Category: Power Pop Review

Braidwood and Dragon

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Braidwood “Almost Lost My Nerve”
Canadian Brent Braidwood takes his love of early Beatles and turns it into rousing original songs that are hard to dismiss. “Left To Wonder” has the harmonica, tambourine, harmonies and Ringoesque drums guaranteed to put a smile on your face. “Love’s Run Dry” is another fast-paced gem. Braidwood crafts magic here, as he doesn’t emulate the Fabs exactly but takes enough elements to make it a lot of fun for fans of Beatlesque music. A special hats off to lead guitarist Scott Robert Anderson, his riffs on “A Girl Like You” are precise.

During the albums second half a few odd tracks feel out of place like the country blues of “Some Say It’s Murder,” and Brent’s vocal isn’t as compelling on the less Beatley stuff. The exception here is “So It Goes,” that reminds me of early Todd Rundgren. Definitely worth it for fans of Burning Ferns and The Spongetones.

CD Baby | Amazon

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Dragon “Happy Sound Comfort Songs” EP
This is a collection of six demos by guitarist, songwriter William Wenaus. Fans of early Weezer will like the dense guitars in “Nacho Cheez” and on “Sunny Ferguson” we get pretty decent love song. Williams vocal limitations are apparent, and the drum machine is a real limitation but with some proper producing I’m sure it would sound fine. The themes of teen isolation are familiar on “Decent Girl” and “No Hope,” but without a trace of irony it does feel a little whiny. There is a germ of boldness in “Ms. Someone,” and if you can look past the flaws its an earnest and charming song.

Bandcamp download only

Burning Ferns, And The Professors

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Burning Ferns “See Saw Seen”
Without a doubt, this debut album from a quartet of musicians from South Wales gives us the best Beatlesque album since The Red Button. “John” is a not-so-subtle shout out to Lennon with its sweet chords. The two part harmonies, hand-claps and guitar jangle are all there for the masterful “All Roads Lead To Rome.” The laid back, breezy hooks are all over “Sand” and the thumping bass lines on “Crunch Time” are another highlight among many.

The compositions are different enough to prevent any fatigue, the psychedelics are kept to a minimum with a combination of great 6 and 12 string Rickenbackers doing all the heavy lifting here, so for fans of The Spongetones this album is a “no brainer.” The Burning Ferns don’t simply emulate the Fab Four, but take the music a small step further adding other influences, primarily The Byrds on the last track “Clouds Forming.” Don’t miss this one, its on my top ten for 2014 list.

CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik | Amazon


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And The Professors “Our Postmortem”
And The Professors is a three-year collaboration among members of The Honeydogs, Brother Ali, Chastity Brown, Heiruspecs, Dessa and the Minnesota Opera. Led by The Honeydogs Adam Levy, Our Postmortem is a mix of chamber pop and orchestral folk rock done with thought provoking lyrics and melodic hooks. Much like the Honeydogs 10,000 Years album, but with even richer orchestral palette. After a simple intro “We Are” adds the guitar lead with strings into a catchy chorus about life’s observations and emotions.

“Watching” is a little Randy Newman styled tune that explains the bands unusual name: “And The Professors don’t make confessions/they don’t care about market crashes or hunting fascists/they don’t feel your pain… they just tell you how it is!” And these pocket slices of life are just amazingly realized, like on “Turn of the Century Recycling Blues.” And the cascading strings and layered instrumentation is equally impressive on the slower methodical “Something Burning” and “Grateful.” One of the best “thinking man’s pop symphony” I’ve heard, check it out!

Amazon

Orgone Box “Centaur”

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Normally I don’t review re-issues, but in this case its a rare classic that didn’t get promoted properly to the power pop community. Quoted by critics as “…power pop perfection from the legendary Rick Corcoran that sneaked out in the ’90s. The missing link between Teenage Fanclub and The Beatles!” Cocoroan felt that the original album was badly mastered, and Sugarbush Records decided it was time that the world had another chance to digest this exquisite psychedelic pop treat.

This gave Corcoran the opportunity to tweak, remix and re-record some vocals. What we have now is a definitive version. The slowly building “Anaesthesia” is a sweeping psychedelic pop anthem with new wave elements embedded within. Corcoran does the perfect power pop single with “Ticket With No Return” containing a hummable earworm in the chorus. Tough to pick a few highlights, as every track rocks. Unlike the original releases DIY approach, these new mixes sound both startlingly contemporary and far more authentically vintage sixties at the same time. For fans of Cotton Mather, Anton Barbeau and Beaulieu Porch this is an essential “must-have” album.

Bandcamp | SugarBush Vinyl | Amazon

The Maureens and New Electric Ride

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The Maureens “The Maureens”
If you love melodic ’60’s pop then catch this debut of The Maureens from Utrecht, Holland. The charming instrumental “Zuma Beach” opens things up, and the harmonies of “Brother” are just fantastic. Fans of The Hollies and Beach Boys should take notice, the subtle harp accompanies the guitar jangle on “Early June.” The hand-clapping, harpsichord and “la-la” chorus of “Captain’s Holiday” will remind plenty of listeners of The Cowsills. The simple vocals and guitar of “There Goes My Love” is an intimate campfire ballad that dazzles as well.

Each song chimes along with only short bits of filler (“Radio”). More highlights include “Freeway,” “Desert Song” and “Mary-Ann.” Overall this is an excellent example of using the vintage rock influences to make great new music. The Maureens are even offering you a free track here. Don’t miss the best debut this year!

Exclusively at Kool Kat Musik | Amazon UK


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New Electric Ride “Ballon Age”
After starting life out as a pub-rock band from Northeast England the New Electric Ride decided to go into the time machine. They set the dials to “1968” and have been staying at Sgt. Pepper’s house ever since. After a classical instrumental intro, we are sucked into the psychedelic pop jam of “Here Comers The Bloom,” with a groovy bass lead that recalls Olivia Tremor Control. The wicked guitar lead on “Marquis De Sade” is another highlight, similar to King Crimson or Iron Butterfly.

“Bye Bye (Batin Rogue)” and “Bring What You Expect To Get” are very much in the style of The Move with some impressive vocal harmonies and densely layered instrumentation. And you’ll have a fun time playing “spot the psychedelic influence,” for example “In Chains” follows the muse of Spencer Davis Group. Fans of XTC alter-ego Dukes of The Stratosphere will also want to tune into this full immersion of 60’s psychedelic pop. Even Austin Powers would say “Yeah, baby! Yeah!”

Amazon

Mike Dees and Shake Some Action

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Mike Dees “Something Like Glitter”
Dees has tapped a rich vein of power pop along the lines of Velvet Crush, The Posies and Richard X. Heyman with his newest LP Something Like Glitter.  The opener “AM Radio” is a terrific riff about the joys of growing up in an analog world.

The songs vary in style from the muscular rock  of “Little Know Nothing,” to the slow tempo “Bring It Down.” Dees vocals seem to shift in tone based on the song so you get the grizzled rocker on the title track, but on “Bring It Down,” you get a nasal version of Pat DiNizio. Dees best vocal is most consistent on “Better?” In fact the base lines are very much like The Smithereens too, “Babble” is one example, with a driving chorus that chugs along. Absolutely worth checking out.

CD Baby | Amazon

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Shake Some Action “Catch The Sun”
James Hall found a real groove with his last album Full Fathom Five, so this follow up isn’t far behind. “Color Exploding” is another gem that evokes a sunny trip, and “Wait For The Summer” flows right into your head as perfect modern beach music, complete with surfer beat.

“Fall Into The Sky” and “Moonlight Mind” are both full of Byrdsian Rickenbacker guitar and “You Don’t Know What It Means” leads with heavy drumbeats. The variety here is just enough to distinguish the songs, but a few tracks (“Wings”) feel a bit generic. Otherwise there is no filler here and this album is sure to please fans of Oasis, The Hoodoo Gurus, and The Grip Weeds. Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp | Kool Kat Musik | Amazon