Category: Power Pop Review

The Krayolas and Kingdom of Mustang

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The Krayolas

The Krayolas “Happy Go Lucky”

Tex-Mex popsters The Krayolas return with a reissue LP from 1982 that has been carefully restored from the “long lost” master tapes. The sound and production are perfectly crisp and clear. The title track jangles along evoking a simpler time and “Times Together” uses a little Latin R&B and Motown with pop panache.  An early highlight “Love is Gonna Get Ya” with San Antonio’s West Side Horns helps Hector Saldana effectively channel Smokey Robinson.

On “The Sphinx Won’t Tell,” it’s a novelty that reminds me of Sam Sham and The Pharaohs. The garage riffs of “All of the Time” is a welcome change of tone, and even better is the mix “Al Coda No. 1” an instrumental where the horns lead the way. The band doesn’t stick to a single style with bluesy “Roadrunner John” and the Beatlesque “You’re Not My Girl.” While the tonal changes are jarring, the band is still young and finding their voice.  Fans will find this essential while newcomers may want to start with  Savage Young Krayolas first.

Amazon


Kingdom of Mustang

Kingdom of Mustang “Into Beautiful Blue”

Charlottesville, Virginia band Kingdom of Mustang’s fourth album continues its journey through mellow rock and jangling pop. The opener “All I Can Do” is a mid-tempo tune with gentle harmonies all around. And things really open up with “Here In The Valley,” a bouncy pop tune similar in structure to XTC.

The band is led by Mark Roebuck (The Deal) and supported by Michael Clarke, Tim Ryan, and Rusty Speidel. The music features some great melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, as “High” provides a great example of this. A song about avoiding your issues “when you’re making sense, but you’re inside out.” The band’s simple approach is deceptively catchy, and many “growers” are here. Highlights include: “It’s Alright (In The Wrong Kind of Way)”, “Whatever Makes You Happy”, and the sunnier”One More Day” and “Coming Soon.” Elements of folk and blues are subtlety brought into each tune and it gives Kingdom of Mustang its own unique pop style. Highly Recommended!

Kool Kat Musik

More August singles: DB Edmunds, It’s Karma It’s Cool, Natalie Sweet, Brad Marino, Crossword Smiles, Vanilla, Freya Josephine Hollick, Electric Lecture

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No more weather-related puns. Just great new music. DB Edmunds is a welcome sight after all this time. As a member of power pop greats The Gladhands and The Stars Explode, he’s back with a solo effort that sounds excellent. UK band It’s Karma It’s Cool has a new single out with the help of Peter Holsapple(dB’s. R.E.M. and Hootie & The Blowfish). Another notable collaboration is Natalie Sweet and Brad Marino (The Connection), the first single has Sweet singing the rocker “Second Time.” And yet another pairing with Michigan indie pop veterans Tom Curless and Chip Saam combine to form Crossword Smiles, they sing “Parallel Lines” in advance of their new album. And power pop band Vanilla decides to go full disco for its upcoming ‘77′ album, with the teaser “Ka-Bang!” sung by Ava Adams. I randomly came across Freya Josephine Hollick, and her tune ‘Me & Mine’ is for all the misfits, the ousted, those who live on the fringes of society trying to make ends meet, and finally a video from an eclectic group called Electric Lecture. The band is the brainchild of Greg Ansin, Bronson Taalbi, and Anthony J Resta, and the band is influenced by XTC, Tom Petty, and Beck. Can’t wait to hear more from them!







Tributes: Jem Records Celebrates Pete Townshend and Pop Aid for Ukraine

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Jem Records Celebrates

Assorted Artists “Jem Records Celebrates Pete Townshend”

The third “JEM Records Celebrates” compilation focuses on The Who’s Pete Townshend. Pete not only coined the term ‘Power Pop’ but inspired countless rockers with his bombastic chords and timeless songwriting. JEM artists contributing include The Weeklings, The Grip Weeds, The Anderson Council, The Gold Needles, Nick Piunti, Lisa Mychols & Super 8, The Airport 77’s, Johnathan Pushkar, The Midnight Callers, and Richard Barone.

These artists do truly original interpretations of Pete’s best-known songs. It’s tough to call out a single song that standout out here, as all the artists do such a great job. My favorites included Lisa Mychols & Super 8’s version of “Baba O’Riley” and “Can’t Explain,” The Midnight Callers’ “Let My Love Open The Door,” The Anderson Council’s “Mary Ann with the Shaky Hand,” and Airport 77’s combination of “Substitute” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” But even the more traditional approaches of The Grip Weeds’ “I’m Free” and The Weeklings’ “I Can See For Miles” bring real power to their versions. Not a weak track here and it’s highly recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Real Sickies

Assorted Artists “POP AID – A Power Pop Compilation to Benefit the Citizens of Ukraine”

This massive 63-track, 3CD collection was put together by Kool Kat Musik to benefit the citizens of war-torn Ukraine.  100% of all profits from sales of the collection will go to World Central Kitchen, a renowned organization founded by chef Jose Andres whose mission statement is “To serve hot, nutritious meals to people who need them most.”

An amazing array of artists from around the world have provided previously unreleased tracks that you won’t find anywhere else. Many songs were recorded specifically for this collection. The 63 artists contributing power pop favorites on this compilation include Arvidson & Butterflies, Jim Basnight, Terry Carolan (with Al Chan & Tommy Dunbar), Chris Church, Cloud Eleven (with Rick Hromadka), Dave Cope and The Sass, The Embryos, Flashcubes, Nick Frater, The Glad Machine, Jeremy (with Ken Stringfellow), The Junior League, Joey Molland (Badfinger) and many more familiar names.

Kool Kat Musik is to be commended for their heroic efforts in getting this done so quickly. There are too many great songs here for me to even call out favorites, just know that out of the 63 tracks you will find many, many fresh favorites. Highly recommended and all for a very worthy cause, so get it now!

Kool Kat Musik

Early August singles and premieres: Kerosene Stars, Lily Frost, Vegas With Randolph, Matt Steele, Sharp Class, Phil Thornalley, Late Cambrian

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Kerosene Stars

It’s the World Premiere of Kerosene Stars’ single “Stay Low” a rich anthemic slice of rock with a marching rhythm that builds with each verse, as grand as anything Oasis has ever done. This is followed by the impressive “Don’t Follow Me,” a dense guitar texture is met by echoing vocals and distortion, and even a Dick Dale-styled interlude!

Toronto singer/songwriter Lily Frost releases “Seagull,” from her upcoming LP Decompression, and it’s impossible to ignore with its driving beat and layered harmonies. Power pop favorites Vegas With Randolph is back with the compelling “Shake The Cage” and love those horn flourishes! Matt Steele has a deceptively catchy bedroom pop hit here with “Vintage Photo Filter,” which just grows on you with each chorus. Nottingham blokes Sharp Class kicks some ass with “Tales of A Teenage Mind,” as it marries the buzzsaw riffs with Oliver Orton’s cheeky punk vocals. And we have some neat video singles too; Phil Thornalley‘s “Fast Car” is a loving homage to Jeff Lynne’s style that sticks in your head, and Late Cambrian is back with a skater’s perfect theme “The Last Wave” is off the upcoming LP, Future Snacks. Mmm, Tasty!





Maple Mars and The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club

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The Vague Ideas

Maple Mars “Someone’s Got To Listen”

Maple Mars has been at the nexus of power pop and psychedelic rock, and Someone’s Got To Listen finds Rick Hromadka and his able crew (Steve Berns, Ron Pak, and Joe Giddings) bringing the hooks on then opener “Useless Information,” with a timely warning that we are “moving in the wrong direction.” Then the epic psych-pop, “Gliding” offers grand themes with stadium-sized sound. This approach is also on the expansive 5-minute “Silver Craft.” But Rick can still craft tasty power pop melodies and “Anchors Aweigh” is another great tune.

It gets trippier with “Someone Take The Wheel,” the gurgling reverb contrasts perfectly with the harmonies and the central themes of reflection and transition are beautifully done in “Crooked Smile.” While Hromadka hasn’t approached Maple Mars in ten years, the time away has made the music that much better as a group effort. Songs tend to linger, like the apocalyptic vision of “Goodbye California,” and add to this not a single bad track here. Many thanks to the premiere label Big Stir Records for getting this done. Highly Recommended and an easy pick for my 2022 top ten list.

Big Stir Records | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club

The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club “Please Stand By”

Chicago’s Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club delivers the follow-up to 2019’s End Over End. The Cheap Trick influence remains strong here, “Pony Up” has several nicely layered riffs, but feels repetitive. “Hold You Up” and “Silverball” fare much better, with building verses and more fine guitar work. “The Lift” is another highlight, reminding me a little of Extreme. The band certainly knows how to rock, and “Fifty Foot Woman” brings those heavy riffs to the forefront.

However, it does lack the pop hooks, until we get to “Tremor Control II” which also adds some Cars-like synths. This was my favorite song here, and even though “Joni, It’s Not Like That” has an interesting melody, it’s a bit obscure to write about Happy Days characters nowadays. The tone and influences start to shift with “What They’re After.” It starts out fine and goes off into guitar solo indulgence towards the end. The songs also tend to overstay their welcome (most clocking in at over 4:00 minutes). ”Bah Bah Bah” is over 7 minutes long, and while its technically proficient, the suite isn’t that memorable. Overall not a bad album, but you may want to start with End Over End first.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik