Mike Viola “Electro De Perfecto”

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There are only a handful of musicians who when they release a new album, I buy prior to hearing it. And Mike Viola is one of them, as he’s earned my trust over the years. This is a highly personal album, and like Matthew Sweet he lays it all out there – the questions of middle age, regret and more. In interviews, Mike mentions comparisons to the TV show Breaking Bad, where normal life drama comes from raw emotional moments.

It starts of with “Columbus Day” showing a shift from NYC to LA that took “all my energy” in the building chorus and with cultural touch points dotting the melody. The tone is sunny and catchy on most of the songs like “Get You Back” and even a “bad day for the whipping boy” on “El Mundo De Perfecto” finds the optimistic side of things. “Soundtrack of My Summer” is another Viola gem of an earworm, you won’t be able to shake off.  “Me and My Drinking” has a wonderful bass line and delicate narrative about screwing things up. Lyrically it does get very dark, especially on “Closet Cutter” where you blame “The Beatles and The Rolling Stones” for a lack of success and “Here’s The Rub” where a breakup leads to addiction. Aside the fact that this is all great ear candy, each song is a thoughtful and detailed scenario that requires repeated listens to really appreciate. Ever since Hang On Mike, he’s performed at such a high level, and Electro De Perfecto continues this tradition, don’t miss it.

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El Mundo De Perfecto by Mike Viola

International Pop Overthrow Vol. 14

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If there is one person I could pick at the forefront of power pop opinion, it’s IPO founder David Bash. The IPO festival is dedicated to bringing to the public the latest bands and unsigned talent, and next week he hits New York City (where I’ll make my annual pilgrimage). The festival’s 14th compilation has been out and it’s loaded (3 CDs worth) so I’ll highlight some of my favorite tracks…

Starting on disc 1 is one of the best new bands this year, The Turnback with the Beatlesque “Beyond Belief” and The Dahlmanns with “I Love You Baby (But I Hate Your Friends).” The latest David Myhr (Merrymakers) shimmering hit “Loveblind” is another highlight. Another great band, Nushu gives us the dreamy harmonies in “Precious To Me.”

On disc 2, the strong riffs of Bastards of Melody on “Dream Jeanine” won me over quickly. It was also nice to hear power pop veteran Jeremy Morris on the jangle-filled “Love Explosion” and the surprisingly strong “Back For More” by Dirty Royals really impressed me. Add to this the pounding beat and energy filled chorus of Fireking’s “Built to Last.”

On disc 3 we get the most eclectic mix of songs from the Hollies-styled pop of The Avenues “Should’ve Been Sarah” and gentle ballad “18 Floors” by Tim Reid. Our favorite Beach Girl Laurie Biagini gives us “One Track Mind” and Billy Idol-styled punk styled pop comes from Modern Day Heroes with “I Want You.” This is an instant power pop library of great new music that is highly recommended, so what are you waiting for? See you at IPO!

Pop Geek Heaven | Kool Kat Musik | Amazon

American Underdog and Matthew Sweet

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American Underdog “Always on The Run”
Michigan musician Andy Reed (aka American Underdog) puts together a wonderful follow up to his debut. Each one of these tracks has a short musical formula and it makes for compelling listening, for example “Your Reign is Over” is a solid single that sounds like a Belle & Sebastian doing Jellyfish. The production is clean and the solid guitar strum sets the tempo on the impressive “Portland.” The Jellyfish tendencies continue on other tracks like “Always On The Run” with a super catchy hook in the chorus, although here the vocal seems lightweight. Reed sounds best when he overdubs his chorus, like on “The Day The World Was Lost” with a nice violin assist by Andy Rogers.

Most of the tracks are so drenched in sweetness, you are sure get a sugar overload – and that’s a good thing for power pop fanatics. The fuzz guitar comes out on “Nothing I Can Do” where Andy does his best Robert Schneider (Apples In Stereo) imitation. The gorgeous harmonies on the ballad “Put Out The Fire” recall the best of Pet Sounds, and its a real gem. The sparse roots ballad “Train” doesn’t seem to fit with the other tracks but, not a single note is wasted here. Overall, sure to satisfy fans of McCartney, Roger Manning Jr. and Elliot Smith. Highly recommended for sure and Kool Kat Musik will give a bonus disc with 5 unreleased tracks.

CD Baby | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

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Matthew Sweet “Modern Art”
“I guess my evil ways turned out to be kind…” is the opening to Matthew Sweet’s latest album and its a fitting combination of power pop, progressive rock and sonic experiments.”Oh, Oldendaze” sets the album’s theme about the passing of time and dwelling on what you have left — as he intones “Memories never stand the test of time.” The guitar work is some of the best Sweet has done in years – and he dons his best Hendrix/Byrds hat on the psychedelic rock of “Ivory Tower.”

The Sweet we all know and love comes back on “She Walks The Night” with a Brydsian pop jangle, and some nice breaks midway through the song. Experiments are compelling too, like the heavy “Ladyfingers” and bongo jam on “My Ass is Grass.” And Sweet pays tribute to the genre’s fans on “Late Nights With The Power Pop,” although it feels strangely artificial.  The emotional “December Dark” and “Sleeping” are more powerful tracks for me, like John Lennon or Big Star’s Chris Bell – he explores deep personal issues. So you get a lot of soul searching from Sweet, so I wouldn’t call it “Modern,” but I would definitely call it “Art.”

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Pugwash “The Olympus Sound”

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The amazing Thomas Walsh and company return after a solid “greatest hits” collection, and create The Olympus Sound with an assist from Ben Folds, Andy Partridge and David Gregory (XTC). With such a stellar line-up and mixed at Abbey Road studios I expect nothing less than power pop bliss. And that’s what you get for the most part, as Walsh continues to pick up where XTC left off ten years ago. “Answers On A Postcard” is a snappy single with carnival-like atmosphere filled with kazoos and kettle drums. The mesmerizing “There You Are” builds with a smooth easy synth and a fuzz riff that resembles The Beatles”Rain.”

Gregory scores the strings on the wistful ballad “The Warmth Of You” and “Fall Down” chugs along with its hummable melody and tambourine claps. Folds quietly does the piano on “Dear Belinda” written for a friend of the band – actress Belinda Stewart-Wilson. The guest stars here may help but its Walsh’s vocal that leads everything, including the Patridge written “Here We Go ‘Round Again” and the semi-western mantra “I Don’t Like It But I Gotta Do It.” At this point every track shines bright and then the last few tracks get more pastoral and slower in tempo. “Four Days” is so laid back with it’s Beach Boys harmonies and lazy piano it could have you daydreaming of summer vacation… Needless to say this will stay on my ipod for a while. A “don’t miss it album” and top ten nominee for 2011.

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