Summer's Over...

...but in the land of power pop, it always sounds like summer. Here are three new releases to get you by as the calendar changes to September (plus you can still celebrate like it's summer through next week's Labor Day).

The Ravines-Everything's Fine. This UK power pop band led by Chris Corney (who's put some fine solo albums out in the last few years) had one of the genre's lost classics in 2005's Manifesto of a Broken Heart, and they've regrouped in 2015 to give us one of the year's best releases. The title track is bright, catchy power pop that falls somewhere between Gin Blossoms and Fountains of Wayne, the jangly "Blue Eyes" and "Dead Letters" could have been hits in the 90s, and what "Tambareen" lacks in accurate spelling it more than makes up for in tunefulness. Plus, the acoustic "Queen Bee" makes a lovely closer. Everything's fine, indeed.

iTunes



The Allrightniks-Two Places at One Time. Our favorite Virginia rockers are back with their first full-length, having released 3 EPs over the past few years. So this time around you get twice as much of their Spongetones/Janglemen-styled pop. Opener "Nice to Know" has a bit of Rockpile in its DNA as well, "I Can't Wait" has an early Beatles feel, and "200 Milligrams" is just the right dose of power pop. Elsewhere, they even add horns to the mix on "Today is the Day" to fine effect, and the title track would fit right in on a Red Button album.

iTunes



Jeff Litman-Primetime EP. Primetime is something NYC singer-songwriter Jeff Litman is ready for, as his latest EP is another compact collection of quality tunes. "That's on You" is a killer opening track, sounding like a lost 80s hit with its insistent beat and relentless guitar hook (which later becomes a great guitar solo), while the cynical-yet-tuneful "Debutante" allows Litman to get his Elvis Costello on, and "Nothing" (previously released as a single) finds him in his mid-tempo element. Just have a listen below and you'll be hooked.

iTunes

Two for Thursday, 12/5/13

The Allrightniks-Three. Wasting no time after regaling us with an EP released early this year, The Allrightniks are back with their third EP cleverly titled "Three". This time around, they make a couple deviations from their Spongetones-styled power pop. For example, "Delaplane" is a bluesy, swamp-rock ode to the Virginia town in their neck of the woods, and "Moonshine" follows in a similar vein. But their trademark British invasion pop shines on the opener "Would've Already by Now" and "Until I Get to You". And the Big Star-esque "Something to Believe In" is another standout. Here's looking forward to EP #4.

CD Baby | iTunes



Lamar Holley-The Color of Day. Also returning to our pages (albeit after a longer absence) is Salt Lake City's Lamar Holley, whose The Color of Day is his full-length followup to 2009's Confessions of a College Student. This one picks up where the last one left off with more of his quirky "theater-pop", although the college student of the debut if now finding his way in the world. "Planet Buzz" sets the tone, a cross between a Broadway/Vaudeville intro with a commercial jingle, while the acoustic guitar-based "Roller Coaster" channels Jon Brion circa the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack. "One and One" is delicious piano pop, "Acting in Love" is a highly catchy number about an actor falling in love with his leading lady, and "Are You Really Mine?" is a beautiful piano ballad. Elsewhere, the delightful indie pop of "Holding On, Holding Back" with its boy/girl harmonies and the bouncy "Joe" round out the disc nicely. So in this holiday season, add some Holley to your home.

CD Baby | iTunes

Friday Roundup.

The Allrightniks-Nothing's What it Seems. The Allrightniks are a three-piece band from Virginia with power pop in their blood and a real swell name. Nothing's What it Seems is their second EP after their self-titled 2011 debut, and they have a British Invasion-style sound that should appeal to fans of The Spongetones and The Janglemen. "No Words" opens the EP with the kind of jangle you'd expect from a band of this style, while "Down to Me" has more of a contemporary drive to it, reminiscent of Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend album. Elsewhere, the midtempo "So Glad" has an early-mid Beatles sound and "Nobody Knows But Me" channels The Byrds. When you put this together with the aforementioned debut EP, you'll have a fine album-length collection of power pop worth gracing your music player of choice.

CD Baby | iTunes

Chris Degnore & The Black Drops-Cinema. Detroit's Chris Degnore has been kicking around the music scene for almost 20 years, playing and recording in Nashville and then spending a few years in the UK. His experience, professionalism and craft shine through on Cinema, his debut with backing band The Black Drops. Degnore & Co. offer up power pop that's gritty and rocking yet tuneful, as evidenced by the Replacements-style leadoff track "Coming Down". "Dame Street" follows in the same vein, while "Speed of Light" offers some clever and penetrating melodic hooks, and "Ghost Inside Your Head" is straight-up power pop of the Cheap Trick variety. "Broken Hearted Man" is another standout and perhaps the album's poppiest track, while "For You" is an effective change-of-pace acoustic ballad. If you don't mind a bit of bluesy rock mixed in with your power pop, Cinema is well worth your while.

CD Baby | iTunes