Category: Power Pop Review

The Attorneys have changed their name to Flying Machines and gotten some good airplay on the USA show “Psych” — they have also bulked up from a three piece to a four, adding a new bass player as well. Keep these guys on your radar for impressive music.

I almost missed this one. This trio from New Zealand have a clean indie pop hook with the catchy single “Neil of Diamonds.” This is a bona fide radio hit with the easy going lyric “When I go out tonight, I’m gonna get myself some drinks, I’m gonna listen to the Stones, get some rock and roll, forget about my conscience, I’m only twenty-three, you know I am…” The follow up “Beautiful Punk” is filled with tight guitar riffs and Steven Tait’s distorted vocals. Spa takes a page from Weezer’s book in the tune “Growing Up” and the next big song “Yale” struts a bit like Lou Reed meeting Radiohead. “Rollerskater Girl” is relaxing simple tune, but like the remaining songs,  it doesn’t reach the lofty highs on the first half of the album. But nothing here is really bad and as an e-music selection, it’s a worthy download. Keep your eye on them for a follow up.

My Space | E-music

Listen to “Neil of Diamonds”

I hope you are downloading the FREE popcasts hosted by James Deem and Rob Reber (Ed James has taken some time off). The show has been introducing me to great local bands that will appear in the PopFest in July. The latest one (#11) features “Analog Daze” and actually thanks this site at about the 7 minute mark. Thanks for the props, guys! You can download them on their Charlotte Pop Fest My Space page or through Itunes. I will be reviewing a few of the bands featured in the coming week ahead.

This is a Norwich UK group that have an unapologetic, commercial American sound and a not-so-good name. The Unremakables have a bit of Coldplay meets The Goo Goo Dolls in them as the guitar strums lead the song to a sticky chorus in “In The Water (Part One).” Next comes the song “Back Stabbing” – a mainstreamed slice of alt rock with a blistering guitar solo at the end. “Everlast” and “The Only One” are the height of radio ready adult alternative style, with a pleasant mid-tempo guitar that is so generic it could be classified as a pop-lite. Things get much better with the highlight here “The Gift” where the rougher, punchy riffs match better with the James Oakleys inspired vocals. Another highlight is the memorable “Satellite Town” which laments a childhood, where a once vibrant town is in decay – the song has a real sticky chorus and is sure to linger. “Cruel Summer” has a bit of a paisley pop feel, and is full of vigor and emotion similar to The Crayons or The Gin Blossoms. Some of the other songs here suffer from a lack of “hook” but this shouldn’t put you off listening to the album. Unlike their namesake, it’s most remarkable and will have you repeating your favorite tracks in no time at all.

My Space | E-music | Itunes

Some select reviews are now going to be made available through the Italian rock magazine/web site Rockit. This is a great way to spread the good news of power pop bands to the Italian audience. This blog was selected as part of a group of reviewers for the site. If you know how to read in italian, check out our power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.