Celebrate 100 releases by Pop Boomerang Records!

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Pop Boomerang

Pop Boomerang Records “PB:100”

One of my favorite labels is Australia’s Pop Boomerang. For their 100th pop release, label head Scotty Thurling commissioned a collection of 32 previously unreleased songs from artists across the entire Pop Boomerang roster. The bands range from pure power pop (The Solicitors), roots rock (Livingstone Daisies) to jangle pop (Four Hours Sleep) and everything in between. Scotty’s even got his own theme done by the classic power pop band Kelly’s Heels. Celebrate this great label with this new compilation. Highlights include:

  • The Killjoys “Marching Out Of Time”
  • The Little Murders “Kings Cross”
  • Four Hours Sleep “ I Don’t Know”
  • Central Rain “What A Day”
  • Tim Reid “In The Dark”
  • D. Rogers “Don’t Smile Til Easter”
  • Love Parade “Inside and Out”
  • The Solicitors “His Robe”
  • Grand Atlantic “Never Say Goodbye”
  • Lazybirds “Slinky Skanky”

And if you want a small sampler of current releases, check out “Up to Our Eyeball In It” for 16 tracks promoting the various bands 2013/2014 output. And its a name-your-price download. It’s all solid gold from down under! Bandcamp only.

Fireking and Graham Czach

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Fireking

Fireking “Double Trouble”

Boston based Fireking rocks it old school, opening with some Led Zeppelin chords and just burning the amp up on the instrumental opener “Futura 2000.” Then “Built to Last” buzzes along, part Southern Culture on The Skids and part Cult with a driving riff that carries the song along and the definition of a kick-ass guitar break. “Just Like Sunday” is another amazing hook filled song with pounding drums. And the hits just keep on coming here on “A Sentimental Education,” another brilliant rocker with a frantic drum and guitar attack. And through it all lead singer Anthony Kaczynski, Smitt E. Smitty (ex-Figures on a Beach) and bassist Drew Morrison makes it sound so easy.

With 22 tracks on this double album, I wasn’t sure how long they could keep the quality of songs going. Like The Satisfactors, these guys are veterans that keep the party going all album long. “Contagious” is a dense rocker with little nods to The Clash and INXS. Included is a cover of Elvis Costello’s “Tokyo Storm Warning” (it was on the tribute LP). Eventually the band branches out with the epic power ballad “Look To The Sun” and the alt. country flavored “So You Lost Your Baby,” fans of Dave Edmunds are sure to love this one. There’s even a nice biographical tune “Power Pop Chords,” with references to Cheap Trick. Overall, an amazing album that puts “Power” in power pop. Makes my top ten for 2015, you’ve been warned!
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Graham Czach

Graham Czach “Star By Star” EP

Chicago based multi-instrumentalist has both a solid voice and melodic gift. Like a modern Howard Jones meets David Bowie, the haunting “Faint of Heart” boasts a soaring lead and a feedback drenched riff along a catchy chorus. “Fake It” adds a little Eastern rhythm and nice multi-tracking; this single will definitely grow on you.

The guitar chaos opening “Full Moon” dissipates almost into a Duncan Sheik-like verse, then the contrasting chorus keeps you attached. Czach is a musical artist of the first order, blending modern and progressive styles with pop hooks on “Out of The Dark.”  If you are looking for something different and really good, I highly recommend giving Czach a spin in your music mix.
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Singles: Wesley Fuller, Toxic Melons and Michael Stec

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Wesley Fuller could well be the new face of pop in 2015. Starting with a proto-glam Glitteresque beat and a psychedelic groove, “Change Your Mind” is a great introduction to this Aussie popster. And on top of that this track is FREE on bandcamp.

Toxic Melons is back! This really cool single is the start of a new EP for Pablo “Melons,” and he’s got some high powered help with both Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Eric Dover of Jellyfish contributing. Don’t miss it!
Michael Stec is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Philadelphia. He’s got a lot of FREE material out there, comparisons to John Southworth or Sondre Lerche are about right. Explore his bandcamp area for more goodies.

The Cool Whips and The Furious Seasons

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The Cool Whips

The Cool Whips “Goodies”

I have to give credit to The Cool Whips for trying to revive the lost art of classic Bubblegum pop. In its heyday of the late ’60s, it captured the pre-teen music market with light faux Beatles influenced melodies about candy, games and that prepubescent crush on the playground. Unfortunately today’s kids are light years away from those innocent times, artists like One Direction and Demi Lovato are just as overtly sexualized as adult pop stars (even if it’s in a PG-rated lyric). So I guess this type of music is more for us oldsters who remember that era and are willing to bathe in nostalgia.

Opening with “Tickle Me,” its coming straight from the Kasenetz-Katz playbook crica 1972, sounding like The Banana Splits or 1910 Fruitgum Company with bright shiny chords and go-go beats. “On The See Saw” is another perfect example about a schoolyard fantasy lyric; “I’m gonna make her mine, as quickly as I can/First I gotta grow up and turn into a man.” The melodies are good, standouts being “Lost In The Summertime” and an Archie’s tribute “Boom Shang-a-lang.” Liberal use of the Farfisa organ on “She Did A Number On Me” is fine, but if you are looking for any modern spins of the genre you’ll have to look elsewhere. For me, its good in small doses.
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The Furious Seasons

The Furious Seasons “My Love Is Strong”

It took a while for me to warm up to this very eclectic band. Opening with “Southern Night,” it’s a thrilling rock-pop composition sounding like Neil Diamond singing lead for The Eagles. The band is fronted by David Steinhart, assited by Bob Gannon (drums), Jeff Steinhart (bass), and Eric Marin (keyboards) who takes a soulful approach to the songs, with harmonies and acoustic guitar flourishes. You’ll also hear influences ranging from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty to The Hooters, on the follow up “Understood.”
Despite all these varied connections, the Furious Seasons sound is uniquely theirs.

Songs range in emotion from haunting folk ballads, to inventive catchy pop. Some of the latter includes the bouncy “Fooled By The Bottle” and “Full Disclosure.” Some descriptive lyrics make the love song “Valentine” elevated beyond the ordinary. And it sometimes has that rich sweeping sound on “Wind Blown,” either way this is a band that deserves to be heard. You may really like them.
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Jay Gonzalez and Donny Brown

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Jay Gonzalez “The Bitter Suite” EP

Drive-By Truckers multi-instrumentalist Jay Gonzalez gives us a follow up to his Mess of Happiness with a five “song cycle” EP. It starts with the hum of a theremin and launches into the bright “Light Side of the Leaves,” one of the better tunes here with its 70’s rock tone and its glossy chorus. You’ll hear influences from Bread, Todd Rundgren and even Supertramp.

Each song dovetails into the next so seamlessly, its often hard to distinguish them, but “Almond Eyes” offers up a playful ballad that is an easy favorite, and the closer “Shanarock Lane” is a solid narrative gem with nice closing harmonies that fade back into that theremin. Unfortunately some of the other songs feel a bit threadbare, but it’s still an enjoyable highly recommended EP.
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Donny Brown

Donny Brown “Hess Street” EP

Former drummer of The Verve Pipe delivers a fantastic EP that touches on the full variety of his melodic talents. Donny’s influences are closer to Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and he reminds me of Glen Philips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) in spots.

“Lucky Number” starts out slow and pans out to a rich harmonius chorus. The “Driving Song” is a pleasant easy going highway drive. But the best songs are the magical “Bitter Rival,” like a lost Andrew Gold classic, and “The Night I Fell For You,” one of the most romantic melodies I’ve ever heard. “Call Me” is a faux 1920’s bit of flapper pop that ends things on a light jazzy note. This one sneaks up on you and is one of the best EPs I’ve heard this year.
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