New Codaphonic EP - free!

We've always enjoyed the Harry Nilsson-influenced Codaphonic around these parts, so I'm pleased to pass on the news that they're making Edison's Rival, their brand-new EP, available for a free download.

Get it here.

CD of the Day, 1/31/08: Codaphonic-The Ballad of Codaphonic

Codaphonic is back. The Nashville band who gave us one of top EPs of 2006, Good Morning Radio, is back with The Ballad of Codaphonic, their first full-length. And as the saying goes, if you liked the EP, you'll love the full-length (which repeats none of the EP tracks - yay!).

For those who didn't hear the EP or click through the link to my review of it above, the Codaphonic sound is bright, hook-filled power pop with a bit of subversive edge a la Harry Nilsson or Barenaked Ladies, with a bit of Sloan thrown in for good measure. "Never Slows Down" serves as both an opening track and a mission statement for the disc, with its crunchy guitars, bubbly synths and enough "ba ba"s, "la la"s to get you going over its entire 1:54. "A Lot Like Me" gets by on a great guitar hook for its first 2/3s, then turns it over to some great piano; "Long Night" is borderline alt-country; "The Most Important Thing" is British Pop with a touch of Nilsson; "Nothing to Do" adds horns to the power pop mix; and "Sun vs. Moon" does likewise in a manner reminiscent of Sloan. Quality all around, and a top 10 of 2008 contender.

So check them out if you haven't already - everything you need is at their site: streams, mp3s and a place to order.

Codaphonic Site | MySpace

mp3s: The Most Important Thing | Sun vs. Moon

EP of the Day: Codaphonic-Good Morning Radio.

This trio from Nashville has come up with a contender for EP of the Year. Good Morning Radio is Codaphonic's debut, but its craft and self-assurance could easily fool the listener into thinking they've been around for 10 years.

The title track starts off things, and it's a great tune that doesn't outstay its welcome at nearly five minutes. The "ooh las" in the chorus and backing the verses, along with frontman Cody Newman's "do do do do" singalong about 3 1/2 minutes in, make it a transcendent pop song. One of the artists the band name-drops in its promotional material is Harry Nilsson, and while "Hollawalla Omacalla Wee" doesn't sound precisely like a Nilsson track, it embodies his goofy spirit in the service of a great pop tune. "Can We Talk?" is a punchy rocker; "Hearts Will Roll" has a title worthy of Westerbergian wordplay and a driving, herky-jerky rhythm; "Don't Be Surprised" is a Tories-inspired power pop gem, and the closing "Ritalin", with its piano-and-horns backing and satirical lyrics, will make Ben Folds insanely jealous the moment he hears it for the first time.

Here are a couple of mp3s to grab:

Good Morning Radio
Ritalin

The EP just became available in the last few days on CD Baby for a reasonable $7, and if you'd rather stream than download, the two tracks above plus "Can We Talk?" are on their myspace page.