Vegas With Randolph and Ocean Grove

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Vegas with Randolph “Above The Blue”
If ever a band took the banner of power pop and flew with it, it’s Vegas With Randolph. This sophomore album from the team of Eric Kern and John Ratts keep things sharp and avoids boredom with an album-within-an-album concept.  Starting with “The Better Part” it builds a mountain of harmonic layers one at a time, with a duel guitar attack in the chorus. The title track has those soaring chords, and optimistic view, it’s an excellent song similar to The Secret Powers with its dense production. “Sometime To Live” is a fast paced narrative along the lines of Fountains of Wayne.

And they get help from noteable guest stars; “A Lesser Fool” Maxi Dunn adds her lovely vocal to the mix and the awesome Vinnie Zummo adds his guitar to “She Does It For Me”. A cute love song to actress Marisa Tomei and a few novelty tunes are followed by the second “album” called Double Play. Now horns are added to the mix and it adds several musical suites that overlap into each other perfectly. Highlights are “Alone/Wondering” and the climactic “Light of Day.” Overall, this is an excellent album without a wasted note, that hits every mood you could possibly have… even a jingle for a Sippy Cup! And like those great double LPs of the past, this one holds up over its 28 track length.

CD Baby | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Ocean Grove “Another Place To Stay” EP
These guys are rumored to be the backing band for the Jonas Brothers! But this quartet lead by John Taylor (vocals/guitar) is simply amazing. John’s highly melodic hard rocking style reminds me of Taylor Locke and The Roughs or Enuff Z’Nuff. “Away” certainly will take you away on a rock and roll trip, like the beginning of summer vacation. The big guitar riffs lead this band along and it just compels you to raise the volume. The harmonies on the bouncy “Take It Easy” are a joy to listen to, and “The Best” is about getting that big record deal in L.A., I’m sure many musicians can identify with these lyrics. Both “So Cool” and the ballad “Won’t Say Goodbye” are also super catchy. Highly recommended and one of the best EPs I’ve heard all year.

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Ocean Grove \”I Want You In Love\” from the debut EP.

Bye Bye Blackbirds and The Toms

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Bye Bye Blackbirds “Fixed Hearts”
Rainbow Quartz recent pick up is this Oakland band we reviewed way back, and they sound better than ever. “Elizabeth Park” sounds like Tom Petty playing with The Spongetones, it’s a snappy jangle filled melody that impresses.  The followup. “Open A Light” continues the warm feeling, with some sweet guitar chord shifts on this mid-tempo gem. The country beat makes “Jack Frost” a bit like Gary Louris (Jayhawks) with a Beatlesque twist – its my favorite track here. Another good song is “Every Night At Noon” with a Nilsson-like break between the chorus. Almost every song is decent here, but some just are flat out great like “Through The Clouds” with its harmonies and California rhythms. Overall a highly enjoyable album, listen to it streaming over at the band’s website.

 Amazon | Bye Bye Blackbirds Site

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The Toms “s/t”
This release was previously a true rarity and lost classic that commanded sky high prices on ebay. The album was lost in 1979, and faded away to the cut-out bins in New Jersey record stores. Rediscovered by the power pop crowd later on it got instant fame and acclaim as a cult musical nugget. In an effort to get his old music out, Tom Marolda (aka The Toms) released this album as a download on CD Baby, but if you prefer a hard copy Amazon has a few. For those who don’t know, Marolda made this album in DIY fashion (recording in the basement) using old reel-to-reel equipment. The songs are fun, infectious and some sound like old lost Beatle tunes (“The Door“) for the 70’s New Wave crowd. Not Lame carried this CD for a few years and it would sell out pretty fast, so if you never got it – here it is.

CD Baby | Amazon

Wiretree and The Moorelands Project EP

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Wiretree “Make Up”
After two great albums, Wiretree have continued to dazzle with Make Up. In a departure from their previous efforts, the album was recorded with very few overdubs, capturing a “live” performance feel. The music moves towards a more earnest and raw rock approach, with less indie-pop elements.

With Kevin Peroni’s solid vocal performance on the opening title track, it immediately puts you into a “the zone,”with an equal blends of solid guitar melody and harmony. On “Broken Foot,” the fast paced guitar riffs and a excellent drum beat through the chorus “You better run…” raises the bar again. The band reaches its pop apex with “Tiny Hearts” and “Tonight” will make many feel that the band is the heir to indie rock legacy of The New Pornographers. “The Shore” is a pop gem that channels Green Day and Iggy Pop in equal doses here. The atmospheric and solid songwriting puts “MTH” on the next level of greatness, and at this point I think the band is just too good to remain a “best kept secret” in Austin, TX.

The album ends with the soothing ballad “Josephine,” parts Pernice Brothers and Wilco crooning harmony with nice lap guitar accents.  Overall a brilliant and immensely satisfying album that should not be missed. One of the contenders for power pop album of the year easily!

CD Baby | Amazon | KoolKat Musik

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Moorelands Project “The Trip” EP
The Moorelands Project is the brainchild of production duo Mike “Kraz” Krasnowski and Mike “Greener” Greenwood. The duo describe their sound as Rock Hop and Roll, with a complex melodic spin. This certainly is different, as “The Trip” boasts pastoral elements of XTC or Martin Newell. But the band goes all over the place with tracks like “A Song For P” and the bluesy “Few More Times” and unfortunately the rapping elements on other tracks are practically unlistenable. Pick and choose here, and with an e-mail the album is free, so you can’t really go wrong.

CD Baby | Free Download with e-mail

Army Navy "The Last Place"

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In 2009 this L.A. based band with a very English sound made it’s debut to much acclaim and support among music’s  hoi pollio. With comfortable nods to 80s and 90s power pop, lead singer and songwriter Justin Kennedy impressed many with excellent songwriting and ear pleasing melodies. Now comes the sophomore album, and with so few well-known bands flying the power pop banner, its great to hear that Kennedy and the band are continuing to bring a new generation of fans to the genre.

Read the full review of Army Navy’s “The Last Place” here.

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Freebies: Ben Mason’s Odessey and Alex Keith

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Musician Ben Mason decided to re-record the entire Odessey and Oracle album by the Zombies. Listen to it streaming here (or on Bandcamp). He does a faithful job here, too bad there is no way to buy or download. Oh well at least I can get his other music – a lovely free album Acapulco, and his discography is super cheap ($2.00 an EP).


Alex Keith is real find here. This alt. country gem starts with hand clapping swagger in the opener “Into Love and Out of Luck” and the simple strum of “It’s Good Enough.” As a free download, you don’t always get quality like this everyday with Alexs soothing croon, accompanied by Rachel Hebert backing vocals. Yeah, not power pop but I love this stuff anyway.

power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.