After a number of issues that have threatened internet radio, I wanted to know what online stations are out there for my fellow powerpopaholics, so here is a short list so far. If you know any others just post a reply.
DJ Jeff’s Power Pop Show, KSCU Santa Clara
Michael McCartney’s Time Machine
Radio That Doesn’t Suck
San Diego’s Bigfellas are a local favorite and they have a smart way of blending pop and rootsy commentary along the lines of Ben Folds or Randy Newman. One of the many talents in the band, Charlie Recksieck writes some great piano driven music for the the mind as well as the soul. It opens with the SoCal pop of “California King” with a chorus that melts like butter and the biting lyrics of “vegetarians who love to shoot thier guns.” Then it shambles into a hard-luck story with “Dollar for Every Dime” that talks about Lotto addiction, and the banjo follows the piano lead along. The funniest/meanest song here is “I Wish That I Were Gay” which wraps itself in Gershwin’s “Rhadspody in Blue” and turns into the type of satire that Randy Newman used to do so well. It’s basically a rant about gay envy and how they “have cache” and it’s a hoot. The album goes off on left field with a “On The Green” with a disco beat, it’s hard to tell if it’s comedy or just bad rap. We’re back on track with “Johnny Get Out Of The Sky” and fine mid-tempo tune. “Wish You Knew” is a wonderful ballad about regret after someone has passed on. The guitar strum takes center stage in the very psyche-pop “4:20” that could’ve fallen off a Pillbugs album. Lots of impressive piano and guitar riffs are on the Folds-like “Adam & Eve & ted & Alice” and “Reinventing The Wheel” has a bit of the bar room jam feel. It’s good entry in the piano pop field and it makes me want to revisit the past album on CD Baby. Enjoy!
Keith Harbottle is the one man band behind Big Life Desire and even he knows what you think of him. He sings “I don’t have a good voice, I can’t hardly sing, still I can impress, it’s not supposed to make sense” (“Not Supposed To Make Sense”). Keith has a very British theatrical sound, similar to the Bonzo Dog Band or a sober Syd Barrett. The songs are well arranged and melodic, especially the latter-era ELO-styled opener “Full Of You” with synth keyboards leading the way. Some songs are inventive and “So Inclined” is a very Alan Parsons Project flavoured mid-tempo song. However, Harbottle’s polite voice lacks any kind of range and seems custom made for a novelty record. By the mid point of this album it got very distracting, although the ballads (“After All” and “So Say I”) are easier to take. My advice is to listen yourself and cherry pick the better songs here, as I’m sure this is not everyone’s cup of tea. You may disagree here, but this album is best heard in dribs and drabs. Listen to everything here on Harbottle’s music page
Big Life Desire Site | My Space | Your Love Is (single)
My weekend vacation is up. On a few Gannett newspaper sites, they are promoting the newest Brian Wilson album “Lucky Old Sun” by having the entire album stream for listeners. This is a very good thing to older established artists that don’t feel the labels support them enough. With the success and adoration from 2004’s “SMiLE” album, this is a step above the follow up “Gettin’ in Over My Head” done that same year. Brian’s emphatic vocals have less of a tired feel and some sweet gems are to be found in the title track, “Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl” and the sweeping “Mexican Girl.” Unfortunately there are lots of narrative bits and reprises between the songs (done to better effect on The Beach Boys “California Saga” years ago) that don’t work here. A remake of “Can’t Wait Too Long” is filler here, and a truly beautiful biographic ballad about his comeback “Midnight’s Another Day” suffers from Brian’s lack of vocal range, but most fans will find it forgivable and truly savor the handful of songs. In fact, I wonder out loud how gorgeous this song would be sung by someone else (Much like the Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach’s “God Give Me Strength”). Others will wonder what all the fuss is about.
Michael Mazzarella is a legend among power pop fans for his work with the Rooks. His solo career has concentrated on improving his songwriting abilities and his latest offering “Folk Songs…” is similar to the last album “Grey Over An Autumn Winter,” which presents a song cycle in somber tones. It was recorded on a simple eight-track with help from Richard X. Heyman on the harmony parts. Vocals as sharp as ever, Mazzarella is sounding more like a mix of Colin Bluntone and Chris Bell on the opener “Recollections of a Young Girl Gone.” Thankfully, the clouds part for the excellent mid-tempo “October on Bleecker” with it’s sweet strum and multi-tracked melody that mixes the Beatles and Big Star influences sure to please Rooks fans. Then the clouds return on bleak “The Ballad of Who Are We” which is a song about a bygone relationship fallen through the cracks of life. The next track “Open Letter Of Sorry” has a John Lennon quality with heavy echo in the piano and nasal delivery. Another standout is “Shine A Little” which has an spiritual quality with a strong Elton John styled piano melody. The songs themselves feel like a confessional and the melodies sparkle through the lo-fi approach on “For LaDonna The Blue” and “In An Ocean.” It ends with a gospel statement in “Hallelujah For The Hallelujah Of Us” and if it had a least one additional mid-tempo or upbeat song in the mix it would be better received. It’s a downer of an album, with the ending lyrics “Have all the friends I have known/Better to feel so alone?” Fans of John Lennon, and Big Star will appreciate this and of course if the mood suits you.
The Rooks Site | My Space | CD Baby
Note: For some reason the review of “Black Bunny” was deleted by accident, so I reposted it.