Wednesday’s Pile of EP Reviews and FREE downloads

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I heard a few worthy EPs and emerging talent these past 2 weeks that deserves some attention from you Powerpopaholics out there. Here are some groups you might want to check out.

Hopeless Passion “Seven Minutes” EP

Part of the continuing solo work of Grant McCracken, and basically it’s Blink-182 inspired punk rock. The title track does a good job of setting up an anthem with loud guitars and a chugging chorus. Not power pop, but passionate self deprecating emo humor in a tight package. And as a bonus you get a download of McCracken’s last full length “Everything You Always Wanted.” Not for everyone, but what the hell.
MySpace | Itunes | DOWNLOAD “Everything You Always Wanted”

The Anderson Council 
“Don’t You Think” b/w “Love Bomb”

The power pop juggernaut that is The Anderson Council has a new single. Lead singer Peter Horvath just knows how to push all the right buttons in my brain here, and the songs are tight guitar based pop that takes no prisoners. “Don’t You Think?” is a peppy number about self-preservation and moving forward in life.”Love Bomb” hopes for the time in the future when we can do more than just get along with each other (wink wink, nudge nudge). Available in limited edition of 500 singles on multicoloured vinyl (cool!)
MySpace | CD Baby

Loomis & The Lust “Nagasha”

Pop-rock four piece, Loomis & The Lust, burst onto the scene in 2009 with an engaging live show, catchy guitar-based hooks, and infectious melodies. With a respectful nod to the past, the group draws from a broad range of styles, blending their own brand of modern pop with a heavy dose of old school rock ‘n roll. The opener “Bright Red Chords” is a winner here, full of those pleasing hooks.
MySpace | Amazon

The Hilarious Posters “S/t” EP

So you’re looking for a real DIY band? Here you go – a group of friends got together and did this little EP. Kind of like The Barenaked Ladies or The Breetles on a really tight budget. The horn based “Absence” is the best track in the pack, although “The Fists & The Fighting” is a close second with a nice little bass line and smart arrangements. Why not give it a shot? Support your local pop musicians!
My Space | Amazon

Chariots of Tuna 

“I’m So Good At Shining”
Once again Ben Morss and company present a wonderful little EP with two shiny gems “A New Beginning” and “Seven Miles Away” – both are delicate pop candy full of falsetto harmonies and club beats matched with a perfectly placed guitar riff in the latter track. Bring on the full length guys, these freebies just whetted my appetite for more Tuna (In a Chariot).
MySpace | Tweetfort Records | FREE DOWNLOAD

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Goodbye Doug Fieger…

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Lead singer for the Knack, Doug was battling cancer and was unable to make it to last year’s Charlotte Pop Fest, unfortunately the continuing battle took it’s final toll.  Let’s remember him as a part of the power pop pantheon and a hard working performer that never faded into musical obscurity. The Knack helped make the entire country aware of the power pop genre in 1979. Despite numerous come back attempts they never really got the respect they deserved  – the excellent albums they left behind deserve to be heard again and again. You will be missed Doug.

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Patrick & Eugene "Altogether Now"

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The Patrick & Eugene sound is comprised of banjos, ukuleles and sunshine pop vocals combined with whistles, bells and bongos to produce unique but accessible music for post-modern vaudevillians. Already several tracks are featured in commercials (Laughing Cow Cheese), TV shows (Grey’s Anatomy) and film (Burn After Reading). Patrick Dawes (Groove Armada) & Eugene Bezodis combine stellar musical ability, English whimsy and uncanny catchy melodies. The leading track “The Birds and The Bees” is a musical party that combines the ever present banjo and tuba with ease. Like the Beatles and Muppet Show combined, it’s impossible to listen to without letting your inner child grin. “Llama” is the highlight here comparable with the best of Harry Nilsson. “Don’t Stop” and “Altogether Now” are party tracks that chug along it’s merry way. The songs don’t always work – I found “I Can’t Get You Out Of My Head” a bit grating, and by the time we get to “A Dog’s Tale” the tuba rhythms get repetitive. But overall it’s the pure quirky fun of They Might Be Giants combined with Pugwash’s stage humor. Enjoy it, mate!

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Baby Scream and The Brigadier EP

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Baby Scream “Identity Theft” EP

Argentinean transplant Juan Mazzola follows up his catchy debut with is this new release that features 7 songs, including 2 covers: John Lennon’s “Mucho Mungo “and Rinaldo Rafanelli’s “Ojos Orientales.” There is much more of Lennon’s influence and sound over the entire EP. Many songs use a simple slow rhythm and have a weary resignation about them. “Dead Woman Walking” sounds like a pop funeral dirge about a woman “running out of friends, running out of life.” The song “Memories” has some nice guitar work over a simple bass drumbeat that keeps things a bit more lively, but even on “Nicole” Juan admits he’s “run out of lyrics.” Much of the heavy mood is undone by the over produced vocal echo of “Underground Blues.” Fans of both Lennon and even his son Julian may like this, but it’s missing the hooks that made John’s songs so memorable.

My Space | Amazon


The Brigadier “The Edge Of Spring” EP

Have have enjoyed the music of Matt Williams aka The Brigadier for quiet a while now, and after his last album we find him stretching his songwriting legs with a seasonal theme. It opens quietly with “Song for a New Year” which strums along and builds to a sweet melodic chorus. “Be my Valentine” and “February” have a Ray Davies styled cynicism and dry wit to them. The four minute mostly instrumental “Last Day of Winter” has a magical quality and then “She brings the Spring” is very much in the light pop mold of The Orange Peels. Part of this cycle began with “Rhymes for Rainy Days (Autumn)”. I would encourage Matt to finish the cycle on his next offering (Summer). This EP is only offered digitally from Matt’s site.

My Space | Brigadier’s Site

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The Telepathic Butterflies "Wow & Flutter"

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Still getting to a few albums that slipped by last year. Rainbow Quartz regulars The Telepathic Butterflies returned with their fourth album. Both guitarist/vocalist Rejean Ricard and super drummer Jacques Dubois are in high gear, and the band has been consistently excellent. Whether they do straight up power pop, retro-garage or psyche-pop each tune carries those awesome chord shifts and quick tempo beats. One listen to opener “Circle Man” and you’ll be hooked. The ringing guitars of “Lilacs” and “The Dillinger Plan” showcase the superior songwriting and musicianship here. “Like Esme” is a great mid-tempo love song with  Rejean’s vocal fitting perfectly alongside the guitar strums. In fact, every song is a winner, especially a very Teenage Fanclub-sounding gem “Elegy” with sweet hooks on every verse. It doesn’t vary too much from it’s fast pace from one song to the next, but it all goes by so fast you may not even notice. Reminiscent of The Kinks and Beatles with a touch of Sloan for good measure, it’s what I call exemplary power pop and not much else needs to be said.  It deservedly made it to #11 on Dave Bash’s best of 2009 list, what else do you need?

MySpace | Amazon | Not Lame | AimeStreet

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