Tag: Tamar Berk

July Singles: The Worriers, Tamar Berk, Vanilla, Tommy Sistak, The Slip-Ons, Hurry

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It’s July! Trust Your Gut, the latest album by The Worriers (due in September) have this cool video for now. The band, led by lead singer Lauren Denitzio, has a highly approachable songwriting style full of folksy flourishes and driving guitars. Tamar Berk is back after her winning turn last year on Start At The End. She hasn’t missed a beat, and I look forward to more strong memorable melodies, as the preview shows. Vanilla also comes back with new music from the Pish Posh collection recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. Speaking of Abbey Road, local Beatlesque troubadour Tommy Sistak wants to “Take Me Along.” Next, Singer Brock Pytel (Canadian pop-punk band The Doughboys) and Brian Minato (Sarah McLachlan) are  SLIP~ons, and they bring GBV energy with them. Finally, I don’t know much about Philly power pop band Hurry, but they have nice harmonies – kinda like Teenage Fanclub and the album is due in August. Enjoy the fireworks!





The Power Popaholic Interview: Tamar Berk

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“Tamar

Tamar Berk “ocd”

Tamar Berk’s newest album, ‘ocd’, is her most polished effort yet, combining luxurious production, lyrical depth, and shoegaze sounds. As the title implies, the album delves deeply into the repeating, nervous thought patterns that characterize obsessive thinking. Berk’s greatest strength is her emotional honesty. Her cooing voice calms the tumult, and her production choices keep the songs warm and real, even when the subjects are bleak.

That said, ‘ocd’ isn’t always as memorable musically as it is thematically. Several songs lack the sharp hooks that would bring listeners back for repeat spins, however it does beat true to it’s own slowcore drum, like the laidback “indiesleeze”and “I’m In The Day After.” Big highlights for me were the sharp lyrical details of “You Ruined This City for Me” with its urgent guitar lines and the hazy arrangement of “I Had a Dream I Was Lost in an Auditorium.” For listeners drawn to the emotional landscapes, ocd will feel like a mirror. For those craving sharp, replay-ready pop craft, it’s a little more uneven. Fans of Tamar will enjoy this and ultimately this highly recommended.

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“Keys

KEYS “Acid Communism”

While it’s new to me, Welsh psych-pop outfit KEYS have been making hook-driven, genre-bending music since their 2002. Two decades on, their eighth album ‘Acid Communism’ is their boldest statement yet—raw, expansive, and unafraid to push into some power pop territory.

Acid Communism embraces grit. The opener “There’s No I in Teams” erupts with energy—clattering drums, jagged guitars, shimmering keys—while “Form A Band” channels classic rock swagger. Softer turns arrive with “Your Shoes” and the impressive “The Greatest Joke of All,” written solo on piano during lockdown with a Beatles-styled catchiness. Another gem, “Poyekhali” lightens the mood before tracks like “The Spectre” steer the record into darker territory. Each song feels distinct, yet the sequencing ties them into a bigger journey, making this a great listen overall.

The title is a meditation on connection and togetherness in an age of digital detachment. As frontman Matthew Evans puts it: “ACID” is experimentation, “COMMUNISM” is community. That philosophy shapes the record’s collaborative, unfiltered spirit. Highly Recommended.

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Tamar Berk and Speedfossil

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James Booth and the Return

Tamar Berk “Start at the End”

Tamar Berk quietly asks for a moment on “Your Permission” to speak frankly; and as we descend into her mind, it’s accompanied by melodic piano and impressive overlapping harmonies that build up to a peak by the end of the song. “Tragic Endings” is a brilliant hook-filled song full of deep truths, sounding somewhere between Liz Phair and Suzanne Vega. It’s an intimate self-examination after the unexpected death of Berk’s father, and the oppressiveness of living through Covid isolation. Recovery from this trauma is examined very clearly in “Hoping This Day Won’t Kill Us,” she is “going through the motions” of life just to “keep going.”

The low breathy whisper of  “You Already Knew” is a bittersweet memory of her last meeting and “Sweet Relief” is a dreamlike monologue that’s full of soulful twang that is both compelling and inspiring. But it’s not all downbeat, “Alone Tonight” is a hopeful look forward with a sweet guitar break after the main verse. “Real Bad Day” is purposely hard-rocking, and the thoughtful “Dandelions in My Flowerbed” is a power-pop tune that bounces through your head. The warmth and authenticity of Tamar’s songs are matched by her obvious talent. Highly Recommended.

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James Booth and the Return

Speedfossil “No Anesthesia”

Boston band Speedfossil is an energetic bunch. Led by Garret Vandermolen (singer/songwriter) and supported by Michael Scotti (bass/vocals), Dan Jordan (guitar/vocals) & Hector Saint-Hilaire (drums)they open things with “Luckiest Man in the World” sounding like a hybrid of The Smithereens and The Cars, it’s the quick chorus and guitar shredding that hook you right away. It slows considerably for “Rag Doll” and “You Got A Lot of Nerve,” thoughtful tunes about your partner’s sexual ambiguity, the latter boasting catchy hand-clapping verses.

Garret constructs a variety of memorable melodies, including “Disconnected,” a mellow, but dispirited theme about the gradual breakup of a relationship.  Overall some great tunes here; check out the classic rock riffs of “The Verge,” “Pieces of Eight” and the kick-ass finale “Count Me Out.” The production and musicianship are also superb throughout. Highly Recommended.

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