EPalooza!

Several artists we've featured here on the site are out with new EPs, so here's a quick look at them:

Steve Robinson-The Time of Our Lives. The English expat who hails from my home region of Tampa Bay is back with his first new music since 2007's outstanding Undercurrent, and this EP continues the folky pop strengths of that disc. Getting help from labelmates The Ditchflowers, Robinson shines on all 5 tracks here, but the real standout is "Bed of Nails", which features a slow build from a mostly acoustic number to swelling choruses and full instrumentation and reminds me a lot of my favorite Undercurrent track, "Wooden Hill". Robinson is a class act, and this EP was worth the wait.

CD Baby | iTunes | Bandcamp



Ike-The Little People, Church and the Steeple. Although the latest from these Philly rockers who put the "power" in "power pop" is nominally a full-length, I consider it to be an EP given that there are only five new tracks here (the remainder of the disc consists of acoustic versions of the five new songs & a radio edit). Still, these five new tracks continue the band's metamorphosis from a traditional power pop band when Cliff Hillis was on board to a harder-rocking sound now that John Faye is in charge. "Rock 'n' Roll Dreams" lets you know this right away with its stadium rock flourishes and Faye's take-no-prisoner lyrics. "If I Can Help It" has the 70s classic rock sound down, and "Just Like That" is vintage power pop with a driving chorus. I like Ike, and you'll like this EP too.

CD Baby | iTunes | Listen at ReverbNation





The Jellybricks-Suckers. Heading west from Ike's Philadelphia we find Pittsburgh's Jellybricks, who have been with us since the 90s. Their latest is more what we've come to know and love from the band, hard-charging power pop not unlike their statemates referenced above. "Rock and Roll Suicide" fits the definition of melodic rock to a "T", "Sold" has me sold with its rollicking beat and tuneful guitar attack, and how often do we get a track named after one of the more obscure elements on the periodic table ("Beryllium")? More good stuff, and the real suckers here will be those who miss out on this EP.

Buy at official site | MySpace | Soundcloud

CD of the Day, 8/4/08: The Jellybricks-Goodnight to Everyone

The Jellybricks are never going to be know as prolific, releasing their last three discs in 1999, 2004 and now, but as long as this Pennsylvania band is going to put out discs like Goodnight to Everyone, we won't complain about the next one probably not coming out until 2012 or 2013. Bringing us power pop with a capital "P", the 'Bricks bring to mind statemates Ike (former Ike Cliff Hillis produced their previous disc, Power This), as well as Matthew Sweet and The Tories. Saul Zonana co-produced, played on and mixed several of the tracks, and his fans should enjoy this one as well.

"Eyes Wide" is a great, fast-paced opener that draws the Ike comparisons, and it's followed by the title track, a classic power pop number with an indelible chorus. (By the way, while titling a disc Goodnight to Everyone might seem like it's a swan song for the band, thankfully there's no indication that that's the case here). "Ruin Us" and "More to Lose" are a bit more on the janglier (yet still rocking) side, reminiscent of fellow Northeasterners Smash Palace, while "Nobody Else" might be the best track on the disc, a wonderfully catchy tune with Jellyfish/ELO-like backing vocals. And in a nice touch, the disc closes with "Heartache Begins", the kind of lush, anthemic ballad you just don't see enough power pop bands save for the end. Goodnight to Everyone is classic power pop at its finest, and the 'Bricks can take as long as they want for the next one.

CD Baby | MySpace | Kool Kat