Scott Sutherland and the Doll Test

I'm a dB's fan and as such, I'm always starved for any new crumbs by Peter Holsapple, Chris Stamey and the band.  I'm enjoying the new single by Peter and I like the odd cover leaking out from Stamey central.   Still, because of the relative scarcity of material from my heroes I'm excited when I stumbled onto music from bands that sound like they have been influenced by  Peter and Chris.

The Doll Test is perhaps my favorite band in this category.  Lead by Scott Sutherland who spent quality time singing and playing in Seatlle's excellent Model Rockets and The Chemistry Set, The Doll Test released one LP and and an EP before receding into the mists of under recorded bands.   The quality of both of these releases is quite good.    Listen to "Scared Out of Your Mind" or "Rains All the Time" from the 2006 EP Gasoline and Banks and you'll get the picture.  The band does a convincing job of creating catchy songs that sound like they could have been lifted from the dB's second album "Repercussion".  Cool hooks well played. In 2008, the band released a fine full length follow up entitled "Mosque Alarm Clock" and then were heard from no more.
   

in 2013 Scott Sutherland resurfaced leading a somewhat punkier band called the "King County Queens".   Their LP is available as a download. Definitely worth checking out.  But Scott Sutherland hasn't been sitting still since 2013.   He's been publishing a series of demos and covers on his YouTube page.  Though in various degrees of finish, there is some fine psychedelic pop here. I've collected a series of Scott's originals here as a sampler (he has recorded his share of covers as well).  Well worth your while to check out this underappreciated artist.   Hope he finishes some of these with full band.

1 Holes and Highs
2 That's When I
3 The Kids on the Farm/Mariner's Lament
4 Edge of the Map
5 Leper of the Pack
6 Es Solamente
7 Light in the Window in the Fog
8 Ode to a Bull
9 Tinsel in the Rubbish Bin
10 Nothing is Better Than Right Here
11 Evergreen State Onions
12 Tears and Blood
13 Nobody Could Prove He Was Wrong
14 Greek Fire and Siege Machines
15 Riding With Sam and Dave
16 We Could Have Done Something Else
17 Dolly Jim
18 Macbeth
19 BB Gun Fight
20 A Hard Man
21 I'm Really Together (I Even Think I Should Be)

New Real Estate On The Way

Looking forward to the new album "In Mind" by the band Real Estate due to drop on March 17.  The work of this band along with their lead singer Martin Courtney has turned into a big thing for me recently.   Inhabiting the post Velvet Underground school of rock occupied by such bands as The Feelies and Luna, Real Estate has been releasing fine albums since 2009. Early records were more sparse but as they've matured, the melodies have been brought more front and center.

What vaulted them to the top of my list was the 2015 solo effort "Many Moons" by singer Martin Courtney. I didn't really pick up on this stellar album until last year but its been stuck at the top of my list since,.  in Many Moons, the trademark Real Estate minimalist sound attains a jangly "English Folk" cast and the chord changes and hooks are better than ever. (Reminded me of one of my favorite albums "Three Cheers for the Invisible Hand" by the Philadelphia band The Canadian Invasion).

As a taster before the new album drops, I'm posting a compilation of recent radio studio appearances by Martin Courtney along with some cover songs by Real Estate.  Love this band.   If you don't know them, I'd suggest giving Real Estate a try.

1 Foto - in studio performance
2 Vestiges - in studio performance
3 Northern Highway - in studio performance
4 Awake - in studio performance
5 Time - in studio performance of Richard Hell song
6 Airport Bar - in studio performance
7 Here Comes Sunshine - Real Estate cover of Grateful Dead song
8 Major Leagues - in studio performance of Pavement song
9 And I Love Her - acoustic performance by Real Estate of Beatles Song
10 Linger - in studio performance of Cranberrie's song
11 Snow Days - acoustic performance by Real Estate

Top 25 Power Pop Releases of 2016

2016. What an absolutely bizarre year!  Here's hoping that 2017 will make more sense all round.  Still there was lots of quality Power Pop produced in 2016.

1. Paul Steel - April & I: Carousel Kites
An end-of-year masterpiece by Paul Steel slips in under the wire.  Paul has been working on this epic during a difficult year for him, but you wouldn't know it.  Those who have followed Paul's past efforts won't be surprised by the Beach Boys and Jellyfish influences. The surprise hre is the trio of Steely Dan influenced tracks in the middle.   Wonderful melodies.  Sterling production.  The best Power Pop album of the year IMO.

2. Seth Swirsky - Circles & Squares
Seth is here with another cycle of new sunshine pop.    Though we've heard a few of these as demos on his web site, Seth has woven new versions together into a tuneful tapestry.  It's all puppy dogs and summer love.  Great album.

3. Cotton Mather - Death of the Cool
Robert Harrison releases the first set of songs from his 64 track "Songs from the I Ching" project and the album kicks like Cotton Mather album of old.   I played the hell out of this one.  It skyrockets right up with Cotton Mather albums of old.

4. The Dowling Poole - One Hyde Park
The second full length collaboration by Willie Dowling and Jon Poole.   This one check all the boxes.  Beautiful Jellyfish influenced ballads along snotty punk poppy rockers that sound like they could slot into a bid 90s Blur record.  Another great effort by the dynamic duo.

5. Starling Electric - Starling Electric Company
This Michigan band has two releases in my top 25 this year.  This one is the rocker of the two.  Channeling some of the cues from the shoegazers along side hooks influenced by the Beach Boys.  A great album though out.

6. David Brookings and the Average Lookings -  S/T
David Brookings produces his best effort in years and it rocks hard.  No other album invokes the rocking DNA of early Elvis Costello or early Candy Butchers like this.  I love David's new band.

7. Erik Voeks - So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away
After years of leaking out singles Erik finally puts out an entire album and it is a fabulous effort throughout.  Channeling a more careful take on the mid-west pop made famous by Tommy Keene.  This album takes up right where Erik's 1993 epic "Sandbox" leaves off.  Keep these coming please Erik!

8. The Legal Matters - Conrad
Another great album by the Michigan Power Pop "supergroup" of Andy Reed, Chris Richards and Keith Klingensmith.   I think that this one is actually even stronger than the first.

9. Look Park - S/T
OK,  so there aren't quite as many power hooks as Fountains of Wayne, but when Chris Collingwood sings highly tuneful songs, it sounds like FOW to me.   Some great tracks here on Chris's solo debut.

10. Nick Piunti - Trust Your Instincts
This power pop album may have the most "power" of any album in my top 25 this year.  It also includes the strongest set of tunes that Nick Piunti has produced to date.  Lots of fun to listen to in the car.

11. Bob Evans - Car Boot Sale
Yet another tuneful solo effort by Kevin Mitchel, the lead singer of Australian alternative band Jebediah.  This Bob Evans has more variety than efforts past and contains some absolutely sweet Power Pop songs. Recalls his prior epic "Suburban Songbook", a good thing indeed.

12. Peter Bruntnell - Nos Da Comrade
The English folk pop artist returns with his third effort that straddles folk, alternative and power pop.  As always its tuneful and worth listening throughout.  Peter Bruntnell is a criminally underrated and a favorite of mine.  

13. Honeydogs - Love & Cannibalism
I'll never miss an album by Adam Levy and his band-mates.   Though this one feels like a somewhat arbitrary collection of tunes, it still contains some of my favorite songs of the year.  Obviously this is a band effort not just another solo project by Adam.

14. Starling Electric - Castlevania
Perhaps the most personal effort on this list. Starling Electric lead singer Caleb Dillon has been sharing this masterpiece within a select inner circle.  He decided to release it for free on Bandcamp this fall so it's available to all of us.  Strong shades of Elliot Smith and the introspective side of Robert Pollard.  Not to be missed.

15. The Explorer's Club - Together
Beach boys scholars The Explorer's Club release their latest.  It's their best.  Full of songs that invoke the blissful days of summer.

16. Bent Van Looy - Pyjama Days
I'm a big Jason Falkner fan and every time I listen to Belgian rocker Ben Van Looy, I have to double check to see if I am actually listening to the great unreleased album by Jason.  It makes sense since this is the second album that Jason has produced for Bent.   Though, it doesn't say it, I would not be surprised if Jason had a hand in writing some of these songs.

17. Teenage Fanclub - Here
I always will celebrate a new album by Teenage Fanclub. "Here" is not their best its still a solid efforts with a stripped down take on the trademark Teenage Fanclub sound.

18. John Cunningham - Fell
Don't know why I didn't hear more about this return-to-form from British chamber pop artist John Cunningham.  This one ranks with anything he's done before.  Beautiful tunes.  Big Beach Boys influence.  Beautiful album.

19. Arvidson & Butterflies - S/T
The most "Swedish" of Power Pop albums comes from Gothenburg Sweden (as it should) this year and its very good indeed. Roger Arvidson delivers an album that sounds like it could have been released in Sweden in the 90s.  Rockin' songs with hooks galore.  So sweet it made my teeth hurt!

20. Sheloom - The Baron Of The Fjord
The second cross-continent collaboration by Blinker the Star singer Jordon Zadorozny, and Italian prog rocker Filippo Gaetani includes an important new member, chamber pop star Erik Matthews.  This a beautiful dense album that you should check out if you haven't heard it.  Spectacular.

21. Radio Days - Back in the Day
Italian rockers Radio Days alternate between mid period Beatles tributes and more updated punky Power Pop tunes.  Lots of great songs here.

22. Greg Pope - Guiding Star
The latest album by prolific artist Greg Pope cast a darker more alternative cast than albums past.  The hooks are here if you listen and stand up to repeated listening..

23. Cupid's Carnival - Everything is Love
I loved this John Lennon-esque collection of pop songs from the band formerly known as "Cherrystone".   Perhaps the most unabashedly late Beatles of anything on this last.

24. Cheap Trick - Bang Zoom Crazy…Hello
Another album by Power Pop dinosaurs Cheap Trick.  Does it matter?  YES is matters.  Some of the best three minute Power Pop songs of the year were on this album.  Great that these guys are still bringing it.

25. The Nines - Alejandro's Visions
This is a retro soundtrack concept by the Nines and it sometimes is a bit too fey for my tastes.   However, Steve Eggers is a force to be reckoned with and always brings us great songs.

Starling Electric - A Holiday "Re-gift"

It's that time of year - when I take stock of the year in Power Pop and remember some of my favorite moments from the year.  "Electric Company" by Starling Electric was certainly one of my favorite releases of the year.  The band plays power pop as if Robert Pollard from"Guided by Voices" had been listening to a steady stream of Beach Boys - without the attention deficit disorder disease.   "Electric Company" is a really wonderful album and it wasn't celebrated enough in my opinion.  If you haven't picked up a copy, then I'd suggest you head directly to Bandcamp and do so now.  One of the best releases of the year for sure.  Starling Electric deserves support for producing great tunes like this.

In addition to "Electric Company", Starling Electric lead singer Caleb Dillon has a gift for all pop fans.   He has posted an amazing solo record entitled "Castlevania" for free on Bandcamp. Caleb has been previewing this epic album to friends and family over the last album and it is simply superb.   Think Elliott Smith meets the shoegazer band Ride.   An introverted but drop dead gorgeous record that deserves its own place on my top 25 list for this year.

In addition, the group has posted a set of "free" set of demos on Bandcamp entitled." I Can't Believe I Hate The Whole Thing".  Lots of good stuff in there though its of varying fidelity.

Thanks for the gifts Caleb!  They are just what I wanted!

Castlevania

1 The Fog
2 Silver Lake
3 Death's Door
4 Those Eyes!
5 I Died
6 Let's Try To Keep It Out Of The Papers
7 No One Knows My Name
8 Dark Agez
9 Multiple Murder
10 Scarlet Fever
11 Missouri
12 I'm The Cop That Shot Mal Evans
13 Wear Your Love Like Heather

Duncan Matiland and Robyn Gibson are Future Harmonies

Oncoming Classic Power Pop Alert!   I'm extremely excited about the new covers collaboration project between Duncan Maitland and Robyn Gibson, leader of the Junipers. Duncan Maitland, for those of you who don't know, is a well respected studio musician who is at the core of the Irish Power Pop scene.  He has featured prominently on all Pugwash releases and in 2010 released a phenomenal solo record "Lullabies For The 21st Century", a lovely purple vinyl version of which was recently released by Sugarbush.  If you haven't heard this great album, then you owe it to yourself to check it out ASAP.

Robyn Gibson is the leader and vocalist of the Leicester based psychedelic pop band the Junipers.  Their release "Red Bouquet Fair" is a lovely chamber pop epic, on track to be on my best of the year list.   Together Robyn and Duncan call themselves Future Harmonies and they are working on an all cover effort to be released later this year. They have been leaking out some tracks on SoundCloud that are truly beautiful.   I've combined those tracks so far with some alternative versions of songs from Duncan's 2010 masterpiece "Lullabies For The 21st Century" in this compilation.  Listen to this and get excited about the oncoming Future Harmonies album. Duncan rarities are hard to find.  If anyone has a copy of Duncan's rare "2006 Live Alien EP" can you let me know?   I've had one back-ordered on Amazon for months.

1 Two of a Kind - Syd Barrett cover by Duncan
2 All I Ever Wanted - Kirsty McCall cover by Future Harmonies
3 Lucky You - early version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track
4 Mary Anne With the Shaky Hand - Who cover by Future Harmonies
5 Handbirds - instrumental version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track
6 Funny How Love Can Be - Ivy League cover by Future Harmonies
7 Terry The Toad- early version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track
8 Cry Me To Sleep - solo version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track from "Declan Session"
9 Your Century- solo version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track from "Jungla Sonora"
10 Starman - Live Bowie cover by Duncan
11 Insect Under the Stone- solo version of "Lullabies For The 21st Century" track from "Jungla Sonora"
12 Two of Us - live Beatles cover by Future Harmonies
13 Baby's In Black- live Beatles cover by Future Harmonies

Grant-Lee Phillips - Sunday's Best

Grant-Lee Phillips is a long time favorite of mine and though much of his output could be characterized as Americana, there are strong pop elements throughout his large catalog. His latest effort "The Narrows" is a solid  rocking album.  It alternates between strong roots rockers and Grant's trademark world-weary crooning ballads.

Today's post is a collection of rare non-album compilation, B-side and bonus tracks that emphasize Grant's pop sound. All of these rarities are from Grant's post Grant Lee Buffalo period.  (I'm currently looking for at least two tracks that know of  "The Goodnight Horse" and "Hold Me".   If anyone has these or any other Grant rarities, I'd appreciate letting me know).

Enjoy these great tracks.

1 Hugo's Theme - bonus track from "Mobilize"
2 Sunday's Best - bonus track from "Mobilize"
3 Smile - from "Gilmore Girls" soundtrack
4 Itchin' - from "Arctic Tales" soundtrack
5 Buckaroo - B-side of "Spring Released"
6 Sarah - from "Witchblade" soundtrack
7 Me and This City - compilation track from "The I-10 Chronicles"
8 Ashes to Ashes - Bowie cover with the Section String Quartet
9 Song of the North - from "Arctic Tales" soundtrack
10 Mother of Exiles - download single
11 Hit Parade - single
12 Here Comes The Sun - Beatles cover from compilation
13 Ballad of Catain - unreleased track from "Witchblade"
14 Winterglow - single
15 Snow Flakes - bonus track from "Ladie's Love Oracle"
16 We Three Kings - unreleased Christmas track

Peter Holsapple - Back Blogging!

Thanks to Rob over at The dB's Repercussion blog for spreading the news that Peter Holsapple one of the two creative forces behind the dB's is back and blogging again.  In Peter's blog, he reports that he is recording for a new effort and I couldn't be happier.    As recently as a year ago it sounded like Peter had hung up his song writing pen, so that he is back in the studio is excellent news.   Long standing readers of Pop Fair know that Holsapple is one of my absolutely favorite singer songwriters, however its been a waiting game being his fan. There had been no new tracks from Peter since his days with the Continental Drifters until 2009 when Peter and Chris Stamey released the excellent duet record  "Here and Now".   This was followed in 2012 by "Falling Off the Sky" by the reformed dB's, a wonderful return to form for the legendary band.  Since that time only the odds and ends of tracks left off of the "Falling Off the Sky" were released and then...nothing.

So Peter might be "back" and writing again and that's great....but if past performance is a predictor, it may take a while until we get to hear new material.   To hold me over, I've been listening to my second compilation of Holsapple material "released" on the Radio Free Song Club blog.   That blog has gone dormant recently but for a while was releasing monthly compilations of alternative folk performances recorded live in studios around NYC.  Peter would regularly send in songs he recorded in his home in North Carolina.   in 2011, he briefly released a CD of the first batch of those songs.  That release appears to be out of print at present  I've been waiting, but I've seen no evidence of a second CD.   Until Peter releases a CD of this stuff, please enjoy the second batch of Holsapple tracks culled from the Radio Free Song Club.   Some great Holsapple material here served up with a very DIY aesthetic.  Can't wait for new material from Peter.

1 Goodness Gracious

2 All Hail

3 The Devil You Know

4 Real Tears

5 Cinderella Style

6 Game Day

7 Happy The Drunk

8 Morning Train

9 Didn't You Used to Be

10 Bluesy Mama

11 The Donkey Song
12 Don't Ever Leave