Mid-August Roundup.

Caddy-The Better End. Swede Tomas Dohl is back for his first album in several years as Caddy, and it's another glorious collection of Teenage Fanclub-by-way-of-Brian-Wilson-inspired power pop. Choice cuts: "Here it Comes Again", "Something About Carina".

Kool Kat | iTunes



The Labradors-Hate Summer EP. Italy has been the home of some power pop we've featured here before, most notably Radio Days, and here are Milan's The Labradors with a rocking 4-song EP that recalls Superdrag as well as their aforementioned compatriots. The whole thing's only 12 minutes so instead of reading me writing about, just give it a listen below.

iTunes



The Key Frames-Monophone Heart EP. This Toronto band is known for its Big Star-meets-Blue Rodeo sound, and most of the tracks on this EP are quality rootsy tunes. But then there's "Tidal Wave", one of my favorite songs of the year and a dead ringer for a lost Sloan track from Patrick Murphy.

iTunes



Andy Bopp-21213 EP. The erstwhile frontman of Myracle Brah returns with another solo EP, which unlike some of his previous EPs that delved in genres like 50s rockabilly, is more in line with his former's band contemporary power pop sound. The rollicking "Broken Ties" is a standout, as is the bright pop of "Hello". Bopp til you drop with this one.

iTunes

eMu sightings!

The new power pop has been coming slow as molasses from eMusic lately, but there are a few additions of note:

Myracle Brah-Can You Hear The Myracle Brah? Andy Bopp is back with his first new disc in three years, and the raves are already coming (although not from me at the moment as I haven't listened yet).

The Safes-Well Well Well. This one came out late last year and has finally made its way to the site - Bruce at Not Lame sez: "Like Cheap Trick doing The Clash. Talk about kicking out the jangle jams! You`ll need to take some aspirin after tuning to this one after all the head-bobbing you`ll do."

The Donnas-Bitchin'. These ladies are now indies after their first two records were with Atlantic, so we get them on eMu. They certainly do rock.