Category: Power Pop Review

The Respectables Nick Piunti’s new video created by his 10 year old daughter. Now that’s just cute…

Superdrag – John Davis, Brandon Fisher, Tom Pappas and Don Coffey, Knoxville’s perennial underdogs of power pop, have reformed after a 5 year breakup, and after what many thought was a troubled history with both the labels and thier own personal demons. And they sound pissed. In fact the opening raw punk rant “Slow to speak, slow to anger” is anything but. Like the band’s full-length debut Regretfully Yours, the bands energy level is high. Davis screams much of the hyperactive lyrics here, but on a few songs like “Live and Breathe”and “Try” we actually get a melody with the tube-amp distortion from the band’s dual guitar attack. “I Only Want A Place To Stay” is a welcome return to form as well, with rich textured guitar balancing out Davis. Unfortunately, the distortion on “Everything’ll Be Made Right” overtakes the vocals and “Cheap Poltergeists” puts bassist Tom Pappas out front for an Alice Cooper impersonation. “Ready To Go” recovers things, with a Replacements-like structure and great vocals with the lines “we’ve been waiting for so long.” And they sound like they mean it — it’s the best song on the album. The harder sound will sit well with fans of Sevendust and Taking Back Sunday, and turn off some fans of their earlier work like, Head Trip In Every Key. In some sense the band has left it’s melodic comfort zone for a “younger” demographic here and that’s okay, but for me it’s not as memorable or catchy. Still for Superdrag fans, there is enough talent on display here to listen to and appreciate this reunion.

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Here is some French Brit-pop created by Thierry Haliniak of the band My Raining Stars. If you enjoyed 90’s bands, like Echo & the Bunnymen and Swedish pop like Eggstone –then you are in the right place. Here is a welcoming album that is full of wonderful little tunes like “All This Time” that have smart melodies and chiming lush choruses that are both danceable and catchy. The tracks started as simple demos from the band’s earlier incarnation (Nothing To Be Done) on a four track and Thierry added layers of vocals, synths and guitars to the mix. The gentle “Express and Share” and “Head Over Heels” are highlights in this sophisticated indie pop album. The guitars on “Most Of Her Days” have lots of echo and sharp rhythms, similar to The Ocean Blue. My only caveat is that the albums tone lacks variety and by the latter part of the album (“Shadows”) could grow a bit tiresome. But for fans of lush indie Brit-pop, this is truly seductive music that will not grow old on you.

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Listen to “Gone For Ever More”

Robb Benson continues the musical journey started by “Held By Waits” in 2007. Produced by Johnny Sangster (Tripwires, Mudhoney, The Posies) who plays on several tracks, it is more DIY indie pop than the last one. Starting with “The Nice Sleep” it brings guitar melodies and supporting keyboards to the front, and recalls The New Pornographers or Zumpano. Benson’s vocals are consistent throughout the album, but he seems to get angrier as the album progresses . “Tuning Out” feels like a bit of Coldplay and Decemberists influence has leaked through. The lyrics are in it’s own way, abstract and looking at things from a different perspective, as our pace of life seems to move faster each day. But then I felt the music loses its way, with “Houses with Holes” concentrating on rhythms instead of melody – although the song’s message is dead on. There are bright spots like the bouncy “Josephine” dripping with anger about a clingy girlfriend where “personal space should not be breached.” This excellent song brings to mind Jet and Dashboard Confessional, with buzzing guitars and organ solos in the break. The title track is another good instrumental jam, but melodic tendencies get buried on the rant “Mind over Matter” where a frustrated Robb screams “…what if Matter wins?” I had to listen to this album several times and although the instrumentation was excellent, the hooks are lacking here. To be fair, I’m sure some fans will like this better than I did. 

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Listen to “Faster”

Musician Rikk Currence & singer Holly Joy have self produced this radio friendly, accessible slice of modern pop called “Cyber Suburban Electro Rock Circus.” Although the group is unsigned, this is by no means a lame DIY sounding pair of amateurs. The music is slick and dramatic, boasting heavy rock riffs and a professional pop sheen, that is meticulously produced. Holly’s vocals are sunny and seductive, and comes across like a combination of Shania Twain and Britney Spears, without all the faux diva theatrics. By contrast Rikk plays a hard rock axe similar to Def Leppard or Brian May, which makes this pairing sound unique. Opening with the single-ready “Audrey Is Gone” where Rikk’s near metal riffs give way to Joy’s story of a woman’s freedom from life’s burdens. The group doesn’t wear it’s Christian values 100% on it’s sleeve but it’s there for sure in the lyrics. You can’t help be impressed with the instrumental skill that Currence displays on “Grey Day My Way” with it’s orchestral details. Highlights here are a cover of the Eurythmics “Here Comes the Rain Again” and the catchy chorus in “All That You Need.” My biggest issue with the album is a few songs just go on a bit too long (“Prayer”) and get overly pious (“Halos & Flames” and “Salvation”) for my taste. For some, this doesn’t really qualify as power pop, and will be too mainstream for others, but it is highly polished pop for sure. You can only get this on the JoyFocus website.

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