I haven’t reviewed it yet, but it sounds pretty good, even though it’s more mellow than his last one. Visit the site to hear it stream.
Wisley site | Itunes
Mike Viola is at it again! “Lurch” is streaming also on the site and it really sounds like a winner. Review coming soon I hope.
Mike Viola.com | My Space
John Borack, one of the preeminent writers/reviewers covering the power pop/pure pop musical style for more than 20 years (for publications such as Goldmine, Amplifier, and The Trouser Press Record Guide) has put together this definitive overview of the melodic, rocking musical genre we all know and love. It also comes with a CD packed with musical rarities you won’t find anywhere else. Although this book has been promoted heavily elsewhere, I wanted to give public thanks to John and Bruce at Not Lame for including Powerpopaholic.com in the blog section. There are only a limited number of copies left, and it will go out of print sooner than you think.
Buy it at Notlame.com
Dion Read is almost the textbook example of the quirky piano pop meister, with his opening track “If I was there for you.” It has echos of Ben Folds and that song from Apple’s iphone commercial by Orba Squara. It’s got a nice melody and the follow up “Unloving You” is even better, with some sweet multitracked harmony. This four track EP is an impressive debut worth a spin on the ipod. Hey, Apple can you use Dion’s song for the next tv spot?
Dion Read Homepage | My Space | CD Baby
The Nice Outfit was formed from the ashes of teen idols Menlo and The New Blind Nationals and as an off-shoot of power pop heroes Trolley and Quinn Scharber. Think an updated version of The Buzzcocks for the next generation of powerpopaholics. This combo rocks with an energy that compares well with The Plimsouls or even fellow Milwaukee band The Saltshakers. Starting with the chiming guitarplay of “Kissing Jocelyn” will appeal to lovers of that 60’s classic sound. Lead vocal Terry Hackbarth threatens to get buried by all those riffs, which flirt with the classic punk of The Replacements. The other three tracks follow the same formula with just enough melody under the surface to keep it rockin’. It’s a short EP, and would love to see the a full length soon.
CDBaby | My Space
Reviewed by Mike Z.
The fact that the opening track of Buddy Love’s Now…and Then is titled “ Where Do We Go From Here?” is apt in that the song answers its own question: it’s more of the same in that this band has not broken character for a split second over the last twenty or so years. That is not necessarily a bad thing, however.
Buddy Love doesn’t exactly defy description, but they certainly have an interesting combination of sounds going on. Mostly they sound like an American band imitating a British band imitating an American band, if that makes any sense. They have a sound that flirts with progressive pop, sockhop rock, and commercial new wave. One can’t help but listen to this disc and imagine these geezers having the time of their lives while ably working the crowd at your favorite pub this coming Saturday night.
Essentially, the band delivers a smattering of good, fun tunes. You’re guaranteed not to have to think too hard about any of the lyrics, but more importantly, you’ll very likely catch yourself tapping your feet instantly and within a day or two you might even be humming some of the tunes. The standout from “Now” is the almost atmospheric “I Can’t Get Up,” which flirts with headier matter, but at the end of the day is just another rocking pop tune. While the “…and Then” side is curiously a little more on the lovelorn side, so do not miss “Party Girl,” the track most emblematic of what Buddy Love is all about.
Buddy Love Homepage | My Space