Category: Power Pop Review

I can think of no other skit in recent memory that really shows the world a music geek. In this SNL skit, Will Forte just lets it loose to the orchestral pop of “Casino Royale” with goofy arm gestures and Peyton Manning joins him in the “geek dance” of celebration. Together they almost resemble the Spartan Cheerleaders of Will Ferrell and Cheri O’Terri. As an audience we are laughing at the blissfully uncool cheerleaders enthusiasm for the “perfect cheer.” So it is with Will Forte’s Coach. The Bachrach-David theme music, done by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass is without peer, however to the masses (the audience and the other basketball players in the skit) it is just an awful old song, that was really cool in 1967 and now it’s just embarassing to see anyone enjoy it with this much gusto. If there ever was a perception problem with power pop fans and the rest of musical fandom, this exemplifies it. You tell your friends “Listen to this great track!” and you may get a convert who will join in your discovery of some great music (new or old) but the some of people out there will still tell you “Let’s get the f — outta here.” To see the movie’s full theme song click here.

A special treat from Detroit is coming real soon. If you can imagine a band that plays a stratocaster with pitch perfect reverb — the sound is unmistakable and associated with some of the great 60’s bands like The Creation, The Action, The Pretty Things and The Hollies. The production here is flawless and even better than Outrageous Cherry. The Go is this band. 60’s music aficionados will go spastic over this new album, “Howl on the Haunted Beat You Ride”, due out July 24. In 2003, the sound of The Go was closer to a mix of Rolling Stones and the Zombies mash. You can get this older album on CD Baby right now. Lead vocalist Bobby Harlow and John Krautner have refined thier sound to clean retro-styled rock with less garage elements. The most immediate single is the opener here “You Go Bangin’ On” with some awesome cascading choruses. “Invisible Friends” is a fitting melodic Buffalo Springfield type of tune. “Mary Ann” opens with almost the same choral as The Four Seasons’ “Rag Doll” and then does a great job rockin’ out, complete with tamborine and driving beats. The only thing I found problematic is that not every song is as “hooky” or memorable after I heard it and my guess is you will need a few listens for it to sink in. Visit the MySpace site to hear a preview. Look for it soon!

The Go Website | MySpace

Listen to “Invisible Friends”

The Krinkles are a Chicago punk-pop band in the great tradition of Flaming Groovies and Cheap Trick. They do a pretty good job on this, their third album. We have a big emphasis on scorching guitar and rough hewn harmonies. They have a loose playing style that mixes early Beatles energy with Rick Nielsen guitar stylings. “Gimme Gimme” is good tune with choruses that remind me of the early Raspberries. “I want you” is another guitar heavy slice of rock riff heaven and my favorite on this album. “Stay with Me” is a catchy mid-tempo delight with a touch of The Records. More standout tunes include “Friday Night” and “Best Friend” The Mordorlorff Collection is a long sixteen tracks. And unfortunately a few of them should have been left off. When the band tries to be too hardcore or attempt a soft ballad it just doesn’t work as well. The good news here is there are still plenty of good tracks here to make this a recommended album. This is sold only through CDBaby.com, so far. Earlier albums are available on emusic.

My Space | CD Baby | Emusic

Listen to “Stay with Me”

Earlier I posted Fratellis with Pete Townsend. This is another case of current power pop artists honoring their pop elders. It’s a cute version of “Calendar Girl” where Neil actually forgets some of the lyrics. FOW are great and having fun on stage with him.

On the Eisenhower’s site they mention they are “a loose collection of people who sometimes make a noise with musical instruments.” Well, if lots of neat harmonies and catchy guitar riffs are noise, then bring it on. Raymond Weir, primary force for the band does a great job here. “Useless Love” is a low key rocker that remind me of a lost Dream Academy track. “Novelty Act” is a flat-out great song that evokes Crowded House with a great chorus, biting lyrics and amazing guitar. “… And Consequently” is another great track along the lines of Jellyfish. Both these tracks are awesome. Elsewhere the other songs on the album try hard to match it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. When the electric guitar wasn’t in a song it tended to not be as distinct. “Jigsaw” is a song with a great hooks and melody worthy of inclusion. It recalls the best singles of The Rembrandts. “If Satellites Should Fall” has beautiful arrangements and flows along like a lazy river. “Constantiople” seems like an adult pop indulgence, not unlike a Finn Brothers solo tune. Little influences of Squeeze, Elvis Costello and XTC appear in places, so this will not dissapoint most power pop or AOR fans. Enjoy this one.

Eisenhowers Site | My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame