Category: Power Pop Review

The Brilliant Inventions “Have You Changed”
The Atlanta Singer/Songwriter duo have a bright folk pop style that they demonstrate well on the opener “Isn’t It Worth It.” Both Josh Lamkin and Eliot Bronson both play guitar and harmonize together to bring a natural sound that may remind a few of The Rembrandts and a good example of this is on the next track “Have You Changed.” Clearly they have a really good sound and are skilled musicians. The Ben Folds-lite piano song “There Goes My Heart” almost works, but the fast paced “If You Want It” clearly pushes into power pop territory along the lines of Fountains of Wayne. And these guys also excel at the ballads here, as the soulful “Lights You Up” chimes away and lends a very Del Amitri flavor to the song. The slower tracks like “You Don’t Have To Be Strong” and “We Don’t Have The Words” sound beautiful, but leave your memory quickly. The energetic “Tell Her I’m Gone” is lyrically a lot of fun with lines like “what am I gonna do with a dog and cat/I told her they died so she wouldn’t come back” and “Restless” seems to channel Glen Tilbrook a little bit. But the guys need to take it to the next level as far as songwriting goes, and pop some hooks into a chorus now and then. Until that time give these guys a listen, and they might just grow on you.

Benjamin R “The Other Side Of Nowhere”
Robert Selvaggio aka Benjamin R was a music producer for bands like Eagle Eye Cherry and Puddle Of Mudd. He steps out from behind the production booth with his own material here. Robert makes good use of his studio smarts, and the sound on the opener “Quit” is quite impressive. Sounding like a cross between adult oriented pop and rootsy rock, similar to Neil Diamond or Ric Ocasik. Some nice touches and electric violin on “History” make it a great ballad. “Not Gonna Let You Go” has a good chorus, and the steady guitar rhythms and organ lead make it the most Cars-like. Another good song is “Time is Running Out” and the slightly celtic rhythms of the mid-tempo “Letters.” Some songs are very emotionally strong, like “I Don’t Need This Anymore.” The entire album’s theme sounds like the script for a slow painful divorce and the angst clearly runs in a progression from “Falling Apart” to “This Time (I Hope You’re Happy)” – not so cheerful, but a solid debut.

Here are some quick reviews of a few albums you may have missed over the summer that I listened to:

East of Fairfax “Nothing’s Different, Nothing’s The Same”
With a Squeeze worthy guitar riff, Brian Spain sings “More Than The Sun” with a slick synth keyboard and a hint of Duran Duran-like gloss. It is the highlight of the album. For fans of Daughtry, Duncan Sheik and Peter Murphy, this is a logical progression into well-written adult radio friendly pop. After this good start, we are thrown off by the melodramatic “Feel This Too” which seems to be missing some conviction. Then the piano lead in “Time + Space” suffers from an arena sized appetite, a la Neil Diamond – but the lack of a melody brings this one down. By mid album, it finally picks up with a spritely written “Letter To A Friend” and it echos John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.” An even better approach is on “The Damage,” where the guitar riffs work well with Spain’s multi-tracked croon. But even this rougher approach goes too far on “For All This Time.” After listening to “Ready for Descent,” I was reminded too much of Corey (“Sunglasses At Night”) Hart. Despite the rich sophisticated sound, too many songs here missed the mark for me. This band still needs to find itself, but it certainly has the right elements to be successful.

MySpace | CD Baby

Chester French “Love The Future”
Smart, smart art pop that deserves a listen. In the quiet burg of Cambridge, Massachusettes musicians D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey have successfully created a unique style. The big single “C’mon (On My Own)” is a song that recalls Maroon Five’s beats and guitar mixed with Sparks sonic details. In between the hits here are complete orchestral interludes that lend a European pretentiousness. This sweet combination is pulled off again on “Baby Buell” where he tells his girl “your my Puerto Rican Pamela Lee.” The smart songwriting and inventive instrumentation puts this album above the typical pop faire. The best song here is the hook filled melody of “The Jimmy Choos” with harmonies, synth effects and looping guitar lead in the chorus. The bright composition on “Sleep” is another highlight that kind of mixes Fleetwood Mac and 10cc. Other tracks are not as memorable but there is no denying this groups talent and it will find a welcome spot on any pop fans play list. The band also offers a FREE mixtape with a pile of guest stars on its site.

MySpace | Buy direct from Chester | Not Lame

Dearest readers,

I will be taking a short break from the blog this week. Forgiveness, please. I will return next week with more power pop reviews and commentary on musical current events. Until then, take it easy and keep your headphones filled with pop goodness.

The Powerpopaholic

Phil Barry brings his haunted collection of moody folk songs to his debut Between The Carolinas. The gentle strum of a 1977 Guild acoustic guitar is the primary instrument here. Opening with “Crying Shame” it brings to mind the somber ballads John Lennon was known for. Following this, the catchy jangle and echoing beats of “The Spaces” is a memorable single that will appeal to fans of David Mead, Adam Merrin, and Elliot Smith for sure. The title track “Between the Carolinas” is perfect music for those long car trips on I-95, with a steady rythym and multi-layered guitar and vocal tracks. Another gem here is “Never Gonna Be Your Man” with it’s smart verses and smart slide guitar riffs, similar to Wilco here. The track “Dark Star” lumbers along, like a weight on Barry’s shoulders. The darkness of love lost permeates the music deeply and is definitely worth a listen on your ipod after a long night of heartache.

Roxy Monoxide is a five-piece rock/power-pop band that draws influences from Pretenders, Cheap Trick, and the Plimsouls. Lead singer Coree Levy has a strong vocal, along the lines of Cyndi Lauper or Grace Slick. Starting with the very Cars-like rhythm of “Insecurity” it sets the stage. The early 80’s rock style here suits the band just fine, and the melody has a good hook to it. The riff heavy “Just Cry” resembles a Heart tune and is one of the best showcases for the bands instrumental acumen. Lead guitarist Scott Samuels can play a mean axe, but his vocals didn’t float my boat here. The band lacks some consistency in spots and should work on balancing Levys vocals with the guitar parts. “Easier Said Than Done” is a soft mid-tempo pop song with Levy cruising through the jangling chorus. Songs like “Scrape Me Off The Floor” work well, despite the very disparate vocal ranges of the band members. “Waiting Around” proves the songwriting talent is evident here too, painting a vivid story in the lyric. Fans of Bazooka Jones, Joan Jett and Suzi Quatro will appreciate the good female power pop vocals here, although the band’s persona is pretty tame. If you like the above mentioned bands it’s worth a listen for sure.

MySpace | CD Baby