One of the most enduring power pop legends is Eric Carmen (The Raspberries). Just in time for the start of 2014, “Brand New Year” is Eric Carmen’s first new recording in over 15 years, finding the Artist in a reflective and optimistic mood for the future, both lyrically and sonically. This new song is the first premiere from the upcoming Legacy Recordings 30 track career retrospective, “The Essential Eric Carmen” – set for release March 11, 2014.
Category: Power Pop Review
The Power Popaholic Top 25 Best albums of 2013
Here is the full list:
- Wyatt Funderburk – Novel and Profane
- Corin Ashley – New Lion Terraces
- Secret Friend – Time Machine
- The Nines – The Nines
- Nick Piunti – 13 in My Head
- Lisa Mychols – Above, Beyond & In between
- Glenn Case – Throw Money
- The Connection – Let It Rock!
- Stephen Lawrenson – Obscuriosity
- The Junior League – You Should Be Happy
- The Grapes of Wrath – High Road
- The Candle Thieves – All’s Well That Ends Well
- Gleeson – Gleeson II
- Greg Pope – Pop Motion Animation
- Agony Aunts – Big Cinnamon
- The Bye Bye Blackbirds – We Need The Rain
- Eric Barao – Eric Barao
- Shake Some Action – Full Fathom Five
- Valley Lodge – Use Your Weapons
- Vegas With Randolph – Rings Around The Sun
- Et Tu Bruce – Suburban Sunshine
- Magic Eight Ball – Sorry We’re Late But We’re Worth The Wait
- Parthenon Huxley – Thank You Bethesda
- Frank Bango – Touchy Feely
- The Orange Peels – Sun Moon
Notable mentions/favorites (yes I loved these albums too in no special order):
- Andrea Perry – Four
- Richard X. Heyman – X
- Mark Lane – Something New
- Lyn Saga – Venice
- The Breakup Society – So Much Unhappiness. So Little Time…
- Pete Donnelly – Face The Bird
- Pretty & Nice – Golden Rules for Golden People
- Graham Alexander – Graham Alexander
- Jackdaw4 – Dissecticide
- Phil Angotti – Life & Rhymes
- The Dead Girls – Fade In Fade Out
- The Charlie Watts Riots – A Break In The Weather
Top 5 EP releases of 2013
- Nick Capaldi – The Golden Summer
- Honeychain – Futura
- Timmy Sean – East Coast Girls
- Justin Kline – Doormat
- The Paul and John – Everything Comes Together
Top Compilation albums of 2013
- Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock
- International Pop Overthrow – Volume 16
- The Beatles – Live At The BBC
This was a very tough year as I didn’t want to go over 25 albums on the main list. And for all purposes, you could swap out any of those notable mentions for anything on the list not in the top ten. I hope you support the artists mentioned above by purchasing their music. After all, you’ve got to do something with all those gift cards after the holidays!
If you’d like to hear some complete versions of songs from my top ten and more be sure to tune-in to internet radio 11L Radio New York International on Sunday evening (12/29/13) at 7:30pm EST.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Jeff Litman and Smalltown Poets
Jeff Litman’s Christmas cover of a Beach Boys classic is perfect for a quiet Christmas eve night with a warm beverage in your hand. In addition, Jeff’s got a very cool NEW single out for “name-your-price.” You can even send this single as a gift. Check it out!
The Smalltown Poets had a really brilliant Christmas album last year. These guys know their way around a three part harmonies or two. This time the new album is Under The New Sun and if you buy The Smalltown Poets Christmas on Bandcamp it comes included for FREE.
A Pop Garden Christmas and The Winter Wonderband
“A Pop Garden Christmas” Adam Waltemire the host of WMEL’s Pop Garden Radio brings us this basket of Christmas cheer in the form of 23 truly great holiday songs. He’s gathered tracks from power pop musicians including Lannie Flower’s “Chritsmas With Out You” we featured last week. It’s an all-star cast: Lisa Mychols, Timmy Sean, Mimi Betinis, Vegas With Randolph and many more. Worth every shiny penny on Bandcamp.
“The Christmas Waltz” If you’d like a more traditional holiday approach towards music. Eric Crugnale and a group of musician friends (including Kevin Bents) and family made this album as a way to christen his new home studio, Fairway Sound. Check out the angelic harmonies on “The Christmas Song.” Get it at a “Name your own price.”
The Candle Thieves and Parthenon Huxley
The Candle Thieves “All’s Well That Ends Well”
Peterborough, England’s The Candle Thieves have struck again. Two unassuming guys, lead vocalist Scott McEwan and a dude simply named “The Glock” burst forth with a very glossy brand of heartfelt, optimistic pop. The opening song “Tomorrow Is Another Day” is a full on mix of Beach Boys/Carpenters layered harmonies with a melody as sweet as buttered toast. “Ocean of Storms” is a more standard pop approach with synths and soft falsetto. “Sugarcandy Mountain” is another bouncy gem of a love song, and “Keys To My World” is a measured ballad that almost turns to syrup. Vocally, the duo kind of reminds me of an English version of The Rembrandts.
But without a wasted track, it successfully navigates through an early confidence builder “The Little Engine That Could” to the rousing “Don’t Grow Up Too Soon.” The concept of holding on to childhood so tightly it drives romance away is artfully done and with the inspiring ending “Honey I’m Home,” it brings the listener back from the sugar rush. No filler here and even though I almost missed it, I’m happy to add it to my year end “best of” list.
Parthenon Huxley “Thank You Bethesda”
Parthenon Huxley or P.Hux as he’s called, is a veteran power pop artist I’ve known for a long time. Earlier this year he produced a new album and one of my fellow readers recommended a review. A new found energy is on the title track, a busy mix of Lou Reed-ish vocal phrasing and bass lines. In fact, Reed’s influence is all over this album. An early highlight is the catchy rocker “Angeleno,” about the search for fame and fortune in L.A.
He moves from from the slow soulful “Luckiest Man” to the smooth pop of “Long Way To Go.” His Beatlesque side comes out on “Roller Coaster” and “A Feeling That Won’t Fade Away.” The tonal shifts almost feel like you’re listening to a singles compilation album, it doesn’t stick to a single mood, but the overall theme is gratitude. This is a terrific album brimming with excellent guitar work and joyous melody. My last “top ten” recommendation of 2013.