Tag: Ryan Allen

Singles: The Cudas, Ryan Allen, Empty City Squares, Mike Daly, The James Rocket, The Starbems, Chris Church, Vanilla, Richard Turgeon

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A boatload of great new singles! Check these out… and some are FREE downloads!

This is some great power pop hero worship with strong riffs. The Cudas deserve kudos for this!

Fresh after working with Nick Puinti on his new LP, Ryan Allen gets to work on his own music for a cause. 100% of the proceeds for downloading these songs will go to the Black Lives Matter movement.

New Jersey band Empty City Squares describes a world that is spinning off its axis thanks to COVID-19. The band also has a single out exclusively with Big Stir Records called “Parmenides” which is quite good.

Mike Daly is releasing a somber song for these troubled times. A bit depressing, but “I guess this is my life now, I hope that it lasts.”

NY based The James Rocket does it all right; wearing a mask, washing your hands, social distancing, and getting freakin’ frustrated with the whole thing,

Japanese power-pop-punk band The Starbems are part Knack and part Ramones. This single kicks ass all over the place.
Frank Burns was a band in the mid-90s that existed just long enough to record two songs. North Carolina’s Chris Church was part of that effort and delivers these rare artifacts. But why name your band after the most annoying character from M.A.S.H.?

Jayson Jarmon from Vanilla has a knack for tasty power pop. I love both the catchy “Easy As Pi” and the Western-styled pop of “Easy.”


West coast rocker Richard Turgeon keeps cranking out material for his new upcoming LP.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO and Extra Arms

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Jeff Lynne's ELO

Jeff Lynne’s ELO “Out Of Nowhere”

As a lifelong ELO fan, it’s a wonderful thing that the 71-year-old, semi-retired Jeff Lynne is still churning out enjoyable music. Like 2015’s Alone in the Universe, this is Jeff’s solo as ELO again (although keyboardist Richard Tandy assists on one tune) and playing every instrument. And while it’s a solid outing, please do not compare it to the highs of the band from 30 years ago. But this version of ELO is like comfort food on a cold night, and we should all savor each note.

The title track is a little a simple melody that recalls those Beatlesque days, but it doesn’t really stick. “Help Yourself” is a bit better, with its layered chorus and Jeff’s timeless mantra “You never change/you just keep on being you/you’ve got to help yourself.” The next few tunes feel like Jeff’s coasting a bit. But “Losing You” is gorgeously composed, it’s slow tempo is reminiscent of “Strange Magic.” Then Jeff comes to life with the rocker “One More Time,” and with it a neat series of synth, piano and guitar breaks. The futuristic fast tempos of “Sci-Fi Woman” and “Time of Our Life” both boast solid verses, hooks and sound like outtakes from the Time album. I have no doubt that some will compare this to the fuller sound and production of the past and come away disappointed. But as a Jeff Lynne fan, it grows on you, like most everything he does. Highly Recommended.

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Extra Arms

Extra Arms “Up From Here”

Ryan Allen makes this a full band effort by removing his name from the headline, and the band is simply Extra Arms. It’s first-rate punk-pop that fans of Green Day or Superdrag will embrace quickly. The first few tunes are barely scraping a minute and a half each. “F.L.Y.” is a joyous middle age piss and vinegar rant that opens things up quickly. “Secret Friend” churns out the fuzz chords and its another winner that you can sing along to.

Extra Arms heavy and fast riffs layered with Allen’s rough vocal are what power pop bands can aspire to, “Comes In Waves” and “No Enemies” keep the driving guitars and pounding rhythm flowing. The thick bass slows the tempo on “Space Jam,” which buries its jangle under reverb and finishes with a sweet acoustic coda. “Up From Here” is another winner, with the biggest, catchiest hooks on the album (maybe this should’ve been the first track?). This slim 8 track LP has no filler and it’s highly recommended. Play it on a loop for the full effect!

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Extra Arms and Stephen Chopek

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Extra Arms

Extra Arms “Headacher”

Formerly known as Ryan Allen & His Extra Arms, the band has transformed from a solo project to a full-fledged rock band. The group has moved from the raw garage sound of Basement Punk to a polished indie-rock vibe similar to Nick Piunti. Ryan still knows how to craft killer hooks, like the amazing riff-driven “Done To Death.”

The heavy rhythm guitars still layer songs, so “Under Surveillance” and “Why I Run” sounds like the Foo Fighters, Oasis and Squeeze partying together. The variety is due to the new band dynamic with Ryan joined by bandmates Michael Gallacher (guitar), Ryan Marshall (bass) and Sean Sommer (drums). It’s also consistently great with lots of highlights including “Old Heads” and “Push The Button” being power pop standouts. Highly Recommended.

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Stephen Chopek

Stephen Chopek “Begin The Glimmer”

Stephen Chopek was originally trained as a drummer. After touring with major acts (John Mayer, Jesse Malin, Marc Broussard) he decided to learn how to play guitar and write songs. And after busting his hump in New York City he’s already on his third album.

Chopek is somewhere between folk-pop and power pop on Begin the Glimmer. Starting with the careful strum and steady beat of “Make of Puzzles” the shimmering chorus and layered guitar notes fit comfortably together. The catchy “Radio Caroline” is written about UK pirate station in the early ’60s defying the BBC. The layered strumming continues with the solid “Places and Things.”

Things eventually slow to a more folk speed, but it picks up with “The Ballad of Cash & Dean” a Paul Simon-like song about two iconic men in black. He does break out a hard riff for “Thoughts Are Thinking” and overall this is a very good album that deserves to be heard.

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Friday Singles and Freebies: The Premiere of Faux Co! Vista Blue, Magic City, Ryan Allen, Reno Bo

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Faux Co

Exclusive Premiere! 

Chicago’s Faux Co. is the brainchild of songwriter Ben Mackey. Originally from Santa Rosa, California, Mackey has been writing 60’s influenced indie pop songs for a decade. This NEW single “Prozac Spaceman” is an exclusive Power Popaholic premiere. The core line-up of Faux Co is Ben Mackey, Trevor Pritchet and Chris Lee. This single has some great Rickenbacker strums and the melody flows along a catchy shaker beat. I can’t wait for the album!

The prolific Vista Blue is back with another great FREE downloadable album. This 6 song Ep contains much fun guitar crunchiness with a deep Beach Boys cut “It’s OK.”

Irish power popper Conor Lumsden from The Number Ones is Music City and here he’s playing every instrument on this A-Side ‘Pretty Feelings’ which sound like a lost Lindsey Buckingham track! Awesome! We want more Conor!

Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms are back and this advance track is just the start of his next release. This is a fantastic rocking track that just makes me salivate for the next song. Scream along and play air guitar to this one!

Reno Bo has some reflective ballads here to calm you after all that jumping around. Reno has a LOT of singles on his Bandcamp site, check out the Beatles cover and others.

Ryan Allen and Dave Rave

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Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms

Ryan Allen and his Extra Arms “Basement Punk”

Ryan Allen is back with his 3rd album, and as the title implies, the feedback drenched fuzz guitar rules these songs. Very much in the mold of Big Star, The Replacements or Tommy Keene and with help from producer Andy Reed, you’ve got a real winner here.

“Watch Me Explode” begins with a strong riffs, feedback and a solid beat. Even better is adding a catchy melody, and “Chasing A Song” is a big highlight and perfect example of Ryan at his best. “Alex Whiz” lays the fuzz thick and reminds me of the Posies a bit, while “Gimme Some More” laments the bands that don’t know what they’re doing but succeed anyway. No filler here, and more gems include the catchy “Two Steps Behind” and “Without A Doubt.” Highly Recommended.

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Dave Rave and The Governors

Dave Rave and The Governors “Radio Rave”

The ever prolific Canadian Dave Rave brings us another album with his band The Governors. Radio Rave is a little different as all the songs have one-word titles and the album is conceptual, as it mimics different genres on the radio.

“Lifeline” has a sweet McCartney quality and “California” is a mantra to stay away from “California Girls.” The more prototypical Rave is easily heard on “Chemical” and “Soho,” but the songs also run mellower like “Slow” or “Lie.” Some quirky stuff here sounds more like NRBQ than Rave, but cooler songs include “Fool” and “Montreal.” If you are in the mood for a not-so-typical Dave Rave album, get this one!

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