As the last note ends in IPO New York, I wanted to listen to the latest compilation, David Bash's International Pop Overthrow Vol.12. This year the bands are more varied and less constricted by genre orthodoxy and this makes for a better and more representative group of power pop bands. There are 3CDs full of 70 bands and 70 songs, so I'll pick out some of my favorite tracks here. Disc#1: Start...
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International Pop Overthrow "Vol. 12"
Paul McCartney Shows in December. Tickets are available.
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I will be reviewing IPO in New York tonight, but what else is there left to say about Paul McCartney? Former Beatle and knight of realm, the likely lad from Liverpool remains the iconic star of his generation. Possessing one of the great voices in rock ‘n roll, a magnetic stage presence and boundless energy, Sir Paul is a master showman and there are few greater thrills in live music than being.
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John Shaughnessy "Re-occuring Dream"
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You can't peg John Shaughnessy's acoustic-based power pop to one specific style, but you can listen in rapt attention to the great quality of the songwriting and melodies here. Assisted by Smash Palace's Stephen Butler and IKE's Bretty Talley, John creates a wonderful organic sound that is naturally rhythmic and hopeful, influenced by classic 70's artists and the Beatles. The opening title trac...
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Moldy Oldies: Eric Matthews "Fanfare"
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When someone tells you "He arrived with great fanfare..." that pretty much describes how Eric Matthews arrived on the scene in 1995 with It's Heavy In Here. For a while he was considered the king of chamber pop, and then went on to explore other musical directions (jazz, glam, prog). It's been very tough for him to live up to this first album, but he does an amazing job covering Brian Wilson's ...
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International Pop Overthrow 2009 in NYC begins!
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International Pop Overthrow (or IPO, as it has affectionately become known) is a pop music festival which has been held for the past eleven years in Los Angeles. We have also held IPO for various years in Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Vancouver, and Toronto, as well as in Liverpool, England (at the world famous Cavern Club)! This is where you can hear the power pop stars of today a...
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Android Angel and Jupiter One
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Artist:Android Angel
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Album:Glow Worm
Android Angel "Glow Worm"Paul Colto (aka Android Angel) set forth to create this album and right away his musical equipment was stolen. Continuing undaunted, the album has contributions from musicians along Paul's journey. This is not a standard indie pop album, as the opening track "Music of Android Angel" combines synth, guitar, drums, and radio sound bytes overlapping into a harmonious patte...
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Happy Halloween!
power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.
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Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears "Mad Valentines" EP
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Just in time for Halloween, Bryan Scary and The Shredding Tears worked a bit of musical magic. The mad hyperactive piano of "Andromeda's Eyes" and even faster chorus makes it hard to enjoy, unless you're into a musician on a sugar speed overload. Thankfully, he dials it back down to earth on the follow up "(It's a) Gambler's Whirl" with a tight disco-pop composition. The next track is the best,...
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The Madd "The Madd Are Pretty Quick"
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Artist:The Madd
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Album:The Madd are Pretty Quick
Now for a new band few have heard of from Rotterdam, Netherlands called The Madd. They follow in the tradition of European mid 60's garage-merseybeat revivalist like The Mellowmen, Bronco Bullfrog and The Winnerys. I can't tell you much about them cause I don't speak Dutch, however this local reviewer does and you'll hear all the English you need to know in the review. The opening track, "I Kn...
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Stackridge "A Victory For Common Sense"
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So you've never heard of Stackridge? Well if you're not from the UK you are forgiven. The Anglophilic progressive pop band began to great fanfare in 1971, were predicted to be bigger than Genesis and even had an very well reviewed LP produced by George Martin right after his Beatles tenure ended (Man In A Bowler Hat). Then by 1975, they fell off the public's radar. I never heard about them till...
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"Beg You Back" by Minster Hill
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Track:Beg You Back
New single by MInster Hill - love the dancing mushrooms!power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.
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Mark Cronk "Playing Katchup"
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Pennsylvania native Mark Cronk is no rookie musician. He started in the late 70's with the band Appalachia, played with Robert Palmer and the Ramones. Currently he is lead vocalist for the Beatles cover band Glass Onion. Now he has produced this sweet melodic solo album that will appeal to most fans of power pop, especially Spongtones fans, with it's jangle and Beatlesque chord progressions. O...
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Parallax Project "I Hate Girls"
The Parallax Project is a loose collective of musicians centered around lead vocalist/guitarist Michael Giblin. On his new album I Hate Girls he does a fine job with the opening track "All The Same," full of Revolver-styled rhythm and a workman-like effort in the chorus. Much like Squeeze meets Elvis Costello, "The Day After Tomorrow" is has a compelling lyrical story that leads to a catchy cho...
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Adam Marsland "Go West"
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After the record setting sales of his greatest hits album, the former Cockeyed Ghost frontman returns with a 2 disc musical journey. In some ways it is like a parallel of Stew's Passing Strange, a personal saga of dreams shot to hell and a redemption through unfailing hope and faith. This certainly is Adam at his most lyrically engaging and musically complex. Starting with "Standing In Chicago...
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Fooling April and Wiretree
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Album:Three
Fooling April "Three"It's been about 2 years since I heard again from Fooling April. While always talented, the band has taken huge strides forward in musical development with Three. 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. "Breathe Again" is a modern ballad where the melody tells a...
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Curtains For You "What A Lovely Surprise To Wake Up Here"
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Album:What a Lovely Suprise to Wake Up Here
This Seattle based, five-piece retro-pop outfit Curtains For You have the delicious melodies and intricate three- and four-part harmonies that make the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The band consists of Matthew Gervais (guitar/lead vocal), Mikey Gervais (guitar/ sax/ vocals), Nick Holman (bass/euphonium/vocals), Peter Fedofsky (piano/vocals), and Dave Lawrence (drums). Leaning on a bi...
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Major label reviews: PushPlay and Mayday Parade
PushPlay "Found"Time to see what talent the major labels are pushing through. Produced by Matt Squire (Panic at the Disco) Long Island natives Push Play would like you to toss your Jonas Brothers CDs in the trash and "Watch it Burn." While the opening track is a nice buzz guitar pop song, it enters boy-band faux-soul with "Midnight Romeo." Lead singer CJ Baran has a good lead vocal and the band...
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Get a freakin' T-Shirt already.
Okay here's the pitch. I've got about 12 shirts left in stock and they gotta go. It's a custom made silkscreened shirt - perfect for concert wearing and eating ice cream. Only a few extra large shirts left, and the rest are large. Only $12.00 + $5.00 shipping. Delivered through USPS - international buyers will be asked to pay additional shipping charges.Click here to order.power pop reviews, po...
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The Emitt Rhodes revival
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One of my favorite under appreciated artists, the great Emitt Rhodes is the one of the few (Badfinger being another) who took up the Beatlesque musical legacy right where Lennon-McCartney left it after the fab four broke up. Billboard magazine called him "one of the finest artists on the music scene today" (4/3/71) and later referred to his debut as one of the "best albums of the decade" (11/23...
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Brian Ray. The Powerpopaholic Interview
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One of the very first reviews on this blog, was for Brian Ray's Mondo Magneto. This self described rock god, guitarist and bass player for Paul McCartney made some time to chat with me. His newest album This Way Up is scheduled for 2010 release. Brian has played with many other musical legends such as Bobby Pickett, Etta James, Smokey Robinson and, more recently, played on Chris Cornell’s solo.
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