The Seasongs, Vinnie Zummo and Sounds Like Digging

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The Seasongs “Out Of The City”
This Madrid-based band gives us a heavy power pop sound similar to The Who and The Posies. Lead guitarist and vocalist Óscar Granero’s riffs on “New Love” are brilliant, but vocally he does struggle to stay on key in spots. On the title track, he does a much better job and if you can get past the European accent, you’ll hear echoes of The Kinks and The Byrds on “Lonely Room”. “She’s Gone” starts quietly, then breaks into a garage styled riff similar to The Cynics. Fans of the 1960’s Nuggets style will enjoy this album, as all the compositions are well done, if a bit overlong in spots. Others may be put off by the vocals, but I enjoyed the native Spanish “Si tú quieres” and the defiant “A guy from New York.”

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NOTE: Yes, these are singles below and I don’t review singles. But I made an exception here, as I personally know these people and think that you will love these songs.

Vinnie Zummo “Didn’t Get The Memo”
This is a sweet catchy tune from Zummo & Elizabeth Racz, I first heard it on Radio New York International and it takes Zummo to his Beatles meets ELO place. A relaxed strum and straight forward lyric lead to a key change in the chorus that sits in your head and encourages repeat plays. A nice change of pace after listening to his non-power pop, jazz album. Get this song on CD Baby.

Sounds Like Digging “Do or Say”
Another surprise from The Boogieman’s radio show, Tom Parisi and his cousin Paul Costanza met up with each other on Facebook and decided to join forces because they became fans of each others’ music. Paul is featured as lead vocalist and synthesizer/pianist. Tom is featured as lead guitarist and back-up harmonies. Like The Shoes, or The Modulators you get clean guitar riffs over a memorable chorus in a superb DIY production. Get this song on CD Baby.

Jon Lindsay and Kjarr

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Jon Lindsay “Summer Wilderness Program”
Portland musician Lindsay now makes his home in North Carolina and gives us a unique pop vision with his latest Summer Wilderness Program. Opening with “Oceans More” – it has guitar and synth chord shifts along the lines of Apples in Stereo and 10cc. Exciting hooks seem to come easy to Jon with the angular melody in “Tiny Violins” and the accessible “Margot” shines with its catchy lyrics and simple guitar strums.

“King Of The Offseason” a nod to the beach in a sing-song daydream. The momentum is cut off at the LP mid point with “Where Love Goes To Die” with heavy synth bass and lagging rhythm. Like The Black Keyes meets Field Music, the next big stroke of genius is “Princess Street” and perfect mix of storyline and sweet harmonies. I have to be honest, this one is a real grower and requires a few listens to stick. But stick it does and that makes it a indie gem you shouldn’t miss.

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Kjarr “Kjarr”
Kjarr is a new psychedelic pop project by Kjartan F. Ólafsson, formerly songwriter and producer with acclaimed Icelandic group, Ampop and currently keyboard player with Icelandic rockers, Leaves. This is pop on a grand orchestral scale with a huge range of influences from Abba and Eno, The Beach Boys to ELO, so it’s a very eclectic mix. The opener is in native Icelanic, “Beðið eftir sumrinu” rings forth like a Wondermints or Paul Steel epic pop track. This got my attention, and I didn’t expect the vaudeville piano and blues horn of “Lottery,” like a Ray Davies dirge with Broadway gloss.

It’s all a pleasant surprise, and the low key space ballad “The Shelf” is stuffed full with horns, orchestral echo, and reminded me of Smash Mouth’s “Waste.” The ambitious compositions don’t always work, on “Quantum Leap” its got swelling harmonies with bells and whistles but it’s missing a memorable hook. “Confide In You” does a much better job, with it’s Beatlesque guitar break and anthemic chorus. Fans of the above influences will definitely want to get this as it hits more often than it misses. Highly Recommended.

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Slink and Ruby Free

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Slink “Desert Gem”
Lead by Sam Boukas, Slink is a hidden treasure of power pop just waiting to be discovered. “Dizzy” opens with a classic Big Star riff and harmony filled chorus. “Super Laura” is about the excitement of a new girl, with buzzing riffs and backing harmonies that recall The Greenberry Woods. “Money” is another good one, full of jangle and descriptive lyrics. The hooks get a bit more sparse at the mid-point, the punchy “Sweet Life” reminds me of “East Side Story” era Squeeze and stands out the most here. A very promising debut, we hope you dust off this “Desert Gem” and see it sparkle.

Ruby Free “Introducing Ruby Free”
Rick Hromadka (Maple Mars, Double Naught Spies) has put together a warm, rustic production with his wife Lisa Cavaliere called Ruby Free. Rick puts away the hard rock riffs in favor of sunny upbeat harmonies and 60’s styled pop on the opener “Bongos and Beards.”

Lisa’s vocal adds much needed sweetness to the mix here. “Deep In The Valley” is a real homegrown gem that reminds one of McCartney’s first LP. Each tune has it’s own charms, “Slow Parade” is a catchy slice of guitar perfection and “Good Company” is a dreamy piano number that layers the harmonies and psychedelics. Rick sounds more relaxed here too, the light folk duet “Sonny and Cher” floats along as a tale of hippy heartbreak. No filler here — every song keeps the ball rolling, to a “Hey Jude” styled crescendo in “Three Cheers For The Sun God.” Lots of nice orchestral touches close out “One Last Song” like an Elton John/Brian Wilson epic. One of this year’s best, it belongs high on my top ten for 2012.

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Ryan Lerman and Gumshen

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Ryan Lerman “Pinstripes, The Sky”
Los Angeles musician and guitarist Ryan has worked with Ben Folds, Pomplamoose and several others to hone his craft and this debut defies categorization. After a series of low key numbers, he starts to come out of his shell with the funk pop “Rolling In The Deep,” then we enter a magical place with “Your Own Advice.”

Folds assists on “Do With You” a slow slice of blues pop, with a theatrical twist. Then it really kicks in with the Nilsson-like “This Is My Piano,” and the orchestral ballad “Cellophane” is part Donovan, part Elliot Smith. But Ryan never sticks to a style long, and gets to the warm single “Baby It’ll Be Alight.” Other notable tracks include “Rhymes With Nothing” and “Too Many Songs.” If any album could be called a “pop potpourri” this is it. He’s also got impressive videos for lots of these songs.

Gumshen “Everything What We Recorded”
Described as a fusion of Franz Ferdinand and Pink Floyd with funk is Gumshen. The bouncy “Hammer & Nails” is a great opener, with solid riffs and Ron Hippe’s strong vocals. “Too Much Good Times” almost sounds like a different band, but it’s that unpredictability that thrills you, as “Jag It Up” does a Talking Heads meets Isaac Hayes jam. It’s way out there, but some gems show themselves like “Done” and the electric thumping of “Say What You Want.” Fans of A Band Called Mithras latest will enjoy this.

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Spirit Kid and Khalid Hanifi

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Spirit Kid “Happiness” EP
This is the a solid follow up EP to his 2010 debut, a burst of joyous guitars and dense harmonies on the opening title track is sure to wake you up. This moves seamlessly into “That Kind Of Man” with a bit more muscle, along the lines of The Posies. My favorite track is the “Sir Robert The Brave” it’s bouncy beat and ever shifting chords, that recall Cherry Twister and The Velvet Crush. The Rickenbacker acoustic ballad “Fool To Fall” is another charmer. “Down A River” is also a gem similar in style to Apples in Stereo. Overall, it’s exemplary power pop of the first order and one of the best EPs of the year.

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Khalid Hanifi “A Brief Respite From Shooting Fish In A Barrel”
Hanifi has a melodic gift  and here he makes a political statement. He gives us his take on a military contractor’s bravado on the opener “Free The World To Death” done in slow shuffle, similar to Randy Newman. It’s a political protest of how bringing democracy to Afganistan is a “soul crushing screw” to the natives. Next “The Splendor of Empire” has a relaxed melody that charms, and the biting lyrics “There’s class warfare alright/But it’s the rich that’s making war.”

You may not like his politics, but Hanifi is one of the best weavers of lyric and catchy melody since Andy Partidge. Another gem about the lowly 99% is “Whose idea was that?” and the jangle pop on “Hog Futures” leads to a bouncy chorus. It ends with a garage rocker “Give Them What They Want.” But this is a real serious album dealing with corruption, war and inequality – not really cheery pop stuff. But so well done, you take the medicine with the sweet melody.

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