Category: Power Pop Review

Tim Lee 3 and Gail George

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Tim Lee 3

Tim Lee 3 “Devil’s Rope”

One of the better acts at IPO is the Tim Lee 3, which is essentially Tim Lee (Windbreakers, Marti Jones, Let’s Active) and his wife Susan Bauer Lee accompanied by Chris Bratta on drums. Devil’s Rope is a mix of Southern rock, blues and pop all done with solid proficiency and fiery spirit. “Signal” opens it and its the most pop oriented tune with Susan’s bright clear vocal leading the way. The title track is a sing-along blues stomp with a hand-claps and cool reverb-drenched guitar.

“Monkey Dance” is whimsical look about touring; struggling musicians with great guitar work from a “never-was.” A bit of Southern Culture On The Skids show up on the fuzz tones of “Cut-Rate Divorce” and “Judging You.” Overall, a really sweet album that has enough variety to prevent predictability and some great songs sprinkled throughout. They are hard at work on a new album, and I look forward to it.
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Gail George

Gail George “The Barrio Sessions with Early Times”

Gail George was another “live” hit at IPO that’s decidedly off the power pop genre. The Barrio Sessions were recorded in East Harlem, and George has a silky vocal with pop smarts playing with multi-instrumentalist Early Times. “Mythomaniac” is a soulful torch song with bongos and little Santana-like guitar flourishes. Gail has an emphatic approach that is similar to Laura Nyro, Carole King and Joni Mitchell (all obvious influences here).

The big single here is “Gonna Get Worse” with a strong bass line and strong backing vocals with its hook. Also a highlight is “Nobody’s Friend” with its sad lyric, somber trumpet that highlights Gail’s willowy vocal performance. “Walk Away” is another highlight with its strong coda (particularly good performed live). The album second half fails to generate much excitement, but I enjoyed the understated tone and hope to hear more from this talented singer-songwriter.
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Amazon | CD Baby

 

The Successful Failures and Joe Sullivan

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The Successful Failures “Captains of Industry, Captains of War”

Chesterfield, NJ trio The Successful Failures have gotten better and better with each album, as former Dipsomaniacs leader Mick Chorba tightens the sound up on the bands’ fifth album. You’ve got a melodic mix of classic power pop that fans of The Replacements, Cheap Trick or Sloan should really flock to. And as a songwriter Micks come a long way too; his stories are deeper and more compelling.

Chorba’s hooks are strong on the the opener “Stagger Lee & Woodrow Wilson,” supported by band mates Ron Bechamps (bass) and Rob Martin (drums). Together the trio effortlessly make you love their sound and lyrical prowess on “Milwaukee” and the dramatic energy is right on for the gem “1954.” The jangling “Meal Parade” is the type of melody that recalls Robert Pollard and GBV. But its tough to single out a favorite. Every single track here shines, all with differing tempos and styles. “Falling Out” is a light piano-guitar combo, and the slower ballads work as well as the fast paced fuzz guitars. Even the alt-country “O Carolina” bounces along to a catchy beat and the best attitude song here is “Sunny In My Head” with great minor chord shifts. One of the best LPs this year, it would be a crime to ignore – and it makes my top ten nominated list.
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The Successful Failures

Joe Sullivan “Schlock Star”

Joe Sullivan (An American Underdog) delivers a sunny burst of bubblegum pop with the help of fellow band mate/producer Andy Reed. If Ron Dante (The Archies, Cuff Links) were reincarnated today, he might sound a lot like Sullivan with those crisp vocal harmonies. Joe mixes those early sixties influences into his modern guitar pop easily.

From the Beach Boys meets Ramones styled “Conspiracy Radio” to the Archies-like “Nurse Tracy” its a fun romp with multi-tracked harmonies and infectious guitar lines. “Okinawa Girl” is another gem that brings to mind Marc Bacino’s Pop Job. And Sullivan adds plenty of humor to tracks like “Rock Star Boyfriend” with an Ozzy Osborne interlude between the chorus, and the Star Wars nerd-love of “Victims of the Sarlaac.” This is one of those albums you can listen to on repeat mode, so yeah its highly recommended.

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Bandcamp | CD Baby

Power Pop from the Garage and Kylie Odetta

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Various Artists “Power Pop from the Garage”

For the music connoisseur, this is like finding gold buried under the beach sand. If you think you know Power Pop, then Australian label Zero Hour Records will challenge you with 22 obscure tracks from some rare Aussie bands from 1974 to 1986. All of them were local bands that probably never got international play beyond the Indian Ocean, but well worth listening to. The American/UK power pop influence is clear, one of the tracks Beathoven’s “Do You Remember The Time” rips off Badfinger’s “No Matter What” in the chorus and the ELO production style is all over Chris Pelcer “Can’t Find Reverse.”

Yes, there are “shoulda-been” hits in this collection (Heartbeats “Don’t Want Romance” and Turnarounds “Let’s Do It”), as well as examples of dated 80’s production (The Orphans’ “See You”). This great collection is hampered by sound quality on a few tracks that really could use some re-mastering. But considering that we have no clue if master tapes even exist, I’d still want to hear these rare pop gems.
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Zero Hour Records (exclusive)


Kylie Odetta

Kylie Odetta “Waiting Game”

Now a diversion from the usual power pop review: Kylie Odetta is soulful singer/songwriter who’s talent is easy on the ears and eyes. R&B pop is her stock in trade here even though she blends other genres in her music. “Waiting Game” is a slow start, but things pick up with “Can’t Handle That” an energetic percussive march that highlights Kylie’s vocals – it reminded me a bit of Kate Miller Heidke.

Her sweetness comes through on the ballad “One Day, Some Day” and “I Just Wanna Feel Love,” but the sweeping dramatic ballads like “My Love” lack the big hooks or distinctive styling to keep me interested. I think the biggest problem may be finding an audience for this loose R&B alternative pop, but Kylie certainly has the vocal talent to make it work.

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Amazon

The Solicitors and The Tripwires

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The Solicitors

The Solicitors “Blank Check”

The latest from Pop Boomerang Records, The Solicitors deliver an exciting full length album (after the impressive EP last year). Influenced by late 70’s and early 80’s pop, it brings to mind the excitement of bands like The Cars, The Knack and The Jam. Formed in Melbourne, Australia by English songwriter Lee Jones and American guitarist Laf Zuccarello, they later added supporting members James Manning and Matt Stirling to the band. The songs go by quickly, the crisp guitar work and catchy riffs are out front on the opener “If You Let Me Hold You” and fans of Kurt Baker or The Wellingtons will love the swirling melody “Pretty Penny.”

Each track continues this formula on the mid-tempo “Help Me Forget” and they crank up things on “I Love Your Love” with its rising chords. “Quicksand” is another gem that is similar to classic Sloan. Plenty of highlights and no filler either, most of the album is high energy until we end on the slow ballad “Goodbye.” Overall this is Highly Recommended. Don’t miss it!
power pop
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The Tripwires

The Tripwires “Get Young”

This Seattle super group is a veteran combo consisting of John Ramberg(The Minus 5), Jim Sangster(Young Fresh Fellows) his brother Johnny Sangster and Dan Peters(Mudhoney). On this third album the band has a more “organic” sound now on Spain’s FOLC Records label. They drift more toward the style of pub rock that’s more in line with NRBQ or The Minus 5 here on the opening title track. “Early Bright” is a terrific single, and the workman like “You Have A Bell” is another gem with great call-and-respond guitar lines, and the snappy chorus.

The next several songs have a fun bounce and catchy beat, “Owner Operator” is a great example of this. And the wonderful steady “Gratitude” has a jangly riff that runs along side the melody. No duds here either, although the tempos here don’t vary by much. Another winner here, that is sure to please pub rock and power pop fans alike. Highly Recommended!
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Hot Knives and Schnauser

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Hot Knives

Hot Knives “Hot Knives”

Lost Classics Dept:  You’ve all heard stories about rock bands that had potential greatness squashed by bad timing (examples: Television, Joy Division, Nick Drake). Well unless you are a collector of rare vinyl records, you’ve never heard of this California band that recorded a late ’60s period folk-rock, power pop album in 1976. They had the talent and pedigree to make it big, with guitarist Tim Lynch, and drummer Danny Mihm (both members of The Flamin’ Groovies), bassist Ed Wilson and the vocals of brother-sister duo Michael and Debra Houpt. They made several excellent singles (produced by Groovies Cyril Jordan) and promptly vanished into nuggets history.

This new re-issue collects all the bands material, and if you enjoy a unearthed musical treasure then give a listen to catchy melody of “Sooner Or Later,” sounding like a power pop version of Jefferson Airplane. The infectious “Take Me Back” is also great, with soaring vocals that earned high praise from Greg Shaw in Bomp! Magazine at the time. The album was a unique mix of sounds and virtuoso guitar work, “You Can Get Anything You Want” is like Clapton playing with The Mamas and Papas! The band was too unfashionable in the era of mid ’70s arena rock to make it, but now you can hear this highly recommended obscurity.

Forced Exposure Records | Amazon

Hot Knives

Schnauser “Protein For Everyone”

Schnauser is the wondrous prog-pop band led by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Alan Strawbridge (Lucky Bishops), with long time mates, bassist and vocalist Holly McIntosh, keyboardist Duncan Gammon and introducing new drummer Jasper Williams. This album is a surreal journey, with really good keyboard/guitar melodies and those minty fresh harmonies.

Unlike past albums, the cynical, sarcastic streak is toned down in favor of extended jams and stretching the melody lines. “Grey or Blue” brings to mind classic ‘70s prog masters like Genesis or Yes, with its virtuoso keyboard interludes between sunny choruses. The title track is another swirling melody set to a waltz tempo, a dance between light and dark themes. My favorite here is “Split,” with its interplay of jangle rhythm, crisp harmonies reminiscent of XTC. You do wonder at points if the melodies wander about too much, especially on the 16 minute plus “Disposable Outcomes.” In any case, the hummable interludes will have you following along like a trained seal. Overall, a fun prog rock diversion you can sink your teeth into.

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