A bit busy now to try and compile a top tracks of 2013 list, so I'll just post my favorite of them all right now. To me, "Third Man" has it all - a great ELO-inspired melody and effects, clever lyrics, and a spoken-word interlude from Harry Potter himself. What more can you ask for? (OK, not having to look at that naked guy jumping over a wicket for the next four minutes would be nice).
What was your favorite power pop tune of 2013? Let me know in the comments.
Monday, December 23, 2013
Friday, December 20, 2013
The Absolute Powerpop Top 15 EPs of 2013
1. Moore-The Great Escape
2. Nick Capaldi-The Golden Summer
3. Justin Kline-Doormat
4. An American Underog/Brandon Schott-The A/B EP
5. Brady Harris Band-NoHo Confidential
6. Timmy Sean & The Celebrities-East Coast Girls
7. The Well Wishers-Dunwoody
8. Erik Voeks-Finulu
9. Eddie Orso-He Said/She Said
10. The Allrightniks-Nothing's What it Seems
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-Backburner
12. Brendan O'Neill-Outside Worlds
13. Butch Walker-Peachtree Battle
14. The House of Jed-S/T
15. The Maladaptive Solution-Heal
2. Nick Capaldi-The Golden Summer
3. Justin Kline-Doormat
4. An American Underog/Brandon Schott-The A/B EP
5. Brady Harris Band-NoHo Confidential
6. Timmy Sean & The Celebrities-East Coast Girls
7. The Well Wishers-Dunwoody
8. Erik Voeks-Finulu
9. Eddie Orso-He Said/She Said
10. The Allrightniks-Nothing's What it Seems
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-Backburner
12. Brendan O'Neill-Outside Worlds
13. Butch Walker-Peachtree Battle
14. The House of Jed-S/T
15. The Maladaptive Solution-Heal
Thursday, December 19, 2013
The Absolute Powerpop Top 100 Albums of 2013, #1-50.
Now you see why I changed the rules on VA albums. And yes, there are a couple of albums in here that were released in 2012, but I didn't hear them until 2013 and/or they didn't gain a lot of traction in the power pop community until this year. The bottom half (51-100) can be found here.
1. VA-Drink a Toast to Innocence
2. Nick Piunti-13 in My Head
3. Greg Pope-Pop Motion Animation
4. Eric Barao-S/T
5. Valley Lodge-Use Your Weapons
6. The Incurables-The Fine Art of Distilling
7. Phil Angotti-Life & Rhymes
8. Adam Daniel-Pop, Baby
9. The Nature Strip-Stars Turn Inside Out
10. Prattle on, Rick-Some Quiet Majesty
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-S/T
12. JoDee Purkeypile-Messenger
13. The Sun Sawed in 1/2-Elephants into Swans
14. Gleeson-Gleeson II
15. The Nines-S/T
16. Todd Herfindal-Right Here Now
17. Wyatt Funderburk-Novel and Profane
18. Bohemian Radio-On the Air
19. Coke Belda-Coke Belda I
20. Chris Abad-Darling Dear
21. Roseland-S/T
22. Brendan Benson-You Were Right
23. The Tor Guides-Strawberries & Chocolates
24. The Duckworth Lewis Method-Sticky Wickets
25. Vegas With Randolph-Rings Around the Sun
26. Hot Nun-S/T
27. Rich McCulley-The Grand Design
28. Gregg Swann-Turn to Stars
29. The Tor Guides-Lots of the Pops! Volume 1
30. Nathan Roberts & The New Birds-S/T
31. Bryan Estepa-Heart vs Mind
32. John Amadon-The Bursting Sheaf
33. The Junior League-You Should Be Happy
34. VA-International Pop Overthrow Vol. 16
35. The Electric Soft Parade-Idiots
36. Joel Sarakula-The Golden Age
37. Any Version of Me-We Are You
38. Paint 31-Hot Dogs on Tuesday
39. Daren Sweet-Pop's Three Minute Pleasures
40. Wiretree-Get Up
41. Superchunk-I Hate Music
42. The Amprays-Brave New Strange
43. Shane Lamb-Together, We'll Get Through
44. Carter Beckworth-Humble Heart
45. Keith LuBrant-Who I Am
46. Bob Evans-Familiar Stranger
47. Shake Some Action!-Full Fathom Five
48. Stephen Lawrenson-Obscuriosity
49. Chris Degnore & The Black Drops-Cinema
50. Bobby Emmett-Brighter Days
1. VA-Drink a Toast to Innocence
2. Nick Piunti-13 in My Head
3. Greg Pope-Pop Motion Animation
4. Eric Barao-S/T
5. Valley Lodge-Use Your Weapons
6. The Incurables-The Fine Art of Distilling
7. Phil Angotti-Life & Rhymes
8. Adam Daniel-Pop, Baby
9. The Nature Strip-Stars Turn Inside Out
10. Prattle on, Rick-Some Quiet Majesty
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-S/T
12. JoDee Purkeypile-Messenger
13. The Sun Sawed in 1/2-Elephants into Swans
14. Gleeson-Gleeson II
15. The Nines-S/T
16. Todd Herfindal-Right Here Now
17. Wyatt Funderburk-Novel and Profane
18. Bohemian Radio-On the Air
19. Coke Belda-Coke Belda I
20. Chris Abad-Darling Dear
21. Roseland-S/T
22. Brendan Benson-You Were Right
23. The Tor Guides-Strawberries & Chocolates
24. The Duckworth Lewis Method-Sticky Wickets
25. Vegas With Randolph-Rings Around the Sun
26. Hot Nun-S/T
27. Rich McCulley-The Grand Design
28. Gregg Swann-Turn to Stars
29. The Tor Guides-Lots of the Pops! Volume 1
30. Nathan Roberts & The New Birds-S/T
31. Bryan Estepa-Heart vs Mind
32. John Amadon-The Bursting Sheaf
33. The Junior League-You Should Be Happy
34. VA-International Pop Overthrow Vol. 16
35. The Electric Soft Parade-Idiots
36. Joel Sarakula-The Golden Age
37. Any Version of Me-We Are You
38. Paint 31-Hot Dogs on Tuesday
39. Daren Sweet-Pop's Three Minute Pleasures
40. Wiretree-Get Up
41. Superchunk-I Hate Music
42. The Amprays-Brave New Strange
43. Shane Lamb-Together, We'll Get Through
44. Carter Beckworth-Humble Heart
45. Keith LuBrant-Who I Am
46. Bob Evans-Familiar Stranger
47. Shake Some Action!-Full Fathom Five
48. Stephen Lawrenson-Obscuriosity
49. Chris Degnore & The Black Drops-Cinema
50. Bobby Emmett-Brighter Days
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
The Absolute Powerpop Top Albums of 2013, #51-100
It's time again for the year-end list! One change I've made from previous years is that I'm considering Various Artists (VA) releases for the Top 100. In years past, I had basically ignored them at year's end, but this year there are a couple I feel need to be considered among the year's best and you'll see them when the top half of the list is posted. Here's the bottom half:
51. Sheboygan-Triple Fantasy
52. Third of Never-Downrising
53. Ted Billings-American Bedrooms
54. Tony Scalzo-My Favorite Year
55. Christopher Holland-Corner Green
56. David Brookings-The Maze
57. Skypilot-Distant Days
58. Josh Rouse-The Happiness Waltz
59. The Breakup Society-So Much Unhappiness, So Little Time
60. Dan Miraldi-Devil at Our Heels
61. Kevin Lee & The Kings-Breakout
62. Sean McMorris-Lo & Behold
63. The Grapes of Wrath-High Road
64. Happy Ashtray-Seventy Miles
65. Glenn Case-Throw Money
66. Dave Keener-Slugger
67. Ballard-Bucky
68. Lamar Holley-The Color of Day
69. Travel Lanes-Hey Hey, It's Travel Lanes!
70. Chase Hamblin & The Roustabouts-VAUdeVILLE
71. Magic Eight Ball-Sorry We're Late But We're Worth the Wait
72. The Big Sweet-Bicycle Nights
73. Extra Medium Pony-11868
74. Jimmy LeGuillox-Everything and the Box it Came In
75. Dave Rave & The Governors-Ashtray Makeup
76. The Charlie Watts Riots-A Break in the Weather
77. The Affections-Prologned Adolescence
78. The Castell Brothers-S/T
79. Bleu-To Hell With You
80. Richard X Heyman-X
81. Secret Friend-Time Machine
82. Rob Fetters-Saint Ain't
83. Jeremy Porter & The Tucos-Partner in Crime
84. Tommy Rivers-Cool Slip of Coins
85. Pete Donnelly-Face the Bird
86. Free Energy-Love Sign
87. Radio Days-Get Some Action
88. Sam Page-Breach
89. The Scruffs-Kill! Kill!
90. Michael Davis with Bandages-Real Love
91. Brett Goldsmith-Ordinary Life
92. Straw Dogs-No Dividing Line
93. Parthenon Huxley-Thank You, Bethesda
94. Red Jacket Mine-Someone Else's Cake
95. Liar's Club-Come and Go
96. Brett Newski & The Corruption-Tiny Victories
97. The Bottle Kids-Such a Thrill
98. Late Cambrian-Peach
99. Split Sofa-Coloured Dream
100. Anny Celsi-January
51. Sheboygan-Triple Fantasy
52. Third of Never-Downrising
53. Ted Billings-American Bedrooms
54. Tony Scalzo-My Favorite Year
55. Christopher Holland-Corner Green
56. David Brookings-The Maze
57. Skypilot-Distant Days
58. Josh Rouse-The Happiness Waltz
59. The Breakup Society-So Much Unhappiness, So Little Time
60. Dan Miraldi-Devil at Our Heels
61. Kevin Lee & The Kings-Breakout
62. Sean McMorris-Lo & Behold
63. The Grapes of Wrath-High Road
64. Happy Ashtray-Seventy Miles
65. Glenn Case-Throw Money
66. Dave Keener-Slugger
67. Ballard-Bucky
68. Lamar Holley-The Color of Day
69. Travel Lanes-Hey Hey, It's Travel Lanes!
70. Chase Hamblin & The Roustabouts-VAUdeVILLE
71. Magic Eight Ball-Sorry We're Late But We're Worth the Wait
72. The Big Sweet-Bicycle Nights
73. Extra Medium Pony-11868
74. Jimmy LeGuillox-Everything and the Box it Came In
75. Dave Rave & The Governors-Ashtray Makeup
76. The Charlie Watts Riots-A Break in the Weather
77. The Affections-Prologned Adolescence
78. The Castell Brothers-S/T
79. Bleu-To Hell With You
80. Richard X Heyman-X
81. Secret Friend-Time Machine
82. Rob Fetters-Saint Ain't
83. Jeremy Porter & The Tucos-Partner in Crime
84. Tommy Rivers-Cool Slip of Coins
85. Pete Donnelly-Face the Bird
86. Free Energy-Love Sign
87. Radio Days-Get Some Action
88. Sam Page-Breach
89. The Scruffs-Kill! Kill!
90. Michael Davis with Bandages-Real Love
91. Brett Goldsmith-Ordinary Life
92. Straw Dogs-No Dividing Line
93. Parthenon Huxley-Thank You, Bethesda
94. Red Jacket Mine-Someone Else's Cake
95. Liar's Club-Come and Go
96. Brett Newski & The Corruption-Tiny Victories
97. The Bottle Kids-Such a Thrill
98. Late Cambrian-Peach
99. Split Sofa-Coloured Dream
100. Anny Celsi-January
Monday, December 16, 2013
EP of the Day, 12/16/13: Moore-The Great Escape
Before I drop the year-end lists later this week, I felt I had to get one more release in under the wire since it'll place highly in top EPs of 2013. Moore is Aiden Moore, a NYC folk musician who ended up writing some pop songs over the last few years while working on his folk album. If The Great Escape is any indication, Moore might want to concentrate on the poppier side of things. With a sound that's comprised of a mix of Jellyfish, Ben Folds, Coldplay and similar to indie power pop artists like Kevin Martin (of last year's great Throwback Pop EP) and Josh Fix, Moore has cranked out a top-notch piano-pop EP. The title track opens with a bit more synth than piano, but has an infectious chorus which you'll eventually surrender to. But "Table Talk" is the real triumph here - a catchy and clever piano-based number that's one of my top tracks of the year and which would be more than worthy of some of the artists name-dropped earlier in this piece. And the following track, "Celebrity Crush". isn't much of a comedown from "Table Talk", with its own sharp set of hooks.
Meanwhile, the bouncy "In Your Head" earns the Jellyfish comparisons, and "Crazy Kinda Cool" maintains the quality with its Blue/Mike Viola vibe. Moore slows it down a few notches on the closing near-ballad "Clicks and Clanks", and while it doesn't reach the giddy highs of the rest of the EP it's still a pretty darn good track. With the likes of Mumford & Sons seemingly turning everyone with an acoustic guitar into a folkie these days, my (admittedly biased) advice for Moore is to zag in the pop direction while everyone's zigging in the folk direction as this is as good a pop debut as I've heard in 2013.
CD Baby | iTunes
Thursday, December 05, 2013
Two for Thursday, 12/5/13
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/theallrightniks13.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/l/a/lamarholley1.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Pre-Thanksgiving Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a4115504404_2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/n/a/nathanrobertsthenewbirds3.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, November 15, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/g/r/greggswann2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/d/a/davidbrookings2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes / Stream at official site
Friday, November 08, 2013
It's IPO Time Again!
One of my favorite annual power pop traditions is the release of the new International Pop Overthrow compilation. This year sees compilation #16 from David Bash, the man behind the festivals and the discs. As always, the IPO compilation works on two levels - one as a sampler of some of today's best independent power pop artists, and the other as a chance to sample new artists in the scene. The former is represented by tracks (new and old) from the likes of Lannie Flowers, Dave Rave, Jeremy, Adam Daniel, The JAC, Didn't Planet, Lisa Mychols, Laurie Biagini, Stephen Lawrenson and Private Jets.
Among the new artists, the tracks that caught my ear (and will lead me to investigate these artists further) are Mothboxer, whose "Shame it Always Rains" leads off the compilation and boasts a groovy, psych-pop sound that recalls The Green Pajamas; the straight-ahead power pop of the Cronin Tierney Band's "Harmony", Hawk Bjorn's piano-popping "Who Do You Say I Am"; Cool Whips' "Boom Shang-a-Lang" which you might guess is goofy fun; the edgy, mod sound of Norrish Reaction's "Let it Go"; the fine garage rock of Gooey's "Watch Out"; the Ray Davies-esque "Mrs. Reginald" courtesy of John McMullan; and the jangly pop of Salvadore Dali Llama's (love the name) "City in the Sky".
Head on over to the official IPO site to hear a nice sampler of tracks from the compilation - maybe some of those will strike your fancy. The IPO comp always make a great holiday gift for the power popper on your list, or of course a fine gift from you to yourself.
Kool Kat | Amazon
Friday, November 01, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/g/r/gregpope5.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/https://images.cdbaby.name/b/r/brendanoneill.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, October 25, 2013
Weekend Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/v/e/vegaswithrandolph7.jpg)
CD Baby
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/r/o/roseland1.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, October 18, 2013
Friday Roundup,
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/s/h/sheboygan3.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a2292209446_2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, October 11, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thetorguides.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/p/r/prattleonrick12.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Midweek Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thenines5.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/b/o/bohemianradio.jpg)
CD Baby
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Two for Thursday, 9/19/13
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/https://images.cdbaby.name/c/h/chrisabad2.jpg)
CD Baby
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/https://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thebrigadier6.jpg)
CD Baby
Friday, September 13, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/g/l/gleeson2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/s/h/shanelamb3.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Tuesday, September 03, 2013
CD of the Day, 9/3/13: Valley Lodge-Use Your Weapons
Why do we listen to power pop? At one level, it's the love of a catchy melody, ringing guitars and a steady beat. At another - for many of us - it's the music of our youth. But at the most elemental level, we listen because it's fun. Power pop appeals directly to the pleasure centers of our brains. And no band encapsulates this appeal better than Valley Lodge, who brings us Use Your Weapons, their third album.
Led by funnyman extraordinaire Dave Hill, it's tempting for some to write off Valley Lodge as a joke band, as merely an example of Hill's performance art. And I couldn't exactly argue that analysis if you chose to make it as Hill & Co. rattle off every rawk cliche in the book in both their performance and presentation. But whether tongue-in-cheek or not, there's no denying that their music is preternaturally catchy, rocking, and most of all - fun. Their brilliant self-titled 2005 debut was the perfect example of this, and still to this day remains perhaps my favorite power pop album. 2009's Semester at Sea was good fun as well, but the emphasis on glam rock made the "put-on" aspect of their act a bit more distracting (still, Semester did yield awesome rocking tracks like "The Door", "Baby, It's a Shame" and "When the Rain Comes", which found success in excess).
Use Your Weapons, it could then be said, is a return to form. It's more of a piece with the debut, which means it's time to turn your brain off and just embrace the non-stop fun. Opener "Go" is relentless, rambunctious and infectious, and has a rare quality in power pop - you could pretty much dance to it. (Here's a link to the video I posted a couple of weeks ago, which you need to see if you haven't already). "Sweet Elizabeth" lets you catch your breath, but isn't exactly a ballad with its glam rock and speedy Bo Diddley-style beat. The midtempo "Kiss Me I'm Drunk" finds Hill in vintage bad-boy mode and features a great bridge, while "Pretty Thing" rocks with abandon in a fashion similar to "The Door". And "Make Up Your Mind" closes out the first half of the album with a near-perfect slice of almost Big Star-like pop.
The second half of the album is no letdown either. "Waiting in the Rain" sounds like a lost garage rock tune from the 60s, and "Gimme Gimme" brings back Hill's penchant for incorporating 70s pop R&B; into the mix much as "All of My Loving" and "Hanging On" did on the debut. Its Jackson 5-like chorus will have you grinning from ear to ear. "Are You Okay?" keeps the rawk going and features some of Mr. Hill's best shredding, "Restless Heart" is light glam rock a la Sweet and throws in horns in support of yet another supremely catchy melody, and closer "Blind" - with its 80s synths and frenetic melody - leaves you wanting more. They may be called Valley Lodge, but if you believe in truth in advertising Nate Ruess needs to cede the name "fun" to Dave Hill because this is the band that really lives up to that moniker.
CD Baby | iTunes
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Midweek Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/f/i/firstinspace2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a1521104078_2.jpg)
Bandcamp | iTunes
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
New Valley Lodge video (and album on the way)
Dave Hill & company are back, set to release their third album as Valley Lodge. I've gone on record as stating their 2005 debut might be my favorite power pop album of all-time, and while 2009's Semester at Sea found them mostly turning to glam rock, it was still a fun album and some of the high points on that album rivaled the high points of the debut. They're releasing Use Your Weapons on September 3, and I'll have a review up around that time. (SPOILER ALERT: It's a return to the form - and sound - of the debut). To get you amped up, here's a typically amusing video from the boys (Hill's daytime job is professional funnyman) for "Go":
"Go" by Valley Lodge from KobiyoshiViewing on Vimeo.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thejuniorleague.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61HtIg1tMHL._SL500_AA280_.jpg)
iTunes | Listen at Spotify
Tuesday, August 06, 2013
Tuesday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/n/i/nickcapaldi12.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/j/e/jefflarson21.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, July 26, 2013
Weekend Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a1216332731_2.jpg)
Bandcamp | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thehouseofjed.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Friday, July 19, 2013
Friday Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/e/d/eddieorso1.jpg)
CD Baby | Bandcamp
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/https://images.cdbaby.name/s/a/samsinstantband.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Two for Thursday, 7/11/13
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/a/d/adamdaniel6.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/w/i/wiretree8.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Saturday, July 06, 2013
Weekend Roundup.
Instead of the usual pair of featured albums, today we'll look at 5 discs in quick-hitting fashion:
Happy Ashtray-Seventy Miles. This Chicago band features a melodic, lo-fi style in the vein of Guided by Voices but with a slight touch of Americana and heartland rock. The title track and "I Don't Know What Her Mind is Made Of" also recall Being There-era Wilco.
CD Baby | iTunes
Readymade Breakup-Classic Single. Here's the latest EP from the New Jersey band we've featured here before. If you enjoyed their previous releases, you'll want this 4-track rocking EP. "Convince Me" is the top track here, sounding like it could have been a big hit in the 80s.
Bandcamp
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Ballard-Bucky. Ballard (real name: Darren Riley) is a singer-songwriter from Bolton, England who's been quite prolific of late, releasing several EPs and singles of his fine 60s-style lo-fi guitar pop, and Bucky is the full-length culmination of these releases. There's a Ray Davies/Kinks feel to Ballard's tunes, complete with character sketches and a song about Buckminster Fuller. Good stuff.
Bandcamp
Dan Miraldi-The Freewheelin' Dan Miraldi. The album title and the cover are an obvious homage to the Bob Dylan classic, and here Miraldi goes Dylan-in-reverse by trading in his electric guitar for an acoustic one. Despite the acoustic shift, he retains the rock-and-roll arrangements on these tracks so they still have a bite to them. There are two new tracks here, with 4 acoustic versions of his previous tunes, including my personal favorite "The Holy Roller Stone Revival". A must if you liked his previous releases.
CD Baby | iTunes
David Ellis-The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This UK singer-songwriter has crafted an enjoyable and melodic collection of 10 tracks that recall Elliott Smith at times. Top tracks here are "Smoke", "Down" and the true standout, "Wake Up Smiling", which recalls XO-era Smith.
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/h/a/happyashtray3.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a2032570522_2.jpg)
Bandcamp
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![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a0610112981_2.jpg)
Bandcamp
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/d/a/danmiraldi5.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/d/a/davidellis32.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Labels:
Ballard,
Dan Miraldi,
David Ellis,
Happy Ashtray,
Readymade Breakup
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Two for Thursday, 6/27/13
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/n/i/nickpiunti2.jpg)
CD Baby | Bandcamp
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/a/n/annycelsi4.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Two for Thursday, 6/20/13
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/r/travellanes3.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/t/h/thirdofnever2.jpg)
CD Baby | iTunes
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Midweek Roundup.
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://f0.bcbits.com/img/a1054811890_2.jpg)
Bandcamp | iTunes
![](http://web.archive.org./web/20170930164444im_/http://images.cdbaby.name/m/o/mozley2.jpg)
CD Baby
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