Category: Power Pop Review

Before James Hall formed the power pop group Shake Some Action!, he worked in his native Australian band, The Jeunes. This collection of songs covers the critically acclaimed band from 2002 to 2005. The Jeunes only released a four song EP, and they left behind a pile of unreleased material. In my interview with Hall, he mentioned this project. Obviously with some ideas coming from different time periods and varied musical styles this is a mixed bag for the average music fan. Fans of Shake Some Action will appreciate some standouts like the spacey opener “High 5.” The garage influenced gems “Obvious” and “Time Is On My Side” are timeless punk/pop in the vein of The Hoodoo Gurus and Redd Kross. The slower mid tempo songs “See You Again” and “Never Be The Same” recall Midnight Oil’s late 80’s heyday, and are a bit dated here, even though they are good songs. The other material is pretty good here too, like the REM-like “It’s Alright.” The Stooges-styled punk songs like “What You Do To Me” and “Missing Person” are fun, but ultimately forgettable. Fans of above bands, The Stone Roses and Material Issue may also find this album enjoyable. 

My Space | CD Baby

So here is another band with a Canadian sounding name, but they’re from New York. Lead by Sam Weisberg on guitars and vocals, Worst Case Ontario plays a grungy kind of alt. power pop that will appeal to fans of Miracle Legion and Bob Mould. The high energy jangle rock of “You’re Glib” opens the album up about a certain couch-hopping celebrity. “Purge” almost becomes a full jam, before it gets to the melody and some great lyrics about a crazed girlfriend with bullimia. Then the album heads into full Pixies/Husker Du mode and doesn’t look back with “Go Deaf or Get Married.” John MacDonald and Weisbergs guitars dominate the sound, and they get rather heavy on “Red Light District” with a Chili Peppers meets Pavement vibe. Unlike other bands of this style, these guys use every toy on the guitar amp and we even get a Echo and The Bunnymen reverb on “Quit Your Stumbling” so every song isn’t a carbon copy of the same punk pop sound. Sometimes you wonder if these guys aren’t metal heads in disguise too, with the screaming vocals of “Flake.” Well, my Nirvana fanboy self enjoyed it. If you like any of the bands I mentioned, this band is worth checking out.

My Space | CD Baby

The Tearaways “Knackered”
The Tearaways are a long time Santa Barbara band selected as back up band for Badfinger’s Joey Molland at The Cavern Club and the 2007 Matthew Sweet Festival. Well the Badfinger influence fits this band well on this short EP. “Knackered” is a song about the experience in Hamburg. It a straight ahead rock song with a bit of attitude. The Badfinger sound comes through on “Not Gonna Make It” similar to those mid-tempo ballads on “Straight Up” with some great harmonies here. “Under the Bus” retains some of those Beatle-like qualities with a bit of hard rock rhythm. It only a few songs, but it’s a great start here. Another case of, bring on the full length album, guys!
Tearaways Website | CD Baby

Magdalena “Magdalena”
Clean sweeping pop is what Magdalena is all about. Kind of like Weezer without the snotty attitude, alt. fuzz and they traded the guitar in for a keyboard. Opening with  “The Resolution” and “A Chance to Follow” are straight forward songs with great vocal performances from Brandon Mains and Josh Kerney. “Making Things Right” is a highlight here with sweeping piano chords that reminds me of Hey Now, Morris Fader a little. The flamboyant “Want You (Real Bad)” isn’t as over the top as Scissor Sisters here, but it has a show tune quality that makes it irresistible. “Ashes to Ashes” gets even more dramatic and hits all the right notes, it takes a bit of Bowie and Blink 182 throws them together here. Some of the songs don’t distinguish themselves that well, especially toward the albums end. However, this is better than most music that is out there and Brandon Mains vocals could beat any “American Idol” I’ve heard recently.
My Space | CD Baby

One of 2005’s best albums was The High Dials “War of the Wakening Phantoms” and now this Montreal power house will unleash more of their neo-psychedelic pop with “Moon Country”. There seems to be more of Radiohead or Coldplay influence here and less overt power pop influence. The band still knows how to write a catchy single, “My Heart is Pinned To Your Sleeve” uses the indie rock model with great results. The riff heavy guitar pop that was part of The High Dials sound is still on “Oisin, My Bastard Brother,” but no other song takes that approach. The newer approach is best represented by “Killer of Dragons” which uses echoing beats and guitar melody to bring this gentle mid tempo song to life. The group still knows how to jangle on “Book Of The Dead” and it resembles U2 and Mother Hips a little here. There is a lot of music (about 67 minutes) to absorb and by the middle of this album the softer ballads like “Angels & Devils” and “Clare” have such a slow tempo and lack of hook, that I was tempted to fast forward these tracks. It finishes strong though, as “Open The Gates” is a cool flowing stoner psyche masterwork with fuzz guitar and echoes that gives The Pillbugs a run for their money. Other highlights include the lovely ethereal “Invisible Choirs” with its weaving harmonies but the dated “Space Hobo” is clearly a misfire resembling a Dandy Warhols outtake. Fans of The Flaming LIps and the above mentioned bands will enjoy this one. Older fans of the earlier stuff may want to skip this, but given a chance the quality of music and skill of the players will win you over.

My Space | Itunes | Insound

Listen to “Killer of Dragons”

This Virginia band agrees that music aint what it used to be. Guitarist/vocalist Grahame Davies takes a trip through inner space here with a very English style, if you can imagine The Brigadier or Neil Finn with a female vocal backup.The album is full of folky melancholy tunes, the only sign of upbeat life here is the brilliant “Edward Learjet” with an interlocking harmonic chorus and biting lyrics that recall last years’ Milton and the Devils Party. In fact, “I Wouldn’t Say I’m Sorry” shuffles along it’s exquisite pop moping and it leads to my favorite song here “Trick Photography” with references to The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. This is one of those albums that grows on you like moss. The jangle of “Craked Leather Seat” recalls John Lennon vividly and most of the songs here are highly appealing guitar ballads. Anne Rogers gets to shine as lead on “Which Way” – a Elvis Costello styled mid tempo song. I couldn’t find a bad track here, despite the somber tone much of the album takes – even the Big Star-like “Finish Line” – the more you hear it, the better it gets. An impressive sophomore release that deserves a late night listen.

My Space | CD Baby