Category: Power Pop Review

Three Hour Tour “Action and Heroes”

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Three Hour Tour “Action and Heroes”

It seems like forever since I last heard Darren Cooper’s band Three Hour Tour. Truth is it’s been 5 years and I’m thrilled we have some new music with Action and Heroes. Darren still has Adam Schmitt as his engineer and producer, and Brad Elvis covers the drums. The opener “March of The Fakers” is a heavy with fuzz guitar riffs, war drumming and blistering solos that wouldn’t be out of place on a Foo Fighters or GBV album. Darren crafts a personal statement that’s sure to resonate with music fans. It goes without saying that fans of The Grip Weeds, Myracle Brah or The Well Wishers should get this album immediately.

Overall, the music is high quality power pop, and nearly every track is a compelling listen. “Afterlife” is a classic rocker and the title track is a sing-along anthem, stating “we could use another hero in this world.” The late 70’s arena rock influence (specifically Boston) is strong on the brilliant “Room With A View” and “Tonight.” Darren does get a bit indulgent on the Zepplinesque “No Guarantee,” but my favorite track here is “Somewhere” with its goosebump inducing minor chord structure and hook in the chorus. Highly Recommended and it makes sense to add it to my top ten list for 2015.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Nines and The Reign

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The Nines

The Nines “Circles In The Snow” EP and “Rare cuts and demos”

Steve Eggers of The Nines has been very busy this year, hot on the heels of his latest album Night Surfer and The Cassette Kids, we have a fresh EP. This is a continuation of The Nines heavier style on “Circles in the snow (tapes and transcripts Vol.1)” with Bill Majoros (The Foreign Films) supplying the growling guitar riffs. The big highlight here is “Someone Like You,” with a rich wall of layered guitar sound, horn accents, and smooth chord shifts. “Circles in the Snow” has a tinkling synth, and deep beat with a thick ‘80s vibe, and “Fire In The Disco” has the staccato guitar riffs similar to early XTC. Overall a very good collection of songs, this EP is the first in a series so be sure to look out for the next one.

Amazon

A fascinating collection of bits and pieces from The Nines entire history. Some great music tends to get lost in the cracks, and “Don’t Worry Susan” is a standout right away. And “Is There Something I’m Missing” is a great example of how Eggers takes an ordinary melody and layer the elements to make something special. It’s also easy to see why some tracks didn’t make it, “Crazy, Lazy, Crazy, Crazy” is just a little too much like Nilsson’s “Think About Your Troubles” and “Life Is Worth Living” is missing most of the lyrics. While not essential, Nines fans should add these flawed gems to their collection.

Bandcamp only


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The Reign “The Long Wait”

Lead singer-songwriter Joe Caravella adds his own homespun take on power pop with his new album, as the jangling Rickenbacker is joined by grungy guitar rhythms on “Lodi Smiles.” The harmonies on “Prize” is a strong homage to Badfinger in tone and “Nothing Comes Around” boasts unique chord progressions in the chorus. You’ll hear influences from Pearl Jam, Extreme and The Beatles, of course. Joe has a more standard power pop tune with the mid tempo “Beside Me (Mary’s Song)” and the ballad “The Last Words” reminds me of Gary Cherone’s acoustic work.

Joe’s vocals are clear and deep, similar in style to Rob Grill (The Grass Roots) on “Not So Lonely” and “If You Think You Can.” The Reign don’t stay stuck in a single style either, although it leans heavily on early 70’s classic rock. At a long 16 tracks you get plenty of bang for your buck, even though it tends to wander into long jams and awkward psychedelics toward the end.  Definitely worth exploring, as the albums first half is simply excellent.

CD Baby | Amazon

 

 

EP reviews: The Persian Leaps, Goodman, Yes You Are

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The Persian Leaps “High and Vibrate”

This Minnesota band brings us a wall of heavy fuzz guitar riffs on “The Infection” and the big standout here “Dottie. Queen of The West.” The tempo and approach remind me of Echo & The Bunnymen or The Smiths. A faster pace and steady beat on “Frozen” is another solid song with ringing guitar chords and harmonies thanks to Adam Brunner(bass guitar), Drew Fosberg (lead guitar) and Michael McCloskey (drums). “Anthem” keeps the pace and makes this a highly enjoyable EP – check it out!

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Amazon

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Goodman “Goodman”

These four tracks were originally cut from Michael Goodman’s upcoming release, not because of quality, mind you, but because a 16-song album seemed excessive. “Lessons Learned In Love” has a bedroom pop vaudevillian style, with a cool coda full of Beach Boys styled harmonies and old piano echo. “Telegram Girl” has a mod hook and its a real gem about breaking up, as he intones “Why should I waste my life on you?”  The shuffling beat of “Movies” is another fun song with hand-claps and echoing vocal brimming with cool confidence. I really look forward to the full length after hearing this!

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Yes You Are

Ex-Tilly and the Wall lead singer Kianna Alarid is part of a new band that plays an intense pop style with sing along hooks in the chorus and snyth-covered rhythms. A bit too close to mainstream pop in “Echo,” but “World Without End” is a little Annie Lenox mixed with U2. Listen for free at http://weareyesyouare.com/sound/
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EP Reviews: Andy Reed, Chris Richards, Pelicans and Their Allies

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Andy Reed “Relay Vol.1”

This is Andy’s first solo release since 2008. This is part one in a series of EPs to be released. Relay Vol.1 is a best of breed EP starting with the slow building theme “Waves” and the California easy melody “Dreaming Of The West Coast” being a big highlight, with its strings and crisp harmonies. The echoing influences of The Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac are evident in the rich tapestry of “Darlin, You Don’t Know.” It finishes with the finely crafted melody of “I Love A Long Goodbye” and it leaves you begging fore more. This easily is in the running for top ten EP this year. Bandcamp only.

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Chris Richards and The Subtractions “3peat”

Chris Richards delivers some covers from their favorite artists. A faithful version of Elvis Costello’s “No Action” is a great start, and continues with songs by Sloan, The Kinks, Cheap Trick, The Rolling Stones and George Harrison. Best of all this is a FREE download, so get it while its hot!

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Pelicans and Their Allies

This new duo of Robert Higgs (lead vocal and guitarist) and Dayana Yochim (vocal and multi-instrumentalist) make smart, quirky indie pop with an assortment of instruments from guitars to glockenspiels. Fans of Field Music and Decemberists will enjoy this, especially the bouncy pop hooks in “Just Like July” and the sunny “I Guess You Already Knew That.”

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Amazon
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Reissues: The Beckies and Sneakers

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The Beckies

The Beckies “The Beckies”

Long out of print, The Beckies makes its debut on CD. If the west coast had the sublime production and baroque pop stylings of Curt Boettcher in the early ‘70s, the east coast boasted the man who invented the genre: Michael Brown. Brown has the driving force behind The Left Banke (“Pretty Ballerina” and “Walk Away Renee”) and Stories. The Beckies was Brown’s last attempt to reach the pop audience he cultivated in the late 1960’s, and by 1976 the times had changed drastically… Read the full review on 53rd and 3rd blog.
Amazon

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Sneakers

Sneakers “Sneakers” EP

Where did the 1980’s power pop revival start? You could argue that this album was the beginning. North Carolina’s Chris Stamey and Mitch Easter began their music careers in the band Sneakers in 1976. Stamey and drummer Will Rigby moved on to The Db’s, while Easter moved on to Let’s Active and eventually produced R.E.M. With a single EP and LP, the world didn’t learn about Sneakers until a remixed and re-recorded comp “Racket” came out in 1992. Now Omnivore offers an expanded version of the band’s original EP with 11 tracks and a cover of The Grass Roots’ “Let’s Live For Today.”

For fans of the ’80s indie jangle pop this is an essential addition to their collection. It is way before the DIY lo-fi movement in music took hold and set the stage for much of what came later, with quirky pop and heavy angular guitar riffs that “Driving” shows. Compositions like “Love’s Like A Cuban Crisis” and “On The Brink” have a timeless quality and doesn’t sound dated at all. The production and mixing has that sloppy charm, and displays the fact that even though Sneakers were a cult band, they effectively bridge the gap between Big Star and R.E.M.

Amazon