Category: Power Pop Review

Caddy and The Turnback

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Caddy

Caddy “Ten Times Four”

After 2015’s solid LP The Better End, Tomas Dahl took a break from songwriting and spent more time in his “day job” working long nights while spending part-time as drummer and guitarist for The Stanleys last year. Thankfully, holding back those musical impulses wouldn’t last long. In fact, it burst open to a flow of great power pop gems on “Ten Times Four.” There are tons of standout tracks here. From the grand opening chords of “Miracle Turn,” it makes a statement that cannot be ignored, with melodic guitar crunch familiar to fans of late 90’s mainstays Myracle Brah, Starbelly, The Shoes, and The Posies. “Somewhere Beautiful” starts with the lyric “First rule is lighting is everything…” And then it launches into the brilliantly catchy chorus. Continuing, it gently goes into the buzzing gem “Secret Hiding Place” a dead ringer for a lost Teenage Fanclub classic.

And the hits keep coming from the aptly named “Contagious” to the contemplative “In The Basement.” Not a single weak track, although the slow ballad “Roadblocks” feels like a sleepwalk until we get to a final burst of energy in “The Good Ones.” Overall an awesome feel-good experience for the ears. It happens every year in the fall when artists flood my inbox with great music to be considered for the annual top ten list. Caddy easily squeezes into the top of the list for 2018. Super duper highly recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Turnback

The Turnback “Spinning the Earth in Reverse”

The Turnback have gradually moved to a heavier power pop sound (think Foo Fighters) since 2015’s Are We There Yet?  The psychedelic touches are long gone, and that’s okay because we want this band’s sound to evolve over time, right?

The opener “Here I Am” has a catchy chorus and the requisite riffs that still make The Turnback a power pop favorite. Both leads, Todd Giglio and Kenny Sherman add a heavier riff and slight growl to “This Could Be Our Year,” and the Monkees-like verses make it more upbeat. It’s a sweet and salty pop mix that continues with “Hit And Run” and the impressive “She Walks On Gold.”

“What’s The Difference Anyway” and “Untitled So Far” are mid-tempo soul-searching songs where Kenny’s vocals really shine. The duo takes on political causes with “Stand For Something (Or Go Sit Down)” and it’s good, but taking on apathy isn’t exactly as revolutionary as their past gems (like “If I Were God.”) “Your Fragile Wall” does a much better job with the hooks. Overall a very good album. It doesn’t quite reach the highs of their past work, but it absolutely deserves to be heard.

Amazon | CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

Friday Singles and Freebies: The Premiere of Faux Co! Vista Blue, Magic City, Ryan Allen, Reno Bo

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Exclusive Premiere! 

Chicago’s Faux Co. is the brainchild of songwriter Ben Mackey. Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Mackey has been writing 60’s influenced indie pop songs for a decade. This NEW single “Prozac Spaceman” is an exclusive Power Popaholic premiere. The core line-up of Faux Co is Ben Mackey, Trevor Pritchet and Chris Lee. This single has some great Rickenbacker strums and the melody flows along a catchy shaker beat. I can’t wait for the album!

The prolific Vista Blue is back with another great FREE downloadable album. This 6 song Ep contains much fun guitar crunchiness with a deep Beach Boys cut “It’s OK.”

Irish power popper Conor Lumsden from The Number Ones is Music City and here he’s playing every instrument on this A-Side ‘Pretty Feelings’ which sound like a lost Lindsey Buckingham track! Awesome! We want more Conor!

Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms are back and this advance track is just the start of his next release. This is a fantastic rocking track that just makes me salivate for the next song. Scream along and play air guitar to this one!

Reno Bo has some reflective ballads here to calm you after all that jumping around. Reno has a LOT of singles on his Bandcamp site, check out the Beatles cover and others.

Addison Love and Ken Sharp

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Addison Love

 

Addison Love “Thoughts on Lunch”

Huntington Beach, CA native Addison Love (Yorktown Lads) is a protege of Michael Simmons (Sparkle*Jets UK, Popdudes) and Big Stir Records proudly signed Addison with his first solo album. It starts with the classical piano prelude “Just One Minute” but goes into the bouncy Rubinoos-like rock of  “Anything’s Right.”

Love has all the right influences, as these songs have both modern and retro touchpoints. Beatles and Beach Boys are primary here with an authenticity that reaches out through each tune. Some tunes feel a little underbaked, but Love’s multi-tracked harmonies shine and elevate nearly all the music. “I Think You’re Swell” combines the Beatlesque touches with some nice guitar work. Some added highlights include “Wee & Nancy Lee” and “Like The Beatles” (featuring guest vocals from Simmons.) Several ballads highlight Love’s romantic side, and the gentle “She” is the best of these. A strong debut, and hopefully we’ll hear a lot more from Addison in the future. Check it out!

Amazon | Big Stir Records | Kool Kat Musik


Ken Sharp

 

Ken Sharp “Beauty in the Backseat”

Ken Sharp returns to an LP format with more of a Philly Soul/Todd Rundgren influence here. As with his last LP New Mourning he has enlisted the help of Fernando Perdomo, plus some additional special guests. On the opener “Rock Show” has a steady synth keyboard melody and a guitar work by Ace Frehley, next “Mona Lisa Smile” boasts a key assist from Kasim Sulton (Utopia) and it’s a playfully layered composition.

Sharp doesn’t stick in one spot, as the bubblegum pop “Lemons to Lemonade” and “No One Seems To Stay Together Anymore” are catchy highlights. Some inspired 70’s styled songwriting shows on the breezy pop of “Pull The Strings” and “Closer.” There are a few tributes here, from “The Day That David Bowie Died” to “I Wanna Be David Cassidy.” In some spots, Ken’s vocals are just too soft. “Ring On Your Finger” and “Listen To Me” are great tunes that need a more forceful vocal, or supporting vocals. In a bit of musical wish fulfillment, John Oats (Hall and Oats) lends his signature background vocals (baritone and falsetto) on the ’70s soul “Philly Kind Of Night.” My favorite here “The Hardest Part” is a solid power pop mid-tempo gem with all the trimmings. There are just enough great tunes mixed in with the indulgences to make this a Highly Recommended album.

Amazon

The Lemon Twigs and Paul McCann

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The Lemon Twigs

The Lemon Twigs “Go To School”

Long Island-based brothers Brian and Michael D’Addario decided that a rock musical would make a good sophomore album. It’s a bold move with a really weird storyline; about a chimpanzee, Shane, who is raised by frustrated performers “Bill and Carol” as he comes to terms with the obstacles of life.

It starts with the bombastic “Never In My Arms, Always In My Heart” overstuffed with piano, guitars, choirs and chiming bells. You definitely hear Todd Rundgren’s influence (circa 1973) all over this album, and he actually adds himself into the narrative as “Bill.” Todd contributes his vocals at points in the story (“Never Know.”) The finely written “The Student Becomes The Teacher” and “Rock Dreams” are wonderfully realized themes that explain the story perfectly. Other tunes satisfy the ear like “Small Victories,” the sweet “Wondering Ways” and “Lonely” are all very heartfelt. Also impressive was “Queen of My School” which feels pulled off Big Star’s third album, with Big Star’s Jody Stephens as a guest drummer!

For all the greatness I hear, the entire production drags in the second half and the Broadway musical elements feel more like a forced indulgence as “Born Wrong/Heart Song” is a good example. This album succeeds in small doses, so I would take time and sit through repeat listens. As a whole it’s overwrought, but it does push the message well. And it does just enough for me to make it Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Paul McCann

Paul McCann “Here Comes The Rapture”

We met Paul a few years ago with his solo EP, but now he’s delivered a full-length LP. The Irish singer-songwriter plays all his own instruments and knows a good hook or two. He starts with a re-do of his older single “Keep The Devil Within,” and it remains a catchy gem, with its killer chorus. The follow-ups are also impressive with “Its Only A Fantasy” and “Miss Self Depreciating” hitting all the right buttons and hooks. The production here is thick and glossy which works for most of this style of power pop.

After that, it’s a mixed bag. Paul does well with twangy guitar licks and solos like on “The Magician,” but the ballads that follow aren’t as compelling. Fortunately, that doesn’t pull the album off the rails. The title track is a stadium-sized rocker, and the compelling “Charge” has multi-tracked vocals, an ELO-styled string accompaniment, and a wicked guitar break. The final track “Blinded By The Dark” was the most intriguing with some nice vocal work and acoustic rhythms. A strong album that deserves to be to be Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

McPhersonGrant “Song”

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McPhersonGrant “Song”

The duo of Scott McPherson (Liar’s Club, Pop 4, Tiny Volcano) and Jamie Grant (Victory Hits, Pop Vultures) indulge in some of the sugariest pop confections with their new LP, Song. The team goes in multiple stylistic directions, and it’s likely the most diverse album I’ve heard this year. Notable guests include Dee Long and Terry Draper (Klaatu), Andrea Perry and more. The opener is especially fun, “Little Green Men” is full of effects, an alien synth line, and catchy guitar strums. Other guests include Zak Nilsson, and if you loved his dad Harry — this album will hit your sweet spot for sure. “Housekeeper” is a great pop gem that is a perfect marriage of Nilsson and McCartney’s styles. Zak also plays drums on the Nilsson-styled ballad “My Favorite Thing.”

In fact, if you are prone to be disappointed by Sir Paul’s newest music, this is the album that you’ll really want. The wonderful “Big Picture People” is like a lost Klaatu classic, and one of my favorites here. The duo get very creative with the quirky “Cheese” and the British music hall-styled “The Marvelous and Mysterious Adventures of Sir Ollie And His Ox.” And they do the guitar-heavy power pop on “It’s The Day,” before the Beach Boys harmonies are dusted off on “Let’s Drive To Summer.” Then, Clara Moir lends her angelic vocals to the very Burt Bacharach-styled “The Love Of Her Life.”

Yes, this is all pure love of rock nostalgia, and they describe their childhood in detail on the gem “Waiting For The Sunflowers,” lamenting “those times are gone, those days were golden… No, you can’t go rocking around like the clown you were in your twenties.” Not everything resonates as well, but overall you’ve got plenty of great catchy songs and it is definitely highly recommended.

Right now it only sold at mcphersongrant.com and tinyvolcano.rocks