| Good Music For Good People |
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April Update
| AWESOME NEW POP! |
POWER POPPIN' GOODNESS! |
MELODIC SWEETNESS! |
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THE RIFFBACKERS
"The Curtain Shop And Other Alterations"
SPANISH IMPORT. Shot to the top of my Top 15 list for best of 2009!
Taking cues from a long list of power poppy favorites, The Riffbackers
DELIVER! Each song as a different frame of reference - Lead off track
"Now It`s Fine" sounds like a long lost favorite from The Plimsouls or
Paul Collins Beat, from there listen for Raspberries, Cheap Trick, The
Who, early 70s McCartney and on and on. The Riffbackers are headed by two members of the much-missed The Winnerys.
"#7 Best Release of 2009. loaded with reverberating riffs and
hook-packed pop vocals. The Riffbackers craft great pop music that hits
you from the first note to the very last." - Power Pop Overdose. "A refuge that displays artists known to everyone we love, a taste for pop melodies with Rickenbackers that serve to display guitar riffs that hit straight through to the harmonies. "- Don Trasto blog. EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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DOUG GILLARD
*** LAST RELEASE TO ARRIVE IN 2009 AND JETS TO TOP 5 STATUS!***
This is Mensa Pop, music made for pop brainiacs filled with
unusual guitar playing(think Adrian Belew), angular rhythms, soaring
sideways vocals and hooks that recall obscure favorites in your record
collection that you have not visited in way, way too long. 2nd solo from Guided By Voices, Cobra Verde, and Gem member.
"Even better than Robert Pollard`s albums since he disbanded Guided By
Voices...he has the element that Pollard`s current downpour lacks:
quality control. Every song is completely considered and imbued with
strapping guitar hooks; Pollard surely misses Gillard`s dynmaic sparks
that govern this gamut." - Big Takeover.
Juicy harmonies, guitar solos to make you weep, sweet production- the
Doug Gillard you know and love is back." - Pop Zeus.
BIG TIME EXTREMELY
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
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COMES WITH 4 SONG EXCLUSIVE CD-R of 2 cover songs("Love Grows Where My Rosemary
Goes" by Edison Lighthouse and "Daydream Believer" by The Monkees) and
2 totally unreleased songs.
THREE WORDS: Swedish Power Pop
The Tangerines only add to the great legacy there. Fans of Ed James,
The Lolas, The Rubinoos and Cloud Eleven sound jump up `n down, drool
and land on your feet and run go get The Tangerines. Lovely layers of many instruments(most of them with ringing jangles
stuck to them), snazzy and totally ace melodies and lots of positive
energy.
16 songs(plus 4 with the bonus EP) packed with rich melodies,
infectious hooks, sweet harmonies and jangly guitars. 2010 starts off
with a band with sure Top 10 or 20 album for the year and a pure
celebration of the Not Lame spirit! GRADE A - beginning to end.
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Fans of The Rembrandts(vocally, Benjamin r sounds like Danny Wilde
mixed with Ric Ocasek), Gin Blossoms, Crowded House, Dada, The Grays,
The Odds, School Of Fish and The Caufields will find familiar territory
here but updated for the present. This kind of pop is timeless,
afterall.
It`s a scorcher of a accessible power pop album for all! There`s layers
of sweet, brash and crunchy guitars, slippery riffs and heavy
smatterings of hot, arousing breathy vocals. Oh yeah, tasty mounds of
brash, filler-free guitar that we don`t get enough of!
Where did Benjamin R come from and why is no one talking about this
guy!? Well, I`ll do my best to address that oversight and tell you that
you should stop right now with reading this and get rocking to the samples here.
Extremely Highly Recommended!
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SUNRISE HIGHWAY
Every year there is a few albums that stands out as *the* one to
recommend to picky Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans. Ushering in 2010 with
a bomb of a pure pop gem, Sunrise Highway is, most certainly, one of
those albums.
Sunrise Highway is, simply, an inspired work. Influenced by the best
sounds, Carole King, Pet Sounds/Surfs Up era Beach Boys,Wondermints,
Beatles, Todd Rundgren`s wonderful "Something Anything," Byrds, The
Lovin` Spoonfuls infectious good vibes or Mama and Papa harmonies,
Sunrise Highway pulls no punches to hide where their hearts and
affection lie.
With its layered vocals, rich production style and inspired artistic
vision, Sunrise Highway harken a bright, sunny and joy-filled new day
for you, for me and for an whole army of power pop fans. MASSIVELY
Highly Recommended!
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THE JONES THING
"Isolated Twins"
TRULY AWESOME FULL LENGTH CD at an EP PRICE!
Out of nowhere this
super-snappy blast of pure pop fun comes! Echoes of many faves of Not
Lamers will snap, crackle and pop to the surface here including early
Elvis Costello & The Attractions, classic Squeeze, early Joe
Jackson, Any Trouble, The Yachts and many happy sideward glancings to
XTC(listen to soundbite #2 below for a good example) sift in all over
the place.
Records like "Isolated Twins" don`t get made these days. Why? Well, if
you are going to attack these kinds of influences you better be *good*
- real *good* - to be up to the task as when you fall short and flat
with pulling this kind of material off, it results in a puerile pile of
pop poop. That is NOT the case here - Not Even Close!
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"Number 8 CD of 2009. Taking cues from The Beatles and Weezer, Research Turtles bring an
energetic mix of pop and rock that is fun, honest, and at times
nostalgic. Their sound is reminiscent of 60s-era British invasion rock
with thick guitars, driving beats, and simple pop structures." - Power
Pop Overdose
"Percolating rhythms, prominent bass, fiery furnace guitars, and
passionately cool vocals- in other words, pretty much everything you`d
what in a good, solid, rock `n roll band! Wiggly, and sometimes
dominate keyboards add depth, and just enough finesse, that adds
another dimension to the band`s creative sound- This is the pop rock
album we`ve all been waiting for. Dance your butts off, my friends!!" -
Jersey Beat.
"Research Turtles is an indie rock band that will remind you of
everything from the Beatles to Weezer, AND have everything power pop
lovers want: superb recording quality and production, well-written pop
song structures, catchy melodies, tight harmonies, and an array of
different instrument sounds and guitar tones throughout the record."
-Music Martini.
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Outstanding 2nd album from The Corner Laughers that will keep fans
waiting for a new album from The New Pornographers filled with plenty
of pop gee. Sassy and saucy, wistful and dreamy, San Francisco`s
indie-pop sweethearts The Corner Laughers combine rock-and-roll
attitude with book smarts
"Smart, bubbly pop...sugary hooks with quiz bowl vocabulary and surreal
imagery. The tunes are airy, breezy and laced with unexpected lyrical
twists ... Their second album, produced by the Orange Peels` Allen
Clapp, puts a 1960s sheen onto conflicted, ebullient and intricately
intelligent girl pop. All these songs are bright, sardonic, and without
a trace of self pity, bouncing along on unstoppable beats and
irresistible girls-rule harmonies. " - Blurt Online.
B ouncy, and, naturally melodic and engaging tunes featuring female vocals heavy on
harmony, ukulele, guitars and a first-class rhythm section. It`s the
sizzling fun of summer mixed with the melancholy mood of autumn.
This is going to be a favorite of many Not Lamers for many, many years to
come - it`s that vital, good and worthy of repeated plays.
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POPGUN
NORWEGIAN IMPORTS - 2 CDs here - LIMITED COPIES!
Popgun know how to ROCK their POP - righteously. Pay Attention
fans of sweet and crunchy pop as Popgun deliver in a way that is like
overdosing on Hostess Sno-Balls..an blast of power pop sure to give you
cavities. A tablespoon of Buzzcocks, some Teenage Fanclub, a scent of
Nick Lowe, The Lemonheads on a Sunday Drive, a health dose of classic
Scandi-Pop Drive(the boys are Norwegian, afterall) and you`re pretty
close.
Both albums pop hard and are a refreshing display of nice LOUD jangling
guitars, solid rhythms and sugar-sweet harmonies lighting the fuse on a
tasty box of Euro styled chocolates. This thunderous pop band knows how
to take edgy, gritty guitars and hard wire them to bouncy pop hooks all
driven by power packed melody! These are smashing rock-solid songs with
deft and irrepressible charm.
"8 out of 10. There are no surprises, then, but that`s not what
they`re about. Popgun promise punchy, guitar-driven power-pop that`s
bouncy and energetic, and that`s what they deliver from start to finish." - Whispering & Hollering
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While both his previous releases were excellent, strong
assertions of
creative strengths, with "Sparkle Lane", Rogers not only ups his game
but ups the game of artists he brought in to articulate his vision.
Co-producer Don Piper and Rogers have found a way to really create a
sonic landscape and backdrop that can hold a candle to their
inspirations (Zombies, Bowie, Byrds, The Church, The Kinks) and the
musicianship of members of Psychedelic Furs, Ronnie Spector, Milk
`n Cookies, Sparks, Roxy Music and The Kennedys adds plenty of
talent.
The string arrangements, in particular, offer tasteful, never
over-bearing connection to each song they accompany. Each song has a
story to tell in vivid lyrical and music detail. That unique assortment
of disparate talents comes together to bring Edward Rogers` creative
vision to vibrant musical life on Sparkle Lane, adding another dynamic
chapter to an already impressive body of work.
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MEMPHIS 59
Memphis 59 got the sound *down* and the songs to back it up - indeed,
evoking the jangling sounds of The Jayhawks, as well as
many Bloodshot Records bands, Joe Henry, The Broken West and Terry
Anderson.
Tons of new bands and names are trying do it. Every day, month and
year. Many were called ,only a few ones were THE CHOSEN . Well, you`ll
have to trust in me. This band has released a humble little masterpice
in the Americana/ Alt. Country/Power Roots leftfield this year. Fans of
electric Fender and jangle guitar sounds with flawless harmonies and
ozonic chorus are welcome. "Black & White TV" is like Ryan Adams
fronting The Long Ryders. The closing "Heartbreak Luck" blew my mind at
first hearing. Pure MAGIC. This is the song Gary Louris forgot to
include in "Tomorrow the Green Grass"" - Rock `n Roll Circus.
"The catchy songs with melodic guitar hooks burst of energy. The dynamic
trio rocks with honest music with devotion the proverbial pots of the
roof. The numbers then settle directly into your memory." - OnTapOnline.
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THE ANYTHING PEOPLE
Fans of The Seeds, The Remains, The Animals, The Standells, The Troggs,
The 13th Floor Elevators and, yes, "that Liverpool sound" MUST hear The
Anything People.
15 Years ago, if a band like The Anything People had come along, they
would have been feted as saviors of the authentic 60s garage sound.
Today, they are taken for granted and over-looked - don`t let the
cynicism of the internet age and millions of songs at your disposal for
free let you gaurd down if you are into the archetypal stylings that a
band like The Anything People attack.
Six live bonus cuts showcasing the group`s furious on-stage energy are
also included for a total of 18 of the finest garage tunes in recent
memory.
Hear them now so that you can say you were a fan before they showed up on Grandchildren of Nuggets!
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THE BREAKAWAYS (Paul Collins & Peter Case)
"Walking Out On Love (The Lost Sessions)"
Order Today -- $17.00
FANS OF PAUL COLLINS & THE PLIMSOULS, listen up!
While looking through boxes in his climatized garage, Paul Collins
discovered the master tapes for The Breakaways` recordings. The songs
on this album include earlier versions of future classics for both of
their future bands.
"The recordings vary in quality, but the enthusiasm of power-pop pals
playing and singing their hearts out easily transcends moments of mono
muddiness and under-mixed vocals.
The thirteen songs include a few that had been recorded by the Nerves
such as "One Way Ticket" and "Working Too Hard," as well as originals
that would become staples for the Plimsouls ("Everyday Things") and
Beat ("I Don`t Fit In," "Let Me Into Your Life," "USA" and "Walking Out
on Love"). Even more interesting to fans are the originals that didn`t
make it past these rough demos." - Hyperbolium
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Fooling April return with their 3rd and strongest album
Infectious pop hooks. Unforgettable melodies. Memorable solo chops. This
quartet has all the corners covered. Unpretentious, poignant and
humorous lyrics combined with sophisticated song structures are found
in the timeless music of the band.
With a focus on acoustic-edged
melodic pop seamlessly blending with classic and modern-rock
sensibilities, the band is a must for fans of keyboard driven pure pop
in the vein of Ben Folds, The Argument, Steve Winwood, Willie Wisely(a
lot that here), The New Radicals and The Semantics.
"8 out of 10. Opening with a simple Rocky Raccoon-like piano and guitar
melody on "We All Need Someone" it is understated and impressive with a
sweet sing along chorus...A very funny "I Win" tells the story of the nerds triumph in adult hood
with a great Ben Folds styled piano noting "the girl with braces who
gave off a peculiar smell is hot as hell." Most of the songs are
melodically strong (sounds like some one`s been studying Mike Viola)
and the sweetness factor is turned up for "It`s A Deal." - Power Pop Aholic
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It`s always a joy when an artist like David England comes along and I
can confidently present Marshall Crenshaw, Graham Parker, The
Smithereens and early Elvis Costello as accurate touchstones for you to
be empowered in that quest.
"We namechecked Elvis Costello as an influence in the review above, but
he definitely comes more to mind here in the sound of this Indiana
native`s second album. England has a voice and a sound that could be
described as the golden mean of Costello, Dave Edmunds and Graham
Parker. Fans of those artists will love the Rockpile-like opener "You
Don`t Have To" as well as "Don`t Go Back", which has a bit of a country
touch a la Brinsley Schwarz...It`s a must-have for fans of this classic style of power pop." - Absolute Power Pop Blog.
"England sounds quite a bit like Elvis Costello - his froggy, thick
voice would sound imitative if not for the lack of an English accent -
and his songwriting is in the school of clever wordplay and catchy
choruses that brings to mind guys like Costello, Marshall Crenshaw and
Freedy Johnston. " - NUVO
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STEVE ALLEN ( 20/20)
"thinline" is filled with confidence, maturity and sense of purpose, it
will take many by surprise. It`s not a power pop album by any stretch
but it is a display of his continuing growth as a songwriter, singer
and guitarist.!
Lead off track "Change Is Coming Down" is the killer,
right-between-the-eyes uptempo light rocker with a killer arrangement
and soaring chorus and one of the songs here that is a keen reminder of
his power poppin` past. The Marshall Crenshaw-y "No More War" follows
with bouncy rhythms and chippy guitar lines and, again, is has a
mid-section break that is very 20/20 like. "Can`t Fool Yourself"
reminds me of mid-70s Cliff Richard(think "Devil Woman") while
instrumental track "Oklahoma Sky" has Dave Gilmour-like tastly
explorations that evoke Pink Floyd. Buddy Holly homage "22 Years Old"
create a refreshing detour and it continues on through 10 tracks.
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No, power pop geeks, this is not The Secrets band that was on Titan
Records and released one insanely hard-to-find album back in 1981. That
said, drop the digital needle on a few songs on "Step Back Look Ahead"
and you might think it IS that band, such are some of the `old school`
power pop sounds going on.
Lead off track, "Yesterday"(song #1 below) sounds like the type of
independent power pop that Titan Records searched the mid-west for in
the late 70s. It`s not just that song as you`ll find others here that
will remind the power pop historian of such bands as Arlis!, The Boys,
The Secrets* and Gary Charlson.
Yet, The Secrets on this CD are just 4 guys getting together and having
a good time with out any agenda or sound template that they are looking
master.
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TODY CASTILLO
To call this sophmore record a leap forward, a dramatic over-stepping
of what came before it, would be a large under-statement. Like
Castillo`s self-titled debut, this one sounds the power pop album that
Jeff Buckley would have made if had lived a bit longer; not only does
Castillo sound like him, but he shares a similar sense of creating
soundscapes inside his deceptively simple songs and letting them float
skyward as they envelop the senses with their sweet, lulling beauty.
There`s some Jeff Tweedy(some of the strongest songs here highlight the
really, really poppy side of Wilco), Duncan Sheik, Salim Nourallah and
Josh Rouse in here.
The melodies are impeccably well crafted and clearly the work of a
songwriter in his prime, while the music strides gracefully in step
with each melody, perfectly highlighting the emotion and enduring truth
of the songs. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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SCOTT BROOKMAN
Fans of Todd Rundgren(check out song #2 and #3 below), "Friends"-era
Beach Boys, Steely Dan, Nilsson and XTC make sure you don`t miss "A
Song For Me, A Song For You" by Scott Brookman. "Musically, Brookman
brings to mind The High Llamas` homages to Brian Wilson. These
atmospheric tunes are melodic, witty, yearning and sometimes
melancholic. They`re also frequently hypnotic and always engaging"
David Gofstein, Cool and Strange Music!
"Sounds like a well-studied tribute to the jazz-inflected pop of 70s
artists such as Todd Rundgren and Donald Fagen, with the prerequisite
underpinning of Brian Wilson and Beatles melodies. A talented arranger
and smooth - if not flashy - singer, Brookman freely mixes it up
musically, incorporating elements of bossa nova, jazz and rock on these
14 tracks." - Style Weekly.
"There are touches of Todd, Andy Partridge, Steely Dan, Beach
Boys, etc., but this is very much Scott`s own clear vision." Indie
Music Stop
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WONDERMINTS
2009 collection of rarities from the L.A. Pop outfit who are now best
known as Brian Wilson`s backing band. Emerging in the early `90s with a
series of self-made cassettes, Wondermints quickly developed a
reputation for being one of the preeminent bands operating in Los
Angeles. Kaleidoscopin` collects many early demos, album outtakes, and
covers, all sourced from the original master tapes. Just one listen to
Kaleidoscopin` and it immediately becomes apparent why, in 1996, Brian
Wilson said, "If I`d had Wondermints in 1967, I`d have taken Smile out
on the road." 20 tracks.
Track Listing: Track listing: `And Penny Knows," "Wondermints." "No
One`s Girl," "Gone," "I Should Fall," "Silly Place,", "Truth Or
Consequences," "Galactic Patrol", "Runnin` Through The Night," "Reality
Check," "Invisible Paint," "Mis Ry Train," "She Knows," "Playtex
Aviary" (Revisited), "The Party," "Austin Powers," "You Need Love",
"Full Moon," "Ski Party," and "Rejected X-Mas Messages"
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THE SHORE
The Shore pull off a feat that scores of rock bands have tried for the
last 15 years who were inspired by Oasis - making an album that can
stand along side the powerful muscle, melodicism and power that the
strongest material of that band connected to millions with. Oasis may
not have made a record that you can play beginning to end since "Be
Here Now" but The Shore have.
Don`t let that powerful statement slip by. The Shore is a stylish
appropriation of the dusky psychedelic country sound favored by , yes,
Oasis and the Verve for Urban Hymns and even remind me of some of the
most recent material from Ice Cream Hands(listen to soundbite #3 below
for best example of this).
Not since the 90s could I conceive of giving a band that attempted
these sounds would get an "Extremely Highly Recommended" denotation
from me but The Shore do - I am ambiguously a massive fan of "Light
Years" and will be for years to come.
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"Lamb mixes pop, classic rock and Americana, and comes through with one
quality tune after another. Every year it seems that I come across a
singer-songwriter who makes a great `Ryan Adams` album. Of course I am
speaking of the Ryan Adams of `Gold` and `Heartbreaker` and this year
it is Shane Lamb." - Absolute Power Pop blog.
Lamb has a reedy tenor which serves his tales well. To me, the most
surprising aspect of this entire album is the decision to call the
album `disengage.` For me, Lamb`s music is so engaging, there is no way
I would want to separate myself from it. The eye for miniscule detail
is there. The ability to craft a clever line. The melodic sense and the
ability to make each word meaningful are all evident in Lamb`s music
and bode well for his success in the music business."-Scott Homewood,
the Rock n Roll Report.
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THE COPPER KINGS
A band I normally don`t go for, one of that mines the territory of The
Wallflowers, Counting Crows and more moderns ones like Augustana but
there`s something that hits me very right from The Copper Kings all
over "Hellos And Goodbyees".
"This Seattle band has a driving power pop style that sounds more like
the Heartland than the Pacific Northwest. Similar to First in Space and
Daylight Titans...Other standouts include the jangly/alt-country-ish "Best Laid Plans",
the Collective Soul-esque "Turn Away", and the excellent closer
"Forever Someone Else", which has a Gin Blossoms quality about it...All I can say is give these Copper Kings a shot in the epic battle for control of your iPod."- Absolute Power Pop blog
The band understand hooks `n melodies. After three listens, I find
myself pulled in and consistently enjoying all the offerings on "Hellos
And Goodbyes". Very Highly Recommended!
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BOB NYSWONGER
First solo album from Pyschodots, Raisins and The Bears
bassist/songwriter Bob Nyswonger. That it took so many years to come
along has been a drag for fans of his unique brand of pop craftsmanship
but here it is - finally. Not only does it not come close to
disappointing it contains at least one truly perfect Nyswonger
composition "Catherine The Great"(song #1 below). Stylistically, it`s
an exercise of taking on different styles of music and an artist of
this kind of talent can only succeed.
"Nyswonger is no exception, having just launched his first solo album
Deposition. The eclectic disc features a variety of songs Nyswonger had
penned over the years that didn`t quite fit into any of his group
contexts. Its 11 tracks are comprised of addictive power pop cuts,
raucous rockers, flickering ballads and the occasional ambient
excursion." - Innerviews.org
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TOM CAUFIELD
"Backtrack Einstein: The Archive Series Volume 4"
Order Today -- $10.00
Tom Caufield for those geeks who care about such things was an original
member of Cincinatti`s legendary The Raisins in the 70s(a band I
maintain was the best pub pop band ever when I saw them many times in
the early 80s), who went onto become Psychodots and The Bears w/ Adrian
Belew(members who appear here).
This collection is a trove of fascinating pop music that does not play by the rules and
really searches out interesting musical contexts and melodies not
usually played around with by most artists. The 20 songs here are their
own reward. Each volume has contained fresh, interesting, hooky guitar
pop with interesting lyrics and uplifting energy
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FREEDY JOHNSTON
A eight year absence and...what-a-return! I was never a big fan of his
earlier work, honestly - always solid, good albums, with one or two
choice songs but "Rain On The City" delivers a handful of excellent
gems, inspired craftsmanship and new found vigor to compete in the
musician landscape.
"4 stars. this collection is a beautiful example of Johnston playing to
his strengths and reminding us why he`s one of the best and most
singular American songwriters at work today. With any luck, it won`t
take quite so long for him to make something this comfortable but
pleasantly surprising again." -AMG.
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TICKLED PINK
A 2009 project that features Bob Nyswonger(The Psychodots, The Raisins,
The Bears) and Bam Powell(The Raisins) and is a radio-friendly
smorgasboard of rootsy-sounding rock with elements of pop, blues and
60`s R&B featuring strong playing and songs with hooks. Tickled
Pink also features Telecaster master Scott Covrett on guitar and the
three men venture out on an adventure of 3 incredibly talented
musicians dishing it out for themselves first and their listeners and
fans next. As it should be. They share songwriting duties evenly and
jump from power pop, NRBQ-styled rockabilly, swampy blues and straight
up rock.
Searing lead guitar, driving
melodic bass and groovacious drums combined with soulful vocals are all
trademarks of this Pop/Rock/Blues band, and fuses it all together with
intelligent lyrics.
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GREAT AFFAIRS
This is a new side project from Former guitarist Denny Smith that finds
him exploring a heartland, root rock exploration with The Great
Affairs.
The 4 guys here are playing loose and having a good, solid
time making music from the gut and letting the sparks fly. That it
comes off sounding so effortless is testimony to the talents of the
participants. Fans of The Jayhawks, The V-Roys and Limbeck should dive
right in. The sound is one the gentle roots groove of a road-tested and
worn Telecaster, a glorious wash of slide guitar and snapping snare
patterns, the warmth of a perfect bass line and the earnest
declarations of a band getting ready to hit the highway. Very Highly
Recommended!
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GREAT BUILDINGS
DUE JANUARY 26th!
A REAL EVENT for old-school power pop fans!
The unreleased 2nd album
that Epic shelved in 1982 from Danny Wilde(The Quick, The Rembrandts)
and Phil Solem! I have had a copy of this album since 1987 and can
speak to its very high quality - if you are a fan of the 1st(and until
now, `only`) album you will be quite happy! It is not as strong as the
classic debut - it would have been hard to top it but this is real deal
and really a delight to properly have released in 2010. I can only
imagine it was shelved simply because it was out of step w/ the times
and not up to the developing ghastly New Romantic sounds that were
being churned out in `82.
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COCKTAIL SLIPPERS
It`s a modern rocking version of The Go-Gos, The Runaways and Blondie.
What would there NOT to be loved as long as the songs are there and
while there are no instant classics here, they serve the spirit of
yesteryear really fine.
The rock guard comes down on songs like "Don`t Ever Leave Me" and "I
Got A Crush On You, both sweet, full on `60s girl group homages with
all the vulnerability of an original, but definitely cooler with some
melodic guitars and vintage organ. "Anything You Want" is probably the
best description of The Cocktail Slippers overall sound: A tight,
garage rock band with an affinity of 60`s girl group pop. " -
PaisleyUmbrella blog.
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TRIGGER
"Trigger"
German only reissue of this AOR classic from 1978.
I bought this album
in the Bowery Zone along with all kinds of punk classic imports of that
year. For me, punk, power pop, hard rock, prog, bubblegum and AOR exist
harmoniously with each other. This album is filled with all kinds of
hooky gems that evoke an artful(yes, artful!) mixing of Artful Dodger,
Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Starz, The Babys and Kiss. As contagious a
collection of loud & anthemic, no frills riff rockers you`ll ever
likely hear if yr into this stuff like I am. Go ahead, treat yourself -
listen to the soundbites below and admit it: this stuff rocks.
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THE 99ERS
"And Then There Was Surf"
FWhat does it sound like when the energy of punk builds into a wave of
power and smashes on the shores of melody? The 99ers, that`s what. One
part Ramones, one part Jan and Dean, and a whole lot of Midwestern
attitude, The 99ers have long been wowing audiences with their catchy
melodies and short, punchy songs. If you want to know what it would
sound like if the Clash morphed with the Beach Boys, or if Blondie had
gigged at Santa Monica pier instead of CBGB`s
With Molly Holley`s vocals riding the crest of the surf, you`ll find
yourself bopping and beachcombing to 18 tracks of joyful pop punk and
shouting Go Surfers!!
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LANDON PIGG
"The Boy Who Never"
An intensely emotional album containing excellent arrangements and
production qualities and a emotional core that can rivet you into the
tapestry of subject matter.
Listen to song #1 and #3 at the link above and see if
you dig my favorite songs on "The Boy Who Never" as much as I do.
Reminds me of Doug Powell, Micheal Penn and Tal Bachman and fans of
these artists will not be disappointed here. This the kind of
songwriter pop craft that,when done well, makes a strong statement for
major labels finding a way to break this great songwriting through to
larger audiences. VERY Highly Recommended!
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WE THE KINGS
"Smile Kid"
Really good commercial emo-power pop for the youth-set by this Florida
band, who fall into the vein of Jimmy Eat World but these boys pull off
some mighty, mighty fine melodies and hooky vocal arrangements inside
all the emo-pretense. You could almost call them a real `power pop`
band in some spots on "Smile Kid". Listen to the songs below for fairly
accurate examples of this proclamation. Sure, nothing original here but
of all the early 20-something bands making this kind of `rock`, We The
Kings hit me better than 98% of what is out there and are a guilty
pleasure.
DEATHRAY DAVIES
"The Kick And The Snare"
A big, immediate album so drenched in pop intuition and savvy
arrangements that if radio still played rock `n roll, it could be a
generation soundtrack mixing aspects of Sloan, Spoon, New Pornographers
and The Kinks. Deathray Davies mines a cleverly cool sound that snaps, crackles and pops with energy.
THE ATTACK
"About Time!"
UK only import, 19 tracks. Making up the four great bands of the 1966
pop-apocalypse were The Who, The Action, The Creation and finally The
Attack. Four names that in their brevity summed up the instant flash of
mod-pop appeal. They had more energy than an H-bomb after flash.
PACIFIC DRIFT
"Feelin' Free"
Digitally
remastered and expanded edition of this obscure 1970 album featuring
bonus materialting. Very Highly Recommended! Pacific Drift remains
a sparkling, West Coast-influenced amalgam of
post-Psychedelic Pop and early Progressive Rock, skillfully weaving
wistful laments and riff-laden rockers into a fully cohesive whole.
THE MAINE
"Can't Stop Won't Stop"
Okay, I`m mildly a sucker for the better of these standard-ish pop rock
bands that are in their early 20`s with way too many hair care products
on their heads WHEN they show some respect for what came before them
and really try and *write* songs. The Maine are one of those bands best
exemplified with the sound bites below - You will either like it or
hate it - you decide. Nothing earth shattering, no question - but well
recorded, slick, moderately over-indulgent whiner pop has its time and
place for many of us. These guys stand out from the pack.
THE FEELIES
"The Good Earth"
It took the Feelies six years to create The Good Earth, their follow-up
album to Crazy Rhythms. The album was co-produced by Feelies
co-captains Glenn Mercer and Bill Million along with REM`s Peter Buck
who was a Feelies admirer since his days as a record store clerk.
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CHECK OUT ALL JANUARY 2010 NEW RELAEASES - CLICK HERE
JADE
"Faces Of Jade"
UK import. It`s late 60s Brit-psych/pop of the McCartney/Roy Wood
variety transplanted to 1970s Cincinnati, serving up plenty of
innovation. "Considering the modest budget of such a DIY undertaking in 1970, the
mix is well done and the material is very well constructed. Blending
the Beatles, Blossom Toes and a number of other pop/psych acts of the
era, Jade create a formidable aural tapestry. With slight folk
leanings, each track breezes along quite nicely throughout the duration
of the album." - Robots For Ronnie
LOCKSLEY
"Don't Make Me Wait"
The song "All Over Again" is like Raspberries
does Shoes with a bit of punky buzz `n energy spurt. Don`t believe me?
Well, listen to it here. Yeah? See. The, indeed, mix a lot here...some
`64-era Beatles, early 70`s Raspberries, late 70s skinny tie(think
Romantics, Scruffs)... and mid 90`s Weezer and early 00`s Strokes. A true original, a cool angle that no
present-day pop band has even attempted, let alone pull off. Grade: A.
THE POSTMARKS
"Memoirs At The End Of The World"
The Postmarks have been described as a suburban bedroom symphony
suffused with post-teenage heartbreak and painstaking pointillism. It`s
some of the most complex and sophisticated pop music around, a
self-contained, hermetically pure world of orchestrated, swooningly
cinematic lusciousness.
MAPLEWOOD
"Yeti Boombox"
It has been 5 years since Maplewood released its self-titled album. On
that album, like a scent of night jasmine, the Maplewood sound wafted
from the canyons to the beaches and out into the desert, an ode to a
California ideal mapped out by such precursors as America, Bread, The
Flying Burrito Brothers, The Stone Canyon Band, John Phillips, The
Byrds, 70s Beach Boys, and even CSNY. Those leanings are still very
much in focus in 2009 here on "Yeti"
PRIVATE LIGHTNING
"Private Lightning"
An obscure
Boston band from the late 70s who released one album on A&M Records
and prompty disappeared. Blending elements of new wave,
progressive rock, art rock, AOR and
commercial rock, Private Lightning just not fit into any easy
definition of what rock pundits thought music should sound like but
they delivered an album filled with great songs back in 1980. First
time on CD AND adds 13 songs that were recorded for the followup to
this album that never made it out.
V/A - ROXY MUSIC: Tribute
"Take Refuge In Pleasure"
2009 tribute
from the quality tribute label, Burning Sky - features 11
imaginative and diverse covers of Roxy Music songs,
spanning Roxy`s entire career. There is at least one song from each of
their 8 studio albums, from their debut Roxy Music all the way through
Avalon.
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TIN HUEY
"Before Obscurity"
Tin Huey are the embodiment of every rock-critic cliché
imaginable. They came out of the same mid-Seventies Akron/Cleveland
scene that produced Devo, Pere Ubu, The Dead Boys, The Bizarros, and
Rubber City Rebels. "Before Obscurity collects studio and live recordings made by the band
prior to their major label debut. The band has done this once before,
with 2004`s Disinformation. Amazingly, there`s little duplication
amongst the three records; the Hueys were obviously prolific
songwriters." - Big Takeover.
DEATHRAY DAVIES
"The Day Of Ray"
The Day of the Ray screams "we are the mods!" with a groove reminiscent
of the Kinks as well as recent Jam revivalists like the Insomniacs.
This isn`t garage rock like the Mooney Suzuki, it is unabashed garage
pop, and the Davies have finally been able to reproduce their live
sound in the studio with a full band.
DEREK CINTRON/DC3
"Oh...The Drama!"
Derek Cintron released this album back in 2001 and Not Lame promptly
sold a bunch of them before it disappeared and went out of print. Now
DC3 leader Cintron has pressed up a few CD-R copies here to make
available once again to Not Lamers. The diverse sounds of a lot of bands Superdrag, Jellyfish, Queen, Butch
Walker, Fuzzbubble, True Love, recent Tsar, the poppiest moments of
Kings X
THE LONG RYDERS
"The Best Of
THE best
collection of the Long Ryders out there.....UK only release,
18 songs and 16 page booklet and a huge Pete Frame family
tree! The band combined rootsy influences such as Gram Parsons and
Buffalo
Springfield with an unlikely punk sensibility. They were refreshing,
they cared about the songwriting, and they could rock.
THE APPLES IN STEREO
"#1 Hits Explosion"
2009 compilation from the Indie Pop veterans. The shiny pop centerpiece
of the famed Elephant 6 collective, The Apples In Stereo was born of
Robert Schneider`s infatuation with recording and his near-pathological
compulsion to write the perfect Pop song.
JOE PERNICE
"It Feels Good So Good"
This CDis a
companion piece to Joe Pernice s debut novel It Feels So Good When
I Stop. The book will be published August 6 by Riverhead Books, a
division of Penguin. The album is performed by Joe Pernice, Peyton
Pinkerton, Mike Belitsky, Bob Pernice, with James Walbourne and Ric
Menck.
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