European Power Pop Special: Spain (Power Pop Español)

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Since we focused on Japan a few weeks ago, I wanted to concentrate on some European countries who do power pop right… and all the music is sung in English too. Spain is the main focus of this post. Notable labels Rock Indiana and Jam Recordings have provided me with these featured bands:

Wolrus “Wooden Tapes”

From A Coruña, Wolrus wear their influences on their sleeves from Buffalo Springfield, The Hollies, and The Jayhawks. The band has some serious guitar jangle and banjo chops plus lots of harmonies too. Opening with the impressive “Summer of 10’s” it’s got a catchy foot stompin’ rhythm. “Stone & Roses Blues” is pure late era Beatles, (“Two Of Us”) and the summery pop of “Clearer Than Me” is Beau Brummels-styled country.
Facebook | Jam Recordings | Rock Indiana

The Phantom Keys “Real Sounds of The Phantom Keys”

Old school mod-garage basically. This band does its best to emulate the looks and sounds of those ‘no hit wonders’ who made it onto all the obscure 60’s punk compilations, such as ‘Nuggets’ and ‘Pebbles.’ Fans of The Pretty Things, The Sonics, Downliners Sect and any Mod Surf band will enjoy this. So get your go-go boots on and do the hippy shake shake.

My Space | Jam Recordings

Goodfellows “Happynitol 150mg”

The Goodfellows are a Spanish band whose musical inspiration is undeniably American power pop bands (like The Shoes and The Spongetones) they’ve made appearances on IPO compilations but here is their debut LP, inventively designed like a prescription drug (“10 Power Pop Revitalising Pills: Not a Fix but a Relief. A Boost of Good Vibes”) and overall this musical ‘medicine’ is sure to cure your blues with some excellent tracks like “Susanne” and “You Know The Secret We Hide.” Occasionally the vocals get buried by the jangle and  the accent can get distracting, but ultimately I’d refill this prescription.

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Higgins “Straight A’s”

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Lead singer-songwriter Kevin Fish gives us a subtly crafted pop album, that sounds both old and new, the melodies slowly-burn into your brain here. Fish opens up the low key “Paranoid Trails” with a gentle hook and layered melody. The real goods come on the Byrdsian “Slap or Pinch” with its sweet jangle, and fans of the Autumn Defense will love it. The choral harmonies of “Stach-Lab” bring us to a 70’s moog “Easy-Thing” and it revels in the trippy bass lines and slow grooves. Fish mines the instrumentation of the past with considerable skill.

The soft and sensitive “Do You Still?” is a achingly lovely ballad about memories of a lost love. In direct contrast is the goofy “You Don’t Like What I Do” full of multiple harmonies and “oompah” brass and on “When I See Her” we add a Ray Davies styled ballad. And that’s as wild as we get, as most of this album is reflective – fans of Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren and Field Music should give this a spin on the ipod. A real grower for you that needs multiple plays to sink in.

Facebook | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Overlooked Gem: The Paparazzi “Rococo” FREE Download

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The Paparazzi is the musical pseudonym of songwriter and rocker Erik Paparazzi, who has spent the better part of the past decade as a sideman with Cat Power’s Dirty Delta Blues. Made this album back in 2004 it was shelved until 2010 and didn’t get the attention it deserves. His new record Rococo showcases a love for the soulful rock sounds of the 1960’s (“Hi”) with a discernible Beatles and Nilsson influences and a drowsy indie rock sensibility (“My O My”). This lush and quirky daydream pop is fresh from the dryer – soft and warm and it’s a highly recommended free download. Thank you, Erik!

If you want a CD then go to: Serious Business Records | Amazon

The Beach Boys Reunion

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The Beach Boys, together with estranged sonic genius Brian Wilson for the first time in decades, have the brand-new reunion single “That’s Why God Made The Radio.” You can close your eyes and go back in time… “Tuning in the latest star/From the dashboard of my car/Cruising at seven/Push-button heaven” The song proves without a doubt proof that nobody can replicate their harmonies, even though thousands of bands have tried. This is vintage Beach Boys and with both Brian and Mike Love passing 70 years old, they figured it was now or never.

Listen to the song here with lyrics.

Airport and The Dead Girls

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Airport “Go Up”
Released last year, but an overlooked treasure for sure. The band draws from the big hook filled melodies of old school 70’s AM radio classics like Cheap Trick, Blue and Pilot. Lead by Craig Small, the jangly guitar starts us off with the Eagles-influenced title track, but then on “The Plan” you get a taste of those gorgeous ascending chords in the chorus. “Hate You” adds some fuzz to the lead, as the backing harmonies build to an apex similar to Badfinger.

Nothing falls flat here, and the thick chords and hook on “Knot Again” make it a real gem of a single that will give you goosebumps. “Stay” has a rhythmic guitar intro along the lines of “Sweet Child O Mine,” but falls into sweeping alt. rock ballad. Fans of alt.country and guitar melodies will eat this up. A most worthy addition to your playlist.

CD Baby | Amazon | KoolKat Musik

The Dead Girls “She Laughed A Little” EP
Solid guitar jangle and smart harmonies are the specialty of The Dead Girls.  The vocals of Cameron Hawk and JoJo Longbottom are excellent here, comparable to The Gin Blossoms or The Rembrandts with a bit more bite. You’ll find the b-side “It’s All Happening” is reminiscent of  Joey Sykes’ Coward with contrasting heavy guitars and high pitched vocals. The EP is just an opening for you to check out the back catalog LP Out of Earshot from 2010. Here, the guys sound similar to Husker Du and its best featured on the songs “Te Quiero” and “Pulling Teeth.”