The Thromboes are Larry Levy (Histrioniks) on vocals/guitar, Dave Powers on bass and Bongo LaHair (?) on drums. The group can be defined as a poppy garage punk style. When the album starts out "Let me touch your junk..." you know you're in for something different. Unfortunately this clever lyrical approach on "Junk" isn't on more tracks here. Larry makes the next track a funky beat ride, as "Sh..
More >
The Thromboes "She's Like A British Car"
Anya Marina "All The Same To Me"
The second video to come out from the excellent album Slow And Steady Seduction,Phase II.power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.
More >
Skidmore Fountain "Cloudless Blue"
Brooklyn’s Skidmore Fountain is a collection of eclectic musicians, Randy Bergida (vocals/guitar), Topu Lyo (cello/vocals), and Steven Cohen (guitar/vocals) who produce alternative pop that has plenty of soundscapes with orchestral touches. If The Flaming Lips and Coldplay teamed up with Jeff Lynne adding a rare flourish, you'd get close to this band's sound. Opening with a combination of viol
More >
First IN Space "This is Not Here"
-
Artist:First IN Space
-
Album:This is Not Here
-
Track:Jenny
Saturday EP Review Special FREE music downloads
I heard a few worthy EPs and emerging talent these past 2 weeks that deserves some attention from you Powerpopaholics out there. Here are some groups you might want to check out. Princeton "Bloombury" EPTwin brothers Jesse and Matt Kivel and Ben Usen are Princeton, a very Kinks-meets-Shins Chamber pop combo. The EP Bloomsbury, lyrically focuses upon a Victorian-era intellectuals. Portraits of L...
More >
J.P. Cregan "Man Overboard"
ESPN basketball writer John Cregan's alter ego, J.P. Cregan has put together a stellar collection of pop songs. And he's no rookie either, having been guitarist for alt. country band Parklane Twin. With the help of Highland Park-based wunderkind-ace producer Nik Freitas, J.P. opens with "Carolyn (The Pledge Drive)" a very Nick Lowe-ish styled pub rock with a hint of country. The smooth "Count t..
More >
The Beatles Rockband Cinematic
-
Artist:
This has been all over the place, so I won't get into the fact that this will be the biggest game event in many years. Look at this brilliant cinematic in HD on the Beatles Rockband Home Page to really appreciate it.power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even more power pop and rock and roll.
More >
The Simple Carnival "Girls Aliens Food"
The Simple Carnival does not rock. Pittsburgh based singer/songwriter Jeff Boller couldn't agree more. After all "there are a million musicians who play rock better" he says. Instead Boller excels at sunny pop melody so sweet and bubbly, you may even think you're listening to a kids album. But you're not, and like Mitch Friedman's "Game Show Teeth," it's good natured and inventive pop melodies..
More >
Spain Colored Orange and La Snacks
-
Artist:
-
Album:New Fangled
Spain Colored Orange "Sneaky Like A Villain"Opening with a lovely harmony-filled intro, The Spain Colored Orange are a Houston Texas group with an affection for all kinds of music from The Beatles to Radiohead. Lead by trumpet player Eric Jackson, and lead singer Gilbert Alfaro, "Who Am I?" is psyche pop with jazz touches here and there and the tone shifts around making it impossible to pigeonh...
More >
Cheap Trick "The Latest" to come out 6/23
The boys from Rockford keep rocking. The veteran rock group will start taking pre-orders for the 13-track set, which it recorded during the past year mostly in Los Angeles with producer Julian Raymond, on Friday via its official web site, www.cheaptrick.com, and at Amazon.com. Those who pre-order will receive “The Latest” on June 23, 2009.power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions
More >
Greg Pope "Pete" EP and interview
Greg Pope had arguably the best power pop album last year with Pop Monster. Well, the follow up is finally here with the "Pete" EP. And like Pop Monster it still has those wonderful layers upon layers of heavy guitar, evidenced by the opener "Fall into Your Arms." The melodies continue to evoke Badfinger, The Who, Led Zepplin, Guided By Voices and his last band, Edmund's Crown. With the next s...
More >
The Scared Cows and the groovy guru
Maxwell Smart and Agent 99 meet the Groovy Guru (played by Larry Storch of F-Troop) and the psychedelic group known as the Sacred Cows. Apparently that dippy hippy rock and roll was meant to brainwash teens to "Kill, Kill, Kill" and "bump off a square." Well, maybe El Goodo could use those costumes for their next show?power pop reviews, power pop and rock and roll opinions. Power pop and even m...
More >
Radio City "Class of '77"
After I heard The Wigs earlier this year, I thought we'd never see another lost treasure from the early years of 1970's power pop. Long Island, NY native Gary Feldman formed Radio City in 1977, taking a love of The Raspberries, Todd Rundgren and The Byrds with him in the studio. In fact, the band's big sin was being "too pop" in a fashionably punked-out New York music scene at the time. It's an.
More >
The Boolevards "Real Pop"
Merseybeat aficionados will be on cloud nine with this new release. Using the classic instruments of the great Merseybeat era (6 and 12 string Rickenbacker guitars with some acoustic guitar in for flavoring) and utilizing classic Mersey recording styles (double tracked vocals, a clean guitar sound, two part harmonies, plenty of backround "oohs and aahs," with echoing vocal effects). The brainch...
More >
Mandy Moore "Amanda Leigh"
I never thought in a million years I'd be reviewing an album like this. Mandy Moore has grown up musically with the help of Mike Viola. His melodies and fingerprints are all over this production. The opening track, "Merrimack River" is just gorgeous as she sings with Viola in a duet. As usual his songwriting is top shelf and Moore's vocal skills match up to the tunes well. Each song tells a cle...
More >
Audio Interviews now re-posted.
-
Artist:The Goo Goo Dolls
I finally got around to posting my audio interviews with all the transcripts of the others in the Artist Interview section. Click on the button to the right, and visit the page where you can listen to my interview with Robby Takac of The Goo Goo Dolls from September, 2008 and my interview with Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (formerly of The Jellyfish) from January, 2009.power pop reviews, power pop...
More >
