The Weeklings are back! It’s a new single that was recorded during the Abbey Road sessions for Studio 2 last year and has never been released. Look for it now on Amazon.
Dominique Leone sends us some wonderful piano songs with complex arrangements and solid melody. Check out “Domestic Bliss” and the rich multitracking on “I’ll Always Be Right Here.” And yes it’s a FREE download on Bandcamp.
Ben from the band Onward Chariots, has a new project called Ancient Babies with a mix of melodic rock, disco and electro dance pop. Yeah, this isn’t what I usually feature here but definitely check out the last track “Rolling Like A River” a rocking garage styled theme.
Spygenius of Canterbury, England, last album Pacéphale (pah-say-fahl) is being re-released in the USA. The band plays pop in the jangly, hooky, mold of XTC or Robyn Hitchcock and it’s accompanied by an illustrated storybook — check it on Big Stir Records or Amazon.
The Incredible Vickers Brothers and The Creachies
The Incredible Vickers Brothers “Torch Songs for Swingers”
The Incredible Vickers Brothers are no circus act, but a pair of multi-instrumentalist brothers that draw influences from British ’60s pop, and Americana with tightly written songwriting. Produced by Allan Clapp (Orange Peels) it is a more mature offering than their debut Gallimaufry from ten years ago. The focus of the music is on music dealing with loss, longing, memory and mid-life crisis. It all slightly reminded me of an Americanized version of Martin Newell’s most recent work.
Opening with “Mirrors” it’s a catchy jangling melody that begs many repeat listens, about the horrors of aging; “Mirror, mirror on the wall/ why you make me look so small?” The almost Kinks-like rant “Money Gonna Buy Me” about the loss of influence sticks with you, as the big chorus of “Faded Away” delivers an anthemic punch. “Bleaker and Bluer” is a brilliant highlight, like a late XTC styled composition it also deserves attention. Slower moments of “In Memory” and “Over and Out” have a feeling of calm resignation, but they are balanced by the solid guitar rant “Blue Collar Cruel” the best Lou Reed song he never wrote. The music has those familiar touch points, but the compositions are pure Vickers originals, and I could not find a single wasted note.
It is said a lot of power pop has a focus on blind nostalgia, days of teen longing with an optimistic point of view. This is not that kind of album, but a clear-eyed, sober look at where you are and where you’ll be going. At the end of the album, Bob Vickers sings “Sometimes we bury the living while taking care of the dead.” This plainly makes my top ten for 2018 best of list. Don’t miss it.
The Creachies “The Creachies”
A hyper quirky pop band from Baltimore — the Creachies create a melodic dream pop meets Devo sound on the opener “The Creachies Are Here” and “Welcome.” Then the guitars come out on “Not Never And,” it sounds like a mix of Shonen Knife and the B-52s.
The music on hits the sugar highs a few more times with “Pants Off” and “Do You Think I’m Interesting?” There is a lot of creativity on songs like “We Were Babies” and “Error 500,” but there seems to be some filler too. Definitely worth the affordable $5 download. Enjoy!
The Carousels and The Honest Mistakes
The Carousels “Sail Me Home St. Clair”
The Carousels are a Scottish band with a knack for California psyche-folk, think The Byrds Sweetheart of The Rodeo era and Gram Parsons. Opening with the easygoing “Josephine,” it features a steady strum, slide guitar, and layered Beach Boys-styled harmonies. “Lord Speed My Hurricane” jangles away and “Silvio” builds into it’s laid back melody, with its pedal steel guitar accents after each verse.
With the addition of violin, banjo, and harmonium the overall sound of each song is rich and yet it allows for nuance. The stronger melodies and storytelling are present in “Like A Loaded Gun” and “By Your Side.” It gets trippier on “Man Out Of Me,” but most of the music is very consistent, although the lack of a distinct lead singer gives the music less focus. Still, those harmonies are simply gorgeous. Give this one a shot.
The Honest Mistakes “Burn it Down”
Once again, The Honest Mistakes rock out alongside the forceful vocals of Joylene Dalia. Much of the album was recorded in a practice studio, and as a result, the music has a looser approach. The grinding guitar riffs on the opener “Go Ahead and Try” are strong and the 50’s styled rhythms on “You Better Say Something” are also a lot of fun.
Songwriter and guitarist Chris Ehrich does his best to utilize Joylene’s vocals on “Here We Are Again” with a lighter touch. The country styled rocker “I Could Care” is a big highlight here with its jangling melody and message about standing tall and being there for someone. Not all of the songs resonate, and there are times I feel the guitars and vocals aren’t on the same page (“Broken”) but when everything comes together it’s worth it. Check it out, cause this is a band that deserves to be heard.
The Choir and Brady Harris Band
The Choir “Artifact: The Unreleased Album”
Pop aficionados know The Choir well — the mid-’60s band eventually became the power pop supergroup The Raspberries in the 1970s. The Cleveland mod rockers had a Top 70 hit in the summer of 1967 with “It’s Cold Outside,” which was included on the celebrated 1998 box set Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era, 1965–1968.
The band never had a proper album release despite the high powered talent in it, the 1994 album Choir Practice compiled their mid 60’s singles. But this truly “lost” album recorded in 1969, is a fascinating “what if” story. At this point, the band was lead by keyboardist and singer Phil Giallombardo – a founding member of the James Gang, which would later include future Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh. It will please Choir and Raspberries fans alike.
The opener “Anyway I Can” and “Boris Lament” are pure pop gems in the Left Banke mold. “I Can’t Stay In Your Life” shows the beginnings of the power pop sound, the harmonies, Kieth Moon styled drums and hook-filled riffs. The band at this point has more diverse influences, clearly Procol Harum and Cream amongst them on several tracks. The descending chords and harmonies on “Ladybug” make it another standout. Highly Recommended.
Brady Harris Band “NoHo Calling”
Texas-bred, Los Angeles based Brady Harris delivered this follow up to his 2016 album NoHo Confidential. Brady has laid back, slightly lounge lizard approach to rock here. “Let’s Live” has a bouncing bass line that helps guide the melody and the boozy toast “Raise A Glass” uses a county styled shuffle and subtle pedal steel guitar.
The impressive “Better Late Than Never” is a catchy standout with a Beatlesque approach. And a slowed down cover of The Go-Go’s “Our Lips Are Sealed” is an interesting addition. The Beach Boys-styled backing harmonies on “The Noho Sound” lends some sophistication to this simple acoustic song. I really enjoyed his NSFW song “Old Drunk Motherfuckers” about the worst people you meet in a bar, and his slide guitar ballad “Drain Me” has a nice Lennon-like weariness to it that makes it another standout. Brady’s music is ready-made for late nights over a bottle, so open a cold one and enjoy the cool refreshing taste of NoHo Calling.
Altered Sweet and Cavetown
Various Artists “Altered Sweet: A Tribute To Matthew Sweet ”
If there is one thing I know, Futureman records know how to do great tribute albums, and like the Sloan tribute from two years ago, this one is even better. Matthew Sweet has been one of the best examples of an artist who contributes to the genre with his tributes to his influences through the Under The Covers series with Susanna Hoffs. And it’s fitting to finally have other artists honor his influence. Overall, the guest artist list reads like a festival line-up for IPO or Power Popaholic Fest, so the cream of the power pop crop is playing here.
Sweet’s psychedelic jangle suits the lovely Lisa Mychols just fine on the opener “Looking At The Sun,” and the faithful approach works well for Andy Reed on “Where You Get Love,” The Well Wishers “All Over My Head,” and Greg Pope’s “Not When I Need It.” But for me, it was tough to pick out standouts because everyone does such a great job with the songs. Some touches are subtle, like Chris Richards & The Subtractions “Someone To Pull The Trigger” adds a bit of sadness that’s missing in the original or Simple Friend’s acoustic folk version of “Sick Of Myself.” Even the man behind this comp, Keith Klingensmith hits it out of the park on “You Don’t Love Me”
To some, this will be a great introduction to Sweet’s musical genius — hopefully, it spreads the love to fans who enjoy great rock and roll. One of the best tribute albums of 2018 so far.
Cavetown “Lemon Boy”
Cavetown is the brainchild of young UK musician Robin Skinner, and his latest Lemon Boy is essentially a soundtrack that would be perfect for a Wes Anderson flick. Done in DIY acoustic style, its like chamber folk-pop with an emphasis on the emotional and quirky lyrics.
The title track has a flowing easygoing chorus full of obscure references. “Green” is a look back on a lost love, and most of the songs are simple but intimate love-lorn ballads. Standouts include “It’s U,” “Poison,” and “10 Feet Tall.” Robin’s skill in composition and sound mixing is commendable with simple ukulele and double-tracked vocals. Give it chance.