Category: Power Pop Review

No Tricks, Lots of Treats (Singles and EPs)

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The Connection “(Its A) Monsters’ Holiday”
One of our favorite bands has a timely holiday single available, so give “The Monster Mash” a break and try this NEW classic.

The Zags are back! Portland artist David Ricardo delivers a monster single in “A World Away,” a really catchy gem! And it’s a FREE download!


Stay “Always Here”
Brilliant jangle psyche-pop from Minneapolis, Minnesota also delves in a few covers like The Bee Gees “Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You” and The Kinks “Where Have All The Good Times Gone.” Produced By Owen Morris and featuring guitarist Andy Bell on “You Know It’s Right.” Highly Recommended.


Walty “I’m in Love With Everything”
Philly band goes all over the place from New Wave, Disco, Hard Rock and everything in between. Variety is the spice of this EP.

Hidden in the vaults of Capricorn Records USA for over 50 years, we found lost ’60s band Stone Ridge only has a single available. Fortunately for us, we also have a tribute EP featuring Vinnie Zumo, Jose Estragos and Joe Ricardello (The Modulators) that really make that song shine. And no trick folks, it’s Power Popaholic’s treat; A FREE download for your goodie bag!

Dana Countryman and more

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Dana Countryman

Dana Countryman “The Joy Of Pop”

Dana Countryman is a treasured talent that has devotes himself to the lost art of 70’s styled AM pop, his songwriting and compositions are a perfect amalgam of Richard Carpenter and Neil Sedaka on his latest Joy of Pop. The opener “Perfect Sunny Day” is a excellent example of Beach Boys styled sunshine pop, full of bubblegum and rainbows. “No Other Guy” is a great follow up, a sugary mid-tempo love song with great rhythms and criss-crossing harmonies. Dana gets help from Dee Long (Klaatu), Matt Tyson, Chad Quist, Mike Marinig and his wife, Tricia Countryman.

Most of the songs are romantic yearnings, like the near-obsessive “Can’t Stop Thinking ‘Bout You” and “Oh, Roxanne” about crushing shyness. Dana goes doo-wop “With All My Heart” and “Hang On Little Girl,” so you’ll hear some Four Seasons influences too. A harmony duet with Tyson “Tell Me That You Love Me” is a very Everly styled gem. Unfortunately, with 14 tracks Dana loses steam towards the album’s end as the songs get more saccharine, and overly sentimental. Like gorging on cotton candy, you can only take so much. However, a majority of the music is pure magic. Get it!

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Video Album Previews

Canadian music icon and former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page will be touring again, here is the video from his recent solo LP “Surprise, Surprise”
They Might Be Giants are back with “I Like Fun” and they sound better than ever. Album drops on January 19, 2018.

The Stanleys and The Sighs

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The Stanleys

The Stanleys “The Stanleys”

The Stanleys, a power pop band from Perth, Western Australia have a sound solidly rooted in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The band is Mark Di Renzo (Lead Vocals, Bass Guitar, Keyboards), Jamie Horsburgh (Guitars, Vocals), and Tomas Dahl (Drums, Guitars, Vocals). Fans of The Rubinoos, The Producers and The Modulators will simply love this. I reviewed the group’s debut EP years ago and now that has been incorporated into this full release. The opener “Amy” is a perfect example, with its fast tempo and hook-filled riffs that just beg for repeat plays. “Cigarette Glow” is another infectious gem, oozing style with its layered crunchy guitars.

Earlier songs fit right in, with standout “My World,” full of fuzz and jangle. It would pass for an oldie if not for all the lyrics that mentioning “clicking a mouse” and “Facebook.” Another notable track is the very timely “Hefner” coming recently after the Playboy mogul’s passing, which looks back in envy at his life, “the old guy’s got it made,” croons lead singer Di Renzo. Another song “Say You Will” has some nice harmonies and key changes. One pet peeve I had was the mixing, that tends to make the vocals blend into the rhythm a little too much but otherwise, it’s all killer, no filler. Highly Recommended.

CD Baby

The Sighs

The Sighs “Wait On Another Day”

More than two decades after releasing their last album, The Sighs return with a new full-length album. We premiered the video last month, and the famed Massachusetts band consists of Tom Borawski (drums), Matt Cullen (lead guitar, vocals), Robert LaRoche (lead vocals, guitar) and Tommy Pluta (bass, vocals). The album starts with the foreboding opener “It’s Real” with layered atmospheric production and sharp guitar chords. Fans of late 90’s grunge rock will enjoy this and the follow up “Words Of Love” which has an arena rock feel to it, but it’s not until the title track “Wait On Another Day” that we really get true power pop, with the jangling Rickenbackers and hooky chorus. The strong effort includes the sitar intro and swirling psyche-pop of “Love From Lisa,” one of the strongest songs here with a heavy dose of Beatlesque musical cues. “Summertime Roses” also echoes those Fab roots with its keyboard rhythms and trumpet flourishes.

With all those retro stylings, it still never feels stuck in any one mode, and sounds modern enough to not classify as a nostalgia act. The heavy chords of “Socialite” and “Into The Light” indicate the darker side of pop is part of The Sighs DNA as an alternative rock band that plays great power pop. A live experience ends the album with “Think About Soul” combining both styles into a perfect example of what makes this band special. Check it out if you’re into original music with a twist.

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Freebies, Singles and More: Dan Rico, Everet Almond, Justine and The Unclean, Andy Reed, YYY

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Chicago musician Dan Rico’s take on glammed-up blues pop is solid here on “Flesh & Bone,” sure to bring up memories of Marc Bolan. “Gold Volvo” also features some nice guitar work.

Everet Almond delivers a demo EP, “The Starlight” is a good acoustic number with attitude. “Summertime” has that McCartney bass line, and “Call My Name” features piano by his son Waylon (age 6). A fun little EP that’s a FREE download.

Brand new single from the upcoming Rum Bar Records release Justine and the Unclean ‘Get Unclean’ has lead singer Justine Covault pleading with her idiot boyfriend, also check out the related “Love Got Me Into This Mess” both are FREE Downloads and both rock!

The super talented Andy Reed released this single under the moniker The Reed Brothers featuring Jason Reed. This advance single will be part of a full-length concept album in 2018.

Minneapolis synth player YYY does the whole Pet Sounds album. Features many guests and to some, this is interpretation may be sacrilege. On the other hand, it’s tough to mess up Brian Wilson and some of this is quite lovely (“You Still Believe In Me” and “Caroline No”). A FREE download.

Travis Bretzer and The Red Button

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Travis Bretzer

Travis Bretzer “Bubble Gum”

Edmonton native Travis Bretzer created this infectious album of bedroom pop that grows on you faster than weeds in the sun. Bretzer’s approach is very simple melodies filled with little hooks and sparse arrangements, similar to Apples in Stereo or early Brendan Benson. The quirky “Heart and Soul” has a fast tempo and a smooth synth for its chorus of “away, away.” It then delivers a brilliant faux country gem “Up In The Morning,” reminding me of The Monkees with its simple lyric,”Up in the morning/not much to do.”

“Are You Ever Gonna Change?” introduces a little psyche-pop guitar to the melody, and the follow-up “Evergreen” gets even more trippy, with acoustic guitar and echoing harmonies, like a lost Beta Band single. The centrepiece here is the gorgeous ballad “Peace, Love and Harmony,”  and on the latter half, we get lots of false endings and the tempos slow with each song that follows. By the time we get to “Vamanos” we get more instrumental, and eventually “A Song For Rashy” is simply a lullaby to doze off to. Oh, yeah this is also a “name-your-price” download, so reward him generously. Highly Recommended.

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The Red Button

The Red Button “Now It’s All This!”

When Seth Swirsky teamed up with Mike Ruekberg in 2007, it’s hard to believe the massive impression they left on the power pop scene. Jem Records picked up the band retrospective —Now It’s All This! featuring a new 6-song EP, bonus “unplugged” rarities, and newly remastered versions of the first two Red Button albums on 2 CDs.

Firstly, let me say the list of artists that can correctly capture the pure pop spirit of The early Beatles is very short. While many can emulate the sound, few can compose original material that stands alongside McCartney and Lennon. I count The Weeklings and The Wonders. The Red Button can also generate the same excitement with its music.

The new material is absolutely consistent, “Can’t Let Candy Go” and “Tracy’s Party” has the Rickenbacker riffs, and hook-filled melodies that never get old. The gentle jangling ballad “Tell Me It’s Over” is a heartbreaker about waiting for expected rejection. Seth’s winsome “Solitude Saturday” has a rich orchestral approach, and the title track is a fitting finale. The unplugged tracks are very close to the originals, but “Genevieve” actually sounds much better without the studio mixing. We have already reviewed The Red Button’s She’s About To Cross My Mind, and As Far As Yesterday Goes and it goes without saying this talented duo is essential listening.

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