I’ve always loved great guitarists (like Joe Satriani) whether they played power pop or not. Here is another great guitar god, Yngwie Malmsteen. We got to talk about his latest album “Relentless” that came out late last month. Yngwie gives a passionate interview about his career and his approach toward music.
Chris Murphy and Bastards of Melody
Chris Murphy “Look At This/Remember That”
Chris Murphy comes to us through Michael Carpenter’s Big Radio Records label. I hear a few musical similarities, but Murphy is a musician with his own style. He’s made his name on Australian Idol and has toured as one of Perth’s best known vocalists. Fans of Crowded House will appreciate Murphy’s earnest croon on the opener “Here She Comes.” The follow up “Walking Around In The Dark” has a bouncy tempo and solid melodic chorus that make it a treat.
Then Chris takes it up a notch on “Run and Don’t Look Back” with classic rock riffs and the soulful mid tempo “The Bigger They Are.” Many artists put the “hard” songs alongside the “soft” ballads, but are rarely successful with both styles in equal measure. This is what makes Murphy so special. Blues rocker “Come And Get Me” and the tender duet “Don’t Doubt It” come from opposite sides of the musical spectrum, but are both wonderfully written and performed. Occasionally the album does get formulaic in it’s pop approach (“Your Pretty Little Head”) but it’s better than most bands out there. It ends off with a nice little Beatles cover, “Blackbird” with flute and violin flourishes that enhance the song’s appeal. An impressive debut that pop fans will appreciate.
Bastards of Melody “Hurry Up and Wait”
New Jersey’s Bastards of Melody have followed a mantra of catchy guitar riffs and memorable melodies. The latest album’s vibe is based on the Cheap Trick – Replacements variety of power pop. “Around You” follows this formula perfectly. The Rickenbacker jangle and harmonies are part of “All I Want To Know” and you’ll want to crank up the volume here. “Dream Jeannine” has little psychedelic touches and a Byrds-like chorus. After a few mid tempo songs the band breaks out those high energy riffs again for “Cut and Paste.” Fans of The Spongetones and Smash Palace will appreciate the dreamlike pop texture of “Gateway Center.” My only peeve is that lead singer Paul Crane’s vocals shouldn’t be buried under all those multi-layered riffs (like on the pop punk gem “Unproductive”). With that mentioned the compositions are strong, without a hint of filler. An exemplary album of the genre that shouldn’t be missed.
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop "The Underground Garden"
Talented musician Blake Jones leads his quirky DIY pop band The Trike Shop on a ambitious musical journey through The Underground Garden. Taking cues from icons of sixties pop (Beatles, Mod era Who and Beach Boys) the tunes are done with zeal and sincerity on the opener “Forestiere Gardens” complete with catchy “oh yeah” choruses.
The album does have a sense of humor and vocal style that recalls The Bonzo Dog Band in spots. “Sing Along” is a another good example with a wonderful melody line and “la la” background harmonies that compels you to join in. You’ll quickly recognize the “Magical Mystery Tour” chords opening up “Sun Up” but it takes it up a notch similar to The Pillbugs. Some tracks are clearly more novelty oriented (“Christmas Sale” and “Fighting the Big Dumb Noise”) and as much as I love the theremin, it goes a bit long on “Neptune Bursts Free.” But it clearly doesn’t get boring, and the fun in autobiographical songs like “Send The Band To Liverpool” are just infectious. There are 15 tracks here, each with it’s own charm so you’re bound to find a favorite.
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Jose Casas y la Pistola de Papa "Scampa!! Volumen 1" FREE DOWNLOAD
Good power pop translates across any language, and to prove it is a kickin’ free album from Jose Casas y la Pistola de Papa. References to The Beatles, The Jam and Elvis Costello are easy to hear, and if you know any Spanish some of the lyrics are quite amusing (“Los problemas domestico de Clark Kent”). Since this is volume “uno” expect more to come…
Mick Terry and Baby Scream
Mick Terry “The Grown Ups”
Mick Terry, a buddy of Philadelphia power pop fave Jim Boggia, has a solid background that gathers influences from Beatles and Beach Boys with a dash of Lovin’ Spoonful. The album theme is a look back at childhood dreams, and it opens with the “Hoxton Song” a catchy tune with a nice hook and early seventies vibe. “Northern Exposure” is diary set to a piano melody, with great harmonies during the break – it’s one of the best songs on the album, full of hope and optimism. “Comets” is a Paul Simon-like shuffle tune and the vocal arrangements really stand out here. Other gems here include “T.E.D.” and the simple ballad “Tinseltown.” Lyrically Terry displays a wisdom suited to a mature singer/songwriter and fans of both Simon and James Taylor will find these stories compelling. There are only nine tracks here, but each one carries the narrative forward – no filler here. Take a trip down memory lane with Mick, you’ll be glad you did.
Baby Scream “Baby Scream”
Juan Mazzola returns with his third musical nugget, and unlike the last album this time he’s letting his classic rock freak flag fly. Juan told me he got a little help from Eric Dover (Jellyfish, Sextus) here, and it’s done some good. As with the aptly titled “Powerpop Crush” the heavy riffs and multi-tracking resemble a classic Teenage Fanclub song. “Exile” is another winner, a Badfinger styled anthemic rocker. The solid song structure on “Jekyll & Hyde” has a building synth and fading chorus that would fit nicely on Pink Floyd’s Final Cut. “Mental Case” has a driving rhythm and nice guitar work, although Juan’s vocal gets a little overshadowed here. His approach is a nasal mix of John Lennon and Roger Waters. “Watching The End Of The World” is a good example of this, with some good orchestration amongst the chorus. Other tunes, like “Lazy” have a decent hook, and “What About You” showcases some nice guitar flourishes. Overall a good album with lots of musical depth to explore. Keep up the good work Juan!
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