Mooner and Jeremy Porter

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Mooner

Mooner “Masterpiece”

Who knew this Chicago band would knock its debut album out of the park? The aptly titled album starts out with a big guitar riff on “Shapeshifter,” with its crunchy + jangle thick rhythm section it impresses right away. Singer/songwriter Lee Ketch wrote the title track as a love letter to his wife and its got a hook in the chorus that lays into you and doesn’t let go — an instant classic. You’ll hear a distinct 70s classic rock influence throughout; Big Star, Warren Zevon, Raspberries and even a little Billy Joel. “Anytime” is another chiming gem, next we get a Tom Petty-like jam on the slow building “Dream.”

Honestly, each track is compelling and deserves repeat listens, as the fantastic “Why Don’t You Want To” has layered vocal, handclaps, and sweet key shifts. The band also has a great variety in the style of music from the somber Wilco-like “I’ll See You Again” to the hook-filled “Alison,” a song about a school boy crush. Easily in the running for my year end top ten list. Get it now!

Amazon

Jeremy Porter and the Tucos

Jeremy Porter and the Tucos “Above The Sweet Tea Line”

Detroit’s Jeremy Porter and the Tucos do a great job combining root rock and power pop across the entire 9 tracks on Above The Sweet Tea Line. “Josh” is a epic rocker about a childhood cat, feels like a mix of The Eagles and The Lemonheads.”Bottled Regrets” is a highly descriptive narrative about the dynamics of running a band, with a hot guitar solo in the break.

A catchy riff heads up “Elimination Round” and the slow shuffle of “Don’t Call Me Darlin’” is a alt. country gem of a duet with Jillian Rae. The energetic “Hey Kentucky” is another standout here, and even though the last few tracks don’t stick out as much, with the exception of the chorus to “Sounds Like Goodbye” there is more than enough here to make this LP highly recommended.

Amazon

Project UROK

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In a follow up to my last review, I wanted to highlight an organization who can raise awareness about mental health problems. With holiday season almost here, the video below has some holiday tips:

Project UROK is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 by Jenny Jaffe.Their mission is to create funny, meaningful videos for teenagers struggling with mental health issues, made by people who have been there before. In doing so, we will provide not only practical assistance, but also a sense of belonging, a sense of comfort, and a sense of hope.

Adam Levy “Naubinway”

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Adam Levy

Honeydogs frontman Adam Levy has been a visionary when it comes to melodic rock or alt. country with smart lyrical wordplay.

But tragedy can change everything, and three years ago Levy lost his young son Daniel to suicide. He’s chosen to speak publicly about this pain and Naubinway is his outlet to help start a conversation with his audience about mental illness, suicide and its aftermath.

Starting out with some acoustic songs, “Take It As It Comes” is a statement about helplessness felt, and the sophisticated folk finger-picking style “Potter’s Field” is a descriptive profile of his son’s struggle. However its not all grim, “Atoms Never Die” has a nice groove with its catchy bass rhythm. And the full production of “This Friend” gets profound as “hope is the wounded beast that should never be put out of its misery.” The pain of coping with grief is beautifully stated on the piano ballad “When Your Well Runs Dry” and poignant message to his son “How I Let You Down” continues the conversation.

The great thing about Naubinway is that even though it starts out slowly it explores elements of a life lived and being loved. Levy is in top form, with gorgeous ballad “Marigold” and the casual brilliance of “Handful of Sand.” But he brings us back into focus with the powerful title track, a brutally honest display. “Life goes on in spite of great tragedy,” he said. “So here I am.” Emotional and vivid descriptions of spreading his sons ashes across the water cap off one of the most heartbreaking albums I’ve ever heard.

Bandcamp | Naubinway

 

Adam Levy moderated a panel, “Finding Harmony: Music & Mental Health,” at the University of Minnesota’s Coffman Memorial Union. This video presents a portion of Adam’s appearance that night, during which he describes his own struggles with mental health and the suicide of his son Daniel, a promising young artist. The presentation concludes with a rendition of the song, “Naubinway,”

The Power Popaholic Interview: Stephen Butler of Smash Palace

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I was lucky to get an interview with Stephen Butler of The Smash Palace. We talked about the new release “Some Kind of Magic” and please ignore my ignorance about the order of album releases, as I was pointed out that “Extended Play” and “Live at The Auction House” came out before the last full LP “Do It Again”. We’ve been covering Smash Palace for years and we hope they continue to make great music.

A Fragile Tomorrow and Marco Rea

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A Fragile Tomorrow

A Fragile Tomorrow “Make Me Over”

The Kelly Brothers; Brendan, (lead guitar) Sean (lead vocals/guitar) and Dominic (drums) plus friend Shaun Rhoades (bass) are the players that make up A Fragile Tomorrow. The band is poised on the bleeding edge of power pop and the opening single “Make Me Over” swirls with heavy riffs over a melodic chorus backed by harmonies and thickly textured rhythms. It’s the sound of a band that is restless and not going to play it safe. “Tie Me Up” is a mid-tempo soul searching drama and lead singer Sean Kelly does a great job here. You also hear a some beautiful subtleties in the tight harmonies of “One Of Two, Two of Three” and the sweet composition of “Tell Me How To Feel” make these tracks big highlights.

Various light psychedelic touches are in the lush ballad “In My Mind” with its 12 string strum and orchestral majesty; reminded me a bit of 10cc or ELO. You hear numerous influences from REM to Cheap Trick on the layered “Hit Parade” and “Can’t You Hear Me.” The final track “One Way Ticket” with guests Joan Baez and The Indigo Girls, is just mesmerizing as both a tribute and a re-make. This is a densely packed album that deserves multiple listens and its highly recommended.

Amazon

Marco Rea

Marco Rea “Wallpaper Music”

This is the first solo release of Marco Rea (The Wellgreen, Euros Childs, Linden). Born at the kitchen table in Cerasuolo, Italy the album has the melodic grace and simple production style that recall Paul McCartney’s first solo effort. After the shuffling instrumental of the title track, “Someone’s Picture” is a sweet piano melody that will stick in your head for days. “Time” is a like a Left Banke ballad with a gentle tempo and honest delivery; Marco even sounds a little like John Lennon in spots.

“Sunday” has a vaudeville piano, recorder solo and it is very much like a mid 60s novelty hit. The slowly building “To” is another winner, with its layered guitar melody, choral harmony and deep lyric; “One day you might look back, you might move on.”  Not every song approaches that level of Beatlesque greatness, but “When You Fall Down” and “Try” both have that Ringo styled beat. Most of the tracks on the albums second half are quite somber, and some classical piano instrumentals slow the albums momentum. Still, the impressive songs here make this digital only release highly recommended.

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