Category: Power Pop Review

Paul Steel and Tony Molina

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Paul Steel

Paul Steel “Carousel Kites”

It’s been ten years since we heard from the production wunderkind Paul Steel. One of the most impressive bedroom pop albums ever, April & I deserved a thematic sequel. The British press considered Steel “a 20-year-old who is Brian Wilson in a parallel universe,” and his style owes much to the former Beach Boy. But it’s more than that, as Steel has been busy co-writing and producing for Mika and Empire of The Sun. So he is definitely used to making irreverent and kaleidoscopic pop confections.

What we end up with is a concept album, where one song blends into another with grand thematic arrangements akin to Brian Wilson, Steely Dan-like guitar, and Quincy Jones-like percussion. The narrative isn’t as clear as April & I, and there is A LOT of filler, but it still holds together.

The overture “Ready to Fly” opens with sweet harmonies, leading to the frantic but operatic “Last Guilt Trip.” Some sequences are simply brilliant, like “Do What Everybody Else Does,” “Skydaddy,” “Never Age a Single Day,” and “Island in The Sky.” The earliest compositions Paul created for the project still work best, like the rousing “I See Sadness.” Overall it’s highly recommended and if you are a fan of Roger Joseph Manning Jr. or Bleu McAuley this is a “must get” album!

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Tony Molina

Tony Molina “Kill The Lights”

Californian Tony Molina gets out his music in the most abbreviated way. Each song is roughly a minute long. And that’s what is simultaneously both great and frustrating about this album. The amazing opener “Nothing I Can Say” is the perfect amalgam of Byrdisan jangle and Teenage Fanclub like melody. “Wrong Town” and “Afraid to Go Outside” have that reverent church organ and gentle harmonies.

Each song hits the mark, but I wish we got more than a single chorus and verse. In some ballads, the shortness works, and “Jasper’s Theme” actually reaches the 2-minute mark. Many of the songs are elegantly constructed folk-pop, but its all over way too soon. The best way to appreciate this LP is playing it on auto-repeat. Highly Recommended.

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Seth Timbs and Dot Dash

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Seth Timbs

Seth Timbs “Record and Pause”

After reviewing Seth Timbs career a few years ago, I was looking forward to his next album. Timbs still plays those jaunty piano melodies that made his old band Fluid Ounces a long time favorite. His musicianship leans more towards classical pop on Record and Pause, so he is less Ben Folds-like and more in Billy Joel’s camp here.

“The Pay Off” is a marching melody that builds in both lyrical frustration and crashing percussion. The music consists of confessional stories, one of the best being “Church Van,” a vivid coming of age tale. The catchy single here “Feel Good” utilizes a booming beat and guitar riff to get across this anthem of youth and hedonism. The album then drifts into longer ballads like”False Alarm,” “Once More (Again),” and “Long Goodbye.” While these songs are good, they aren’t as memorable. However, fans of soulful piano pop will find that Timbs hits their sweet spot. Check it out.

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Dot Dash

Dot Dash “Proto Retro”

Washington, D.C. band Dot Dash moves away from the fuzzed out distortion and embraces jangling power pop. In the process, they deliver a great return to form. It all starts with “Unfair Weather,” a catchy rocker that’s brimming with energy. “Grey Blue Green” recalls classic REM and The dBs, with a wonderful rhythm guitar line floating under the melody.

The next few tunes are also sweet ear candy; “Dead Letter Rays,” “Parachute Powerline” and then “Tamed A Wild Beast” recalls The Ocean Blue a little. The shimmering guitar leads of “Triple Rainbow” boasts some wonderful chord shifts and “World’s Last Payphone” is another big highlight. Overall not a bad track, and very consistently produced. Highly Recommended.

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Streetcar Conductors and Brian Jay Cline

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Streetcar Conductors

Streetcar Conductors “The Very Best of Streetcar Conductors”

It’s pretty ballsy to label your debut “The Very Best of,” but Streetcar Conductors deliver what amounts to an impressive selection of modern rock singles. The glorious opening track, “Pushover,” is has a Weezer-Cheap Trick feel and an earworm chorus that is full of layered piano and guitar. It’s so good, the other tracks suffer a bit by comparison.

Streetcar Conductors do a good job mixing classic pop influences into the modern rock song structures. “Let’s Not And Say We Did,” is almost a novelty tune; catchy in the tradition of Bowling For Soup. There is an undercurrent of Beach Boys influence on “Throw Your Love Away” and especially on “Summer, What Became Of You” with its earnest harmonies. Another great tune “Pictures Of Ourselves” is a great commentary on today’s selfie culture. Some tunes try to get punkier (“It Sounded Like The End Of The World”) or just plain goofy (“The Absurdity of Life.”) But then it sounds like the guys are trying too hard. The band is at its best with simpler melodies like “You Are The Brightest Star” and “True Love, They Say.” Overall, no filler and more than enough “hits” to be Highly Recommended.

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Brian Jay Cline “Idle Chatter”

Veteran jangle artist Cline shines on this – his most pop-oriented album – opening with the wicked riffs of “Would You Stay?” it’s a strong opener that sticks with you. Brian’s combination of country, pop, and rock elements blend perfectly on the second half of “Sic Transit Gloria,” with its sing-along chorus and steel pedal lead. 

“Latch Key Kid” and “I Get You” are shambling melodic narratives similar to Tom Petty or Marshall Crenshaw.  Other great tunes are “The Ballad of Rosetta Stone,” “Last of The Great Atomic Heartbreakers,” and “Never Saw It Coming.” Cline hits his stride here, with no real duds and plenty of diversity in sound. This is also the best BJC album I’ve heard so far, so yes… it’s Highly Recommended.

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Singles, EPS and Freebies: Vegas With Randolph, You’re Among Friends, Yani Martinelli, The Susan Constant and Scott Brookman

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Vegas With Randolph returns with the power-pop goodness of “Women in Airports” in advance of their next album, Legs & Luggage.

You’re Among Friends are a casual rock band from Cleveland, Ohio. Their music has been described as “rollicking blues at its core with a sugary coating of power pop” by Scene Magazine. check out this FREE download.

Yani Martinelli features some wonderful vocal harmonies and light acoustic melodies. The classical soft-pop style of “Radiohouse 12am” is similar to The Free Design. Simply beautiful and this is a FREE download.

The Susan Constant is a Boston indie band with just plenty of punch to keep power pop fans interested. Check out the solid rant “Constructive Summer,” and it’s a FREE download.

Scott Brookman has decided to go unplugged for good. He’s not going for the polished pop sounds of his past and is now concentrating on low-fi acoustic songs. “How Could I Let It Win?” and “Whatever She Was She’s Gone” have that McCartney vibe. Yani Martinelli,  Mario Pilarte López lend a hand, and it’s a FREE download.

Let’s cap things off with a new single from Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) called “White Noise’, the first track from Steven Page’s new album ‘Discipline: Heal Thyself Pt. II’ which is coming out on September 14th.

Nick Piunti and Peter Holsapple

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Nick Piunti

Nick Piunti “Temporary High”

Nick Piunti is back and better than ever. Like other power pop contemporary artists (David Mhyr, Rob Bonfiglio) he’s firing on all cylinders here. The opening title track is a great summer anthem with Nick’s distinct raspy vocal and layered guitar riffs. The strong melody lines of “You Invented Hell,” and”If This Was Right” were co-written by Ryan Allen and fit in perfectly.

Nick’s expressive lyrics and jangly guitars on “No Return” are like musical comfort food. The rough edges of some songs are polished just right, like “Blameless” and “Keep Me Guessing.” Nick is amazingly consistent throughout the album, with his all-star band Donny Brown, Andy Reed, Geoff Michael, Plink Giglio and Chris Richards. A joy to listen to from start to finish. Highly Recommended and yes, it’s on my crowded year-end top ten list!

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Peter Holsapple

Peter Holsapple “Game Day”

After 21 years, Peter Holsapple (dB’s, Continental Drifters, REM) returns with his second solo album. I loved Out of My Way in 1997 – it was a classic indie LP with a lot of quirky melodies that stuck. Game Day takes a very different approach. It’s classic freeform musical expression with thoughts that float around to a musical soundtrack. On “Game Day” he wonders “do I still have what it takes to pull this off?” and pays tribute to his road days with “Continental Drifters.”

Holsapple has a lot of space to get weird and wild. “In Too Deep” and “Tuff Day” are great highlights that prove the old man still has it. Another fun track is “I Got High With You” about late nights with friends. The “Inventory” of his life is a long look back at all the possessions he accumulated during his youth. Other notable tracks are the strong “She Handed Him A Pencil” and the Hendrix-like “Them Changes.” This potpourri of tracks is like finding a box of old records — some you will love, others will go in the sale bin. But you’re glad you found them. Check it out!

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