Category: Power Pop Review

I leave no Stone unturned today! These puns are lethal, Doh!

Andy Stone “You Don’t See Many Of These Nowadays”
Boston native Andy Stone is a McCartney/Davies styled vocalist who puts together his sophomore album with tight hooks and descriptive lyrics. Opening with “It’s Love,” it’s a pastoral melody that’s sparsely orchestrated. Much like George Usher, Andy leads with his vocals out front and the melodies highlighted. While the vocals are okay, it also means a few instrumental parts get toned down a bit too much in the mix, like the bass and rhythm guitars. Luckily, the songs are very well written here like “I Remember Me” which recall The Left Banke slightly. “Talk About Love” is another gem that could’ve fallen off a Spongetones album. Beatles references are added in the obscure “Magic Alex” – and the best tunes here are the simple piano or instrumental bits that play off Andy’s naked vocal, like the wonderful “Your Need.” The songs are very skillfully composed, but also underproduced in my opinion, almost like a demo. Fans of Glen Tilbrook and Mike Mazzarella will also find plenty to enjoy here.

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Elephant Stone “The Seven Seas”
High Dials alum Rishi Dhir has struck out on his own, with trippy raga and pop in mind. Produced by by Jace Lasek (The Besnard Lakes) and assisted by Dials guitarist Robbie MacArthur, “The Seven Seas” opens with the  gentle jangle of  “Bombs, Bomb Away” a slightly psychedelic pop song that you can hum along to. Musically this isn’t that far from The High Dials, although Rishi has his own take on pop that is closer to this band’s namesake: The Stone Roses. This is perfectly pleasing – and tunes like “The Seven Seas” and “Oh Heartbreaker” are great examples of tight melody and rhythm working in sync. Fans of Teenage Fanclub, or The Gurus will surely enjoy these tunes. Eventually Rishi’s Indian influence comes out on the albums second half. We get a sitar based journey in “The Straight Line” which is very trippy, but not that poppy. Then on “Don’t You Know” it becomes a majestic and magical raga pop mix with distorted guitars, sitars and reverb that end the album cleanly. Clearly this is an album that’s “worth the trip!” Already he has a new EP out called “Glass Box.”

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With all the work on the Doughboys, I just recalled a solo project of that power pop journeyman, Richard X. Heyman. Originally released to fans who bought “Actual Sighs” in advance, it’s now available as a download only album. And, no Heyman doesn’t toke on a hookah, that’s just a clever cover, and the music is like a “best of” bonus tracks. RXH is assisted by notable friends like Ed Stasium (Smithereens), Kurt Reil (Gripweeds), Michael Mazzarella (Rooks), and bandmates Andy Resnick, and Nancy Leigh. There are 17 tracks here of assorted quality but there is plenty to love here, starting with the absorbing “And I Really Don’t Mind” and “Woulda Coulda Shoulda” which sound closer to his “Cornerstone” era. You would expect gems littered all over this collection of leftovers, and that’s true on the lovely “Scars Of A Cat Lover” full of a chorus sung in rounds, the emotional Costello-like “Set Up Town” and Byrdsian janglefest that is “Down In Merry Land.” Obviously fans of Heyman should get this, but any power pop fan who missed it deserves to discover the joys of RXH. He’s currently working on a concept double album next.

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Chris Corney “Sans Everything”
The Ravines frontman Chris Corney returns with his second solo LP, a straight forward contemporary pop album that will impress fans of Crowded House and Squeeze. Those expecting raucous power pop shouldn’t expect too much, but Corney’s emphatic vocal and guitar chimes on “Best Thing That Ever Went Wrong” compares well with contemporaries Neil Finn and Glenn Tilbrook. “When Jenny Smiles” is another excellent song and the cascading keyboards work well with the song’s jangling rhythm. The rich layering of audio textures from the production generates a depth that takes time to appreciate here, and the best tracks include “High Hopes,” “Mariette” and the acoustic ballad “Which Way To Fall.” And you even get a glimpse of greatness in the guitar solo on “Red Boots.” The sins here are the few tracks that take a guitar riff and drive it into the ground (“Sweet Vines”) to the point it’s repetitive. But for the most part, it makes for highly enjoyable listening. Fans of most contemporary adult pop will find much to enjoy here.

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Gary Hood “Gary Hood and The Last Show Ever” EP
A good friend of Andy Goldberg (of The Goldbergs) Gary Hood is an accomplished guitarst who has worked as a roadie for many famous major label recording artists. He plays a roots based pop that really hits it out of the park on the opener “Ice Cream” which starts with a bass line similar to The Doors “Land Ho” and adds plenty of boogie and soul here. It’s just a great display of blues guitar and catchy beat, no doubt helped by Goldberg’s contributions. The remaining tracks are closer to Jeff Tweedy styled lo-fi alt. country pop, with Andy adding backing vocals on the notable “Help Is On The Way” and “Space Age Blues” which is like an updated Neil Young sound. Add this EP to the jukebox of your favorite honky-tonk bar and you won’t be sorry. An impressive debut.

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The Romeo Flynns, Detroit’s premier local rock group, have released their sophomore effort, and it’s partially a concept album. “Masque of Anarchy” is named after poem from famous 17th Century author Percy Shelly. It starts with a timely British radio address mentioning the country’s huge  financial defcit and launches into the title track with rocking precision similar to Cheap Trick or Off Broadway. The themes are darker and harder edged than their first release, and are more consciously aware they are a power pop trio, as evidenced by a cover of Badfinger’s “Baby Blue.” Guitarist, Dorian Lee and bassist, Jimmy Moroney, are joined by drummer John Sarkisian as they rip through the hard rocking “Not Your Style.” Lee’s guitar riffs give the band a nice edge and things get very patriotic with “That Ain’t The Motor City” which could be a theme for the revived US auto industry. Several gems include “I Got My Eye On You” and the acoustic ballad “Annie” that showcase the band’s improved songwriting abilities. And the band continues it’s mix of British Invasion and Detroit-sytle rock. The theme of economic collapse is also continued in “Poor Man’s Paradise” and the Badfinger-like closer “Don’t Leave Me Now.” Like a breath of fresh air, you’ll certainly enjoy this latest collection from The Flynns.

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Listen to “Baby Blue” played on Dave The Boogieman radio show 03-14-10

P.S. I did “hook up” with Paul Collins recently, and an interview is in the making. Listen to Dave the Boogieman show on the web.

Above is the new video for “Three Angels” from the new album “Yellow.”

I got a chance to talk with Seattle-based singer/songwriter Gary Reynolds about his band The Brides of Obscurity and his plans to release an album a month! Read the interview on The Rock and Roll Report.