Readymade Breakup "s/t"

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Readymade Breakup has grown from a small indie band with power pop tendencies to being poised to break out to mainstream audiences. This new self-titled release is the band’s most mature outing to date, coming along just in time to add to my best of 2010 list. Lead singer Paul Rosevear’s vocals are more forceful, and Jim Fitzgerald’s guitar riffs are leaner, more into classic rock territory than ever before. The sound comes closer to Collective Soul’s brand of melodic majesty but with more energy.

“Inside All Along” has is an opener that that has all the right ingredients; heavy guitar riffs, Rosevear’s multi-tracked croon and a chorus that sticks in your head. “Just” and the anthemic “Waiting For You” are modern rock classics that should bring in a wider audience.  When we get to “There” the pace eases up a bit, into a Counting Crows styled number only to roar back with “Unzip My Face” full of Cheap Trick influenced guitar acrobatics. The lone ballad here “Not Through With You Yet” showcases Rosevear’s distinct vocal style, as a near whisper grows to a wail. We end it with “Erased” a powerful Pink Floyd influenced slice of psychedelic pop.  The album is only nine songs, so each one is carefully constructed and melodic all the way through. One of the best rock albums I’ve heard all year.

Band’s Site | Bandcamp 

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Anya Marina and Tomn

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Anya Marina “Spirit School” EP
After a pretty good debut, Anya gives us a taste of her next album with this EP. Anya relocated to Portland, OR and really does a great job with the slow grooves on her lead track “You Are Invisible.” Her vocals still have that sensual half whisper, and the last part of the song uses dramatic strings. A standout here is the gritty dance rocker “Whatsit,” a collaboration with Dandy Warhol’s Courtney Taylor-Taylor. But my favorite is the title track, a note-beat perfect single that hits hard. Hopefully her next full length will take this approach, as “Spirit School” bounces along a killer bass rhythm with the catchy kid chorus “We’re rubber and you’re glue, and no matter what you say we’re gonna stay here right for you.” Anya is an artist that continues to grow and create great music with an attitude and depth that I haven’t heard since Sam Phillips.

Tōmn “Tōmn” EP
Tōmn (pronounced “tome”) aka Tony Maiella is a North American musician based in Boston who fuses rock and Brazilian music, creating lush pop arrangements. This rich combination of influences is really apparent on the melodic opening track “Primeiro Encanto.” Tinkling keys, flamenco rhythms and subtle guitar strums blend together quite nicely here. Tony also knows his way around a ballad as “Will I Still Call You Friend?” is very John Mayer-ish. The forceful “Off The Map” is a bit like Rick Altizer, with multilayered guitars and forceful vocals. Some of the quieter songs have nice little jazz touches, but they seem a bit half baked at times. Enough good stuff here to recommend though.

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Garfields Birthday and Michael Carpenter + another free track!

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Garfields Birthday “More Sense Than Money”
Brothers Shane and Simon Felton have returned since 2008’s “Let Them Eat Cake.” The Weymouth UK band has quietly been doing it’s thing on the small Pink Hedgehog label. This album is chockfull of smart tunes with combinations of crunchy guitars and soft harmonies.  “Cool Your Jets” is a great opening single and “I See Shadows” is a dreamy smooth pop song with Simon’s vocal floating above the melody. “Cambridge” is another soft pop gem that stands alongside Chad and Jeremy’s classics. These ballads are where the brothers shine, but the lyrical story and melody works perfect on the excellent mid-tempo “Carry On Karaoke.” This is so much stronger than anything they’ve done before, and the harmonies go into overdrive on “Future Song.” Like a softer version of Teenage Fanclub, this is one album sure to warm your heart over the holidays.

MySpace | Amazon  | Kool Kat Musik

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Michael Carpenter & The Cuban Heels “The Incomplete Cuban Heels”
This album gathers tracks from “Give The Dog A Bone” and “New Dog Old Tricks” (both are sold out EPs) and represents a “greatest hits” of Carpenter’s alt-country styled bar band. The Cuban Heels consist of Casey Atkins on guitar (Perry Keyes, James Cooper), Russell Crawford on drums (solo artist), Charlie Lee on bass (Too Many Guitars) & Jadey O’Regan on piano (Big Radio). Carpenter and the band had many sessions during 2008-2010 period, and if you like The Black Crows, Dylan, Wilco, or Tom Petty this collection is for you.

MySpace | Amazon | Bandcamp | Kool Kat Musik

As a bonus here is Michael Carpenter’s Free Christmas Single “Sunny Day for Xmas!”

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Greg Pope "Blue Ocean Sky" FREE DOWNLOAD

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Christmas comes early with this gift from Greg Pope. His new album Blue Ocean Sky contains the same impeccable rock we’ve come to love and make many top ten lists every year (including ours). The opener “The Awful Whisper” has a great Posies meets Bad Company styled wall of guitar sound. “My Resignation” boasts early Who mod-era abrupt guitar riffs and “Head Above Water” channels a little Argent with Greg’s unique guitar and drum interplay.

The brilliance continues with “I Tried To Like You” a jangle filled delight and the remaining tracks are equally impressive. The catchiness of the melodies on the album’s second half don’t reach the highs of the earlier tracks, but you’ve got Greg’s holiday track from last year “Christmas Snow” and the majestic closer “Keeping A Band Together” to round things out. It’s tough to come up with adjectives that really describe how good Pope is at his job – like all the power pop legends, we’ve come to expect greatness at this point. Best of all, this album is available as a FREE DOWNLOAD until December 20.

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