Tag: The Lolas

The Lolas and Peppermint Kicks

powerpopaholic
“The

The Lolas “Big Hits and Freak Disasters”

This is not a greatest hits compilation. Tim Boykin, the brains behind The Lolas has been releasing multiple digital-only singles since 2021, and now we get it all together in one beautiful package. Boykin never fails to deliver, whether he’s channeling psychedelic pop, British Invasion, jangle pop, or bubblegum hooks.

The album’s opening track, “Work is the Blackmail of Survival,” is very much like a jangling Byrds tune with great harmonies in the sunny chorus. “Shut Me Down” is pure West Coast bubblegum pop bliss, and “Call Your Name” is a dense guitar attack with a garage vibe. “Trick Myself” is very much like an early Who single, and when it comes to the ideal jangle of ’80s college rock, “From the Start” is spot on. As a singles collection, it varies in style from the mellow “I Wish You A Happy Journey” to the new wave synths meets guitars on “Down We Go.” With songs like these, Tim Boykin reminds us why The Lolas are one of the most reliable—and under appreciated—names in power pop.

Let’s also give props to Kool Kat Musik, which is still putting out tangible power pop CDs in the digital age, supporting musicians like Boykin and keeping the scene alive for both fans and collectors. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten album list for 2025.

Kool Kat Musik

The Peppermint Kicks

The Peppermint Kicks “Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum”

The great Sal Baglio and Dan Kopko combine their talents with a variety of drummers to create The Peppermint Kicks 2nd album, and it leads to an explosive, heavy punk-pop. “Radio Wham Bam Boom” is a great glam radio show theme song that sets the stage. “Too Sweet” is a great Cheap Trick meets bubblegum track with a kick-ass strutting riff. The garage-rocking “Little Doll (Picolla Pupa)” harkens back to the best of British pop from the 1960s.

Many tunes here follow that template and are fond memories of teen years, “Lollipop Girl” is dreaming about an English magazine model. And plenty of loving references to mid sixties anime with “Gigantor” and “Speed Racer.” Indeed, the enchanting “We Did It All For Rock N Roll” emphasizes the nagging feeling that we all long for that nostalgia when rock and roll was at the top of the cultural zeitgeist. Fans of Sweet, Mott The Hoople, and Queen will love this. Overall it demands to be played loud and its highly recommended.

Amazon

More May singles: The Bayonets, The Well Wishers, The Lolas, Scoopski, Kurt Baker

powerpopaholic


Brian Ray (Paul McCartney) is back with his old-school band The Bayonets. He let loose with his newest video, maybe more suited for Halloween (whatever) but it’s got a nice hook. The reliable Well Wishers are also back with the dense “So Important” and The Lolas have a great single here with “Trick Myself,” one of their best IMHO. Scoopski has a quirky single, like Green Day without the guitars or Billy Joe’s snarl. Honestly, check out the catchier “Double” that came out earlier. Finally, Kurt Baker returns to true form (minus the hair) for “Secrets,” and it’s no secret that Kurt is one of the top power poppers out there. More music to comb through each week, my review pile is growing at a furious clip, so stay tuned.




—

Rob Martinez and The Lolas

powerpopaholic
Rob Martinez

Rob Martinez “Maybe Miss America”

Rob Martinez is a first-rate pop singer with a vocal that reminds me of the late Davey Jones without the English accent. His style will please fans of Paul McCartney or Neil Finn looking for similar melodic pop. His 3rd LP is produced by Adam Marsland (Standells/Cockeyed Ghost) and mastered by Earle Mankey.

The music is similar to previous albums, but with even more polish. Opening with “The Letter” it’s a got a confessional feeling with guitar flourishes. But the big highlight comes next, as “Summer of Love” has lush harmonies that Adam has lots of experience doing as part of a Beach Boy David Marks work. Rob’s strong vocal carries the melody and it sticks in your head quickly. Another highlight, “Free” is a bluesy pop gem that recalls George Harrison with its loose guitar noodling alongside the chorus. Other tunes that stand out are “All I Ever Wanted” and “Seems Like Only Yesterday” with its wistful look back in time. Overall a great effort and classic pop fans will love it. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | CD Baby


The Lolas

The Lolas “Bulletproof”

Tim Boykin is a back, quickly after last year’s highly-rated A Dozen Or Seven Tapestries and he’s joined this time by Jacob Walcher on bass and Valis Procházka on keys and drums. The band’s sound is tweaked to more rock than power pop slightly, but Boykin’s solid command of melodies remains a constant.

“Deestroy” has an ELO-like sound, fast tempo, and a socialist message (“I wanna destroy capitalism, take away your desolate vision”) but it’s so darn catchy. The follow up “Fall Away” sounds a bit mechanical, but “Oceans of The Moon” is very compelling with its terrific chord shifts and the crisp vocal. The band uses heavier riffs on “Stand Up and Fight” and “Stop The War,” and while the songs are good, the continuous fast tempos can wear a listener thin. The slower “When The Cold Winds Blow” is a welcome relief and it shifts the mood nicely. I also liked the feminist theme “She Will Shake The World” with its dense guitar riffs, you almost expect this to show up in the next Captain Marvel movie. The solid “L’Internationale” ends with a fine Beatlesque touch. Overall a highly recommended album.

Amazon

The Lolas and Matthew Milia

powerpopaholic
The Lolas

The Lolas “A Dozen Or Seven Tapestries”

After a 13 year absence, Tim Boykin has reformed The Lolas and the band hasn’t lost its ability to create catchy melodies and sweet harmonies with loud raucous guitars. Boykin is joined by drummer Shea Rives and bassist Jeff Waites, and together they pick up where the band left off. This impressive Kool Kat label debut displays a tight musical combo playing ten solid cuts of prime power pop.

The title track blasts from the speakers with bright clear vocals and a dominant riff leading the way. The influences are classic (The Beatles, The Ramones, Big Star) and the relentless hooks keep on coming. “DJ Girl” is a great mid-tempo pop gem, and “Bon Voyage” is a fast tempo melody with a driving guitar rhythm. The psychedelic “Wish You Were Loud Enough” seems slightly out of place, but “Assailant” leads with a wicked fuzz bassline and multi-tracked harmonies. The not-safe-for-work “Lightning Mountain” is probably the most beautiful jangling Rickenbacker melody to contain the f-word. Not a single note of filler and yes, this also makes my crowded top ten list this year. It’s also worth noting that The Lolas have a new LP coming out early January. Boykin has a new crew playing on this one, and it’s likely to be one of my first reviews of 2020.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


The Lolas

Matthew Milia “Alone at St. Hugo”

Singer Matthew Milia (Frontier Ruckus) helped his old band earn fame based on his finely honed songwriting skills. He turns to the nostalgia of his youth during Catholic school as the subject matter and his sound seems to squarely fit in-between Ben Folds and Elliot Smith. Opening with soothing California styled pop of “‘Alive At The Same Time” has an easy-going jangling melody and smooth Beach Boys styled harmonies. “Puncture” has that stream of consciousness lyric about life and self-acceptance. “Congratulations Honey” is a steel pedal ballad that looks back on his “white trash town,” and then the jangle comes back on the compelling “Attention Students” that recalls the Jayhawks or Wilco.

The songs vividly describe an intimate portrait, a great example being “Swollen Home” about mundane suburban living; the ambiance comes through each verse. “Abruptly Old And Caffeinated” picks up the tempo, the verses work poetically and then a key change in the latter half make it another keeper. While not every song is a slow ballad, all the songs emanate a feeling of bittersweet melancholy. The lack of hooks or tonal variety work against the album, but it’s the skillful musicianship and writing that make this an album that deserves to be heard. 

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik