Tag: The Amplifier Heads
Mo Troper and The Amplifier Heads
Mo Troper “Dilettante”
After a daunting Beatles cover album, Mo Troper is back to his bedroom DIY fuzzy melodies and Dilettant is more hit than miss over the course of 28 short snippets. The influences are too numerous to mention but the opener “Total Euphoria” sets up a single hook before its gone, and then the driving guitar of “The Expendables Ride Again,” a rant about how ephemeral the music is, and the reaction “What’s the name of your new band? The one with you and my old friends?”
There are thematic gems sprinkled throughout, with others being simple song sketches. “The Perfect Song” is the goal here, one that “gets stuck in my head all day long.” Some artistic anger on “All My Friends are Venmo,” and plenty of highlights that compare well with GBV; “My Master’s Voice,” “Armpit,” “Better Than Nothing” and “Blake and Lanny.” Like a bag of Halloween candy, you may not eat everything but it sure is sweet.
The Amplifier Heads “Saturnaliens”
Boston rocker Sal Baglio (The Stompers) skillfully continues his journey with his band The Amplifier Heads as they cruise through their third album on Bar Rum Records. Described as “a graphic novel for the ears and head” I just start by giving kudos to the cover design. These UFOs would kick Boston’s ass.
The fine opener “Ghost Star Rider” mines that Western motif in the instrumental, and then the raw garage rock of “Rocket Boys” delivers the first salvo. Loving those riffs on “Earth Girls on the Loose,” and “All Fueled Up,” it almost goes full rockabilly with a hint of punk attitude. “GlamOrama,” “Candi Starr,” and “Bast Shit Crazy” are very Sweet-esque tributes, and the band doesn’t ease up on the gas. All lots of fun, but it can be a bit exhausting by the end of the album. Still more hits than misses here, and definitely highly recommended.
More September Singles and EPs: The Amplifier Heads, Shake Some Action!, The Nobility, The Cheap Cassettes, Alex Dominish, Richard Turgeon, On The Runway, Meyverlin
September isn’t over yet, and neither are the new singles and EPs from great power pop artists. The Amplifier Heads signed with Rum Bar Records and Sal “Shag 72” Baglio (The Stompers & The Peppermint Kicks) rocks out with this new Glamtastic single “SaturmalienS”. It’s also so nice to hear Shake Some Action! again and “Break It Down” mixes psych-pop and jangling rhythms to perfection. Nashville’s The Nobility gives us “The Sweetest Sound” and it is indeed a great tune — let’s hear more of this! With the end of the season, The Cheap Cassettes make it official with the slow R&B rocker “Endless Summer Ends.”
A few EPs here are also worth a download; Richard Turgeon gets reflective with a series of Campfire Songs. The buzzing anthem of “Be Who You Really Want To Be” and “Line of Sight (Tahoe Song)” recall classic-era REM. Memphis-based On The Runway is a new band created by Randy Norris and John “Boz” Boswell (Crash into June) with help from Neilson Hubbard, and Will Kimbrough. The easy-going mood of “This Charade,” and “Stuck On You” lifts you up and sticks with you. Alex Dominish is the guitarist for the Showboat Branson Belle (Branson, Missouri) and he’s got a bouncy, poppy sound guaranteed to put a smile on your face; be it first romance (“Rockin’ Steady”) or first job (“Desk Job”). Finally, a video from the upcoming band Meyverlin is here. The LP is out next month, they have a distinct ’80s influence, fans of the Cure will like this one.
Summer Singles and EPs: D.A. Stern, Kerosene Stars, Everet Almond, The Amplifier Heads, Gentle Hen, B.U.D., The Maladaptive Solution, Cult Stars from Mars, You Filthy Dog, Daryl Bean
And the flood of summer music just washes over you… This is the biggest haul in a long time, as bands are releasing all that music created during lockdown last year. Let’s start with a new EP from Los Angeles-based, New Jersey-raised D.A. Stern. Stern is one of those young artists that can legit be called upon to carry the torch of power pop into the future. The first single “I Look A Every Face (Cindy)” has that brilliant harmony-drenched approach. The video was directed by Dom Costabile and Andrew Narvaez. Pre-order here.
Many bands are back from self-imposed exile: Chicago rockers Kerosene Stars has a new single that asks “Where Have You Been?” a good question considering the chorus rocks! Then we get Everet Almond with a bouncy piano gem that sticks to you pretty nicely. The Amplifier Heads are “Summer Dazed” with its Beach Boys “Do It Again” vibe. Love those “mm-bop-did-its.” Gentle Hen did a summery re-mix of its memorable “She’s Got It Bad,” and it’s really good, so check out the LP it came from originally. Want some power? Get B.U.D.‘s single “What’s the Point of This (If I’m Not Into It)” it’s a bit Weezer-ish with a crashing chorus. It’s been a long time since I heard The Maladaptive Solution (how did I miss this single?) but info is sparse on them, so enjoy “Consort (Queen of Everything)” an epic mid-tempo rocker, and Jim Bacchi’s Cult Stars from Mars shows his “Funny Face” and its pure power pop greatness (I want an LP, Jim!) UK band You Filthy Dog is another EP that collects music from the past year, and “Face The Wave” and “Loved” remind me a bit of Carl Newman’s old band Zumpano. Similarly, with a ’90s vibe Mr. Strangelove (aka Daryl Bean) sings love songs for “Phoebe Waller-Bridge” and it’s all good.
Bubble and The Amplifier Heads
Bubble “Other Broken Dreams”
NYC power pop group featuring songwriter Dave Foster (guitar/vocals), Russ Alderson (bass/vocals), and Tommy DeVito (drums). In their current incarnation, with Rembert Block (vocals/perc), Mike Fornatale (lead guitar/vocals), and Charly Roth (keyboards) they have recorded their first album in a decade. Opening with “Be Careful” it’s a theme for the COVID age, with a jaunty XTC-inspired rhythm.
The jangling ballad “You Don’t Have To Say It” boasts a great piano bridge as the chorus rises in triumph and the catchy “Mail Order Submarine” is full of wonderful percussive effects and Beatlesque guitars. The songwriting is superb on “Don’t It Make You Wanna Cry,” a bittersweet tune about the loss of a music venue and that last show, and the folk acoustic “There is Hope” provides some encouragement for the soul. The album’s second half doesn’t score as high, but still provides good listening with the highlights “Make It Through” and “Never Gonna Let You Go.” Mostly it’s great music that deserves to be heard.
The Amplifier Heads “Music For Abandoned Amusement Parks”
Boston based musician Sal Baglio moves from those sunny singles of summer with a sobering autumn album that is very much like getting lost in an amusement park after dark. The opening “Funhouse Mirrors” starts the album theme with some hopeful anticipation, but the slow guitar instrumental “The Lonesome Carousel” changes the mood quickly, next “September Song” describes the back-to-school routine.
Musically, Baglio keeps these melodies finely developed, with just enough hooks to keep you coming back for more. Stylistically akin to Tom Petty “Candy Apple Girl” and “Ghost Song” are highlights that focus on nostalgic memories. The title track recalls Andy Partridge, with its swirling baseline and the energetic guitar riffs in “Freaks” tell a former carny’s story. At times it feels like Sal ran out of ideas towards the end of the album, as short musical interludes seem to take over. But overall the songs are effective — and ultimately worth checking out.