The Spindles and Talkie

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The Spindles

The Spindles “Past and Present”

Chicago band The Spindles have everything you look for in a power pop band. The debut album has a distinct sound that marries the British Invasion and ’70s power pop bands together. Fans of The Raspberries, Hollies, and The Records will really enjoy it. They starts with the catchy “Prisoner of War,” driven by the steady percussion and jangling guitars. Next, a sweet cover of The Hollies “Look Through Any Window” lets us know where the band’s heart lies, and the excellent “Whenever We’re Together” is a big highlight with its rich harmonies and tight composition.

It evens out towards the middle, and the music is consistently good. The title track “Peace With The Past” teases us with the world’s most famous opening chord, before it goes into its compelling case for nostalgia. More highlights include “Annette,”  “If I Fall In Love” and the Elvis Brothers cover “Santa Fe.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik | CD Baby

Talkie

Talkie “Fundamental Things”

San Francisco pop band Talkie is back. It starts out on a low key, piano version of the old pop standard “As Time Goes By.” Then it shifts into the funk-pop “Fuzzy Disco,” a catchy track with a thick bass line that leads everything. The easy-going “Marcy” has a sun-soaked melody line, with a neat fuzz solo.

“Sorry, Shy” is another bright shimmering tune, but things slow considerably with “Costa Rica,” that plods along with its aimless rhythm guitar. It devolves from that point. You’ll hear influences like Air and Maroon Five as it wades into this ambient territory. None of the stellar harmonies that marked the band’s debut are present. Hopefully, we’ll hear some on the next LP.

Amazon

Starbelly and Roger J. Manning, Jr.

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Starbelly

Starbelly “Four”

Like many power pop icons from the ‘90s, Starbelly has finally released their long-awaited reunion Four. Anchored by the duo of Cliff Hillis and Dennis Schocket, they are joined by Bryan Ewald (guitar) and Greg Schroeder (drums). And like similar mature artists (Matthew Sweet, David Myhr) they look back on life a little mellower, but the melodies are as sharp as ever.

It opens with a low key “The Boy Who Learned How to Cry” about a father’s passing and moving on from the past on “Lay Low.” Good tunes, but greatness starts out on the subtle ballad “Sleep” with its rich ear-worm chorus and Ewald’s George Harrison-like slide guitar. With “The Stars of Constantine” it sounds like the glorious Starbelly of old, with dense guitars and harmonies. The upbeat “Strange Constellations” and Posies-like “Yes I Love Her Again” are also great songs. But the amazing thing is the music all get progressively better as the album continues.

The five-minute-plus “Danny Opus” is a musical suite similar to Abbey Road, with distinctive melody lines that tell the tale of a rock star’s obsession and it is simply awesome. The songs after this put it over the top as “Emily Says,” “Jesus Freak” and “Don’t Wake Up” are also excellent. No filler and this does make my top ten for 2018. Super Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Tallboy Records | Kool Kat Musik


Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. “Glamping” EP

It’s hard to believe but it’s almost 10 years since we heard any solo work from Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.  Playing within Beck’s touring band with Jason Falkner (another Jellyfish alum) is how he spends his day job. I interviewed Roger recently about why it took this long to get an EP out.

The new 4 song EP called Glamping starts with “Operator,” a catchy Jellyfish styled tune with a telephone theme that has some great hidden references to Steely Dan and Tommy Tutone. This is an excellent start, but “Funhouse” doesn’t quite match it. The dark theme about budding puberty seems mashed into an overly sunny chorus. Next, “Is It All a Dream” is light synth-pop that feels like filler and the six-minute “I’m Not Your Cowboy” is like a slow building  Elton John-styled tune.

While it’s comforting to know that Roger Manning still sounds great and has some Jellyfish magic left in him, I look forward to him really letting loose. As per our interview, Roger will be coming out with new music more regularly and I can’t wait. Fans should pick it up and he’s packaged it with newly re-released versions of his last two solo LPs Catnip Dynamite and Land of Pure Imagination.

Pledgemusic

Videos & Singles: Kai Danzberg, Tripwire, David Mhyr and The Red Button

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What do you get when you combine power pop pros Kai Danzberg and Dana Countryman? Probably one of the sunniest, most optimistic slices of pop ever, and a perfect theme to start your summer. Get this gem today!

Trip Wire‘s founding duo Marty Schneider and Bill Hunt are joined by newer band members Stu Shader on drums and Jeff Shelton (The Well Wishers) on bass. This is a great new single from the band. Check it out!

David Myhr‘s new LP remains on my summer playlist. Check out the album review here. And this is his new video for “My Negative Friend”

Another prominent pairing is this special single from The Red Button featuring the legendary Peter Noone (Herman’s Hermits).  It was a truly an A&R miracle thanks to Marty Scott of JEM Records. Get the single here.

Astral Drive and Rob Bonfiglio

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Astral Drive

Astral Drive “Astral Drive”

Oh boy, if you ever were a fan of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia then have I got an album for you. I heard a lot of buzz about this album from several people, and in some sense, it does live up to the hype. Astral Drive (aka Phil Thornalley) creates a sonic love letter to all those Todd fans who pine for those late ‘70s early ‘80s grooves. The opener “Love Is Real” uses all those classic synth lines to create a sunny slice of perfect pop. “Wishing I Could Change” is almost Phil Spector-ish in its grand production, but it also reminded me of ’90s one-hit wonders New Radicals and this sound is also quite evident on the catchy “Summer of ‘76” with a soulful pop sound that deserves to be a huge radio hit. If any complaint can be made, it sticks a little too close to its original influences.

The album slowly moves away from catchy singles to longer glossy, cosmically themed indulgences. The blissful harmonies start out on “Walls and Bridges” before it heads into the title track “Astral Drive,” a multi-layered epic that you can get lost in with its extended guitar solo that drifts off. “Child Of The Universe” and “No One Escapes” sounds like they fell of Utopia’s POV album. Overall, no filler tunes here and after several listens, you will find the magic of the melodies below all that studio wizardry. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Rob Bonfiglio

Rob Bonfiglio “Trouble Again”

Rob Bonfiglio (Wanderlust) has been making great music since 2006, and his experience as musical director and guitarist for Wilson Philips has only helped focus his own musical vision. On his fifth LP, he really hits it out of the park, with his rich multi-layered harmonies and catchy radio-friendly melodies. From the opener “Passenger Seat” and title track “Trouble Again” it centers on the big guitar riffs and a style that marries 70’s Southern California rock with 80’s melodic pop.

A big highlight is “Spread This Feeling,” a joyful love song that brims over with “Ooh La La” Beach Boys-styled harmonies and brilliant guitar rhythms. Rob has a soulful lead vocal that’s designed for cranking the volume up and jamming with air guitar. He gets all AOR funky on the breezy “Gone” and then comes “Tears” with its mix of soft pop and a heart-tugging chorus that demands multiple listens.  And it doesn’t let up, without a hint of filler. Music Critic Bob Leggett mentioned that this is a “must-get” album and I wholeheartedly agree.  In fact, it’s an easy pick for my top ten album list of 2018.

Amazon | CD Baby

EPs and Freebies: The Paperweight Array, Bad Athlete, Cape Cartel , The Co-Op Communique

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The Paperweight Array – Aaron Hemmington (The Sunchymes) is part of this prog-pop trio from the UK. This new 3-song EP has many influences from XTC to Genesis to Pink Floyd.

Bad Athlete is 4-piece power pop band from Norman, Oklahoma that really feels like a lost Weezer EP. Check out the dense guitars on “Yeah” and “Lonely One”
Cape Cartel is a really impressive Canadian band that sounds like a mix of Belle & Sebastian and The Moody Blues. Full of harmonies and alt. rock coolness, check out “Oh Christ.” Oh yeah, this is a FREE download.
DW Dunphy has another terrific compilation for us as Volume 4 of the Co-Op Communique collects some great power pop, rock, punk, and indie folk. Contributions from Gretchen’s Wheel, The Well Wishers, Paul Melancon, The Click Beetles, Soper 8, Phil Yates and much more. A massive 57 tracks and its all a FREE download.