Category: Top Ten of 2016 Candidate

David Brookings and Gary Ritchie

powerpopaholic
Weezer

David Brookings and The Average Lookings

California musician David Brookings has been a steady favorite of mine for many years, refining his songwriting craft and sound with each album since 2000. With his new band The Average Lookings, David delivers a truly unique sound that retains his main influences (Beatles, Beach Boys, Byrds) without sounding imitative. His vocals are a little like Roger Hodgson (Supertramp) so he has better range than most. Each song here hits the bulls-eye; “Hearts” starts us off with its effective catchy chorus, jangling rhythm and ending crescendo. The hand-clapping, bouncy “Time To Go” is a perfect follow up and “The Optimist” is another gem that proves “you’ll never be a winner unless you lose for quite a while.” Even the ballads like “Don’t Stop to Doubt Yourself” are compelling both lyrically and melodically.

Another memorable twist is the country-tinged rocker “I’m in Love With Your Wife,” which is a fictional accounting of Eric Clapton bragging to George Harrison that his girl Patti “looks wonderful tonight.” Beautifully written and produced, its all killer, no filler – and enough variety in style and tone that keeps the music fresh and unpredictable. It’s darn close to a flawless record and rockets to the top of my best LP of 2016 list.

Itunes | Buy direct from David | CD Baby

Here is a great bio video of David…

Gary Ritchie

Gary Ritchie “Poptimistic”

Chicagoan Gary Ritchie returns on Poptimistic and from the bouncy opening “Million Dollars” its very much like a classic Rubinoos single followed by “Let’s Pretend,” a Beatlesque tune full of simple lyrics and Rickenbacker bass lines. Clearly Ritchie has improved his songwriting over the years, as the compositions are tighter than past albums. “Subtle as a Freight Train” allows both Ritchie and co-guitarist Jeff King to show off a bit, and Gary also has a love of old school ’50s pop Buddy Holly style on “Perfect Girl.”

No filler anywhere, and plenty of catchy gems like “Carol Says” about a profile of a fortune teller and “Dial 9,” a mid-tempo Merseybeat charmer. The attitude of all the songs are summed up in “Real Good Feeling,” and if you are a fan of retro-grade pop perfection look no further. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

EP Reviews: The Top Boost, Easy Roscoe, Boys on The Beach

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Automat

The Top Boost “Turn Around” EP

The Top Boost is Vancouver’s newest garage pop trio (Hunter Gogo, Kirill Yurtsev, Greg Johnston), and their debut EP Turn Around was recorded and mixed in Vancouver and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London. And it sure sounds fantastic, after a quick intro “What If She Loves You” takes its cue from 1980s song structure and psychedelic 60s jangle. Think bands like The Ocean Blue, Aztec Camera, and The La’s. Each compelling, catchy melody resonates from the romantic “Tell That Girl” to the shimmering “Still On My Mind.” The title track is unusual, it has a swirling melodic chorus interrupted by ascending minor chords that give it a sinister feel. One of the best debut EPs I’ve heard so far this year.

Amazon


Easy Roscoe “Piñata” EP

Nashville rockers that have an easy going, fun approach with their bright vocals and catchy guitar riffs. “Roll Baby Roll” is a great start, and “Green Leather Jacket” is a little Green Day and Gin Blossoms with a bit of Southern attitude. Some nice harmonies and call and response vocals make “By The Water” another gem. Then add a funk rhythm and bass guitar to those harmonies, and “Whoa-o-o” you have a easy party song on “We Cry.” An impressive debut.

Amazon


Boys On The Beach “Addiction”

It’s a stretch to call this an EP, more like a single (2 tracks) but this band from Tokyo, Japan knows how to rock. “I Hate This Addiction” has big echoing fuzz chords and dense percussion. Even better is the B-side “It’s Allright, it’s Okay” with Japanese verse and an English chorus. Hope to hear more from these guys!

Bandcamp | Boysonthebeach.net

The Monkees “Good Times”

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Monkees

The Monkees “Good Times!”

After 20 years, The Monkees return to make an album that celebrates the bands 50th anniversary and revives those past days. Here is an album that mixes old unheard songs with newly written music by the band and  musicians who grew up huge Monkee fans (mostly power pop royalty.) Is it as good as all the hype I’ve read so far?

The answer is a resounding YES. Good Times works best when the modern songwriters write the new Monkee “hits” and though the remaining band members (Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork) are senior citizens, they still sound great. Under the care of Monkees archivist and musician Andrew Sandoval, and producer Adam Schlesinger (Fountains Of Wayne) they deliver an album that blends the new with the old seamlessly. The albums first half is flawless, and even though the other half slows down a little, the songs are still awesome. Gets a big fat top ten rating this year no doubt.

Amazon

Other blogs have detailed the albums highlighted tracks, so I will spread the link love if you want more reading:

Consequence of Sound

Boppin’ (Like The Hip Folks Do)

The Spaz Review

Mrs. Magician and Bryan Estepa

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Mrs. Magician

Mrs. Magician “Bermuda”

San Diego’s noise pop band Mrs. Magician hits the bullseye on their second full-length release. Its punk filtered through 60s thru 90’s power pop, where “Phantoms” foreshadows the gleeful self loathing people have as “everything’s automatic/dogmatic/I’ve had it!” Its all set to catchy layered garage riffs that echo in your head. If Nirvana was power pop band then they’d sing “Eyes All Over Town,” its fuzz guitar riffs sped up to a bouncy beat. Lead vocalist Jacob Turnbloom’s does a great job getting to the heart of nihilism on “Tear Drops” where the ba-ba chorus undercuts the lyric “Life sucks. Tough shit.” His sound and style reminds me of A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers) throughout the album.

There is still a glossy sweetness to the music as Jacob’s layered vocal tells you to “Just burn in hell” like a satanic Beach Boys on the song “Don’t Tell Me What to Do.” Virtually no filler on this brilliant study of contrasts, as another gem “Where’s Shelly” has the harmonies shine through revealing the evil underbelly of tropical paradise. The catchiest melody here, “No More Tears” is about going off the grid and “burying your head in the sand.” This is a brilliant album that makes my top ten list.

Amazon


Bryan Estepa

Bryan Estepa and The Tempe Two “Every Little Thing”

Bryan Estepa and The Tempe Two (David Keys on Bass and Russell Crawford on Drums) remains one of the best kept musical secrets down under on Every Little Thing. A combination of California and Americana roots styled pop, it starts with a few folk-styled ballads “Think of You” and “At Least You Did Not Know” easing into the the guitar pop of “Object of My Disaffection” which recalls Neil Young’s “Lotta Love” mixed with a little Fleetwood Mac.

“Sooner or Later” is another good ballad that brings to mind Paul Williams. “Don’t Hurry Baby” is a little twist on Brian Wilson, looking at the girl from the dad’s point of view and “Empty Handed” has some smartly added guitar distortion in the solo. But primarily this is Estepa at his most self-reflective in soul searching mode. A grower for sure, and definitely worth repeat listens. Fans of Paul Williams, The Jayhawks, and Elton John will enjoy this one. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Starling Electric and Colman Gota

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Starling Electric

Starling Electric “Electric Company”

Seven years is a lifetime for a band like Starling Electric and its been that long since we reviewed their debut album. But singer/songwriter Caleb Dillon soldiered on to finish Electric Company. Like the last album, a myriad of influences from melodic ’60s and ’70s pop, prog and rock are the base of this musical soup. Based out of Ann Arbor, Michigan the band’s players have changed a little, but the sound is consistent and the songs resonate even more. 

“No Clear Winner” blares out a chord before it quietly gets to the verse. Then Dillon has the blaring chorus sound like Peter Gabriel had joined Guided By Voices. Some lovely song fragments float in, like “Expression One” but after this we are treated to the joyous “Permanent Vacation,” the magical melody of “Arrowsmith” and fuzz-drenched “Mild Thing.” The elegant Brian Wilson styled orchestration meets CSN baroque harpsichord on “Young Man of The Mountain” continues this string of  great songs. “Bad Blood” has an irrepressible beat and hand-claps, then we get to “Zodiac,” a catchy mid-tempo gem about a girl with an precognitive abilities. The Rundgren-like structure of “(Save Me From This) Amy” is another brilliant tune amongst the bunch with rarely any misstep in its 16-track running time. This is simply a great album that deserves to be on my top ten list for 2016. Super highly recommended.

Amazon

Colman Gota

Colman Gota “Tape”

Last year Colman Gota (Insanity Wave) embarked on a successful solo career, and Tape is a really good follow-up. If you can imagine Tom Petty with less alt country, and a lot more alt rock you’ll enjoy Gota’s music. “Waiting for a Change” starts us off with a dense riff and driving chorus. Even catchier is “Another Chance” with its “ba-ba-da-ba” backing harmonies and hand claps. But its the title track that explains it all as Colman sings “I fell in love with rock and roll/that kind of music soothes my soul.”

Colman is more focused and you can hear the difference; “Sing Your Song” and “A Long Week Ahead” speak of long nights on the road, and domestic bliss. My favorite here is “Do What I Want,” a great message about living life the way you want, all set to a great hook. There is no filler here, and even the indulgence of a horn section in “Something I Don’t Need” make it a great party tune. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57gK7iUTrss