The Pillbugs "Everybody Wants A Way Out"

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This latest Pillbugs album (always something to look forward to) comes with a bittersweet sense of loss. Vocalist/guitarist Mark Kelly passed away last May and the remaining band members put the finishing touches here with Mark Mikel leading the way. As with past releases, no other band has come close the recreating the spirit and sound of sixties psyche-pop better than the Pillbugs. From the opening riffs on “Life As It Happens” you’ll be sold. If you bleed day-glo colors then you have to own this one. Like a mix of The Byrds and The Now People, “Can’t Get It Right” is full of sophisticated rhythms and harmonies. “Greeting Committee” is a part McCartney, part Cat Stevens and is a classic mid-tempo love song with hand claps and a big fat melodic hook. “Soundman” gets a little harder in sound, a bit like The Who with some Lynyrd Skynyrd guitar riffs thrown in. Parts of this album do address Mark Kelly’s medical condition (“Hard Line”) with grim determination of an classic Jethro Tull song. Another highlight here is “Tragedy Ann” with awesome Roy Wood/Jeff Lynne-era ELO violins and cellos, with the Beatles long shadow over each Sitar strum and horn flourish. Although a few tracks seem indulgent (“Play the Hear Back”) consider me a raving fan here, and after a few listens you will bow at The Pillbugs altar.

My Space | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik

Listen to “Life As it Happens”

Listen to “Can’t Get It Right (So I’m Loving It Wrong)”

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Anya Marina "Slow and Steady Seduction, Phase II"

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It’s nice to find a fresh new artist getting major press and recognition from both Spin and Rolling Stone. Anya Marina’s Slow and Steady… is a tightly honed collection of winking pop gems and slyly sexy rock and roll that showcases this newcomer’s deft melodic sensibility and wryly humorous lyrical point of view. Anya’s sound is part Norah Jones-Suzanne Vega with a splash of Liz Phair attitude. Producers Brian Karscig and Britt Daniel (of Spoon) helps jump her to the next stage of artistic development from the early demos of Miss Halfway. The opening single “Move You” is a real keeper with an infectious beat and Anya’s cooing vocal. Other highlights here include the silky smooth “All The Same To Me” with jazzy sax highlights and the garage-styled guitar riffs on “Afterparty at Jimmy’s” where she flirts with the keen promoter of her band. The lesser tracks do not disappoint either, although the standard “Waters Of March” seems to have too much of coffee house vibe. By the whispering tones of “High On The Ceiling” you’ll be ready to hit the repeat button. The album is expected out 1/20/09.

My Space | Itunes (Move You single) | CD Baby (Miss Halfway)

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Top 2008 Best album – final results

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The Smith Bros. “Restless”

The Explorers Club “Freedom Wind”

Mike Viola “Lurch”



Josh Fix “Free At Last”



The Wellingtons “Heading North For The Winter”

Pugwash “Eleven Modern Antiquities”



Julie Ocean “Long Gone And Nearly There”



The Goldbergs “Under the Radar”



Greg Pope “Popmonster”

Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears “Flight of The Knife”

This was followed closely by Class Three Overbite and The Lolas albums. Overall, not a bad year for power pop. Thanks for voting and we’ve also nearly doubled our vote count this year too. I expect a lot of great music for 2009!

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Last Day to Vote is Wednesday!

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You still have a day left to vote for the best power pop album of 2008. Just scroll on down to the poll on the right and pick an artist. If you think I left off a really good artist, or I never reviewed your favorite — just e-mail me. I can’t add them to our poll, BUT I can review them for 2009 as a “missed favorite.” The poll results come out Thursday.

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Mighty Fairly "Big Words and Power Chords"

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Mighty Fairly plays indie folk pop with a little edge, and some humor. They hail from the frozen northern tundra of Minneapolis, MN and have been playing together since 2004. The first album was pretty impressive with loud hooks and harmonies (listen to the terrific “Wake Up” on the website), this new album is called “Big Words and Power Chords” and I guess it’s meant to be ironic. Other than the nice opening single “Falling To Pieces,” the other songs are just missing the hooks that keep things memorable. The band does provide a good mix of electric and acoustic songs, male/female harmonies, and neat arrangements, but what is missing here is the energy and freshness that made 2006’s Perfectly Good Airplanes a lot of fun to listen to. The lyrics and themes are still great fun here as  “Overachiever” is sung to someone who is arrogant and “free of mediocrity…” And songs like “Simple Minded” have that early hip REM vibe, but other songs are too busy setting up a storyline (“Shadow”) or setting up a mood (“Alaska”) to encourage repeat listens. This band certainly has talent, and although not as clever as They Might Be Giants, they are less geeky and are sure to improve. 

My Space | Mightyfairly website | Not Lame

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