Miracord "In Water" and The Hot Toddies "Get Your Heart On"

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Miracord “In Water”
Psychedelic band from Oklahoma City that compares well to The Mother Hips and has a variety of sixties influences, from The Beatles to the Animals.  Miracord is lead by guitarist/vocalist Dean Avants and assisted by Dave Spindle (bass), Ryan Jones (organ and backing vocals), Rob Martin (drums) and Jeff Richardson (backing vocals).The swirling guitar riff on “New Religion” opens the album and sets the tone.  The lone guitar strum and spacious sound on “Song of a Mason” is a trippy ballad that will impress most pysche-pop fans. “In Water” was released exactly one year later on the 4th anniversary of Syd Barrett’s death, whose influence can be heard throughout the album. It really comes through on “Corporate Coward” and the power pop of “To Mary and Mandy” is a riff-filled good time in the style of The Who. Even more impressive, this album is a FREE download at CD Baby for a limited time.

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The Hot Toddies “Get Your Heart On”
This is an Oakland based collective of melodic women set to neo-surf beats, kind of a lo-fi version of The GoGo’s or Pippettes. The songs are deceptively simple and infectious. Heidi, Erin, Jessica and Sylvia have been playing music, drinking whiskey and writing songs together since 2005. The sweet harmonies and oft funny lyrics of “Max’s Mankini” will get your attention. The vocals have an innocence, but the lyrics are mainly about boys and drinking best heard on “Only With You.” It’s like Malibu Barbie had a few beers, got up on the table and started dancing. The irreverent lyrics touch on gluten-free lesbians (“Celiac Love Songs”) and the lead singer of Alkaline Trio (“Matt Skina Sandwich”). On the latter tune and “Keep On Running” the song is fleshed out with a strong lead guitar. More highlights include “Rain or Shine” and the ukulele lead “Summertime Dream” with it’s weaving angelic vocals. As the Japanese say it’s all so “kawaii” so how can you resist.

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Broken Promise Keeper "Poptimized"

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Rob Stuart continues his musical journey with Broken Promise Keeper’s fourth album “Poptimized.” I very much admired last year’s “Ice Cold Pop” and he picks up right where he left off. This is old school DIY power pop played with conviction, starting with “Scarred For Life” all the hallmarks are there (riffs, hand claps, melodic chorus). It leads seamlessly into the catchy beats and Trekkie lyrics of “Hyperdriven.” Next there are lots of layered instrumentation and vocals to highlight “Today I Do.” The lo-fi production tends to bury Rob’s vocal at times, despite the ambitious composition. The gem “We Pray For Rain” starts with a piano intro and turns into an early REM styled mid-tempo guitar tune.

The energetic “Sad But True” is a triumphant rocker that laments on the state of a dead marriage and it’s my favorite track here. Other tracks are pretty consistent, if a bit too similar sounding in the rhythm but there is enough here to keep things interesting.  The legacy of the Athens, GA sound that made it “The Liverpool of the South” lives on here with Broken Promise Keeper.

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Skeleton Staff "Solipsism"

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This criminally overlooked band from Australia has been rightly described as “like Crowded House being bent over the bar by XTC.” The band is represented by imaginative animated-style characters (they have a comic strip posted on myspace regularly) and has a combination of influences old and new bathed in sugary sweet pop. It’s almost like discovering The Wiggles, except it’s for adults.

Opening with the commercially viable pop of “Big Celebrity,” it shifts into “Skylarking” mode with “If You’ll Be My Adam” with multiple melodic twists and layered choral effects it makes an excellent single. “When She’s Got Her Blackboots” is another winner and invites comparisons to those Finn brothers. Guitarist/vocalist Stanton has a soothing vocal on “One Million Shirts” that proves to be a brilliant melodic ballad. The dramatic harmonies on “Act 2 Scene 3” are a treat as well. The quality of the songwriting flirts with novelty at times (“She’s So Rude”) or even sixties parody (“Didn’t Know Dumb”) but never fails to get your toe tapping. The title, “Solipsism” is the philosophical idea that only one’s own mind is sure to exist. Here is an album that proves great power pop exists too.

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The Orbans "When We Were Wild"

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The debut from The Orbans is a perfect cure for you if you’ve been suffering from alt. country and pop withdrawal. Try to imagine of Ryan Adams and Wilco teaming up with Coldplay and jamming out. “New Dress” is a distinct pop opener with strong guitar riff and marching chorus. Following this is the awesome “Songs We Sing” with dance hall piano tinkle, ripping guitar solo and pure pop bliss in the melody.  Lead guitarist Kenny Wayne’s hook filled riffs are a huge asset atop each song, and slowly the tenor of the album gets more countrified by the fourth track, “Don’t Lose Yourself.”

The band also has a knack for rich three-part harmonies on “Barely Someone’s Known” and the soft ballads (“Darlin’ My Dreams” and “Go”) are both poignant and well written. The twang gets heavy on “When We Were Wild” — I felt like Duane Eddy was playing here. The composition on “Alibi” is another power pop classic, and Peter Black’s vocals give each track the perfect balance between alternative and country sounds.  The songs throughout the album are consistently great, as no single track dominates and that makes for great repeat listens. One of the best debuts this year, it earns a top ten nod. 

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