Category: Power Pop Review

J.P. Cregan and Phil Yates

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J.P. Cregan “Elba”
JP Cregan returns with a follow up to Man Overboard. Cregan has that Nick Lowe/Elvis Costello vibe down just right, and the opener “Wreck” is a solid single. Cregan is joined by Aaron Wilson whose trumpet features prominently on this tune as well as “Here It Comes Again.”

Some really nice steel guitar work on the shuffling “I Want To Let You Know” and the “The Maritime” rocks like those classic Dylan and McGuinn collaborations. Another rich sound is found in “Saw Her on the Metro” with a more traditional power pop composition. The gentle acoustic ballads of “Wishing Blue” and “Fall With Me” provide a nice contrast. A sophomore album that proves a balanced approach of alt. country and power pop can be successful.

Phil Yates “Tumble Stairs”
Phil Yates makes his full time living as a math teacher, and his new EP Tumble Stairs shows he’s got an additional talent (ugh). “Good Morning To You” is a minor chord gem in the best Lindsey Buckingham tradition. The slow country “Barely There But Blowing” is a witty ballad about not “getting’ any.” Yates has a goofy sense of black humor that makes itself present in “Ninjas Vs. Zombies” and “The Bottom Of An Urn.” The only rocker here is “California Song” and “What A Shame” ends things on a bitter note. Overall an innocuous, but interesting EP.

The Mockers and Willow

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The Mockers “Men of La Mancha” EP
Power pop veterans The Mockers have been dripping out singles all year, but finally we get a nice group together in one EP. A cover of “Impossible Dream” from the Broadway show Man of La Mancha, it starts off traditionally… then speeds off into Mockersville. The Spanish pop gem “Que Vida” sounds like it fell off the Los Imposibles album. And the liberal dream single “Republican Girl” is a bona fide viral hit. Add to this two new holiday songs and you have all killer, no filler — one of the best EPs this year. Highly recommended!

Willow “Charcoal & Blue”
Once again we follow guitarist Mike Barnett to his new project. Willow is a collaboration between Barnett, Jerry Risner (bass) and Denise Risner (vocals, keyboards). The trio leans on Denise’s jazzy vocal and Barnett’s jangle styled guitar playing. Opening with “Nobody Does It Like You” its a Dylanesque gem, and I enjoyed the soulful lyric and Byrdsian riffs on “Good Love Is Hard To Find” and “Counting On You.” Unfortunately weariness on some of the vocals is evident, and some songs lack energy. Fans of both Dylan and Steve Forbert may appreciate it more than I did.

The Pozers and Jeremy

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The Pozers “The Sun’s Going Down”
One of the highlights on the IPO Vol.15 disc, The Pozers new album is fresh fun, produced by Roger Manning (?) “Spacecar” is a fast paced fuzz guitar fest that sounds like a mix of Vinyl Candy and The Banana Splits. “All She Wrote” has a great beat and some nice Beatlesque slide guitar with its bouncy melody. The lush production on “My Maze” and “The Facination” are similar to ELO in composition and they’re a big highlight.

The weak spot however is the nasal vocals. No one is credited with lead and the range is often limited as with “Every Little Chance You Get.” The instrumentation, composition and multi-tracking do plenty to mask this early on, but it by the time we get to “Losing My Mind” it really wears on you.

Jeremy “Love Explosion”
For years, Michigan-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Morris has been producing several albums per year, and running Jam Recordings – which is amazing and added to that his solo stuff still rocks! The title track is a psychedelic explosion of guitars and harmonies (quite literally!)

He still channels The Byrds and Beatles jangle quite nicely on “Save Me From Myself” and “Radiant Future Days.” And he still has a tendency to stretch a song like “Hearts On Fire” long past seven minutes and the trippy sound effects on a few songs linger on a bit too long… but few can carry these big pop hooks with hard rock guitar crunchiness better. Get it and turn up that volume.

Ho Ho Holiday Samplers for FREE

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Suburban Sprawl Holiday Sampler
Hey! It’s totally the last month of 2012! Depending on whether or not the Mayan Apocalypse happens, this could be the last Suburban Sprawl Holiday comp! If it is, eleven years ain’t a bad run. Zach Curd has given us another treat to listen under the mistletoe. As always a huge variety of artists (most of which I never heard of) donate tracks here. A specific track here not to miss is Andy Dick and Willie Wisely singing “Happy B-Day J.C.” And if you missed samplers of years past, they are available too.

The JAC “I See Things Differently” Greatest Xmas Hits
Joe Algeri  (Jack & the Beanstalk, The Britannicas) is a songwriter/producer from Perth, Western Australia who is also know as The JAC. He’s got an off beat sense of humor and an instinct for great rock and roll. Listen to the highlights “Merry Christmas (round the world)” and the surf-syled “Psychotic Psummer.” Lots of great music here, its even better than his recent Faux Pas album. The bittersweet humor of “Santa All I Want (Is Cindy Brady) ” and “Computer Xmas” are also sure to impress. It also includes tracks from his other bands, The Britannicas and Green Beetles.

Get it FREE here!

Joe Giddings “Christmas Morning” Single
Joe has contributed to my Fest soundtrack, so in honor of that I am promoting his new Christmas single “Christmas Morning.” It’s only a dollar and worth every penny as Joe breaks out the sleigh bells and harmonies here.
Bandcamp only

Conceptus and I Am Next

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Conceptus “Trebly Feelings”
This is a refreshing jangly pop gem that marries the best of 80’s era college rock with 60’s melodic style perfectly. Fans of REM, Byrds, The Ocean Blue and Luna will really appreciate this San Deigo band. Starting with “Accidental Reverb” I thought I was reliving The La’s best moments, with perfect melodic clarity. “At The Sea” is a super catchy melody with a touch of Kinks influence.

No weak tracks here, although the lead guitarist’s considerable skill carries the lead singer across the finish line in places. Fantastic riff work on “Conceptus” and “Derrick’s Nightmare” are the stuff of legend and the lyrical playfulness of “Erica’s Trip” is akin to Ween or Pavement. I have to say after listening to “Flower Girl,” it will also win over hardcore fans of Greg Pope. One of this year’s best “hidden” power pop secrets are now exposed, so Jangle pop devotees must get this one.

I Am Next “How To Tell The Phonies From The Phakes”
This Boston-based alternative trio makes a good impression with its debut. “Shackled” is a buzz of distorted guitar melody and “Scene of One” gives us a mix of alternative hard rock and harmonies similar to The New Pornographers or Spoon with a touch of Husker Du.

The album stays on this pace for much of the time, and when the melodies stick like on “Black Hole” and “Hallucination Mania” it really works well. On the albums second half it veers toward Soundgarden-styled  rock, like on “Flashbulb” with its long guitar acrobatics. This is a band that plays on the edge between genres, and that can be uniquely appealing.