Tag: Joe Giddings

September singles and more: Vegas With Randolph, Icecream Hands, Smash Palace, dt’s, Elena Rogers, The Whiffs, Joe Giddings

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Midway through September and I’m falling way behind, but some great things are brewing. Vegas With Randolph is giving us a massive “Greatest Hits” album with several new tracks, and “Perfect Silences” is one of them. Keep your eyes peeled! More great bands are returning, including the great Icecream Hands from Melbourne, Austrailia going “Back On The Road” and the venerable Smash Palace with “Bitter Blue.” But its not all album previews, as New Jersey’s dt’s have an energetic melody with “Sun Shines Down.” Look out for more from these dudes! Multi-instrumentalist Elena Rogers is back with another A/B side with some help from Jamie Hoover (Spongetones), check out the jaunty “9 Lives.” Despite the tease of the title and cover, The Whiffs do not cover Devo. But it’s the finest garage power pop you’ll hear with an entire EP in a single track. And surprise! Joe Giddings follow up to this year’s super recommended album ‘Stories With Guitars’ is here already! Check out “Stay in Nowhere.” More reviews coming soon!






December singles and looking ahead: Timmy Sean, Joe Giddings, Blend Eleven and more

powerpopaholic

You know things are still very busy in December at Power Popaholic. We have several important releases all ready knocking on the door for 2025, notable is Joe Gidding’s new album (we have 2 singles to share), and a new Davenports album is coming too. In the holiday rush, we noted that Timmy Sean did a song about “Drones Over Jersey” and I think Adam Schlesinger fans will  enjoy it. Blend Eleven is another goodie, and this driving rock single is a great intro.

You know I can’t forget Hanukkah. Luckily I found a fresh new song by Danny Henry and Sam Kogon. Plus, as we look under the tree for gifts check out Big Stir Records and Rum Bar Records samplers from all their artists. Enjoy the free bounty of music here!





motherwest · When Everything’s Over

Joe Giddings and Nick Pipitone

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Joe Giddings

Joe Giddings “Better From Here”

Joe tells us right away ‘I don’t want to sing like the Beatles again, but I’m gonna do it anyway’ on the title track. It’s got a little bit of everything, but what stands out is that’s got some real guitar muscle. The next tune tones it down with slide guitar on “Always Raining Somewhere,” his songwriting here is in top form.

The influences are never stuck in one place, and it’s stubbornly original. “Gone So Far” is another brilliant example, with sweet harmonies and chord shifts. His guitar can shred with anyone, as he plays with a post-punk sprightliness and a less overtly British Invasion-inspired melodic sense that’s closer to the power-pop greats of the ’90s.  Fans of Velvet Crush and Fountains of Wayne will enjoy “Amity Horror” and “Rock and Roll.”  The high harmonies just burst in again on “If I Don’t Have Love.” Not a whiff of filler here and each track hits its target.  This is looking to be in my top 10 of 2020! Super Highly Recommended!

Kool Kat Musik


Nick Pipitone

Nick Pipitone “Thiensville”

Milwaukee’s Nick Pipitone has delivered a concept album in Thiensville, about a middle-aged man’s life in a small Wisconsin town. Inspired somewhat from The Kinks Village Green Preservation Society it touches on a lot of local names and places. The most distracting thing about Nick is his nasal Elvis Costello meets Bob Dylan styled vocal delivery. If you can get used to it, you will enjoy this album.

Starting with “Century Estates,” it’s a look back at a housing development that was “top-of-the-line” in 1969. The guitar riffs are great, similar to The Raspberries, but his songwriting style is clearly modeled after Mike Viola. “Skippy Had A Dream” is another early standout, and the album gets better the further you go along.

The ’60s influenced “The Prime Minister” with its psychedelic fuzz, very much recalls The Beatles “Rain” and “The Gathering” is a great slice of life tune about reliving your past, at a reunion with wine in hand comparing diamonds and Range Rovers. These song stories are very well written and musically smartly composed. Big highlights include “Coffee War” with a terrific guitar melody and “Village Scoop” with its catchy percussion. “C.O.C” about The College of Concordia goes to great lengths finding words to rhyme with “Concordia” and I love the line “No. 2 pencils and No. 3 girlfriends, Both are quite handy in the dead of winter.” Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Free Music Monday: The Joe Giddings Theme Collection

powerpopaholic
Joe Giddings

I must give a big shout out to the talented Joe Giddings (JTG Implosion) for spending the past few years indulging us with his favorite covers. Some tunes are faithful like Badfinger’s “Come and Get It” or creative interpretations like Tears for Fear’s “Head Over Heels” (Volume 3). And Joe will occasionally whip out a cool little known gem, I mean who else has covered the theme to “Nanny and The Professor” (Volume 2)?  Some of my favorite oldies are also included, like The Nazz’s “Open My Eyes” (Volume 1). This is a real treasure trove… Enjoy!