Caddy is also known as Tomas Dahl (The Yum Yums) who has been called a Norwegian Dave Grohl, and plays his power pop loud. Really loud – the opening track “Hanging On To Nothing”is chock full of fuzzed distorted chords that belt out right away. Immediately I thought of Superdrag or Coward (Joey Sykes old band). Dahl approaches a pop nirvana with the title track, where the melody works brilliantly with the guitar assault. “Turn Up The Radio” is another three minute gem with the riffs at metal levels and catchy melody. It’s tough to keep that level of quality for an entire album, but just when you think it will get laborious – Dahl hits you with another winning track. “Dumb Angel” is a rare song about Brian Wilson without doing an obvious Beach Boys rip-off (although he ends it with flowing harmonies). And “This Good Feeling” puts it all together in a strong hook filled package that fans of The Posies will also appreciate. Highly recommended, although it could have used a ballad or mid-tempo tune to let us catch our breath.

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Central California’s Poplord have created several notable power pop albums in the past, now they return with Poplord Vs. The Universe. The album’s space theme/concept is loosely followed here. “Flower Bomb” is a formulaic, but pleasing opener with smart harmonies and neat jangling rhythms. “Miss Universe” follows as an apt spacey themed love song, that has a garage styled duel vocal bridge and echoing chorus. It’s a charming melody that has a great guitar outro. “Descending” is a majestic piano tune, that is parts “Whiter Shade of Pale” and John Lennon. Another highlight is “Save The Monkey” with it’s bright melody and Jagger-like falsetto chorus.

The album’s second half doesn’t hold as much attention, but it’s never boring as the band has it’s own quirky worldview. A special treat is the gentle narrative of “Mr. Wesley” with a descriptive lyric and lovely melody. Some influences are easy to spot (Beatles, Alan Parsons, Fountains of Wayne,) and the ever present synths find an empty space in each song to flourish. The band matures like a fine wine here and I look forward to future releases.

New York City musician Vinnie Zummo is a top session player who spent years with Joe Jackson and other major artists. Armed with skills as a guitarist, producer, arranger, etc. it was easy for him to enter the studio and create whatever sound he wanted. Zummo is a musical chameleon that can emulate all his musical heroes. On his latest SGSOYA Vol.2 he opens with a Beach Boys styled prayer, and jumps into “Homicidal” a Lennonesque ditty similar to “Instant Karma” and then his wife Janice sings lead vocals on the Patsy Cline like “Don’t Wait Too Long.” You also get jazz, polka, pyschedelic, and other genres, as Zummo’s whole raison d’etre (as he sings in “I Love Conjunto”) is “it all sounds good to me.” More favorites on Vol.2 are “Special Thing” (it could’ve fallen off The Beach Boys’ Sunflower) and the nostalgic tribute “John Lennon.”

On Volume 1, Beatlesque highlights include “Fab Gear” and “Ringo.” But I also enjoyed the Satriani-like guitar licks on “Retro Fuso” and the Claptonesque “Take The Cream.” Zummo jumps around the musical spectrum like it’s his own personal top 40 mix tape. Each album is bursting with 20 tracks and it’s a great example of his versatility and songwriting skills.

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