Category: Top Ten of 2013 Candidate

Eric Barao “Eric Barao”

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Eric Barao is a singer/songwriter from Massachuettes with quite the pedigree. Co-founder of The Cautions, he’s been part of Air Traffic Controller and L.E.O.  That last band was run by powerpop icon Bleu, and he produces Eric’s debut along with Ducky Carlisle… so hold on to your hat.

Opening with the mid-tempo “One Holiday” its very much like Jason Falkner lite. The descending piano chords run into a hard pause before the hooky chorus, and the follow up “Trying Too Hard” slows down to a ballad tempo, and the melody is just amazing. Bleu’s fingerprints are all over “New Earth,” one of those Jellyfish-ELO styled flourish-filled songs sure to stick in your head. Another standout is the ballad “In Love With A Broken Heart,” a beautifully written song about “lessons learned too late.”

One track that seems to have life beyond the LP is “To All You Guys” about overcoming bullying – its an inspiration for any kid dealing with social challenges. The light airy “Running In Place” is highlighted by sunny background harmonies. The ending tracks “She Needs Air” and “Sugar and Cream” are full of bright pop atmospherics that highlight Eric’s vocal range. And despite rarely having any quick tempos, the songwriting and performances keep things from getting dull. Being a soft-rock album, the guitars play a minor role and the keyboards are the main force here. So without any duds amongst the ten tracks, this definitely stands as a contender for my top ten list for 2013.

Freebie Fridays! Keith and The Dead Girls

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Keith Klingensmith and the TM Collective “Free!”
Keith runs Futureman Records, a collection of awesome power pop gems from the past, and he’s a pretty fine musician to boot. With his band the TM Collective, he will feed your need for free music. Yes this collection of covers is 100% free to download and the nineteen song run from the easily recognizable Beach Boys “Let Him Run Wild” to the more obscure “Jesus Follows Lisa Home” by the What Gives. My fave is the rarely covered Rutles tune “Cheese and Onions.” Enjoy this collection and check out all the releases Keith curates.


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The Dead Girls “Fade In/Fade Out”
I was impressed with the Dead Girls EP last year, so this full length LP builds on it. Lead singer Cameron Hawk has a sound a bit like Wire mixed with Weezer on “Never Erased.” The terrific riffs and harmonies on “Naysayer” kicks it up a notch and the band builds a good atmosphere on the slow building “Find Your Way Back To Me (Oh My Soul)”  – it will have you missing Alex Chilton all over again. No filler here, each track is quality, more highlights include “Under Siege,”  the amazing “Scare You”  and epic “I Feel You”  which is equal parts Led Zeppelin and Oasis. I hear a lot of stuff, and this is the best free album I’ve heard all year. Get it!

Et Tu Bruce and The Unswept

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Et Tu Bruce “Suburban Sunshine”
West London meets West Coast in this great example of harmony laden pop. “Dress Me Up In Bruises” is an excellent opener, full of solid guitar riffs and an upbeat melody. The harmonized vocals of “Never See You Cry” bring to mind The Association, the catchy composition hooks you as well as the flawless musicianship.

This continues with the jangle fueled “Miracle Crash” and the weird mantra “Never Say Trevor Again.” The band does delve into folk pop with “The Turning Of The Screw” which is so sweet natured it’s sure to turn off today’s jaded music critics at SXSW. And it even gets into psychedelic rock at the end of “It’s All Nothing.” Overall the album is highly addictive and even if few songs overstay their welcome, its tons better than most bands can deliver. Makes my year end top ten too.

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The Unswept “Surf Song” EP
Cousins Charlie and Ryan O’Brien are originally from Sheffield, UK but moved to Chicago – and will soon be appearing at Dave Bash’s IPO festival. The guys have a clear case of Beach Boy envy on “Surf Song 89” with it’s Spectorish wall of sound and the danceable “She’s So Cool” layers high treble strums over a solid backbeat. The 60’s retro sound on this 4 track EP is a charmer although the echo is thrown on a bit thick. Traditional Brit pop with a twist.

Radio Days “Get Some Action”

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Radio Days are Milan’s premier power pop band and like another Italian band, Radio Days took some time to find it’s sound, but with Get Some Action it’s reached near perfection. Opening with the clean melody line of “Burning Together” it’s part Weezer, part Rubinoos, with a dash of The Wonders.

“Girl, Girl, Girl” continues the sunny smooth ride, each melody more contagious as we go along. The title track emphasizes simple three chords, handclaps and a bouncy chorus of “yeah, yeah, yeah.” The slower “One Thousand Miles Away” brings forth dreamy harmonies, and “Love and Fun” uses a familiar Joe Jackson bass riff to great effect, guaranteed to make you dance. Lead vocalist and chief songwriter, Dario Persi doesn’t go for any complex poetry here, like the early Beatles it’s all about getting the girl. Then losing the girl. The minor key masterpiece “Goodbye My Lover” makes it clear that even if you break up with him, he “just wants to see you smile.” It may be simplistic, but rarely are the basics of power pop done so well. Easily makes my top ten list for 2013.

Bandcamp | Amazon | Out on CD March 6.

Shake Some Action! and The Junipers

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Shake Some Action! “Full Fathom Five”
More than previous efforts, James Hall has remained consistent in his love of guitar oriented power pop. He’s touched on the Manchester sound in Fire and Ice and the garage elements in Sunny Days Ahead.

Now with Full Fathom Five, James continues with his 60’s Brit pop style. The unmistakable Rickenbacker 12 string jangle greets us on the opener “Lost In Space.” Without missing a beat the magic continues on “Nothing Can Stop Me Now.” “Soul On Fire” is a fantastic single with its goose bump inducing chorus, rivaling Supergrass or Oasis (at their peak). Even the mid tempo “Lost Without You” has great big hook, and no filler anywhere. The Merseybeat ” I Didn’t Know What To Say” is so good, it sounds like a lost track from those Liverpool lads. It also varies its sound enough to prevent falling into a rut, making each of those 14 tracks fly by. More than other albums, the vocals are better and the songwriting is rock solid. It’s a retro treat and a definite contender for best album in 2013.

Bandcamp | Soul on Fire single only

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The Junipers “Paint The Ground”
 The Junipers are a psychedelic pop group with a new line up following 2008’s Cut Your Key. Paint The Ground is one of the best sunshine folk pop LPs ever with sweet harmonies and shimmering guitars similar to Curt Boettcher and Millennium. “Willow and The Water Mill” is a song that paints a vivid picture of a summer day in the country.

The gentle “Phoebus Filled The Town” is a heartbreaking melody with a prog-folk sound that will remind many of Steve Hackett era Genesis.  Each song seamlessly blends into a perfect tapestry of mood, as in “Antler Season,” the ethereal chorus rides along an acoustic melody. The only issue is that these songs tend to be indistinguishable from each other. Using a full load of instruments from Mellotrons to Zithers, it perfectly evokes the sunshine pop era without blatantly ripping it off – a true musical treasure.