Chris Alvy Band “Art Noise”

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After a wild debut EP last year, The Chris Alvy Band is back with a more realized full length album. Joined by Fernando Perdomo (who also produced and engineered) it re-does a few of the previous EP tracks and adds several more. Not an easy band to categorize, they have a loose guitar rock style with snappy melodies (sort of like an updated version of The Spin Doctors) but they also have a touch of Badfinger in there too.

The band opens up with the title track, a party styled anthem that reminds me of those 90’s comedy movie soundtracks.  “Can’t Get You Off My Mind” has some great harmonies in the chorus, and Alvy’s strong power chords take over from there. A funky beat starts off “This Summer’s Day” and the middle eight takes the band to the next level, here the guitar solo is just as impressive. Then we get “Something’s Missing,” it’s a wonderful mid-tempo ballad which reminds me of Pete Ham’s “It Had To Be.”  The band certainly knows how to write a sticky chorus, both “Inside Job,” and “The Fall” qualify with swirling hard guitar leads and solid hooks. It takes a delicate balance of guitar theatrics and solid melodic composition to make it all work right. The band does a great job till the last few tracks, where they kind of channel Extreme and the harmonies fade away. Overall, a really excellent album that will appeal to many fans of hard driving melodic rock.

Official site | Itunes

Son of Skooshny and Cheap Perfume

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Son of Skooshny “Lovers Leap of Faith”
This is the project of Skooshny founder Mark Breyer and its a pretty good combination of power pop and roots based rock and roll. “Another Time” has a touch of Tom Petty and a terrific buzzing guitar riff. Breyer’s vocal cadence also resembles Petty on the wonderfully written “Candy Air.” The multi-tracked harmony of “The Right Idea” and bass driven “You Can’t Love Me” keeps things on a slow but steady course. The nicely melodic “Science Changes Everyone” picks things up and it’s chorus will be humming in your head. Not everything is as compelling, but it’s not boring either and it occasionally throws us a curve, like the crunchy pysche pop of “Kate’s Green Phone.” No filler here and a very worthy album that rewards the patient listener.

CD Baby | Amazon

Cheap Perfume “4 By Cheap Perfume” EP
Billed as the first all-female punk band, Cheap Perfume was formed in 1977 by two waitresses working at CBGBs. The girls having boyfriends in the Tuff Darts and The Sorrows, had easy access to equipment and rehearsal time, and they named the band after a Rick Derringer song. They played for many years as a successful opening band at the famous Max’s Kansas City and CBGBs. However not having an album, they were designated as a local sensation and historical footnote. 25 years later the band reunited and plays some of it’s best known work in this EP. Fans of Jana Peri, The Runaways and The Pretenders will love this. Lead guitarist Bunny said ““We believe the spirit of CBGB and the New York punk scene will always live on.” After hearing this, I totally agree.

CD Baby | My Space

JTG Implosion and The Connection

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The JTG Implosion “All The People Some of The Time”
This resissue of Joe Gidding’s band from 2002 is a welcome addition if you’ve missed it when it was part of Not Lame Record’s catalog (which is now gone forever). This is a classic melodic power pop album that needs to be re-discovered. Giddings crunchy riffs get the party started on “Delta 88” and the hand clapping goodness of “This Is What You Get” is another gem. Best compared to Enuff Z’nuff and Velvet Crush these tunes have layers of fuzzy rock guitars against bouncy melodies (“The Biggest Liar In The World”), with the occasional harmony laden mellower tune (“Puzzle Peace”). Every song here is exemplary, not a weak track in the bunch – and if you’re looking for a yardstick in this genre it’s hard to find better. For newbies to power pop this is required listening.

CD Baby | Amazon

The Connection “New England’s Newest Hit Makers”
Retro to the max, baby! If you love those “classic oldies,” we’re not talking about Boston or REO Speedwagon. We’re talking about Chuck Berry, Beatles, and The Swinging Blue Jeans. Musicians Brad Marino, Geoff Palmer, Chris Faulkner,and Andy Casey have decide to form The Connection, and deliver balls to the wall Merseybeat in its best form. The short punchy compositions start with the bouncy riffs in “It’s All Right.” Each of the eight songs here follow the feel-good high energy vibe – in fact I’ve been listening to the guys on my treadmill (“Stop Talking” has got the perfect BPM). Despite the lack of a ballad, the songs are catchy as hell, much like The Romantics early efforts and their hit single “What I Like About You.” Enjoy!

CD Baby | Amazon

Eight by Eight “The Anatomy Of An Apricot”

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The internet has enabled like minded artists to collaborate like never before. 8X8 is the transatlantic collaboration between Lane Steinberg and Ukrainian musician Alex Khodchenko. Like The Britannicas, they both live on different continents, and have never met in person, but through e-mail they’ve managed to create an amazing work of musical art. This is the best prog/psychedelic pop I’ve heard in a long time.

Bringing forth influences from Todd Rundgren, The Zombies, The Beach Boys and Procol Harum, it requires multiple listens – but it really sticks. Opening with “Fantastic Sun” it’s the most immediate and catchy track with a rich layered musical palette. The vocal harmonies are transcendental here and continue on “Layabout” and “Time And Tender Love.” Even Colin Blunstone would be impressed by the swirling “Live in Dreamland.” This isn’t simply music you listen to – you let it wash over you like lush warm breeze. Good headphones are a must for this material. Many other highlights include the epic melodies of “Snowflake In The Rain” and “Sweetness In Your Life.” Credit also must go to Gregory White on a variety of keys (Hammond organ, mellotron, etc.), Rebecca Ona (backing vocals) and Rick R. (drums). Easily makes my top ten list for 2012, and will remain on my ipod for a long, long time.

CD Baby | Amazon

Secret Powers “More Songs About Her”

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Secret Powers have been a favorite of this site from the beginning, and each year Ryan “Schmedly” Manes has released one great LP after another. Last year’s What Every Rose Grower Should Know cracked by top 25, but frankly it was a small step back as earlier releases made my top ten. Well almost as a response – the band is back with a set of sticky tunes that puts it back into top ten contention for 2012.

“Dragon Slide” starts us off, and what is noticeable here is the ELO styled flourishes and techniques are toned down compared to previous albums. In fact the growling chords are closer to Bad Company than anything else, as Shmedly recalls his childhood thrills with a great Queen-styled break in the solo. John Brownell continues the pace with “Impossible Girl” and the hooks are plentiful on his best composition “Post War.” The band spreads out the songwriting/singing duties a lot more, and Shmedly’s vocals are clearer too. Other gems here include “Drip Drop Drip,” “Not That Girl” and in his best Randy Newman mode, Shmedly gives us a tribute to the struggling musician in “Hard To Be Someone.” Every track here is great, although “Caroline” feels like it belongs on a different album. Anyway, add this to your “must-get” list.

CD Baby| Amazon