| Good Music For Good People |
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April Update
| AWESOME NEW POP! |
POWER POPPIN' GOODNESS! |
MELODIC SWEETNESS! |
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THE ROYALTIES
"The New Royalties" (2009)
"The Royalties" (2007)
"The Lost Royalties" (2008)
Even though The Royalties are Norwegian, much of the band`s DNA is
embedded in the Swedish pop sounds of the 90s harking back to such bands
as The Merrymakers, Beagle, Eggstone, This Perfect Day and The Grass
Show. Fans of other modern power pop bands like Farrah, Halfday and
Supergrass will find familiar territory to plant your flag confidently.
There are three album from Norway`s The Royalties listed here.
How a
band as consistently great for ears attuned to pure pop joy and `power
pop`s primal root of armies of heavenly vocals laying on top of chewy,
sweet melodies and completely unknown is, at the least, surprising.
Let`s change that and give you the chance to explore three works from
The Royalties, all of which are very, very highly recommended.
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RICK ALTIZER
Altizer is BACK! Pledging allegiance to the united states of Melody, Hooks and Song
Craftsmanship, Alitzer exhibits some of the finest pure pop magic you`ll
hear this year. Fans of the Parthenon Huxley, Bleu, The Grays work from
Jon Brion and Jason Falkner will find much to enjoy here, as well as
Doug Powells` work.
Rick has a lot on his mind and an over-abundance of passion, tapping
into all the timeless veins of his previous work and adding new
dimensions and points of reference to make `I Want Mine` is strongest
piece of work. Which is saying something, to be blunt as he has a body
of work that does not a duff or dull release."It would seem that Rick has been America`s little secret for far too
long and hopefully this album will change all that. The biggest
compliment I can pay is that if John Lennon were alive today then he
would probably be making records just like this one." - PowerplayUK.
A
display of pure passion, talent and timeless skill from an artist you
need to start allocating time to bring into your life and enjoy the rich
rewards of a release that will stay with you for many, many years.
BIG TIME EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
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BUVA
"Not Scary! Friendly" (w/ Limited Bonus CD!)
Order Today --$10.00
Statement Of Purpose: Buva`s "Not Scary! Friendly" will be one of my Top
10 releases of 2010 as there is no way it could slip from this list.
Fans of Jon Brion, Elliot Smith, Brendon Benson, Roger Joseph Manning`s
solo material and Mike Viola are some of the touchstones here. Smooth,
clean vocals, multi-part harmonies and instantly indelible hooks with
layers and layers of sublime nuance to peel back and find a different
joy every time you listen to it.
Each song on here has a
unique personality to introduce. The great thing is you want invite
each one into your heart.The smooth, superbly executed lush and mellow sounds, the many layered
soundscapes just pull you in. In. And In Again. Start-to-end and the
rewards will be both many and not-so-common. Indeed, they were and are.
One of 2010`s very, very best!
COMES WITH FREE CD - BUVA's Last CD "All This Humming" LIMITED OFFER!
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TIMMY SEAN
"Songs From & Inspired By Noisewater"
Order Today -- $10.00
Listen. You got to give this one a try, please. It`s not just another
album. The intensely hard work in every note on "Noisewater", the solo
debut of ex-Luzer leader, Timmy Sean, drips of obsessed passion that
evokes inspirational pinings of ELO, Queen, Ben Folds and Wings-era
McCartney.
"A must have record for fans or power pop and rock. Timmy Sean will
delight fans from early E.L.O. to Jellyfish to Ben Folds. Genius...pure
genius, through and through." - Bill`s Music Forum.
"In the tradition of pop impresarios like Todd Rundgren or more recently
Paul Steel, Timmy performs nearly every instrument and dabbles in
virtually all his childhood influences here. Bookended by an
instrumental overture and reprise it has a grandiose scope that touches
on McCartney, Brain Wilson, ELO and Queen it certainly sets up your
expectations." - Power Pop Aholic blog
A truly special, lingering, long lasting favorite for many years to come.
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THE MOONS
UK import and a contender for one of your top choices for 2010`s very
best. Fans of Dodgy, Supergrass, The Bishops, The Coral, The Bees, XTC,
Squeeze and The Zutons will recognize the distinct British flavour of
this systle of pure pop bliss. Bliss is, exactly, what is delivered on
all fronts with `Life On Earth` as The Moons confidently deliver 12
perfect dosings of sunny, soulful slice of melodic goodness.
"A slice of late 60s rock/pop, more recent guitar-based indie, a touch of
the Small Faces, certainly a dash of Weller and some Beatles-style
vocalisms, all coming together without actually being a pastiche of any
of them. That`s a tough one to pull off." - Electric Roulette
"If anything, Life on Earth proves that The Moons are
certainly rising stars on the British music scene... It sets up the
rest of the album, which keeps up the same pace and bouncy energy." -
Contact Music.
A Winner From Beginning To End - EXTREMELY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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DOM MARIANI
"Rewind And Play"
Australian only import and NEW 2010 studio release from Dom Mariani, the
pop great leader of The Stems, The Someloves and DM3 along with a large
catalog of solo releases!
"Great stuff. Mariani steps forward in the midst of his
second age to recount his songwriting career with a collection of
stripped-back versions of songs from his catalogue. Normally alarm bells
would ring here - aging rocker goes acoustic for a greatest hits
play-list - but this is different.
Firstly, it should be pointed out
that Mariani wrote some genuinely great songs - songs that shine through
as true pop statements, regardless of the format in which they`re
played. And Mariani has not decided to opt for a super-clean, adult
contemporary approach to performing these semi-acoustic numbers. Instead
he`s recruited a band of close friends and perform the songs in a
relaxed, rough-hewn way that feels at keel with the garage leanings of
the Stems." - Alt Media
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Big, tight and massively hooky pop/stadium rock hooks abound, but it`s
just stellar, shining power pop. Echoes of Tommy Keene, The
Churchills, Owsley(we miss you Will...), Rooney, Rick Springfield, Kyle
Vincent at his most rocking and amplified, The Elms and Tal
Bachman(remember him?) - the list goes on.
Listen to the soundbites here. Wait for the choruses. Smile. Repeat. Each
track has a warm complexion and soft coloring that maintains a
commercial pop/rock appeal. Instrument parts are thinly tiered so the
listener`s attention is drawn to Syke`s vocals.
It`s all a shot of pure pop oxygen for smoggy musical times.
Bottom Line: each song snugly fits into the ear canals filling them
with pure pop pleasure. An uncanny combination of pop smarts,
soaring melodies and deft guitar work which has been years in the
making.
Oh Yeah: Extremely Highly Recommended.
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JELLYFISH FANS - Listen Up! Literally, listen - below. It`s all here.
We`re lucky to get one or two bands a year in the power pop world that
truly can live up the standards of Jellyfish.
It`s not all a Jelly-fest, either. There`s other inspirational jumping
off points: Beach Boys, Bleu, Wondermints, others. But, at the end of
any day, it still has gotta be about `songs` arrangements, musicianship
and band vibe. Well, 3 of the 4 apply here with Oranjuly but `and` is
not in the mix - this is all one guy. Brian E. King.
"10 out of 10. The album recalls plenty of classic pop influences
without leaning too heavily on them and making hook filled magic...
Every track just shines with no filler to be found makes it a slam dunk
to be the best power pop debut of the year." - Power Pop Aholic
From beginning to end, Oranjuly is filled with interesting melodic
interpretations and slow-building, yet immediate eruptions of delicate
harmonies.
ONE OF 2010's VERY, VERY BEST!
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EDWARD O'CONNELL
The best Tom Petty you`ve heard in 20 years! So much to rave about here,
but fans Petty, Elvis Costello circa `80, Walter Clevenger, late era
ELO chomp on down. Edward O`Connell delivers up a meaty, fulfilling
experience.
"9 out of 10. O`Connell is very much a power popper in the Richard X.
Heyman mold. His sound builds on influences from Nick Lowe, Tom Petty,
and Elvis Costello...The quality and craftsmanship of this album is
impeccable and with no filler to be found. It makes the top ten list for
sure so don`t miss it!" - Power Pop Aholic.
"Imagine the Byrds meet Warren Zevon! Edward O`Connell ,
singer, guitarist, and main songwriter, is living proof that Power Pop
is alive and well...Catchy and guitar-driven this is just the kind of
music you can sing along to in your car and not mind if others are
watching...It doesn`t get better than this." - Power Pop Overdose
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A Full Length CD at an amazing LIMITED LOW PRICE!!
While there is all kinds of songs here that remind us of early Beatles,
it is really The Zombies that strike as the primary reference point.
There is some added Beach Boys touches that get planted inside some of
these songs. It has an instant vibe that eases itself into a
comfortable pastoral vibe, with Bluntone-y `ba-ba-ba vocals and guitar
and warm Beach Boys-esque harmonies.
"The Offbeat are out to make you grin from ear to ear. This
UK outfit led by Darren Finlan is quite literally bringing the British
Invasion back - "In Love Field" sounds like it was pulled straight out
of a 1969 time capsule. The record is full of gorgeous melodies, sunny
beats, and harmonies that rival Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young...The
Offbeat will please fans of The Beatles, The Buckinghams, Lovin`
Spoonful, and The Monkees." - Bill`s Music Forum.
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JOEL STREETER
YES!! Fans of Neil Finn, Crowded House, Michael Penn, Wilco, later era
Squeeze and Jim Boggia need to embrace "Matador" and look it straight in
the eye. Matador is an ambitious pop record in the style of the
previously mentioned artists, and it fuses classic 70s singer/songwriter
sophistication with modern and adventurous production.
"Vintage sensibilities extend to its sonic complexity and depth and a
seemingly conscious return to the dogged studio mastery and songsmithing
more common to late 60`s and early 70`s pop than to today`s latest
retrofitted rehash acts. Streeter is nothing less that an avowed melody
junkie." - Adequency.com
"Joel Streeter might be one of pop`s best-kept secrets...With
one pop gem after another, this Matador is no bull. Ole`" - Absolute
Power Pop
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DUNCAN MAITLAND
An ear-grabbing Dublin-based artist that is going blow many, many Not Lamers away!
"9 out of 10. The album draws influences from many
favorites...The legacy of XTC will always be safe as a Duncan joins the
stellar group of bands that take the similar musical approach (Pugwash,
Jackdaw4, Paul Steel). Overall a serious pop gem that can`t be ignored
and deserves to be on the top ten list for this year." - Power Pop
Aholic. As it appears XTC is no longer a going concern, the void
left by their Beatles Meets Brian Wilson with a British Pop
sensibility sound has begun to be filled with artists like
Pugwash, Captain Wilberforce and The Eisenhowers. The latest entrant
into this pop sub-genre is Dublin`s Duncan Maitland and his most
excellent debut disc. " - Power Pop Aholic
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
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2 CD Set! Boston power pop/rock/punk legends have returned and they will lay waste
to all your young not really to rock righteously to the heavens. This
is, simply, a jaw-dropping live album that serves as a document of how
many great songs this band wrote. This has 29 songs recorded
live on October 24, 1992 at the band`s final show.
The songs touch on every phase of the band`s storied career, featuring
tunes culled from almost all of the band`s studio recordings, but given
the full Hoods live workout on the double CD set. The CD`s also
feature 5 previously unreleased songs from the band`s 1992 basement
demos, known to Hoods cognoscenti simply as the "Last Of The Mohicans."
In keeping with the band`s hard-won reputation as a stellar and stalwart
live act, there are absolutely no overdubs, edits, samples, or autotune
on the live CD - It`s pure, un-cut, 100% live.
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Bemoaning the loss of any new material from XTC? Whine no more!
The
Australian-based one man show of Skeleton Staff has been slaving away,
chiseling out sublime, quirky pop confections that emulate the masters
and even some other gurus like Jeff Lynne as a bonus. This is intensely
careful, well-crafted songsmanship of the highest order that does not
take itself too seriously, at the same time.
"What a stunning piece of work "Solipsism" is! I am very, very
impressed! Memorable tunes, wonderful vocals, crisp production... a well
crafted disc of excellence in my book! I`ll be recommending this to all
my ShockPop listeners!" - ShockPop.
ONE OF THE STRONGER DEBUT RELEASES OF 2010!
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Extremely Limited Project! Only 140 Pressed, sold 30 right away in
early August and have about 10 left right now. And then...that - is -
it! So this one will be down off the site pretty soon - don`t wait.
This project features Michael Carpenter and members of The Pyramidiacs,
The Richies and The Lemonheads getting together live in a hotel and
recording 17 songs of kick-ass covers that will make the pop geek heart`
soar!
This limited edition, self released CDR of selections from two
multi-tracked live shows from 2008 is a great example of how exciting it
is to hear a dream playlist of powerpop classic played live. It`s not
perfect, nor does it try to be.. but it is fun and exciting to hear
these songs live, all in one place!
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MIMI BETINIS
DUE end of September! First solo album from Pezband leader!
More
details to come but this is something fans of Betinis, Off Broadway and
Pezband have been waiting for - a long time. So the time has arrived.
We`ve grabbed some samples of a variety of the songs on "All That
Glitters" for you to savor and enjoy!
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V/A - Pop Garden Radio
"Presents The Rock On The Road Tour"
Order Today -- $10.00
Pop Garden Radio is a power pop show based in Florida that has been
broadcasting since 2005 by Adam Waltmeire and now the last five years of
this passion-infused transmission are documented for formal
presentation with the release of this 18 song collection featuring
tracks from Walter Clevenger & the Dairy Kings, Maple Mars,
Stratocruiser, The Successful Failures, Michael Slawter, Dave Stephens,
Popdudes, Nushu, D Henry Fenton, Dennis Holseybrook, The Anderson
Council, Smith Bros, Todd Dillingham, Sparkle*jets UK and many other Pop
Garden Radio favorites.
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RUSTY ANDERSON
Paul McCartney's guitar player for the last 8 years,
strikes out on 2nd solo disc and it is filled with richly produced lush
melody structures, gorgeous vocals, high-reaching arrangments and
song-after-song of memorable music.
"This is canny, intelligent music with a rocker`s sense of drama and brawn
sitting side by side with a popmeister`s knack for the clever hook and
smart lyrical conceit; it`s fun music that never slights your
intelligence or your appetite for the grand gesture. "- AMG
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ELECTRIC MESS
A most seriously righteous slab of vintage garage rock, straight off of
Little Steven`s garage - reminds me of early The Gripweeds.
" 4 1/2 stars. this record proves there`s plenty of fresh life to be plugged into the
old frameworks if you`ve the right kind of talent and energy, and that`s
just what The Electric Mess bring to the table."
"This is The Kinks, The Yardbirds, The MC5, The Shangri-Las, The Stooges
and The Who, all wrapped up in one...BUY THIS RECORD. Sal Nunziato-
Huffington Post. I`ll add plenty of The Seeds, early Animals and some
Remains, as well. Anotherwords, not good stuff - GREAT stuff.
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THE ROMEO FLYNNS
UK only import. "4.5 out 5. It`s trite to draw comparisons but we all need a frame of
reference so how about XTC, Queen, The Beatles and a dash of Cheap
Trick? Outstanding!" - The Guardian.
"8 out of 10. "Eternal Struggle
for Justice" starts out with a lurching organ and dark tone more suited
to Bryan Scary, than Jellyfish - although an angelic choral break at
the songs middle is more like it...The big melodic jewel in this album`s crown is "Pornography" with a
boogie beat piano melody that recalls ELO and cascading harmonies that
flourish each verse." - Power PopAholic blog.
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PAUL COLLINS
Simply, this is finest batch of new songs from Collins in 30 years - and
he`s had a strong handful of some mighty fine albums in that time
period, so it`s time to weclome back The King - he`s not taking any
prisoners here.
"4 stars. Collins has cut a handful of fine records since the breakup of
the Beat, but King of Power Pop! is the first one in ages that captures
the tough, upbeat sound of his most memorable work, and it proves the
man hasn`t lost his touch for writing tight, hooky tunes with killer hooks and energetic guitar figures. " - AMG
`nuf sed, it`s Paul Collins of The Beat - got it?!
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2010 release and extremely limited pressing so not sure how much longer
I`ll have stock here but these 10 new songs from Arch Stanton build on
2007`s EP "Highland And Marine" with gorgeous refrains of Crowded House,
Parthenon Huxley, Ice Cream Hands and mid/late 80s Elvis Costello.
"A
Thousand Burning Suns" is a rich, highly textured sound that is a balm
to the pop senses, all tempered by vivid, rich harmonic landscapes with
powerful, passionate songs interlaced with solid arrangements. While
there are many bands who sound similar to Finn and Difford/Tilbrook,
rarely do you find the same sort of quality material that distinguished
groups like Crowded House and Squeeze. There`s a warm, intimate feel to
all this well-crafted material and it`s never in a rush to get to that
catchy chorus----the songs take their time but never wander off the path
and hit their target. Very Highly Recommended!
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EX-NORWEGIAN
"An upbeat album that has a solid guitar sound, catchy hooks and an
obvious love for `90s rock, with tight song structures, big choruses and
complete confidence. The band would not be out of place on a bill with
Sloan or Big Star, which in my book is never a bad thing!" - The Fire
Note.
"An otherworldly slab of catchy pop rock song after catchy pop rock
song, conceived in some fantastic place where the 90s power pop bubble
never burst." - ESD Music.
"Ex Norwegian takes an evolutionary leap forward with its latest album,
following an already sterling debut, Standby. The harmonies are tighter,
the production level is higher...taken as a whole, Sketch performs a neat trick -- it improves on
something that, before the release of this album, didn`t seem to need
improving." - CityLinkMix
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PRACTICAL STYLISTS
A very cool find for fans of early 80s new wave and power pop, Practical
Stylists toiled the grounds of the Nashville music scene in the early
80s, working with and hanging out with other out-of-step popsters like
Bill Lloyd, who was a member for a brief time.
"Back in the day, Practical Stylists seemed like a sure bet to grab, at
the minimum, a mid-indie label deal and thus get their fair share of
nationwide fame. A second wave power-pop band, they fit right in with
other like-minded `80s arbiters of cool like the dBs, Matthew Sweet and
homeboy Bill Lloyd (who would later become a PS member). For one reason
or another, the band never took that big next step ... it certainly
wasn`t for lack of talent, however, or good songs, `cause Practical
Stylists had both in spades, as well as a decent stage presence. They
have remained one of Nashville`s closely held, dirty little musical
secrets for over two decades now." - Keith Gordon, music critic and fan
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REID MANSELL
Reid Mansell`s demo crossed my desk back in July and so strongly
impressed me that I encouraged him to just get going and make a small
formal pressing of `Pose Or Go Home` because it`s too good to languish
in obscurity waiting for the stars to allign and have someone throw
heaps of money on him to break on through.
This is ultra-crunchy glammy
sweet, hard rocking riff-leaden styled rock `n roll with sugary, yet
gritty guitar lines that have ripping hooks stuck to them on each of the
four songs here. Slamming power chord abound - yeah! Solid, meaty,
no-frills songs with mucho pompy attitude, spiky, angular new wavey
guitar lines and riffs, gritty vocals and melodies up the gazoo! It`s a
riffing ock assault that contains pulsating guitar lines in the vein The
Shazam, The Black Mollys, True Love, Enuff Z` Nuff and gritty Cheap
Trick. Very Highly Recommended!
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THE BRITANNICAS
The band consists of 3 seasoned songwriters, multi-instrumentalists and
vocalists: Joe Algeri (Jack & the Beanstalk - Australia), Magnus
Karlsson (Happydeadmen, The
Charade - Sweden), and Herb Eimerman (Nerk Twins - USA).
"The Britannicas` have cut a dandy of a debut album that
leaves the listener begging for more. But it`s hardly surprising these
guys have struck gold the first time around, since they`re all so
talented and have crafted such masterful sounds in the past. Not
straying the least from what they originally achieved with their
previous pursuits, The Britannicas write, sing and perform classic pop
rock...A superb record, filled with pure pop from a band that knows
their stuff." - Beverly Patterson, Twist And Shake.
"With each band member being a superb songwriter and an instrumental
multitasker, the album is a thoroughly collaborative effort. Hail the
Britannicas!"-Music And Musicians
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DREAMING IN STEREO
ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE BEST RELEASES OF 2009!! Been out of print since
late 2009, tragically, too! Now - it is BACK!! Reissued with one bonus
track!! Here`s the short: Go listen to the soundbites below - don`t
waste time on the words.
Let the superlatives flow and let fans of Jon Brion, Roger Joseph
Manning, Jr., Jason Falkner, Parthenon Huxley and....Utopia rejoice!
Dreaming In Stereo starts off with a mid70s Genesis inspired
instrumental and dives into a second track that sounds like a long, lost
amazing Falkner track.
The CD features eleven instantly classic tunes with the
addition of some wildly creative and frenetic guitar playing woven
through them.Todd Rundgren is the Number 1 musical inspiration of Dreaming in
Stereo`s leader, Fernando Perdomo. Rundgren`s template to the style of
music Dreaming in Stereo is looking to bring back-- Progressive Pop!!
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BROKEN PROMISE KEEPER
"Poptimized"
"Power Pop bottom line is all about the songs and his songs are as great
as the very best of them, witty, smart, melodic and imbued with pretty
twists of melody. Hooks are also vital and Rob has that knack in spades.
Great classic honey tinged pop voice, and playing the majority of the
instruments he has that ability like Jason Falkner and Roger Klug to
light up like a band rather than like a Mike Oldfield. And though he is
unashamedly and purposefully power pop there is enough individuality in
the playing and lyrically to, after a few listens, make him sound
unmistakably Broken Promise Keeper first and foremost...We praised Ice Cold Pop last year for its melodic ingenuity, joy de
vivre, and timelessness, and this year`s release is no exception.
Highly recommended." - Mike Baron, BloodyRedBaron.net
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STEVE CONNELLY& THE LESSER GODS
A gripping, endearing debut album from Steve Connelly And The Lesser
Gods evoking strong displays of Tom Petty inspiration. Connelly has been
a veteran on the Florida music scene for decades(front a legendary band
there called Headlights), even working with Roger McGuinn as his
touring guitarist in the mid/late 70s.
"Every Monster" is a minor classic, the kind of album that if not too
many people discover now will gain cult status in years to come and one
that Connelly can and should be immensely proud of." - Penny Black Music.
An intensely affecting, moving debut from an artist making music
without pretention, concern for marketplaces, commerce or builing a
buzz.
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SNAKEHIPS
Fans Chilton-inspired Rolling Stones and Replacements inspired roots
rock, listen up! Focused and evocative, the Snakehips` fifth release
Month of Sundays is their most accessible yet. It is a virtual checklist
of vintage rock n` roll styles, interpreted for the 21st century. The
rampant crass commercialism and homogenization of music today makes it
easy to say that rock is dead... yet its ghost remains as does its
spiritual source.
"The kind of record that one might hope that Alex Chilton still has in
him, or that Paul Westerberg could be bothered to put together. And this
is what I mean by "surpassing" influences, Mark Harrison, with his new
Snakehips release, has quietly progressed with this record of varied pop
nuggets." - North Coast Journal.
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THE CANDLES
"Between The Sounds"
A sleeper of an a borderline great record that, for some strange reason,
is not lighting up the pop geek world-wire of communication. Take a
listen below and tell me if I`m missing anything as it sounds like
pretty classic power poppin`coolness, that reminds me of Ice Cream
Hands, Mutton Birds and more upbeat Elliot Smith. The charms abound.
It`s the type of pop record that under-30 music critics will never, EVER
get but you, me? Come on, climb aboard. The leader of the band is one
Josh Lattanzi, who has played with Ben Kweller, Tinted Windows, and the
Lemonheads so he`s got a fine resume to the party and, indeed, fans of
all three of those artists will find a warm environment to put the
blanket down and soak in the summer early afternoon sun, such is the
experience the washing of the rays of melodic bliss shien here. Dig
the pure pop breed - it`s here, it`s now and totally un-hip. Just what
the doctor ordered, bless the boy.
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JEFF FINLIN
"The Tao Of Motor Oil"
Long time Not Lamers have heard me tout from the pop heavens about Jeff
Finlin being one of my favorite songwriters in the past handful of
years. "The Tao Of Motor Oil", his latest, has arrived and, in a large
body of work, I do believe I can declare it as my second favorite of
catalog of excellence. ("Epynonymous" being of my fave) his is a
playbook on how songcraft should be, can be achieved. Walk with me,
please - down the hard, oft-trodden trail of hard working,
multi-talented musicians who create purely for themselves and end up
with a result that articulates the struggle, the glory, the soul of real
human-ness. Musically, Jeff Finlin brings to close proximity the sounds
of mid/late 80`s John Hiatt(his strongest period), Leon Russell, Joe
Henry, Dr. John, Tom Waits, recent Bob Dylan and Ryan Adams.
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NADA SURF
"If I Had A Hi-Fi"
This is a covers album full of inspired, unexpected choices: from
avant-pop Kate Bush to underground power-pop classicist Dwight Twilley.
There are some intriguingly obscure numbers, like Spanish band
Mercromina`s "Evolution" and under-documented Bill Fox`s
"Electrocution". It also features tracks by The Go-Betweens, Arthur
Russell, Spoon, and more.
" 3 1/2 stars. Nada Surf show they can play well with others on If I Had a Hi-Fi,
though they`d do well to apply the lessons learned here to some new
tunes for their next album." - AMG.
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LAURIE BIAGINI
"A Far-Out Place"
Biagini`s latest album `Ridin` The Wave` has been a fave of many Not
Lamers with its alchemic display of endearing Harrison-styled Travelin`
Wilburys pop/rock, sunny Beach Boys/Wondermints, a slight tinge of
bubblegum(shades of Mamas & Papas) and a whole of unpretentious fun.
Here, on her debut, A Far Out Place, the same formula is, joyfully,
applied.
It`s an album of many moods, with a common musical element of being
harmony-rich sunshine pop reminiscent of the some of the great music of
the 1960`s pop-rock scene.
THEE SGT MAJOR III
"The Idea Factory"
Thee Sgt. Major III is a band featuring Kurt Bloch of The Fastbacks,
Mike Musberger(The Posies) and other veterans of Seattle`s indie music
scene. This project features pure spunky power pop, punk-ish aggression
and a lively spirit that will recall recent female-fronted faves like
The Muffs, The Masticators, Nushu but also bands of the past like The Go
Go`s, Voice Of The Beehive. Singer Leslie Beattie has a vocal command
that sweetens and straightjackets the melodies in the songs and sweet,
but assertive rock `n pop melodies hold it all together with aplomb. `a
poppy garage rock sound to the table. If you loved the Fastbacks, and
enjoy a little guitar pyrotechnics time and again from one of Seattle`s
legendary 6 stringers-- Thee Sgt. Major III will fill the void. " -
SeattleRockGuy.com.
SCOTT WILK & THE WALLS
"s/t"
1980 release,
classic new wave of the time. "Radioactive" - sample #1 below - is a
classic of this era, reminds me a bit of Robert Ellis Orrall, if you
remember his work of this time. Also, Elvis Costello. "This is one heck
of a fun album. It has the New Wave energy, the hooks and the Pop gems
that are still wonderful to listen to today. "Radioactive" and
"Suspicion" are pure gold, quirky and catchy as sin. The real diamond
here is "Danger Becomes Apparent", a wonderfully melodic tune that
always made my mixtapes 30 years ago and turned my friends onto this
band. While not a GREAT album, it`s appearance on CD here, three
decades after it`s release, is more than welcome."- Steve `SPAZ`
Schnee, Discussions.
MAGIC KIDS
Magic Kids share with last century`s masters of pop music - Brian
Wilson,Van Dyke Parks, Jeff Lynne - the ability to take a tiny and
simple song, a moment of wide-eyed sincerity, and translate it into
something that is bursting with life. "4 stars. Memphis is the most
thrilling debut album since the Apples in Stereo`s Fun Trick Noisemaker
and should be embraced by anyone who likes pop music that sounds small
but thinks big...All eleven songs are tiny symphonies of sweetly sung, perfectly arranged
pop that fit together like puzzle pieces and result in a completely
satisfying listening experience."- AMG.
JUSTIN CURRIE
2010 reissue of 2001 CD(ROCKS) and 1995 CD(VOICE OF REASON) with bonus track on "Voice" and 2 on "Rocks". This is classic AOR
melodic hard rock with HUGE layers of awesome vocals and big anthemic
guitar builds. Their albums combine HS`s glammy, hard rock, post-hair
band Enuff `Z Nuff perfection and Rubber`s more overtly pop leanings. It
can be schitzo, but it does work, rocks and pops. Harem Scarem hits
the spot with Harry Hess` rich, expressive vocals, Pete Lesperance`s
sizzling, creatively crafted guitar lines, and the duo`s wondrous
chemistry as a songwriting team, the disc sparkles from start to finish.
It`s all here: melodic rock/hardrock, AOR, power pop. Not for everyone,
but fans of hard rocking AOR-cum-glam metal, few do it better than HS.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BULLYS
It`s obvious that the Bullys are the embodiment of authentic rock and
roll, right in line with predecessors including the Rolling Stones, the
Knack, the Ramones, and the New York Dolls. "Encountering the Bullys`
talent and enthusiasm, Mike Chapman - legendary producer of Sweet, Suzie
Quatro and Blondie - was inspired to capture it in the studio. The
result is the band`s potent, rollicking debut album: the
provocatively-titled What? The Neighborhood Bullys touch a number of
rock and roll cornerstones from soul to punk to early Stones swagger to
post-modern Knack power pop, tight-fit songs that burrow into your ears
and stick with you for weeks. " - Rock And Roll Report.
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TOMMY KEENE
A full 2 CD set
of Keene`s very finest work, including trax from his early 80s Dolphin
album that fans have been clamoring to hear on CD. "4 1/2 stars.
"4 1/2 stars. Let`s not beat around the bush -- you really should own
some Tommy Keene albums, or at least one. If you`re the average
American music buyer, you don`t, since the folks in marketing have
dropped the ball on Keene so many times they must have been sent back
to the minors by now. But if you care at all about great rock &
roll, you ought to do yourself the favor of picking up some of Keene`s
music already. He`s a brilliant songwriter, a fine singer, a killer
guitarist, and a canny bandleader." - AMG
RUSTY WILLOUGHBY
"I`ve been a Rusty Willoughby fan for a long time, from his mid-`80s
power pop outfit Pure Joy to his most successful band, ironically named
Flop, through to his most recent ensemble, Llama. Cobirds Unite is
Willoughby`s third solo album but in many ways it is unlike anything
we`ve heard from him before. Press play and your reward is an hour of
lush, reserved, alt-country dreamscapes, with languid waltzes, subtle
bossanovas and pared-down ballads sweetened up with cello, vibraphone
and pedal steel flourishes in all the right places." - East West Records
THE LOONS
Featuring ex-members of the legendary Tell- Tale Hearts and The Hoods,
The Loons are retro pop with garagey passion that combines the dirtier
side of The Dave Clark Five with the brashness of The Standells with the
Beatle melody of The Knickerbockers to reel it back in before it gets
to messy. If it were not for the modern production values, one could
pass this band off as a Sundazed records reissue of by-gone Brit
Invasion times.
LOVE MESSENGERS
Import
from Finland. The Back Story: After the long and tedious project of
making the latest Electric Crayon Set album "What A Rotter Of A Day"
(Released 2007 and available on this site ) I thought to myself "Hey,
how nice it would be just to rock a bit for a change??" and realised I
had always wanted to make an album full of my old favourite songs".
Those Songs Are: "Save My Soul" (Wimple Winch), "Don't Look Back"
(The Remains), "Handbags And Gladrags" (Mike D`Abo), "I Need You"(The
Kinks), "She Said Ride" (Tin Tin), "Security (Otis Redding/Thane
Russell & Three), "Answer To Life" (Blues Section), "Your Body Not
Your Soul" (Cuby And the Blizzards), "Can`t Help Thinking About Me"
(David Bowie), "I Can Tell" (Dr.Feelgood/The Pirates), "War Or Hands Of
Time" (The Masters Apprentice), "Coast To Coast" (Ducks Deluxe), and
"Love Hound" (Dr. Feelgood)
BARNABY BYE
These two ablums are early 70s soft pop for AM radio with soft touches of early Hall
& Oates and when it stretches confidently to turn it up, some dashes
of Badfinger. Both albums, Touch and Room To Grow, a similar in style
and complete guilty pleasures for many. Both albums feature plenty of really solid, enjoyable sounds that are
time-stamped for the years they were released, "Room"(1973) and
"Touch"(1974) - very happy to see these make the light of day, finally
CUFF THE DUKE
Bringing to mind, early Eagles, early 70s Neil Young, CSN&Y, The
Youngbloods and Tom Petty, Cuff The Duke is an album blissfully encased
in histrionics. "There`s an After The Gold Rush vibe on the disc right
from the start, (and) virtuosic guitar solos that would make [Neil]
Young proud. Yet despite its obvious influences, Way Down Here doesn`t
sound overly derivative. It`s a refreshing listen in a world where
people have forgotten how albums used to be made." - Chart Attack.
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WEEKEND WEATHER
"Sunny With A Chance Of Tube Tops"
Produced by Andy Bopp(you know, he of Myracle Brah, Love Nut), Weekend
Weather deliver 6 songs of pure, simple pop delight, unconcerned with
the machinations and movements of the charts, scoring a record deal or
impressing anyone but themselves. Fortunately, most of the material
impresses enough to merit a strong desire to hear more. The laid-back
roots pop charms stack up alongside Bopp`s keen eye to let all the
musicians` parts shine clearly and bring the melodies out into the
light, carefully mixed, stirred and baked so as to have a tasteful final
result. Recommended!
TED LUKAS & THE MISLED
"Learn How To Fall"
Vocally and musically, Ted Lukas reminds me of Steve Earle, Tommy Keene,
Paul Westerberg and Terry Anderson - this is kick-ass roots rock with
classy pop hooks to bite into, which Lukas can’t appear to help being a
member of power pop late 90s greats Barely Pink. this 10-song CD is a
rich Americana blend of rootsy rock and twang, featuring plenty of big
guitar riffs and catchy melodic hooks. With Learn How to Fall, the
former Hangtown frontman combines his power-pop and Americana influences
to create an original sound thats all his own. Co-Production by Eric
Ambel brings the grit and hits the mark. Top notch material all the way
thorugh ehre. Very Highly Recommended.
THE GODSHILLS
"March"
Not the
normal kind of release I put up on the Not Lame site but there was just
something about The Godshills that pulled me in. Listen to the sample
of Track #1 for a solid depiction of their post-U2-cum-Curve guitar
sounds with a slow-build that hypnotically trances. "Singer
Ewelina sports positively honeyed vocals, and delivers her alternately
beautifully brash and pretty, pouty tales of love old and new,
heartbreak, harmony, emptiness, universal one-ness, pent-up rage,
glorious self-discovery..Check out the colorful, inspirational, and
highly addictive world of Ewelina and The Godshills." - Tom Hallett,
Round The Dial. Recommended!
JUKEBOX THE GHOST
"One of the most fun albums in years. The record is packed with
remarkably addictive pop; half of these songs might be glued to your
brain after one listen. The album opens like the first warm morning of
the spring with the shining "Schizophrenia," closes with the jauntily
bouncing, brassy epic "Nobody," and packs a wallop between: the vocal
quirks of the sparkling "Empire"; the guitar-driven, explosive,
Joel-esque "Summer Sun"; the infectious sing-along harmony of
"Carrying"; the skipping, musical-theater chorus of "The Popular
Thing."If a piano-pop song has ever put a smile on your face, Everything
Under The Sun belongs in your collection. If that`s never happened to
you, well, why not?" - AV CLUB.
CROWDED HOUSE
Note: Two versions above! "4 stars. With the heavy lifting of the Crowded House reunion out of the
way, Neil Finn is able to settle into comfortable craft on Intriguer,
the band`s sixth album. Intriguer isn`t as self-consciously weighty as
Time on Earth -- Finn is not tackling mortality in the wake of the death
of his longtime friend and bandmate Paul Hester -- but it`s also not as
hazy as Finn`s pair of solo LPs. In tone and timbre, it`s closest to
the second Finn Brothers album, the ruminative Everyone Is Here, but it
lacks the reflective undertow of that 2004 album; it may be subdued, but
it`s not reveling in its melancholy, it`s riding a gentle wave, swaying
from song to song.
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS
Playing to all the New Pornographers strengths, Together combines the
freewheeling, glammy spirit of their debut Mass Romantic with the very
personal, emotional songwriting of their most recent material. As a
result, it`s an album that aims to please, as exciting for the New
Pornographers obsessive as for casual new listeners. "4 stars/ more
than any other of the New Pornographers` albums, this feels like a group
effort, each element united to create uniquely cerebral power pop. " -
AMG.
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