Tag: Brad Marino

Brad Marino and Ramirez Exposure

powerpopaholic
Brad Marino

Brad Marino “Looking For Trouble”

It took a few years for Brad to find his “groove” but he’s effectively taken the mantle of his old band The Connection, and made it his own. After a cautious debut, his former bandmate Geoff Palmer came out swinging with a louder, faster, punkier LP in 2019, Brad has effectively and literally “evened the score” with this album. Everything you ever loved about The Connection is on display and it’s got plenty of hooks, crushing riffs, and a variety of styles.

The bluesy guitar riffs open up “Even The Score” as Brad takes his “troubles in stride” and is “taking on the haters and trolls.” Even better is “Taillights Fade,” the catchy verse-chorus combo will stick in your head for days, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself singing along. Title track “Looking for Trouble” is another winner that has just the right amount of twang as it recalls The Georgia Satellites. Marino also doesn’t take himself too seriously as “Local Show” is a funny look at small venue shows (“which means nobody will go”) and I have personally heard that cheap nerd narrative in the last half of the song. The instrumental “Tripwire” is a nice tribute to guitar gods Duane Eddy and Dick Dale. Overall, there is not a false note here, every track rocks! This album is a contender for my top ten in 2021 for sure. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Ramirez Exposure

Ramirez Exposure “Exit Times”

Víctor Ramírez better known by his stage name Ramírez Exposure, is a Valencia, Spain- based, DIY pop singer/songwriter. Victor’s influences are rooted in the sixties, but he’s not a retro artist. Exit Times has plenty of hook-laden themes displayed throughout. His sound is somewhere between David Brookings and Secret Friend.

Victor’s double-tracked vocals are distinct on the richly detailed opener “Bridges and Roads.” Next, the title track layers two guitar rhythms and drums together as Victor imagines white sand beaches just beyond the Pandemic timeline, but the best track here is “The Rituals” a love song that bounces along to an infectious call-and-response chorus. Next, things mellow a bit as the next several tracks have a dream-like thematic quality, and “Dalingeria” is another standout here. The end single “Dysfunctional Girl” feels like a bonus track, with a sweet guitar riff to send us off. It’s a grower that demands repeat listens with headphones. Highly Recommended.

Amazon Singles: Dysfunctional Girl | Exit Times | The Rituals

EP and Singles Potpourri: Sandy McKnight, Beebe Gallini, Brad Marino, Vanilla, Jon Klages, Barton Hartshorn

powerpopaholic

Sandy McKnight‘s follow-up to last year’s San Fernando Beat EP continues his string of “shoulda-been” hit songs with Fernando Perdomo. If you’re looking for DIY rock and roll, look no further than Beebe Gallini and Brad Marino. Beebe’s got a rough garage sound, but it’s chock full of hooks, and Brad’s sound is vintage gold, similar to The Rolling Stones.  Going back in time further, Vanilla ’66 is an instrumental album for a 1960’s movie that never existed, retro pop fans can bask in the fluorescent glow of nostalgia. Will there be another Austin Powers movie? We got the soundtrack.

Jon Klages new single “1133 Ave. of the Americas (For Enoch Light),” is a subtle jazzy tribute to his grandfather, akin to Harry Nilsson in its brilliant simplicity and a great mood setter. UK artist Barton Hartshorn has a new single, “Listen For A Change,” and it recalls Prefab Sprout and early Style Council. Very nice.




Freebies and EPs: The Turnback, Nick Lowe, Brad Marino, Brian Mello, You’re Among Friends, Nick Bertling, Portable Radio, The Amplifier Heads

powerpopaholic


The Turnback had these three songs recently re-mastered by Grammy® Award-Winning mastering engineer Brian “Big Bass” Gardner (Foo Fighters, RUSH, Eminem, David Bowie, Cheap Trick). They are a FREE download and the band just asks for you to give a tip to the next essential worker you come in contact with (grocery clerk, fast-food worker, etc.). Now is the time we all need to be there for each other and PLAY IT FORWARD!

The masterful Nick Lowe returns with another EP, delivering pleasing pop gems in a timeless fashion.

Brad Marino (The Connection) is back in fine form with “False Alarm” and “At Night.” Guitar pop the way it should be, plus a cover of the Hoodoo Gurus classic, “What’s My Scene?” Get it at Kool Kat Musik

Brian Mello, the guitarist with The Morning Line, has a very unique EP out. It starts out like a spacey Western with “Landscape With Ruins” and stays kind of mellow until the riff-heavy gem “Adios.” A real grower here, so check it out.

You’re Among Friends, plays out like a fun jam in someone’s basement studio. Love the funk melody on “Once the Toothpaste is Out of the Tube.” More terrific casual rock, like “Just Keep Being Nice” make this a great FREE album to chill with.

Nick Bertling heads out to the audio twilight zone and gives us a personal work that seems to channel Todd Rundgren. Love those harmonies on “Perhaps” and the retro synth on “Mall Dreams ’87.” Another grower you need to live with.

Manchester UK pop band Portable Radio has a neat retro style and great harmonies. “Great In The Sun” and “Flight Home” remind me of the Cowsills.

JUST IN! Boston’s The Amplifier Heads are led by vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Sal Baglio (The Stompers). This is a real treat, as he channels mid-period XTC. Fans of similar bands (like The Sun Sawed In Half) will LOVE this.

Singles: Myles Josephh, The John Sally Ride, The Dowling Poole, Brad Marino, Go Outside, m.a.p.a

powerpopaholic

Kai Danzberg is working with a new artist, Myles Josephh. The harmonies are terrific and Kai knows a great melody when he sings it. The team is working on a new EP for this year.

The John Sally Ride is another artist poised to make a big comeback this year. Here is the first impressive single, love those riffs!

The Dowling Poole is back, Willie Dowling and Jon Poole have a  new album, “See You, See Me”, to be released on 28 February 2020. These are the first 2 singles. XTC fans will dig it!

Brad Marino plays this Buddy Holly classic. Hey, it’s a FREEBIE!

The new band Go Outside is more of an emo/alt. rock band, but they hit this single correctly when they shout “I swear to God if I ever play Power Pop… Give me something to make my heart stop!” Kinda reminds me of Superdrag. Album is on Bandcamp, and this single is a FREEBIE!

A band from Madrid, Spain – m.a.p.a stands for the first names of the people in the band; Manuel, Ana, Pepe, and Antonio. Plus they do a sweet cover of “Mean Mr. Mustard,” it’s a FREEBIE!

Brad Marino and Sunshine Boys

powerpopaholic
Brad Marino

Brad Marino “Extra Credit”

The solo LP from Brad Marino (The Connection, The New Trocaderos) is out and he continues the tradition of thick guitar riffs leading each tune. It’s all Brad, playing all the instruments with only co-producer Kris Rodgers adding keyboards and some additional vocals. Fans of The Ramones, Chuck Berry or Dave Edmunds will not be disappointed.

“Broken Clocks” starts us off with a Ramones meets Beach Boys verse/chorus setup.  The sound is a little cleaner and better structured than his previous bands, but it sticks to a very similar formula (Hey, if it ain’t broke…) Several tracks were previewed on earlier EPs last year like “C’mon, C’mon, C’mon.” Highlights include “No One Else Tried It,” ”From The Start,” and “Bye Bye Johnny,” a sequel to Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” “What Comes Naturally” adds a country slide guitar to the mix, and the Stones-y influences of his new label (Rum Bar Records) comes out on “Don’t Do The Crime.” Check it out!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Sunshine Boys

Sunshine Boys “Blue Music”

Something about Chicago’s Sunshine Boys that brings to mind classic rock traditions but spins the music in a fresh way. Featuring veteran musicians Freda Love Smith (Blake Babies, Antenna, Mysteries of Life), Jacqueline Schimmel (Justin Roberts, Big Hello), and Dag Juhlin (Poi Dog Pondering, The Slugs), Sunshine Boys offer a propulsive, modern take on 90’s alternative rock. The music feels like a labor of love and it is densely produced.

“Questions” glides along with a galloping rhythm about a long distance relationship. Dag’s deep vocals recall both John Mayer and Peter Gabriel, on both the anthemic “Tripping Through Time” and the potential hit single “Billy Boy.” The introspective themes on “Schoolyard Bully” and “Only A Million Miles” showcases our weary anxiety about the world today. I found the catchiest gem here “Glider Pilot” with its grand chorus. Both wonderful and a little out of time, and that’s what makes it music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon