Oberon Rose and Anton Barbeau

powerpopaholic
Oberon Rose

Oberon Rose “Tell Me About It”

I was extremely proud to have Oberon Rose play Power Popaholic Fest a few years ago, and now Tommy Oberon takes his band and ups the ante on a brilliant sophomore LP. Older rock influences (Beatles, Pink Floyd) are happily played alongside newer ones (The White Stripes, The Flaming Lips.) The opening title track is an infectious rocker that shimmers to life with its flowery production and psychedelic flourishes. This is followed by “No Stranger” as it continues to impress with its driving rhythm and sing along chorus.

Tommy’s guitar solo is truly amazing on the epic ballad “Life In A Box,” one of the best tracks here. The flashes of experimental alt. rock concepts like the ambitious march of “Battle Hymn (Of The Magi)” work so well, you can sense the band is firing on all cylinders here. And it isn’t afraid to change tone on “A Place In The Sun,” and get pastoral on “The Way To Avondale” with its gentle harmonies. The band closes out with the very Sloan-like “Drawn and Quartered” and the slow-burning finale “Twice Bermuda.” Strong work from Tommy Oberon, with Chris Listorti (bass)and Mike Keyes (drums.) Not only highly recommended, but it makes my top ten list for 2018.

Amazon

Anton Barbeau

Anton Barbeau “Natural Causes”

While Barbeau is a prolific and tireless musician, picking through his catalog for the good stuff can be challenging.  But on Natural Causes, it’s easy — as “Magazine Street” is a jangling pop treasure, with a strong bass line and hook in the chorus. “It’s The Coffee That Makes The Man Go Mad” has Anton’s quirky lyrics and instrumentation with some nice harmonies. Some of these tunes are from his past catalog of work, but there is a good amount of polish in the production that makes this his most accessible album in years.

“Disambiguation” and “Magic Sandwiches” both are good distillations of the Barbeau artistic aesthetic, and I like to compare it to Adrian Belew in some other universe. Not everything here sticks, but enough does. More standouts include “Just Passing By” and “Down Around the Radio.” This is the Anton Barbeau that I’ve been waiting for.

Amazon

Jeff Whalen (Tsar) Pledge Campaign

powerpopaholic
The L.A. power pop group Tsar signed a deal with Hollywood Records and delivered their self-titled debut album in mid-2000. While the album earned critical praise and the band toured with Duran Duran, it was criminally overlooked by the public. Citing their primary influences as Guns ‘N Roses and the Monkees, Tsar’s music is a hybrid of post-grunge alternative, power pop, and glam rock. The group never got the label promotion it needed and split up in 2005.

But all is not lost, as Jeff Whalen (frontman and primary songwriter of Tsar) is back with his first solo album ever. “10 More Rock Super Hits” has everything you liked about Tsar and more. And its all brilliantly produced by power pop maestro Linus Of Hollywood (Nerf Herder, Bowling For Soup). Check out the Pledge Campaign!

Videos and Freebies: Coach Hop, Andy Ketch, Gerry O’Keefe, Skeleton Staff

powerpopaholic

This is a sweet single by a new band called Coach Hop, the brainchild of London musician Charlie Laurence. It’s very much in the Weezer-style and while on the surface its a love song to the titular pop star by a fan, upon closer inspection is an observation on the state of the modern music industry. Get it on Amazon


Andy Ketch of Mooner has a solo LP here with a grungy sounding set of pop tunes. “Oh Summer” and “New Day” would’ve fit nicely on a ’90s rock comp. “Things Fall Apart” is another good one. FREE download.

Chicago-area artist Gerry O’Keefe was part of powerpop act The Hideouts. His melodic style blends classic popcraft with roots- and folk-based elements. “Tenth Round Punches” and “Never Was A Dancer” are standouts on this unusual solo release. FREE download.

Boy, do I miss Skeleton Staff. It sounds like the funk that the band has been in since the Cabaret-like musical KURFÜRSTENDAMMNED remains, as “It’s Murder” is a low key paean to gun culture apathy. But it does have a neat break at the 2:50 mark and it is a FREE download.

Jeremy Messersmith and The Laissez Fairs

powerpopaholic
Jeremy Messersmith

Jeremy Messersmith “Late Stage Capitalism”

After a long while, Jeremy Messersmith returns with the message; “I have a knack for awkward silences,” from the song “Purple Hearts.” The song is all about the mundanity of loneliness and  “Monday You’re Not So Bad” is a melodic jangling gem that recalls The Monkees and The La’s. Messersmith’s late ’60s and ’70s pop influences are on his sleeve, with the bossa nova beat of “Postmodern Girl” and “Happy” sounds like a mashup of Brian Wilson and Neil Diamond.  It’s a great singalong that sticks with you and includes a densely packed finale.

Acoustic ballads dominate the second half of the album, with the exception of the rockabilly rouser “Jim Bakker.” The message of Late Stage Capitalism is about life’s precious ordinary moments and how we should appreciate them. “Once You Get To Know Us” reminds us to stop chasing consumerism, as Jeremy states “We have everything you’ll ever need… the internet, daytime TV…” and the amusing closer “No Superheros” takes its shots at Cleveland, and the fact that all the superheroes live in NYC or LA! Highly Recommended.

Amazon

The Laissez Fairs

The Laissez Fairs “Empire of Mars”

Get out the incense! The Laissez Fairs are a band that does exceptionally trippy psyche-pop. Lead by John Fallon (The Steppes) and Joe Lawless, the great opener “High Horse” is a perfect meld of The Beatles, The Byrds, Troggs, and The Creation. The echo of the fuzz guitars on “Like Mrs. Peel In Leather” and”Wanna Make You Mine” has some great overdubbing and layered guitar rhythms.

In fact, each track sounds like a lost nugget from the ’60s psychedelic era, “Almost Got You Made” has crisp vocal harmonies alongside the sitars and Rickenbackers. The droning title track is amazingly mesmerizing, as good as any Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd tune. And it’s more than period musical accuracy, the songs are also well written. Fans of this brand of retro pop will not be disappointed. Highly Recommended!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Well Wishers and Jackie Daytona

powerpopaholic
The Well Wishers

The Well Wishers “A View From Above”

Jeff Shelton is back with his 9th album, and while I’ve grown accustomed to solid Well Wishers albums, this time I hear a little more variety in the approach. “Gravity Waits” has all the catchy guitar crunch and infectious chorus that set it as one of Jeff’s best openers. The softer jangle of “In Another Life” has the sound of earlier Well Wishers tunes before the louder riffs return on “I Like You Better,” and the very REM-like “April Is Only A Lie.”

Jeff also included some of the better tracks from last year’s Trip Wire’s LP (“There Goes My Gun” and “I’m Not the Enemy.”) The layered buzz of the guitars on “Come Out And Play” and “Is It Me, Is It You” are also keepers that fans of Bob Mould will appreciate. Overall, another great album without filler that is without a doubt Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Jackie Daytona

Jackie Daytona “She’s So Hot” EP

Texas-based Jackie Daytona knows how to party, and he fires on all cylinders with the opener “Hot & Sweaty,” a guitar pop gem that was designed to juice up a crowd, Daytona channels Rick Miller in his vocals. “She’s So Hot” is a great follow up, with its slick bass line and rumbling riffs that The Eels don’t really do anymore. “California” is a mid-tempo gem that sounds like a lost Jackson Browne classic.

With these standouts, it’s easy to recommend and it even has a cool cover of The Beach Boys “You’re So Good To Me.” Hopefully, more people get hip to Daytona’s brand of crunchy power pop you can dance to. I would love to hear more on a full-length album. Highly Recommended.

Amazon