Category: Power Pop Review

The Junior League and Gary Ritchie

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

The Junior League “You Should Be Happy”
After a few solo projects, Joe Adragna puts his sweat into a new Junior League album. Starting with “Keep It Home,” its an excellent roots rocker, assisted by buddy Scott McCaughey (The Minus Five). “Hey Misery” is a Beatlesque piano tune with Pet Sounds styled bass and horns, and even a sax solo. The next song, “One Step Forward (Another Step Back)” has even more Beach Boys styled instrumentation and harmonies.

Adragna then shifts back to a strumming acoustic guitar on the excellent “Samantha Smile,” with a hook filled chorus that reminds me of The Autumn Defense. The heartache ballad “Charming” has a very distinct Queen-like quality in the guitar and strings coda. In fact, the best written ballads I’ve heard this year are found towards the albums end. No filler here, its exceptional all the way around and makes my top ten of 2013 nominee list.

Bandcamp | Amazon | CD Baby


20px_spacer

Gary Ritchie “Near The Alley”
Chicago based Gary Ritchie gives us a follow-up to Hum, Sing, Repeat from 2011. This time we start with the title track from his last album “Hum, Sing, Repeat,” a loving nostalgic look at rock back in Richie’s childhood. With his partner in crime Jeff King (bass, guitar, keys) they play through a terrific collection of songs. “Victimized” and “Charming Life” are catchy melodies that compare well to The Romantics.

The band takes on early Beatles simplicity for “Hear My Pleas” and then it’s back to the guitar riffs of “Midnight Lovers,” which sounds like a lost Raspberries tune. Clearly Ritchie knows his classic power pop, as “Back To You” has some Badfinger-styled guitar. The quality of tracks vary after the mid point, but standouts include “Invisible Man” and “Pull Your String.” Rock on, Ritchie!

CD Baby | Amazon

Pete Donnelly “Face The Bird”

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

Figgs bassist/songwriter Pete Donnelly, has quietly gone about establishing his solo career with inventive melodies and soulful rock without the Figgs harder punk edge. Like a younger, more playful Paul Westerberg, Donnelly starts out with the quick beat and bounce of “Face The Bird,” its truly infectious and will have you tapping along right away.

The catchy piano melody “Always Something” follows, and the Lou Reed meets Springsteen “Got Caught Up” just radiates cool. No fillers here, as easy going rhythms like “Going On This Way” ooze soulful street charm. Another gem is “Hear It From Me First,” which feels like a Van Morrison classic single. The tone and style vary enough to keep things from getting predictable, making this album a highly recommended collection of songs. Best of all, Donnelly sounds like he’s having just as much fun making this music as you are listening to it.

CD Baby | Amazon

[youtube]1wSAG08330E[/youtube]

Coke Belda “Coke Belda I”

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

Coke Belda “Coke Belda I”
 Coke Belda is part of the power pop covers band Cokeroque, doing awesome things (like a mashup of Badfinger and Jellyfish). This is a guy who know his way around every musical cliche to craft something totally original. His new solo album has been produced by Anders Hellgren (The Merrymakers) and it shows. Beldas style is mainly baroque-styled pop, flowing across a massive 16 tracks.

It all starts with the epic “Last Show (part 1)” which has an ELP/Pink Floyd concert vibe. Then “Vero Suite” blasts us with a sweetly layered mix of chords and harmonies. “18 Miles” is a bedroom suite that takes from Brian Wilson, and “I Understand” is like a mix of Richard X. Heyman and Gilbert O’Sullivan. Plenty of great songs are here, from the fast-paced “Roses” to the orchestral Left Bank meets ELO “Daylight.” Not everything here is a catchy classic, but enough tracks succeed to make this album a highly enjoyable treat. This is a Bandcamp download only.

Free Music Monday: The Kavanaghs, Salt III, The Kimballs, Dot Dash

powerpopaholic

The Kavanaghs “Need A Pity Day” EP
FREE 2013 EP includes the single “Need A Pity Day”, from the critically acclaimed Love Conquers Pain album, plus 3 unreleased tracks that were going to be part of the album but were not included on the final version.

20px_spacer

Salt III “Salt III”
A collaboration of American Michael Zwecker (The Poster Boy) to sit down with Russian Oleg “Toof” Zubkov (Kollaps) to hammer out a new pact under the guidance of Hungarian diplomats Zoltan Kovary (The Trousers) and Imre Poniklo (amber smith). Stockpile these tunes, they are awesome!

20px_spacer

The Kimballs
The Kimballs are Tom Burns (vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion) and Michael Mark (drums, percussion, vocals.) The indie rock duo grew up in suburban Colonia, New Jersey, where they met as drummers in their high school marching band. They have been recording and performing together for over a decade. Earlier releases available on CD Baby.

20px_spacer

Dot Dash
The new album Half Remembered Dream comes from this ever improving, ever impressive band in a few weeks. As a personal favor, they are letting you have their first song “(Here’s to) The Ghosts of The Past” for FREE. Get it and look forward to the rest. So far the band is on track for an album each year. If you want to hear last years release, check this one out.

The Nomads, Athanor and Radio Ready

powerpopaholic 1 Comment

The Nomads “Solna”
 The Nomads are Sweden’s premier garage rock band, and their latest offering Solna is the most accessible album in years. Starting with the catchy single “Miles Away,” its got the riffs, power and melody in perfect balance. If you are a fan of The Stooges or The Hives you will really dig this. Guitarist Hans Ostlund shines here, “The Bad Times Will Do Me Good” has that minor chord fuzz with an excellent solo midway in. In fact there is a lot more pop here than I expected, “You Wont Break My Heart” has a good mix of countrified mix of guitar underneath a “la-la” chorus.

Still, plenty of crash and stomp rockers are here. “Don’t Kill The Messenger” is a good example of this and some Ramones-like punk rock appears on “American Slang.” Rounding it out are the ringing riffs and 60’s beat style on “Make Up My Mind.” Overall you have a pretty complete album with no filler and a great mix of hard-edged riffs and solid melodies. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | KoolKat Musik

20px_spacer

Althanor “Flashback”
Advertised as “late 60s influenced psychedelic proto power pop band from Chicago,” Althnor is a the collaboration of Greg Herriges and Rick Vittenson. The pair dreamed of rock ’n’ roll stardom, toiling away in their basement back in 1972 and they released a single “Inner Space” that got some local radio play. Forty years later (!) they finally got a record contract from an indie British label looking to release the bands entire output.

While most of the bands music falls into the psychedelic folk genre, it boasts nice Beatlesque harmonies on “I Don’t Mind” and “Memory (Don’t Fail Me)” which is akin to Badfinger or The Aerovons. The fuzzy Lennoneque “Habits” and “Read Me” sound good, given these were made in 1975. This a perfect compliment for fans of other rare psyche-pop bands like Lazy Smoke, Creme Soda, and The Only Ones. For power pop completists, the four songs mentioned above are essential listening.

 [youtube]krNZJ-mqJ_I[/youtube]

20px_spacer

Radio Ready “Lost Power Pop Hits 1978-1983: Texas, Vol 1”
This is a fantastic new regional power pop compilation series from Cheap Rewards Records. This first volume covers bands from the Lone Star state and contains many hard to find singles and unreleased demos. Fully authorized by all the bands and expertly mastered, it rightly belongs in your power pop collection.

Staring with Lannie Flowers first band The Pengwins “What You Gonna Do” is a fantastic single, and the rarely heard Bruce Moody “This Is It” reminds me of The Toms. A few gems included are The Take “Tonight” and True Hearts “All My Time.” Lots of punk influences here with local bands like The Rattlecats, The Spies and others I’ve never heard of.

Bandcamp | Cheaprewards.net