Mo Troper returns with one of his most personal and melodic albums yet, “Today I Played My Guitar And Sang.” We talk about the new record, songwriting, influences, recording at home, and the stories behind these sharp, hook-filled songs. If you’re a fan of power pop, Teenage Fanclub, Fountains of Wayne, or The Beach Boys, this conversation belongs on your watch list.
Mo Troper returns with an album that turns personal struggles into some of his strongest songwriting yet. The cover features what appears to be a psychological evaluation for Asperger syndrome or ADD, setting the stage for an honest, self-examining collection of songs. Rather than becoming weighed down by introspection, Troper transforms anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt into irresistibly catchy power pop.
This is Troper at his most tuneful. His familiar bedroom pop aesthetic receives a fuller treatment thanks to producer Jon Titterington, who adds warmth and dimension without sacrificing the intimacy. Opener “The Best Seat In The House” bursts forward with layered jangling guitars and an irresistible bass line.”The Feast of Fancy” follows with crunchy guitars and a loose acoustic break that captures the feeling of everything threatening to come apart. The emotional high point is “When She Says My Name,” a gorgeous slice of sunshine pop that owes an obvious debt to Brian Wilson’s ‘Pet Sounds’ era. The lush harmonies and soaring horn arrangement make it one of Troper’s finest songs to date. Elsewhere, “Let’s Get Back To Music” sums up the album’s central idea. Music becomes the only dependable escape from an increasingly chaotic world. Yet Troper keeps his feet on the ground, delivering one of the album’s best lines, “To make the hits we take some hits along the way.”
Troper never hides behind clever lyrics, though. The bitterness of “Rotten” and “Moscow To The Ground” exposes genuine frustration, giving the album emotional weight beneath its bright melodies. With the Beach Boys-flavored “That Could Leave A Mark,” Troper proves once again that the sweetest hooks often carry the deepest bruises. ‘Today I Played My Guitar And Sang’ balances infectious melody with vulnerability, humor, and self-reflection. Highly Recommended.
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The Blusterfields refuse to treat power pop as a formula. On ‘Thoughts & Prayers,’ the North Carolina band mixes jangle pop, punk, psychedelia, and classic guitar rock into a collection of songs driven by sharp melodies and even sharper opinions. The album title itself mocks the routine response of politicians to gun tragedies.
The swirling opener “Any More” and “Big Celebration” celebrates a future with our dark cynical present. Fans of Andy Partridge and XTC will recognize the strong harmonies, inventive guitar work, and hook-filled songwriting, while touches of garage rock and psychedelic textures give the album extra depth. Every arrangement feels purposeful, with ringing guitars, confident rhythms, and memorable vocal harmonies carrying the message. Highlights include the raging “Never Been to Detroit” and the ultra-catchy “Mr. Secretary.”
The Blusterfields never let the lyrics overwhelm the music, delivering songs that work whether you’re focused on the message or the melodies. From the grim scenario of an ICE raid in “Daddy’s Not Coming Home Tonight” or the takedown of the administration on “Here Come the Idiots,” it mostly works. Even listeners who don’t share the band’s politics will have a hard time ignoring the craftsmanship. Highly Recommended.
These treats are so sweet! An aquatic mermaid lair, fairy wings, a candlelit room filled with potions, and a pet lion are just a few of the fantastical aspects that add to the whimsical storyline of the “Campari” music video from popster Toni Cornell. Everyone’s favorite DIY bedroom pop producer Mo Troper is back, and you have “The Best Seat In The House” to this bouncy power pop gem. Seattle’s The Rallies compile some of their newest singles, please listen to my fave, “I Believe.” Another excellent modern power pop band Dazy has an excellent EP ready, and ‘Bad Penny’ doesn’t have a bad song, really! Another real sweet gem here is the return of the mod-influenced Shake Some Action and you are ‘Running Out of Place To Run’ so you may as well enjoy these excellent tunes.Finally, the ever lovin’ Vista Blue. This new freebie single fits today’s theme, but the band has a great tradition of baseball themed EPs, and the new one ‘The Shift Is Dead’ is a fun soundtrack to this year’s World Series. Enjoy the sugar rush, kiddies!
I counted an additional 258 albums that I did not even get to fully examine last year, but rather than come out with my Top 10 Eps of 2023 (that’s next week) I will give you some much-needed singles (some are freebies) to keep you company.
Shane Tumarc (Dolour) sets the stage with a great cover of the Zombies’ “This Will Be Our Year,” the energy of Rock Europa’s “Pick at the Scab” is infectious with a commanding melody line. Brower’s “Confrontation” is very much in the mold of early Frank Zappa with its faux 50’s call and response. Next, Rooftop Screamers has perfected the arena rocker single “Dead In The Water,” with a solid vocal by Rob Daiker. It’s been a good year, and The Armoires give us the gentle opening salvo on “Music & Animals,” a fitting theme for the ASPCA. Finally, Mo Troper had a big hand in 2023 with producing others (including himself), so “For You To Sing” includes friends Brenden Ramirez (Bory) and Blue Broderick (Diners). Fear not, as I have another singles post of 2023 songs that deserve to be heard! Stay tuned.
Chris Lund (Lund Brothers) releases his sophomore LP after the highly acclaimed debut Great Event Syndrome. Lund’s style is certainly an updated take on late 20th-century rock tropes. “Everything Is Fine” uses everything and the kitchen sink with key shifts, harmonies, and hooks, and the title track “Indian Summer” and “Mary Jane” are catchy throwbacks to The Raspberries and Badfinger. Lund’s skillful guitar leads each tune with gusto and melodic brilliance.
The songs vary in quality after the first three, but the universal themes of girls, groupies, and angst are common themes. The fantastic “Down The Line” would’ve been perfectly at home on a Van Halen album. “Please Me” is a well-written ode to the misunderstood high school dropout, with a soulful guitar break over an acoustic rhythm. Overall, a great album that power pop & guitar fans will really appreciate. Highly Reccomended.
Much like last year’s Dilettante, Portland’s Mo Troper likes to capture pop songs spontaneously and often in “demo” form. He takes a catchy bedroom hook on the opener “Between You and Me” and buries it beneath layers of fuzz and percussive distortion. “I’m the King of Rock and Roll” is a little clearer, and says more about his state with its fine guitar solo. “Waste Away” is another quick pop gem that sticks.
But there is more experimentation here, and while dark self-humor is there (i.e. “The Only Living Goy in New York”) it often is at the expense of listenability (“Royal Jelly,” “Coke Zero”). Using a chipmunk vocal filter sometimes helps (“I Fall Into Her Arms,” “No More Happy Songs”) but its charm wears off quickly. The unintelligible “Power Pop Chat” and “Final Lap” make it more of an art statement, and that’s where you’ll either love it or hate it. Still, Mo’s talent shines through each raw unpolished nugget. It’s music that deserves to be heard.
