Jeff Whalen Jendy! from Supermegabot on Vimeo.
A Power Popaholic exclusive: New “Jendy” video from former Tsar frontman Jeff Whalen. Visit the pledge campaign here!
Category: Power Pop Review
May Singles: Richard Turgeon, Cosmos Sunshine, SA Reyners, The Golden Rail, The Ego Ritual, Dan Rico
The opening track from Richard Turgeon‘s upcoming LP, “Lost Angeles.” It’s a big-sounding, California-tinged power pop track with lots of harmonies. And it’s a FREE download.
New Zealand’s SA Reyners gives us one sweet single. A bouncy piano is layered with rhythms and counter melodies. Very impressive! If you’d like another SA Reyners single, Lexiconographer was released last month and it’s a FREE download. When is this guy gonna make a full album already?
The Golden Rail is an Australian supergroup of sorts. Members have come from various bands: The Palisades, The Rainyard, Header, Summer Suns, DM3 and The Jangle Band. The singles here are simply great covers. “Shouldn’t Get Hung Up About It” was originally recorded by The Village Idiots and “Fined For Wrestling” was originally recorded by The Tokyo 5.
Dan Rico is just “Hot To Please” and with this FREE download, he definitely pleases.
International Power Pop: Tommy Lorente and Cooper
Tommy Lorente “Stupefaction”
Oui! Tommy Lorente has really come out strong here, and in his native language has produced a classic power pop album. After Tommy’s first LP, I compared him to Kurt Baker and wondered what direction was next. He has matured nicely. “Poor Tchack Pow” is so catchy you don’t even need to know French to sing along with the chorus. “Arthur” is another terrific gem about a pep talk to the heartbroken title character translated to “Tell me, tell me, tell me Arthur” featuring solid hooks all around.
The bouncy “Le Rêve Américain” (The American Dream) is about pursuing his dream in Memphis strutting like “king,” drinking bourbon and listening to rock and roll. It settles into a nice groove with “Pareil Au Même“ (Same At The Same) with another sing-along chorus. “J’ai Connu Mieux” (I Know Better) is part Bo Diddley and part Paul Collins. Its all compelling, without a note of filler – although with the fast pacing we don’t get a ballad, and that could make all this a little easier to digest. Still, this is a highly recommended LP for any power pop fan. And that says a lot! Et ça en dit beaucoup!
Cooper “ Tiempo, Temperatura, Agitación”
Álex Diez is a veteran pop artist from Madrid, Spain. He played in the mod band Los Flechazos to great success in the 80s and 90s, and after the turn of the century, he formed the indie-pop band, Cooper. His fifth full-length album focuses on meticulously crafted melodies sung in Spanish with layered harmonies and brass. The title “Time, Temperature, Agitation” refers to the old method of developing photographs.
The big highlight is the opener “El Último Tren” (The Last Train) complete with a fuzz riff ending. Next, “Salto” (Jump) reminds me of that old Katrina & The Waves hit “Walking On Sunshine” in tempo and spirit. “Ya Llegó El Verano” (Summer is here) is a naturally sunny melody full of optimism. You can hear the Beatles influence in the guitar playing, and the production is top notch. If you like your power pop with a touch of español, check out Cooper!
David Myhr and Dropkick
David Myhr “Lucky Day”
David Myhr (The Merrymakers) returns after six years and like many power pop legends of the last century, his quest for musical satisfaction continues on a more mature path. He has gathered an all-star group of songwriters to collaborate with him; Bleu, Linus Of Hollywood and Bill DeMain to name a few. He also enlisted producer Brad Jones in Nashville who explains: “My goal was to show David branching out from his youthful power-pop to a more reflective sound.”
David’s harmony-filled opening number “Jealous Sun’” a gem is buoyed by its simple acoustic melody and its sing-along catchiness. This is typical Myhr, and it just keeps coming. “Negative Friend” is full of McCartney-like piano and layered effects (kazoos, even!) “Room To Grow” starts out subtly and then picks up a breezy casual melody with minor keys, it literally grows on you. But the real showpiece here is the catchy and inspirational “The Perfect Place” with swelling strings it is simply brilliant. After this David shows his romantic side, with the soft pop of “Every Day It Rains,” “Lucky Day” and “Lovebug.” Every song hits the mark, no filler and it is on my short list for 2018’s top ten list. The CD version of the album has four additional singles including the sweet ELO-inspired “Spellbound.” Don’t miss it.
Dropkick “Longwave”
Dropkick knows how to jangle – they’ve been at it for 14 albums. The band, based on Scotland’s east coast, are Andrew Taylor, Ian Grier Mike Foy, and Alan Shields. Like a mix of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Jayhawks the opener “Out Of Tune” is undeniably catchy and instrumentally precise. “It’s Still Raining” is another big highlight, with frontman Andrew Taylor’s soft lead cruising on top of a jangling rhythm. Even the sparse ballad “Faraway Places,” showcases Taylor’s soul with the lyrics; “There are ways to grow up without getting older.”
More highlights include “Come Around,” the warm fuzzy riffs of “Giving Way,” “Fed Up Thinking About You.” Dropkick’s chiming guitar chords and great harmonies make this a highly recommended album.
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
Phil Yates & The Affiliates and Super 8
Phil Yates & The Affiliates “Party Music!”
Burlington, Vermont’s Phil Yates has released three albums and has been a fixture in the local clubs for years. But he’s packed up and moved to a bigger music scene in Chicago. In this final Vermont hurrah, he lets his power-pop freak flag really fly on the opener “My Favorite Bag,” a solid catchy melody with a speedy tempo. Yates also knows how to get a powerful narrative out about domestic violence on the impressive “Nothing Happened.” The production is dense and at times threatens to overwhelm the vocals, but the music is what ultimately wins you over. Yates vocals sound like a cross between Anton Barbeau and Tom Petty.
Yates also airs some dirty laundry with “Fixin To Die” and “One Man’s Trash (Sour Grapes)” about his struggles as a working musician. Frustrations with insomnia are the focus of the forceful “Peter Francis Geraci” and the state of our politics is accurately summed up on “Bite Your Tongue.” Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
Super 8 “T – T – T – Technicolour Melodies! ”
UK musician Paul Ryan, aka Super 8 is a laid back troubadour as he opens with “Tomorrows’ Just Another Day,” with its Spanish styled horn flourishes over a strumming melody. Ryan excels at acoustic compositions; you’ll hear varied influences from Wilco, Lou Reed, and Bob Dylan. “Catsuit” is a good highlight, with Ryan’s harmonized vocals and harmonica building a richly layered gem. Equally fun is the soulful mid-tempo “Last Final Cigarette” where you contemplate life; as he intones “Guess we’re all looking for something.”
Another notable highlight is the rhyming mantra of the title track and the deep melodies on “Traveling Light” with its impressive chorus.”Hey! Non-Believer” is like a lost Beck tune from his early period. For some, this may be a bit too laid back and sparse – for others it’s a soulful potpourri stew. The songwriting is thought-provoking, and the styles shift enough to prevent any predictability. So if you are so inclined, pick it up and let it sink in.