Sloan and Jeff Litman

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Sloan

Sloan “12”

“There’s only so much time we can kill here” states Chris Murphy on the opening track “Spin Our Wheels,” from the band’s 12th album. Sloan is without question the most consistent and longest lasting power pop band with its original line-up (27 years!) It’s easy to take for granted just how good Sloan is, as the melodies, harmonies and hooks always deliver. Like 2014’s Commonwealth, each member contributes a few songs to what is a “normal” sized Sloan album.

Murphy’s “All of The Voices” has a simple melody line and sounds a little like a power pop version of Nirvana. “Right to Roam” is a jangle-pop gem, that’s more traditionally Sloan-like. Guitarist Patrick Pentland’s “The Day Will Be Mine” boasts those thick riffs and rising chords, as the chugging “Essential Services” breaks things up with a 10cc styled piano and harmonies about the relationship between themselves and the fans. More greatness is found on the rocking “Don’t Stop (If It Feels Good Do It)” and it keeps getting better with “Have Faith.” No real dull songs and the album has a positive vibe mostly, and an epic slow moving finish; “44 Teenagers.” Like most Sloan albums I’ve reviewed, this hits my top ten list for 2018. Highly Recommended (well, DUH).

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Jeff Litman

Jeff Litman “Crowded Hour” EP

NYC indie musician Jeff Litman is back and he’s going in a different direction. The opener “One Foot Forward” is an aching ballad with simple electro-beat that grows with the addition of Andi Rae Healy’s vocals to become a strong affirmation. “Only You” is closer to the Jeff we are familiar with but after that, it’s all atmospheric soul searching. It works best on the title track, where a strong melody, lyrics and echoing production deliver greatness. Fans of early-’80s Peter Gabriel and Joe Jackson will enjoy this one.

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The Gold Needles and Brad Peterson

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Gold Needles

The Gold Needles “Pearls”

The Gold Needles are a Hull UK band made up of Simon Dowson (vocals and guitar), Dave Burbage (lead guitar), Mark English (keyboards, percussion, and backing vocals), Carl Slaughter (bass and backing vocals) and Justin Davidson (drums). The chugging rhythm and mellow vocals of the title track showcase the band’s eclectic approach.

The jangling melody of “Not Tonight Josephine” lend comparisons with The Church and the psyche-pop singalong “Daydreamer’s Song” is like a lost Moody Blues tune.  The band doesn’t stick to a particular style for long, as it drifts from atmospheric folk (“Dreamscape Time,”) to rock (“Story of My Life”) and bouncy pop (“Too Much Time”) easily. With a bounty of 18 tracks, it’s easy to find several songs that will linger on your playlist. Check it out.

Kool Kat Musik

Brad Peterson

Brad Peterson “The Ellipsis Album”

Chicago native Brad Peterson’s has shared the stage with Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, but stopped making music after a spinal injury left him partially paralyzed and unable to record or perform for several years. But he has returned after a long and painful rehabilitation to release this new LP. Brad has produced this entirely by himself from the songwriting and playing to the engineering and mastering.

The sophisticated opener “What The Open Heart Allows” is a soulful gem, with banjo lead. The percussive effects and tribal rhythms through the album give it a special resonance, and this works best on the album’s central theme “Unbroken.” It’s not all heavy either, as the catchy “Clap Your Hands” is purely celebratory. Peterson’s vocal is strong on “Far Off Places” with double-tracked harmonies making it another excellent single. The album gets more experimental after this, but it stays creative and the music remains compelling. Check out “All Roads Lead To Home,” “Underwear” and “Keep Calm (The Lion Sleeps Tonight).” Highly Recommended.

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Brad Peterson video premiere and some singles

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Brad Peterson is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from a wooded area near Lake Michigan north of Chicago. There, he built a little back-yard garden shed – where he writes and records his songs. He has shared stages with Jeff Buckley and Radiohead but stopped making music after a spinal injury left him unable to record or perform for several years. Now he’s come back with “The Ellipsis Album.” And it’s not a melancholy project, just check out the video – full review Monday!

Corin Ashley found some unreleased music from his first band Atlas Shrugged, and decided to share it with us! Very cool pop from 1993 that’s available for the first time!

UK mellow popsters Wilson have gone through some line-up changes. “Right Here” is the first Wilson recording made by the newly reconstituted band which now includes Marco Rossi. Enjoy!

Another unrelated Wilson, is Mikah Wilson. And he’s influenced by 60’s/70’s sunshine pop, with his high easy going vocal on “Sunshine Groove” fans of Free Design or The Mamas and The Papas will dig this single.

Freebie Friday: Mitchell Adam Johnson, Diamond Hands, Vista Blue and The Tomboys

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Mitchell Adam Johnson is a Minneapolis artist with impeccable taste in chamber pop, using classical composition and an ethereal vocal on the opener “Through A Mood Indigo.” Akin to Elliot Smith or Bell & Sebastian in approach, the melodic “Keeping Secrets” is a soothing gem that sticks with you through its carnival atmosphere.You are bound to find a favorite ballad here. The instrumentation is also top notch, check out “At Another Stop,” “Losing Sleep” and the rich piano melody on “Tourniquet Love” reminded me of Pet Sounds a little. Highly Recommended and a FREE download.

Diamond Hands made my top album list last year and was definitely one of the best free albums then, so here we go again! Written, performed and recorded by Jon Flynn and Joel Wall, it is a pure pleasure to hear the opener “PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)” with its rich, layered chorus. Hints of The Beatles, psyche-pop and other power pop influences are all over the LP. Great examples are “Now or Never,” “San Francisco,” and “Nowhere” all have lush harmonies and layered rhythms with tinkling piano flourish. And the 60’s styled garage guitar comes out on “Caught Up In A Memory,” it could’ve been a lost hit for The Animals or The Stones. The power pop blast of “Underground” and “Not Sorry” cranks up the energy too. Highly Recommended and a FREE download.

Vista Blue remains a very reliable contributor to our Freebie posts. The band plays sports themed punk-pop in the tradition of The Ramones. They also have a recent single I liked “Why Doesn’t Jimmy Wanna Play?” The new LP “End of The Season” features nine tracks, each representing an inning of a baseball game. You can read the whole story on the band’s Bandcamp page, where you’ll also find a full scorecard from the game as a free download with the music.

For fans of 80’s styled power pop, The Tomboys are back with Vol.3,  download the album free on their website. Check out “Two in Love” and “Tonight.”

Nick Batterham and The Junior League

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Nick Batterham

Nick Batterham “Golden Boy”

Melbourne singer-songwriter Nick Batterham collects his experiences to deliver a mature chamber pop album that recalls the introspective melodies of Nick Drake or Elliot Smith on “Golden Boy.” The title track is a lush lullaby that stops you in your tracks. The follow up “Nothing Lasts” is an upbeat jangling gem about living in the moment, but most of the album is content to stay in delicate folk-pop mode.

The ethereal piano ballad “Perfect Cloud” or the acoustic “Never Write a Love Song” have minimal production and rely on Batterham’s hushed vocals. What makes it work is Nick’s well-developed lyrics and subtle layered rhythms, the best examples being “Impossible” and “Lost in L.A.” The songs are short and don’t wander off topic. This is an album that deserves serious listens over a glass of whiskey (or wine). Cheers to you, Nick.

Pop Boomerang Records


The Junior League

The Junior League “Eventually is Now”

Joe Adragna is back with a new Junior League LP and with the help of Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, REM) he brings us a strong collection of folk rock. McCaughey has been recovering from a stroke he suffered last year and is currently on an enforced hiatus from recording and touring.   

Starting with the jangling chords of “Teenage Bigstar,” it speaks about those nostalgic trips to the record store because “music is your friend.” The orchestral ballad “The Wrong Kind of Blue” is another highlight with its lush Phil Spector treatment. Next is “You Didn’t Miss A Thing” and with McCaughey’s vocal, it’s a shimmering psyche-pop gem. After the mid-tempo “I Only Want to Begin Again” things get a bit uneven. Still, this is a worthy listen with plenty of emotional resonance, so check it out.

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