Alex Vans and Rachel Brown

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Alex Vans “DJ Booth”
Alex Vans starts DJ Booth with a synth bass beat on “Good Enough,” as guitar hooks bring to mind T.Rex or Bowie with a danceable melody worthy of Abba. The next song “Chase The Night” is another perfect example of this, the mixing of old influences skillfully into something fresh.

It veers into alt. country on “Saints” and Vans proves he’s a skilled composer of mood and lyric on the albums best track “Hideaway.” Parts reminded me of The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s early stuff, with a better, slicker pop surface. Highly recommended and a great new LP for 2013.

Bandcamp | Amazon | Alex Vans website

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Rachel Brown “Building Castles” EP
Brown has an soft voice, along the lines of Zooey Deschanel or Norah Jones and knows her way around a pop hook. “Bumblebee” is a hummable pop confection, sweet as honey. Then a subtle hip hop beat is used for “Four Leaf Clover” that’ll stick in your head. “Rockstar” uses unusual percussion that builds to its bouncy chorus.

These first 3 tracks are the most impressive, and then the instrumentation nearly vanishes on “Your Little Act” and “On Your Side” to focus on Rachel’s voice. She is a major talent in the making, so catch her now before the inevitable indie superstardom (along the lines of Nataly Dawn).

CD Baby | Amazon

Chris Richards and The Subtractions “Covers That” Vol.1 and 2 Free Download

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Yeah, Chris Richards and The Subtractions made my list last month for Get Yer La La’s Out, but did you know he also put out a bunch of cover tunes that same year? Now you do! Released with a few other bands chipping in (like The Phenomenal Cats) its sure to please. Plus he’s released a quick second volume of covers, all done in that awesome rockin’ Subtractions style. And best of all it FREE, so soak it up, power popaholics! All on Bandcamp.


The Candy Strypers and Ican Ican’t

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The Candy Strypers “The Candy Strypers” EP
 From Manchester, UK this “band” is really musician Paul Hughes, showcasing his skills with a big emphasis on Brydsian jangle and Rooks-like melodies. “Hymn the Girl” is wonderful single with a cheery chorus and “Sunshine Speakers” has a touch of harmonies, similar to Weezer. “Calling Sarah” has a bit more garage elements, and overall I’d say its an impressive start for Hughes. I look forward to hearing more in the future.

Amazon | ManicPop Records | Facebook

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Ican Ican’t  “Year of The Stat”
 This a pet project of musician Dermot O’Leary, gathering up songs from his other bands (Alanalda, Demostat) after they broke up into a “greatest bits” collection. The work is fine DIY indie rock, “Draw The Line” is a fairly catchy example right off the bat. A bit like Jonathan Coulton,”Little Wings” has little details of bitterness that endear you to the narrative.

Personal pain and apathy come out of the ballad “What If I Told You I’d Die Tomorrow” and the only other standouts here are the light harmonies and sunny melody of “Shortcut Thru’ The Park,” and the Lennonesque revenge tale “Sucked My Will To Live.” O’Leary has the talent and ability to get across many ideas, and overall the theme of loss here is well done. I hope for something more upbeat in future work.

John LT “Suburban Superstar”

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Cockeysville, Maryland singer/songwriter John LT has exceptional storytelling skill only matched by his melodic instincts. “Lottery Ticket” tells us that the apocalypse is coming, but he’s got that winning lottery ticket (“someone’s got to win”), told with gusto very reminiscent of Billy Joel.

“Petty Angel” is a blues pop gem about breaking the ice with women. LT’s melodies really stick fast, “The Sound of My Tears” is a classic pop single that shouldn’t be missed. Those little Beatle-isms on “Nowhere To Go” keep things moving along,  even the slower ballads like “The Driver’s Song” sound like a lost Paul Williams hit, with its “Cheers” like chorus. It even does a good job at 70’s funk with “Mr. Wonderful” and triply narratives “Nothing But Nines.” This came out in December, and would’ve made my 2012 list.

Amazon | Mother West | Itunes

Toxic Melons and Michael Faherty

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Toxic Melons “International Accident” EP
Pablo “Melons” new EP is more realized than 2011’s Melon Jam. The four minute piano ballad “Diffidence” is full of yearning and key changes, almost like a Millenium tune, with guitars coming in on the last verse. “Passing Reflection” is a similar styled, almost madrigal guitar plea for world peace. Former Jellyfish guitarist Eric Dover adds his skill to the chanting “Ode To Procrastination” but the vocal performance here isn’t quite right. The a cappella “Alex’s Song” is a fun little coda that mentions she’s “more precious than the rarest Jellyfish single.” Short and sweet.

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Michael Faherty “Space in Your Heart” EP
Brooklyn born Faherty is the real deal, a true talent with “Space In Your Heart” he sounds part Bon Jovi and part Paul Collins. “Orthodox Girl” wonders if an Irish Catholic has a shot with her, but it could really use a middle eight to breakup the choruses. “Give It Good” once again gives us a really nice guitar riff, but the song needs more of a hook. Michael is working on his first solo LP at this point so he can take his time “baking the cake.” If this EP is a beginning, I look forward to his next development.

 CD Baby | Itunes