The Jellybricks “Youngstown Tune Up”

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The Jellybricks have always given us edgy, fuzz driven power pop – and they’re back once again for a Youngstown Tune-Up.  The Harrisburg, Pa.-based band, fronted by lead vocalist Larry Kennedy, sound tighter and better than ever. “About The Weekend” echos classic Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe with its signature choral riffs. “Probably Me” is full of energy, starting up with shouts of “Hey Hey!” and driving chords in the chorus, with an excellent break between verses.

As the band has grown more mature, it focuses less on the growling angst of their earlier sound and focuses on lyric and smart melody.”I’ll Go Mine” is an anthem to a break-up, with a solid guitar structure reminding me a bit of The Goo Goo Dolls or Counting Crows. Lots of great highlights here, “Eventually” is a wonder of harmonies and classic melody,  and “After You” is another great sing-along theme. Bottom line is this is the best Jellybricks album I’ve heard to date, and I’ve been following them since the late ’90s. They definitely deserve a spot in this years top ten list.

CD Baby | Amazon

Sunday Sun returns and Richard Snow’s freebie

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Sunday Sun was ranked very high on my top ten list last year with a trio of EPs that displayed a mastery of power pop melody and crisp harmonies. The band has a new single out on Bandcamp. Check it out!

 

Another favorite band, Richard Snow and The InLaws released a pretty awesome album in 2011. Richard decided that at this point he wanted to give the album away as a freebie, and spread the word of a “world without money.” Whatever your philosophy, you can get this album on Richard’s website for nothing but a click.

Mayflowers and Michael Holmes

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The Mayflowers “Ship Of Theseus”
The Mayflowers are one of my favorite Japanese artists, late last year they launched Ship of Theseus and it arrived here this month. The brainchild of Osamu Satoyama and assisted by Tatsuya Nishimura on drums, the band moves away from the quick three minute pop tunes of Plymouth Rock and spends more time on mid ’70s rock oriented epics. “Detroit Highway” is one such homage, you’ll hear influences from Kiss, Boston, and/or Grand Funk Railroad.

Osamu hasn’t left the psychedelic ’60s behind either, as “Flying Birds” and “That’d Be Nice” resembles the shimmering guitar melodies and swirling Sgt. Pepperisms that fans of XTC and The Wondermints enjoy. His Japanese accent is pretty heavy, so I had a hard time deciphering a lot of the lyrics, but the shimmering guitars in “Love Potion #5” are very much in the mold of Teenage Fanclub. Overall a terrific sounding album with an equal mix of rock boldness and pop flourish.

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon

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Michael Holmes “In A Lucid Moment”
Hudson Valley, NY singer songwriter gives us a fine example of Adult Contemporary pop. Holmes developed this album as a tribute to his parents, in particular for his father who cared for his mother as she suffered through Alzheimer’s Disease. Despite the difficulties, his dad’s love revealed some special moments, as heard on “Better To Have Known You” and “You And I.” Holmes does a fine job with the instrumentation and he keeps each melody heartfelt, another highlight is the slick opening track “Magic Power.”

The tender guitar song “Boys and Girls” is reminiscent of Jimmy Buffett and “Turned On By Your Body” is a charming and funny novelty song. The album settles into a series of light ballads, some sure to stick with you. Holmes gives you a bit of his heart, so the least you should do is give him a listen.

CD Baby | Amazon | Michaelholmesmusicnow

Twins “Babe City”

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So who are TWINS? The Waterloo, Iowa, foursome grew up on records from the likes of fellow Midwesterners Cheap Trick (Rockford, Illinois), Raspberries (Cleveland, Ohio), Shoes (Zion, Illinois), Luxury (Des Moines, Iowa) and Poison Control Center (Ames, Iowa), and they take their job of carrying the Midwestern power pop torch very seriously. The bands first proper release Tomboys on Parade drops on April 1, 2014 — April Fool’s Day. So here is a debut advance single to whet your appetite.

Bart Davenport and Marshall Holland

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Bart Davenport “Physical World”
Bart Davenport is one of those musicians that can take past influences and funnel it into brilliant original music. The opening track “Wearing the Changes” is part McCartney and part ’60s Motown. And he doesn’t stick in one era of the musical timeline, “F*ck Fame” is like the lost 80’s classic Spandau Ballet never released – this is damn catchy and will stay on my playlist a while.

Davenport’s vocal is of the silky smooth crooner variety, “Dust in The Circuits” is full of cool and soul in the way Morrisey used to be (before he became a bitter old fart). One of the best songs here is “Pamela,” an earworm with a boss nova beat, and “Every Little Step” is wonderful mix of Stevie Wonder and Glenn Tilbrook. A few tunes get a bit sleepy (“Girl Gotta Way”) but the great songs outnumber the so-so ones. Highly Recommended!

Amazon


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Marshall Holland “And The Etceteras”
Hailing from Salinas, California, musician Marshall Holland has an easy going casual style with a vintage pop touch – think The Zombies, Crowded House or The Cyrkle.  “Take Me” is a note perfect single with tight pop arrangement, and “At 65” compares well with Phil Angotti. One of the albums best is “Oh Please,” it has a touch of Gene Clark with a sweet Beatles-like chorus. After a few listens it just sticks with you. Holland’s slower moody tunes like “Goodbye September Days” are closer in style to Jeremy Messersmith.

I appreciated the tune “Radio Style,” which comments on sad state of contemporary radio; “blame the on the digital DJs” if you don’t hear what you want. I couldn’t find a real weak track, although the albums second half has a few instrumental fillers. Overall this is a textbook example of quality pop music. Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp | Amazon