another example is Trash Man. Alex Mojaverian (aka Trash Man) has been toiling away on songs of existential dread and emotional coping with a style akin to early Weezer. Alex has really sharpened his songwriting on this new EP and each song is a gem. Listen and you will find treasure in this “trash!” Enjoy.

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Video premiere and more stuff: The Smug Brothers, Ridel High, Pop Boomerang, The Happy Somethings, Sr. Pez, Pop Boomerang

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The Smug Brothers are back with a new album, due in May titled ‘Gravity Is Just A Way To Fall’ check out the premiere of a new video by skate legend Dave Ackels. You can pre-order the album here. Now some FREEBIES! Next before Tsar became a big Hollywood power pop band, Ridel High was there, and here is a new digital EP of remastered ’90s demos. Next, UK band The Happy Somethings deliver happy folk pop that have us “Thinkin’ ‘bout good times.” and from Elche, Spain this psychedelic pop band Sr. Pez is just “Walking In Circles.” Finally, I am happy to report the return of Pop Boomerang Records compilations, this new one is ‘Electric & Eclectic Rarities Volume 2.’  It bundles up previously unreleased songs, demos, live versions, rare B-sides and a huge array of covers. Enjoy the snow melt!

Spooky Stuff: Halloween Sounds and Timmy Sean

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“The

Various Artists “Chilling, Thrilling Hooks And Haunted Harmonies: The Big Stir Records Halloween Grimoire”

Big Stir Records brews up a perfectly ghoulish collection for the season with Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies. The label’s roster dives headfirst into Halloween fun, mixing hooks, humor, and just enough creep factor to keep things lively. Each song opens with a brief spoken-word intro—mostly unnecessary, but it does help set the spooky tone.

Sparkle*jets U.K. bounce in with “Eyeball Eater,” a candy-coated cousin to “The Purple People Eater” and  The Incurables “Halloween Bride” are made for any Halloween dance floor. The Armoires shift gears with “Full On Witch Mode,” all dreamy séance energy and ghostly charm. The Spongetones deliver a crisp jangle on “Spirit World,” Shplang goes darker with the reverb-laden “Frankie’s Back,” and Graham Parker & The Goldtops stir up some bluesy mischief on “Music of the Devil.” With over 20 songs, not every spell hits its mark, but the spirit of the season shines through. For fans of smart pop with a spooky twist, this collection is a playful and tuneful treat bag worth digging into.

Big Stir Halloween

“The

Timmy Sean “Transmissions From The Timmyverse”

Similarly along the lines of Steve Eggers (The Nines) and Fernando Perdomo, Timmy Sean has embraced some AI tools to create “The Timmyverse,” a universe of “artists” with their own musical style. But each of these personas are created with an Artificial Intelligence assist. Timmy Sean has dived headfirst into this new technology with a massive amount of music. Volume 1 of “The Timmyverse” has funk, disco, glam and more. He continued this in a second volume this month, and the best part is that he includes the non-AI altered “original” versions of the songs (and in most cases I like them better) with “the enhanced versions.”

In the hands of a skilled musician and producer, the AI versions sound great. He’s done wonders with Beatles covers, and he gets better with each attempt. Because it jumps around style-wise, its easy to pick and choose your favorites. Stay tuned to his Bandcamp page as he grows this universe, you may find some surprises like the solid “7teen.” Check it out!

Bandcamp only

Best Compilations of 2023: International Pop Overthrow Vol. 24 and Embers of Aloha

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IPO

Assorted Artists “International Pop Overthrow Vol. 24”

Every year, Dave Bash reliably puts out this 3-disc overview of old and new power pop talent. There are always unexpected gems that I never see promoted anywhere else, and that’s one of the best reasons to pick this up. Unlike past volumes, the quality is truly spread across all three discs. Here are some highlights for me:

Disc 1: Opening with The Cowsills on “Ya Gotta Get Up!” is proof that power pop never goes out of style. Sunbourne Rd gives us “Pioneers and Natives,” with its strong psyche-pop vibe, The Parlophonics’ brilliant pop of “Reading Kerouac,” Tyler Graham’s “If It Were Up To Me,” and the 80’s-like strums of 6Kitty’s “Do I Walk.” One apparent thing is that this is not strictly power pop but a huge selection of pop styles.

Disc 2: The jangling dream-pop of Pikal’s “That’s Not Me” or Plasma Chasms’ “Chasing Ghosts” follow a path closer to full psychedelic prog. The optimistic “Yesterdays and Silly Ways” by Thomas Charlie Pedersen is also a standout. Brian Larney & Dean Falcone have the riffs on “Love Signs,” as well as The On and Ons’ “Don’t Wanna Talk About It.”

Disc 3: The 80-rock stylings of Robin Schell’s “Eleven” and Jody & The Jerms’ “Insatiable” both have great hooks. The Love Gamblers’ “Without Love,” Stephen’s Ruin “Lorraine,” Broken Sound’s “Sky Girl,” and Lizard Music’s “Keystone Cops” also all had me very impressed. Without a doubt highly recommended, and we look forward to next year’s compilation.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Embers of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project

Assorted Artists “Embers of Aloha: A Maui Wildfire Benefit Project”

The people who have suffered because of the Maui wildfires will receive immediate assistance thanks to this musical initiative. The people of Lahaina and the communities located in West Maui will appreciate your generous donation, which will help provide relief to those affected by this terrible calamity. Thanks to my friend, Michael McCartney, for bringing this to my attention.

While most of these songs have already been released, some of them are exclusive to the collection. Featured highlights include Dana Countryman, Star Collector, Timmy Sean, Tammy Ferranti, David Myhr, John Hunter Phillips, and The Hurricane Beach Band (doing an awesome Beach Boys-like track). With 42 tracks, you can’t go wrong. Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp only

More best compilations

Shine On: A Tribute To Pete Ham

Abbey Road Reimagined: A Tribute To The Beatles

Assorted Artists “Jem Records Celebrates Ray Davies”

Spooky Singles and a bagful of treats: Descartes a Kant, Willie Dowling, Wesley Fuller, Cold Expectation, Linda Lindas, and many more!

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(Spoken in your best Crypt Keeper voice) It is that time of year again when little boys and ghouls are knocking on doors for a trick or treat. Good thing all we have is treats! Let’s start with Mexico’s Descartes a Kant which is like an old video game mixed with your favorite indie post-punk band. A creative disturbing retro-futuristic concept album that really sticks with you! Willie Dowling (Dowling Poole) reheats an oldie in the production oven and it will make you “Happy?” cause it’s a freebie! In another vintage-inspired gem, we get “Alamein Line” from Wesley Fuller, dig that retro-drum-beat, new album coming soon. A little more in the spirit of things is Cold Expectation‘s “(I Live With) Ghosts” with some nice guitar work in that break between the chorus. Girl punk pop band Linda Lindas takes an old chestnut “Little Bit ‘O Soul” and makes it their own. Finally, we get to the big bag of candy, The Big Stir Records Halloween Collection! For a mere $5 you get a 20-track assortment of treats from Plasticsoul, The Armoires, Steve Stoeckel, and more. Hope these satisfy your sweet tooth (and ear)! Hee hee hee (thundercrack sound effect!)