Singles: The Cudas, Ryan Allen, Empty City Squares, Mike Daly, The James Rocket, The Starbems, Chris Church, Vanilla, Richard Turgeon

powerpopaholic

A boatload of great new singles! Check these out… and some are FREE downloads!

This is some great power pop hero worship with strong riffs. The Cudas deserve kudos for this!

Fresh after working with Nick Puinti on his new LP, Ryan Allen gets to work on his own music for a cause. 100% of the proceeds for downloading these songs will go to the Black Lives Matter movement.

New Jersey band Empty City Squares describes a world that is spinning off its axis thanks to COVID-19. The band also has a single out exclusively with Big Stir Records called “Parmenides” which is quite good.

Mike Daly is releasing a somber song for these troubled times. A bit depressing, but “I guess this is my life now, I hope that it lasts.”

NY based The James Rocket does it all right; wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing, and getting freakin’ frustrated with the whole thing,

Japanese power-pop-punk band The Starbems are part Knack and part Ramones. This single kicks ass all over the place.
Frank Burns was a band in the mid-90s that existed just long enough to record two songs. North Carolina’s Chris Church was part of that effort and delivers these rare artifacts. But why name your band after the most annoying character from M.A.S.H.?

Jayson Jarmon from Vanilla has a knack for tasty power pop. I love both the catchy “Easy As Pi” and the Western-styled pop of “Easy.”


West coast rocker Richard Turgeon keeps cranking out material for his new upcoming LP.

It’s Karma It’s Cool and 2nd Grade

powerpopaholic
It's Karma It's Cool

It’s Karma It’s Cool “Woke Up In Hollywood”

Last year Lincoln UK band It’s Karma It’s Cool delivered a quirky fun EP full of energy led by vocalist Jim Styring (The Popdogs). Now we’ve got a full-length follow-up that demands attention. Joining Styring is Danny Krash (drums), Martyn Bewick (guitars + more), and Mikey Barraclough (bass) with guest spots from Rex Broome (The Armoires), Lannie Flowers and Brian Barry (Flaming Cortinas.)

Opening with “Our Love Is An Amplifier” it brings to mind Anton Barbeau with its quick synth patterns, strong percussion, and catchy chorus. It then goes to a false ending, before it picks up even more stream. Both “Back In `78” and the title track wistfully look at a rocker’s career with its ups and downs as Jim sings “It’s not how far you’ve traveled, it’s the distance left to go.” Those guitar riffs are an integral part of the power-pop gem “The Girl Who Gave You Everything” thanks to Lannie Flowers and “Healer’s Leap” has those great jangling chords, and harmonica, as “the hipsters turn themselves around!” Next, “Sunflowers” is another keeper with great guitar textures, vocal harmonies, and Danny’s key drumming. Not everything works (“New Age Eve”) but enough does, and this is a very solid debut. Check it out.

Kool Kat Musik


2nd Grade

2nd Grade “Hit to Hit”

Are 24 tracks of music too much to handle at once? Not at all. 2nd Grade’s songs are so short, it’s like they were made for a second grader with ADD; most songs no longer than a minute. Lead singer-songwriter Peter Gill is like a mix of Adam Schlesinger and Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices) in that he throws his emotions and feelings to the wall to see what sticks, and when it does stick it’s ultimately great DIY bedroom pop.

Opening with a fuzzy surf-rocker “W-2” about how annoying it is to do your taxes – it has a single chorus and then it’s gone. “Trigger Finger” is a handclapping gem about a “punk rock world” and “Velodrome” is like a mini Fountains of Wayne tune. The songs are funny and/or heartbreaking – and best of all, the good ones have killer hooks. But the short length of the songs are both a blessing and a curse, luckily we get a few tunes that really stand out like, “When You Were My Sharona” a nostalgic gem that looks back and the Big Star-like vulnerability of  “My Bike” and “You’re So Cool.” If you remove the wheat from the chaff, you’ll really enjoy this album. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon (vinyl)

Peter Baldrachi and The Sunchymes

powerpopaholic
Peter Baldrachi

Peter Baldrachi “Slow Recovery”

Boston musician Peter Baldrachi explores the country genre with his latest LP, as only a few tracks could be considered power pop. The opening title track certainly fills that requirement; a rich production filled with snarling guitars and blaring horns. Next, “People Don’t Change” is an effective ballad with steel pedal guitar twang, and “Seasons” adds piano and some harmonies to the mix.

“In My Heart” is more poetic, and as a lovelorn troubadour Balderachi succeeds here. “Side By Side” returns to the rock side briefly, but the remainder of the album is mid-tempo country songs. “Killing Time” is another winner here, the compelling chorus tells of “missing you and wishing you were here.” Something about it feels like early Mike Nesmith in parts and it is definitely music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

The Sunchymes

The Sunchymes “The Sands Of Time”

The UK based band The Sunchymes continue their fusion of late ’60s psychedelia and power pop just in time for summer. Starting with “Emily Layne” and “She Waits For Your Smile,” they have the same elements; jangling guitars, echoing percussion, and multi-tracked vocals. Stylistically it’s very familiar.

Thankfully the songwriting gets better as we dive deeper; “I’ve Got A Vibe” is a terrific sunshine pop single and the layered vocal harmonies are a highlight. The catchy “Telepathy” is like The Byrds and The Wondermints combined, with great chord progressions. “Down At Sunchyme Bay” and “Sometimes” are pure Beach Boys pastiche, and this is what The Sunchymes do best. Additional highlights include “Try,” “Meet The Seeker” and “In A Century’s Time.” Fans of the retro-styled power pop will want to pick this up for sure.

Bandcamp

Sunshine Boys and Bill Lloyd

powerpopaholic
Sunshine Boys

Sunshine Boys “Work and Love”

Call it kismet or synchronicity, but the sweet combination of veteran Chicago musicians Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Mysteries of Life), Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs), and Jacqueline Schimmel (Big Hello, Justin Roberts) are tighter than ever and they have continued to develop as a band. The second full-length LP finds them with a more consistent and established style.

“I Was Already Gone” is a brilliant opener with the catchy hand-clapping chorus, and the jangling followup “Infinity Girl” is like REM meets Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices). Next, “Summertime Kids” and “The World Turning Around” have an infectious positive vibe that runs throughout the album, and the hooks are still prominent. Eventually, the songs become more introspective, like “No Showdown.” The insightful “Every Step” has Dag singing about coming to terms with his grown-up, moved out daughter, with its violins and acoustic guitar rhythms. Similarly, “Right Where You Need It” speaks to keeping things precious close to heart. The warmth of these songs continues, without any filler and it deserves multiple plays this summer. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Bill Lloyd

Bill Lloyd “Don’t Kill the Messenger”

Bill Lloyd is a treasure with talent that doesn’t quit. Many artists have done “quarantined” albums recently, but Lloyd’s “Don’t Kill The Messenger” hits home with the facts we live in today, and “there’s nowhere safe inside a troubled mind.” This catchy title track is followed by “Undone,” a rocker with perceptive lyrics about “burning bridges” and a crunchy guitar solo.

“Etch-A-Sketch” takes an 80s new wave approach, with a simple percussion and angular guitar flourishes. Another highlight here is “The Girls of Sylvan Park” which is a jangling gem about mid-life dating. Another big highlight is “You Got Me,” a boogie guitar tune that’s pure passion about traditional rock & roll, like a lost Rockpile track. “Sorry, I Gotta Take This” is another great track that recalls Nick Lowe. “Baby’s In The Mood” and “I’ll Take It From Here” are workman-like efforts that are less memorable, however, there are no duds here and this album is still highly recommended.

Amazon