Category: Power Pop Review

Book Review: The Death and Life of Mal Evans

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Mal Evans

What if The Beatles never broke up and made a few more albums? Fellow blogger and author Peter Lee (www.hooksandharmony.com) puts in print what Beatle fans have argued and guessed about since that fateful year 1970, when the world’s greatest band called it quits.  Peter’s  narrative is in first person from the point of view of  former Beatles assistant Mal Evans, who in 1976 died from a gunshot wound by police.

Lee magically transports Evans prior to the the band’s breakup at a critical point in John Lennon’s history.  This creates an alternate timeline where Evans stops the break-up and The Beatles continue to create great music beyond 1970. Its all meticulously researched and a blazing good read as you feel like you’re in the room with the John, Paul, George, Ringo and the select group of people who knew them well. Peter sets up these great fictional albums, made up of tracks the solo Beatles produced in the years after their partnership dissolved and lists them in his blog as well. An excellent book that’s a must read for Beatle fans and musical historians will enjoy too.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIpglscU6Jg

“Now and Then” is officially the last Beatle track that can ever be made, as it was part of the Lennon demos that included “Real Love” and “Free As A Bird.” Unfortunately the remaining 3 Beatles agreed to pass on it because of the sound quality, but producer Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney indicated they might return to it someday.

Smash Palace and The Maureens

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Smash Palace

Smash Palace “Some Kind of Magic” EP

Steven & Brian Butler (the main force behind Smash Palace) continue to put out some of the most pristine rock songs, and they are joined by Fran Smith Jr. (bass) and David Uosikkinen (drums) from The Hooters, plus Wally Smith (keyboards) and fan favorite Cliff Hillis (guitar). What seems new here is a conscious effort to avoid sounding too retro.

The opener “My Mistake” is a contemporary rock song with Smash Palaces’ signature jangle rhythm. “Haddontown” has a California feel; like Crosby, Stills & Nash mixed with Tom Petty and its the standout single here. “Part of The Plan” has a great driving guitar that leads the lyric and the solo at the break is pretty sweet too. This is a short, but sweet EP without a stray note — its highly recommended for fans. Newbies might want to start here.

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The Maureens

The Maureens “Bang The Drum”

The Maureens are a band from Utrecht, Netherlands and they make exciting and melodic alternative pop, but unlike last years debut the band takes a much softer approach on Bang The Drum. The band still has crisp clear harmonies and strong melodies when we start with “Heartbreak” and “Catch Me When I Fall” which recalls Teenage Fanclub or The Pearlfishers.

The slower “September” draws from early ’70s easy listening pop and the arena balladry of “Caroline” is similar to late-era Moody Blues. The softer songs on the albums latter half, while boasting solid musicianship didn’t hook me like the debut album did. But gems like “Bloom” will impress with the guitar and rich choral harmonies similar to Abba. Overall, this is a highly recommended listen and I hope to hear more from these talented artists.

 

 

 

The Deadbeat Poets “Hallelujah Anyway”

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Larry O. Dean

The Deadbeat Poets “Hallelujah Anyway”

In what has to be one of the most enjoyable listens this year, The Deadbeat Poets return with a fresh guitar pop crunch on Hallelujah Anyway. Frank Secich and crew are in fine form with a visible enthusiasm that seemed to missing from some past efforts. They hit the ground running with the power pop of “In My Iron Lung,” a catchy fast tempo gem. The early Beatle influence is back with “Baby Doll,” a great little roots rocker with farfisa organ. The sixties psyche-pop mode goes into high gear with “The Psychedelic Gas Station,” as its got plenty of cowbell, effects and a tasty guitar solo.

The band also has a more diverse sound, as the modern mid-tempo “Getting Over You” written by lead guitarist Pete Drivere is a real treat with a nice vocal performance. Secich goes the full Cavern Club styled skiffle on the retro “Johnny Sincere” and the Kinks influenced “A Dark-Haired Girl in Piccadilly Circus” plays like a musical diary entry. Other recommended tracks include the Tom Pettyesque “There Ain’t No One But You” and the guitar frenzied “School For Dictators.” Overall a highly recommended return on Pop Detective Records!

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Power Popaholic Fest 2015: a look back

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London Egg and The Grip Weeds Kurt Reil share the stage for the finale of Power Popaholic Fest on 9/12/15

Its taken some time to gather all the photos and films from our first three-day event. I can say I’ve had a great time and anyone who attended enjoyed the music. Both venues worked out fine and all the artists had a blast too. We even had filmmaker Justin Fielding from The Power Pop Movie attending our final night and filming the entire concert. You can see film footage from the Rock Shop and a huge photo gallery on the Power Popaholic Fest 2015 page. We also have a photo gallery of our night at Bar Matchless on the Son of Power Popaholic Fest 2015 page. And of course, our Soundtracks page have also been updated if you’d like to listen.

Now we start planning for next year’s Fest! If you are a band that’s interested and available this summer, contact me and I’ll add you to our list for 2016.

Larry O. Dean and The Sunchymes

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Larry O. Dean

Larry O. Dean “Good Grief”

Larry O. Dean (The Injured Parties) certainly has a dry acerbic wit and with the help of some friends, including Bobby Sutliff (The Windbreakers) and producer Chris Stamey (dB’s) he makes Good Grief an insightful listen. “Didn’t See It Coming” goes through the ups and downs of Dean’s travels through California. Easy tempo and a nice piano-guitar combo make this one a keeper, where the guitar-based “Happy Accident” is a fun trip through the discovery process.

The guitar protest song “Mad In The USA” is fast paced critique of today’s modern culture where you “eat low carb diets with energy drinks / take a bunch of pills to help us think.” “Do Not Follow” is another protest tune, similarly “Don’t Climb The Mountain” warns about goals and motivations (“Better you have a target, even if you miss”). Fans of Neil Young, Chis Stamey, and REM will identify and enjoy this album. Give it a try.

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The Sunchymes

The Sunchymes “Present…”

Aaron Hemmington just continues to dazzle with his brand of psychedelic sunshine pop. The layered harmonies are all over “I’ll Call You Up Today,” and the composition “Time Will Tell” owe more to Curt Boettcher’s Millennium, than Beatles or Beach Boy influences.

Several previously released singles (“Mr. Buckstone” and “Through My Eyes”) are added to fill the LP up, but the new music is just as compelling with special standouts; “Lady Gracious” and the trippy “Pictures in Your Mind.” A few songs feel a bit long and repetitive, but the technique is still mesmerizing to listen to. Fans of the bands mentioned above should check it out, and anyone who enjoys retro-styled power pop will love it.

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