CD of the Day, 10/22/08: Cliff Hillis-The Long Now

With so many artists out there and so many records to hear, and so little time in which to listen to it all, an artist who delivers consistently great music is worth his or her weight in gold. And in the power pop community, very few artists fit this bill as Cliff Hillis does. From his work in Starbelly (whose brilliant 2002 release Everyday and Then Some deserves a spot in the Top 20 power pop discs of the decade) and Ike to his high-quality solo work, Hillis is a known quantity, and his brand new solo disc The Long Now is another feather in his cap.

All of what I said above means that I'd buy his records sight unseen (or hearing unheard I guess), making the rest of this review superfluous for those familiar with his work, but for the uninitiated or those who have overlooked him, Hillis' sound is the golden mean of power pop - punchy enough to satisfy fans of Fountains of Wayne or Cheap Trick, but melodic enough to satisfy fans of Squeeze, Michael Carpenter and Paul McCartney. The rollicking, acoustic-based "She Sees" opens the track in "I've Just Seen a Face" territory, and it's followed by the brilliant "Never Understand", an electric guitar-heavy melodic gem that recalls his Starbelly days. By the time "Elevator" rolls around three tracks in, you're left to marvel at how effortless his sound seems as another near-perfect melody wafts through your speakers. And the rest of the album lives up to the standards - "Northern Lights" rocks with grace; "Follow You Anywhere" is more bright pop; "Like an Island" is positively majestic; and "All For The Sake" has a laid-back, country-rock-pop sound that reminds me of Carpenter and Bryan Estepa.

When the year-end list rolls around, there may be only be one digit in front of the period on this one, and make sure you pick it up through Not Lame or Kool Kat, where you get a bonus EP of 6 songs that include tribute tracks (including a cover of McCartney's "This One") and his contest-winning Chili's baby back ribs jingle.

Not Lame | Kool Kat | MySpace | Listen at Lala

Friday Roundup.

All Day Sucker-The Big Pretend. I noted these guys back in January from last year's IPO compilation, and they've now unleashed The Big Pretend, their second-full length disc. They strike me as kind of a cross between Orson, Weezer and Everclear, and have a big, radio-friendly pop sound. The disc is sort of an LA concept album, complete with an amusing 40s/50s-sounding introductory theme. The IPO teaser track, "The Picture (That Took Me)" is here, and it's the highlight, but there are several more interesting tracks including the manic pop of "Life In The Passing Lane", the quite catchy "Santa Ana", and the baroque nostalgia of "Beverly Park". A fun disc that will make you feel like you're in L.A., regardless of where you are.

CD Baby | MySpace

Goh Nakamura-Ulysses. Staying in the Golden State but moving up the coast, San Francisco's Goh Nakamura is quite the pleasant surprise (although this is his third disc) to discover. He's got an excellent folk-rock/pop sound that is quite Beatlesque in spots; in other words, he's like a less depressing Elliot Smith. "Somewhere" wouldn't sound out of place on a Jon Brion album; "Sarah Rose" has all the charm and melody of McCartney at his acoustic best; and the title track conjures up the denser sound that Smith had on his last two albums. Now I'm going to go back and check out his first two discs.

CD Baby | MySpace

Big Bus Dream-The Jesters of Xmas Town. Big Bus Dream is another example of Charlotte's thriving pop scene, which has brought us the likes of Jamie Hoover, James Deem, Transmission Fields, and some other high-quality artist whose name I'm likely forgetting at the moment. This is their second full-length (the debut was produced by Hoover) and they have a sophisticated pop sound that's very similar to The Eels; in fact, frontman Mike Shannon (a former CBGB's fixture) is a vocal ringer for Mr. E himself. If you start at the beginning, you'll notice this resemblance off the bat in "Another Me", and their understated folk-pop also carries some Elvis Costello and Lou Reed influence, nowhere more so than the biting "Money Trumps Everything". Other highlights include the Willie Nile-style "Tremble", the languid "Already Gone" (which has a hint of the Pernice to it), and the fiddle-friendly "Since You Left". This is one Bus you'll want to catch.

CD Baby | MySpace | mp3s at Sonicbids

CD of the Day, 10/15/08: Greg Pope-Popmonster

One of the more underrated power pop bands of the last several years has been Edmund's Crown, whose Regrets of a Company Man was one of my favorite releases of 2006. The Tennessee band has been one of the leaders of "southern power pop", along with artists like The Luxury Liners (whose frontman David Dewese has ironically just released a solo disc of his own), The Rewinds and Bill Lloyd. The man behind the Crown is Greg Pope, and he's out with his solo debut that not only continues the Edmund's Crown sound but expands upon it (and which sports pretty cool album art to boot). Popmonster is a true solo debut as well, with Pope writing, singing and playing all the instruments on each track.

Freed to do his own thing, Pope lets loose a total of 16 tracks here but there really isn't any filler. Opener "Sky Burn Down" lets you know you're not in Kansas (or at least Tennessee) any more as he revs up a Robert Pollard-style rocker in both sound and length (2:08). "I Got a Life" is another infectious barnburner which recalls both Matthew Sweet and The Who in places, while "Lost My Friend" and "Playing Nashville" travel in more familiar Edmund's Crown territory. "The Only Thing I've Got" also clocks in around 2 minutes, and has a definite Alex-Chilton-by-way-of-Paul-Westerberg vibe. Other standouts include the aching Jon Brionesque pop of "Only One You", the jangly "Footpath", the bright Americana-influenced "Little Things", and "Reason With You", another track that would have fit on nicely on Regrets of a Company Man.

A real tour-de-force and with Halloween approaching, this Popmonster will be scaring its way up my year-end list.

CD Baby | MySpace

Singer/Songwriter Monday.

Three quality singer/songwriter offerings to start the work week:

Preston Girard-Along Chicago. Despite the album title Girard is from Kansas City, and he works in the idiom of singer-songwriters like AM, Gus Black and David Gray. From the defiant start-stop of "Pretty" to the jangle of the title track to the balladry of "Under", Girard shows a real command of his craft. But the real standout here is "Little People", near-power pop with a chorus that will stay in your head.

CD Baby | MySpace

Tyler Burkum-Darling, Maybe Someday. This Minneapolis artist comes down more on the alt-country side of singer/songwriterdom, but with a pop sheen that recalls Ryan Adams before he got (too) full of himself and some of Jeff Tweedy's more sublime moments in Wilco. Opener "Blue as the Sky" sets the tone with its achingly beautiful melody and arrangement; the midtempo "Gales of November" veers into Counting Crows territory; "Hurricane" channels Adams circa Heartbreaker, and "Everything You Said" is pure pop. An impressive full-length debut for anyone who values the laid-back and melodic.

CD Baby | MySpace

David Kitchen-Underground. Here's one to watch. This is the debut EP from Virginia's David Kitchen, and it's a pop fest that brings to mind everyone from Nick Lowe to Tal Bachman to Steely Dan. Exhibit "A" is the dizzyingly catchy "Underground", which might be one of the tracks of the year. "Mean Old Mister Gravity" is another toe tapper that features horns and flutes; "You Know That I Will" is a pleasant midtempo number, and closer "Remembering" mixes jangle with some fine guitar solo work in service of another catchy tune. I will now state the obvious and obligatory: Bring on the full length!

CD Baby | MySpace

Thursday Roundup.

Readymade Breakup-Alive on the Vine. New Jersey's Readymade Breakup is back with their followup to last year's Isn't That What It's For? and they're better than ever. This is vintage power pop with a radio-ready sheen that fans of The Jellybricks, The Shazam and The Meadows will enjoy. "One by One" is a scintillating opener, "Surrender" reminds me of The Raspberries, and "Stretch Your Head" incorporates a bit of soul in the mix. These guys know their craft, and will not disappoint.

Not Lame | Kool Kat | MySpace

Private Jets-Jet Sounds. How Swede it is! These Swedish retro power-poppers are back as well, following up their debut EP, and it's a delight. Of course the comparisons to other Swedish poppers like The Merrymakers and The Tangerines are in order, but they also have a more classic, British-sounding 60s vibe (fittingly they played IPO at The Cavern Club this summer). "I Wanna Be a Private Jet" enthusiastically gets things started, while "Speak Up, Speak Out" channels "Ain't That a Shame". Elsewhere, "Starshaped World" is vintage, sunshine-y pop, and "First Division of Love" lays on the sports metaphors to a jaunty love song. Chances are if your hairline's receding like the band members on the cover (like mine), you'll be loving this one.

CD Baby | MySpace

Gigantic-Gigantaphonic Sounds. Well, if Jet Sounds weren't big enough for you, how about Gigantaphonic Sounds? This "big-name" Australian band has finally released this 2006 disc in North America through Zip Records (also home of The Wellingtons, whose new disc arrived in my mailbox yesterday, thanks) and they have a fine guitar pop sound that recalls The Gin Blossoms, Teenage Fanclub, and everyone in between. The jangly "Some Suburban Road" is a real treat, and other standouts include the TF-friendly "Balloon Animals", the rocking "Mr. Sound", and "Lied To", which has hooks that will stick with you.

Not Lame | MySpace

The election is upon us!

No, I'm not talking Obama vs. McCain (not much suspense there any more). I'm talking about the "Shake Some Action" Revisited site, where your vote for the top 5 power pop albums of all time is being solicited for the rest of this month in order to come up with a fans' list to go with the Top 200 list John Borack compiled in his excellent Shake Some Action book.

Of course being the opinionated sort that I am, I have my own top 5 picks, which consist of one unsurprising pick, one not-too-unsurprising pick, two unsurprising artists but surprising discs, and one out of left field. Here I go:

1. Big Star-#1 Record/Radio City. The Rosetta Stone of power pop. I don't have any grand new insights on this legendary disc, but I will state that "September Gurls" might just be the perfect song.

2. Cotton Mather-Kon Tiki. I've waxed poetic on this one before, but I will simply state it comes closest to approximating a Beatles album than anything else out there, and I don't mean it simply in the sense of aping the Beatles sound, which a lot of bands are quite capable of. And if Kon Tiki was the best album the Beatles never released, "My Before and After" was the best song they never released.

3. Matthew Sweet-100% Fun. I've taken some heat for picking Clint Sutton as the #1 disc of 2008 in my spring list, and although I'm not sure it'll stay at the spot at year's end, the reason I love it so much is that reminds me of what I consider Sweet's best album and a stone classic. Although Girlfriend gets all the praise and the list mentions, I always thought 100% Fun was the more focused, tighter, melodic and rocking of the two. The first couple of seconds of "Sick of Myself" might be best way to open an album I've ever heard, and the wonderful "Get Older" is probably the most overlooked great song on this disc. (Side note on Sweet: The title is the notoriously thin-skinned Sweet's response to complaints that the Girlfriend followup, Altered Beast, was too "dark". Later, after the 100% Fun followup Blue Sky on Mars took some critical heat, Sweet responded with the bitter "Write Your Own Song" on 1999's In Reverse. So I sure hope he isn't reading this when I mention that his new disc, Sunshine Lies, didn't do much for me.)

4. Marshall Crenshaw-Field Day. Like the pick above, this isn't the disc people have in mind when they think of the artist, and while his self-titled debut would find a spot in my all-time top 20, this one to me is his true best. Maligned at the time as a result of Steve Lillywhite's reverb-heavy production, the controversy about the sound obscured the fact that this was Crenshaw's strongest set of songs, from the perfect power pop of the album's lone hit, "Whenever You're on My Mind", to gems like "For Her Love" and "Monday Morning Rock". My only knock on the debut was that it was a bit too retro-conscious, and what makes Field Day so great is that it marries Crenshaw's brilliant songcraft (which shows a greater depth and maturity here) to a more up-to-date vibe, even without considering Lillywhite's production.

5. Valley Lodge-Valley Lodge. Wha??? Alert and/or longtime readers might recall that this wasn't even my #1 disc of 2005, so what's it doing at #5 of all-freaking-time? Well, first of all if I had to re-do my 2005 list, this one probably would be at the top, and secondly, I've been listening to it a lot lately. But the more I listen, the more I'm convinced this might be the purest, most fun, power pop album I've ever heard, and here I mean power pop in the narrowest sense: rocking guitars, sugary melodies, etc - not the broad parameters I use in the choice of discs I review on this site. This disc has it all - aside from songs that deliver one hook after another, there's an intelligence and sense of humor that prevails here, unsurprising since frontman Dave Hill (ex-Uptown Sinclair) is an adept a professional comedian as he is a rocker. And what seals the deal for me is Hill's penchant for slipping into falsetto in the middle of verses and choruses, which makes these songs so much damn fun to sing along to. If you've been somehow immune to this disc's charms these past three years, do yourself a favor and check it out.

Black Monday Roundup.

With the Dow down 700+ points today, it's best to take your mind off finances and get into a power pop mindset. Here are three discs to help you do just that:

The Strand-Another Season Passes. Kudos to Kool Kat (that's so much fun to say) as they've released the comeback album from 80s new wave popsters The Strand. Fans of the Paul Collins Beat, Tommy Keene, the Plimsouls and other 80s power poppers will need to be all over this one. From the the straight-ahead power pop of opener "Rising Tide" and "Why'd You Call?" to the mod pop of "Scared Streets" to the fine balladry of "Begin Again", The Strand is back and better than ever. (Note: If you order from Kool Kat, they have a 5-track bonus disc with covers, etc.)

Kool Kat | CD Baby | MySpace

Gentleman Jesse-Introducing Gentleman Jesse. It's not every day I discover new power pop through Pitchfork, but I give them full marks for their positive review of Atlanta's Gentleman Jesse and their debut, which might be the best album that Stiff Records never released. The cover is a dead giveaway, of course, aping Elvis C's This Year's Model, but the tracks live up to it. Reminiscent also of The Exploding Hearts and The Whigs, there's plenty to like here including the pop-punk of "Black Hole", the Merseybeat of "All I Need Tonight Is You" and the Nick Lowe stylings of "You Don't Have to If You Don't Want to" and "Wrong Time". An extremely pleasant surprise.

Amazon | MySpace | eMusic

Higgins-Zs. I featured this NYC band a while back when they had a teaser mp3 out from this disc, and now that the full-length is out, they're worth revisiting. In many respects they fit the classic power pop paradigm, but with little quirky twists here and there. Opener "There He Is" illustrates this dynamic, with its George Harrisonesque flavor and its ability to never quite go where you expect it. The playful "Always Something" channels Jellyfish in spots while "Wall of Dumb" is right up Sir Paul's alley and "Write It Down" recalls some of Alan Parsons Project's slower numbers.

Serious Business | MySpace | eMusic

CD of the Day, 10/1/08: Todd Herfindal-Collective

It's always a treat to get great music from an unexpected source, and after The Meadows put out their fine First Nervous Breakdown earlier this year, I figured that we'd hear from them again in a couple of years. But the wait only took about 8 months, as Meadows co-frontman Todd Herfindal has released his solo debut, and it's of a piece with the two Meadows disc, especially First Nervous Breakdown.

Collective is a bit of logical progression from the first two Meadows discs, as Breakdown was a bit more roots rock-oriented than the debut, and here Herfindal goes full bore into the Gin Blossoms-meet-Tom Petty vibe. This becomes apparent right off the bat with the ebullient "Air I'm Breathing" which shows off his melodic gifts in a heartland rocker that even features some tasteful horn backing. "Finally Movin' On" demonstrates the knack Herfindal had for the big chorus that he showed in The Meadows, and the laid-back "Waiting on the Sun" continues the Midwest-meets-California vibe. Elsewhere, standouts include the mildly Beatlesque "Forget It All Again", the rocking "Jaded" and the ballads "Won't Look Back" and "This Is a Love Song". Collective closes in grand fashion with "If I Hesitate", an anthemic number that starts off slow and builds to a big payoff. If you enjoyed either of The Meadows' two releases, this one's a no-brainer.

CD Baby | MySpace | eMusic

CD of the Day, 9/29/08: Alan Bernhoft-Beatlesque One

LA's Alan Bernhoft is a veteran music pro who's played in a punk band, written rock musicals, scored movies and released a children's album, just for starters. Along the way, he's recorded a number of tracks that are yes, Beatlesque, and he's compiled them here in Beatlesque One. So while there's no mystery as to the operative sound here, the question remains: just how good are these "Beatlesque" tracks?

Answer: Pretty darn good. Bernhoft covers most of the Beatle era in sound here, so the effect is not unlike a Rutles album. "Keep Your Hands Off My Baby" is the leadoff track, and it perfectly captures the Early Beatle sound and is quite reminiscent of "Leave My Kitten Alone". "Magic Everywhere" would be at home in the mid-period of Rubber Soul and Revolver, and "Someday" and "Sunshine Girl" are dead ringers for some of McCartney's more playful moments while "Winter Ocean Mary Go Round" hints at Lennonesque psychedelia. Perhaps the standout track is "Growing Older", which has an "Eleanor Rigby"-like melody in the verses (without the strings) and then merges it with an "I've Just Seen a Face"-like chorus. The disc closes with three children's tracks, but are quite enjoyable on their own terms. As the producer of an independent movie about McCartney noted, "We couldn't afford The Beatles' music, so we got the next best thing- Alan Bernhoft", and if your tastes run more to the whimsical McCartney side of the Beatles, Beatlesque One should be Number One on your list to get.

CD Baby | MySpace

Blogging update.

Been a bit swamped at work lately, and at home I've got 3 under-10 boys to watch myself this week, so I'm not quite getting as much done here as I'd like at the moment.

Or maybe I just should have announced that I was suspending the blog until we could get a bill passed solving the banking crisis.

Wednesday Roundup.

Frank Zoda-In The Grip. Pennsylvania's Frank Zoda makes his debut with In The Grip, a generous 13-track (plus 3 bonus tracks) offering that will appeal to fans of Richard X. Heyman, as well as recent releases from Doug Bryan and Tim Morrow. Zoda's formula here is earnest vocals in support of a traditional, melodic power pop sound, and it comes through big time on tracks such as the rocking "Expectations" and "Love In Your Eyes", the latter of which has a definite Marshall Crenshaw vibe. Another winner is the lushly produced ballad "The Way", which is also featured in an acoustic, "as natured intended" bonus track version, and its musical cousin, "No Reason". And in some alternate universe, "Another Lonely Christmas" might be a holiday standard. Get a "grip" on this one.

CD Baby | MySpace

The Rhinos-In Rhi-Fi. You say you want some jangle pop? If it weren't for The Byrds, these guys would probably be the band you'd see when you look up "jangle pop" in the dictionary. This Swedish band has their second album out for Rainbow Quartz, and it's even better than the first. From the signature jangle of leadoff track "Everything That She Believed" to the baroque 60s pop of "Love (The Strangest Thing)" to haunting "My Town" (which recalls early REM crossed with 60s Britpop), it's all good. Rhiotously good, in fact.

Kool Kat | MySpace | eMusic

The Campaign-The Campaign (EP). It's fitting that in this presidental election year we get a release from a band named The Campaign. You won't need a political consultant to tell you that this Texas band is promising high-energy power pop in the spirit of Orson, Rooney and other modern bands. There's no debate that "Catch My Life" is a catchy track, and the power ballad "Yours Tonight" should be worth a few points in the female demographic. And "Taking My Chances" will not reduce the federal deficit, but will reduce your own music deficit. All in all, this is a winning Campaign. I'm Steve from Absolute Powerpop, and I approve this EP.

CD Baby | MySpace

Popicana Roundup.

Three Americana-inflected but still poptastic releases:

High on Stress-Cop Light Parade. If Jay Farrar worked with Paul Westerberg in Uncle Tupelo instead of Jeff Tweedy, this is how they would have sounded. In fact, some of frontman/songwriter Nick Leet's song titles recall Westerberg's wit and wordplay ("White Sugar", "My White Pages", "Trample With Care", "We Could Have Been Nobody", "Tomorrow Is Coming at a Bad Time", just to name five). Mixing Americana with pop and rock in a distinctively Minneapolis manner, High on Stress also mix in a Stonesish sound at times (the aforementioned "White Sugar", of course), as well as the roots pop of a Walter Clevenger. There's a real uniformity of quality to all the tracks here, and if your tastes run in this area, you'll definitely want this one.

CD Baby | MySpace

The Karg Bros-What We Do to Ourselves. This Nashville duo (yes, they are actual brothers) compare themselves to a cross between The Everly Brothers and Coldplay, and on leadoff track "Letting Go" (as well as the title track), they pull it off. For the most part though, this is high-quality melodic roots pop that leans more to the Everlys than Coldplay. "Can't Make My Heart Behave" is right up the alley of Bill Lloyd, "Sweetie" is all pedal steel and sweet harmonies, "Livin' Fast, Lovin' Slow" has a Tom Petty vibe, and closer "So Many Ways" recalls the early Eagles. An extremely promising record.

CD Baby | MySpace

The Daylight Titans-Boom & Chime. I don't know if there's such a thing as "hard roots rock", but if there is these Texans fit the description. With a driving power pop undercurrent, they call to mind early REM, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Church, and The Replacements, while lead singer Andy Smith has a similar vocal sound to the previously mentioned Jay Farrar. Highlights include the opener "Bathed In Light", the hard-driving "Between Joy and Faith", and "What Did I Say?", and the disc should hold appeal for those intrigued by the High on Stress disc above. (Note: it's a digital-only download available through CD Baby)

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 9/17/08: Duff Ferguson-Good Things

As much as I like to be up on the latest power pop releases, a few always manage to slip through the cracks. Back in early 2005, I bought an EP titled 400 Miles by an artist named Duff, and enjoyed it. But I never heard about Duff again, and chalked it up to a case of another one-and-done artist. Well it turns out that the Duff of 400 Miles is actually Californian Duff Ferguson, and he released Good Things in mid-December of last year, which only came to my attention in recent weeks.

Good Things is certainly an appropriate title, and it's a quality disc of California pop on which Ferguson is helped out by a couple of favorites around these parts, Todd Herfindal of The Meadows (who has his own solo album about to come out) and Rich McCulley who co-produce. The bright sound and swelling choruses of the title track and "We Will Escape" let you know all you need to know of Good Things' sound. The Meadows is an obvious reference point, and there's also a hint of the recent Mikal Blue disc in there as well. "The Things That Lovers Do" rocks a bit harder, but not too hard - much in the vein of The Jayhawks on Smile, while "One Day at a Time" recalls Del Amitri. "Make It Right" is another pop gem, and "Never Enough" shows that Ferguson has a way with the slower numbers as well. And Jeff Larson is probably somewhere out there wondering how he never wrote "Forever California". As the British would say, there isn't a duff track on this disc, so get off yours and give this one a listen.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 9/15/08: The Brilliant Mistakes-Distant Drumming

NYC's The Brilliant Mistakes (apparently named after an Elvis Costello song) are back with their third release and first in several years with Distant Drumming. They're a bit of a hybrid - ranging from Costello/Squeeze-like pop to Jayhawks-like Americana and all points in between. Whatever the underlying sound, their tunes reveal an assured songcraft that makes Distant Drumming a special release, and they even have Mike Viola helping out on a couple of tracks.

Things start off on the rootsier side with "The Day I Found My Hands" and "Monday Morning (Sky Above You)", two tracks whose easygoing charms will have you humming along. Their eclectic sound continues to unfold with the light bossanova-meets-Brian Wilson pop of "Becoming" follows, while "Good Year for a Change" is a Beatlesque piano-based number not unlike Oasis' "Don't Look Back In Anger".

Elsewhere, "The Circle's Not Broken" and "The Words" sound as if Ben Folds were fronting The Band, and the pop magic of "Time In The Night" is where the Squeeze/Elvis Costello comparisons come in. Album closer "Wake Up Your Heart" sends things off a high note, with a Jeff-Tweedy-in-ballad-mode vibe. With its winning mix of a variety of pop styles, picking up Distant Drumming might be most brilliant mistake you'll make.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 9/11/08: Poplord-Full/Filled

Last year, I overlooked the self-titled debut of this California band, not coming across it until earlier this year. It turned out to be a disc I really liked, kept meaning to write about, and never got around to. Luckily, they've just released a second disc and they can overlooked no longer. Full/Filled is a winning disc of bright power pop that will appeal to fans of Squeeze, XTC, The Beach Boys and Elvis Costello, and it's just as good as their first.

"Change In Time for Monday" is as good an introduction to their sound as any, and its uptempo sound, complete with piano, synths and guitars galore reminds me of fellow Californians Big Kid and The Meadows. "What's Beneath"'s slinky melody brings some 10cc into the mix, and the fine harmonies of "The Gray" call to mind Jeff Larson and America, albeit with a bit more pep. Elsewhere, "Wake Up Tired" channels early Chicago, sans the horns, "Used to Town" throws in all the bells and whistles of a late-Beatles tune, "A Tree Beyond" is classic 70s sunshine pop, and "Where'd He Go" is XTC meets Jellyfish. This is Grade "A" pop, folks, from a band whose tank is far from empty, so be sure to check this one out as well as their (previously) overlooked debut.

CD Baby | MySpace

It's Michael Carpenter's world...

...and all of us power pop fans are just living in it. Two new releases highlight the man who's at the top of the power pop game as a performer and producer.

First is his latest new material, and it's a slight departure from his usual work. He assembled a country band called The Cuban Heels, and they've released a 7-song mini-album titled New Dog - Old Tricks, which was recorded in one day barely over a month ago (August 2 to be precise). It's a fine collection of new material and covers, including the Hank Williams (Sr.) classic "Jambalaya". Carpenter got the inspiration for the band while doing a show with Bryan Estepa, and the opening track on the disc, "The Ballad of Ambivalence", is a country-rock number much in the style of All The Bells and Whistles, the album he produced for Estepa. "Some Days are Worse Than Others" is another quality original, a Band-style midtempo number drenched in pedal steel, and "If You Ask Me" (co-written with Cuban Heel Russell Crawford, for whom Carpenter produced a great EP in 2006) is a high-quality ballad with a strong buildup. This is really a must-get, and a contender for the year-end list (EP or full disc). But if you want it on disc, it's extreeemely limited (100 copies) and Not Lame has 40 of them, so click here and act fast. Otherwise, it's available as a digital download (a redundant phrase as I don't think it's possible to pull off an analog download) from MC at Big Radio.

Meanwhile Carpenter's original band, The Finkers, who put out two discs around the turn of the century, are anthologized in Epilogue, a 2-CD set that collects all of their studio recordings. If you're a fan of Carpenter's solo material, this will be right up your alley, especially if you're like me and only came into MC about four years ago. All of their albums, EPs, and contributions to tribute albums to The Stems, The Replacements, Gene Clark, The Flamin' Groovies, The Real Kids and Radio Birdman are included, and if you missed out on them, it's like getting 2-3 brand new MC albums. I don't do a year-end reissue list, but if I did this would definitely top it.

Not Lame | MySpace

Monday roundup.

Geoff Smith-Ones and Os. Geoff Smith is back with Ones and 0s, the followup to his fine 2006 release Geoff Smith & The Tonewheels (#13 in my 2006 list). As might be gleaned from the title, digital music is the theme here, with references galore to mp3s, URLs, podcasts and the like; it might be the first-ever power pop computer geek concept album (just check out the song titles). Smith's way with melody is still present, and he manages a couple of good Beatle pastiches with "Hello Hello" (think "Hello Goodbye") and "Talk Like a Man", which borrows liberally from "Lady Madonna". Good stuff, both in spite of and because of the subject matter.

CD Baby

Stratocruiser-Egg Shells. A search of the AbPow archives reveals that I've never mentioned this North Carolina band on this site before - an oversight that's being remedied right now. This is their third full-length, and possibly their best yet. For the unfamiliar, the sound here is heavier power pop, with almost a 70's AOR sound. "Try" and "Clear as Day" are a cross between Aerosmith, Cheap Trick and Collective Soul, while "Cracked Up" and "I Think So" are classic southern jangly power pop with none other than ex-dB Peter Holsapple on the organ. Put this one on and you can just feel the sideburns growing.

CD Baby | MySpace

Warm In The Wake-Speak Plainly. Staying in the south, AbPow favorite Warm In The Wake is back with their second EP, following up last year's American Prehistoric full-length. They continue to hone their Wilco meets Teenage Fanclub sound, and leadoff track "Explorer" is about as perfect an example of that sensibility as one can get, while "Middle Eastern Feathers" is an acoustic gem. Meanwhile, closing track "Place Change" is a matching bookend to "Explorer". These guys continue to be about as good as indie pop gets.

CD Baby | MySpace

John McKenna freebie!

A couple of months ago, I waxed poetic on Stone Cold Summer, the fine new release from former Red Guitar frontman John McKenna. Now's your chance (if you haven't picked it up already) to get it for f-r-double "e", if you tell three friends, etc. This is a similar offer to the one for The Major Labels' Aquavia. Click below to get it!

CD of the Day, 9/3/08: Captain Wilberforce-Everyone Loves a Villain

Back when I did an early-year top 25 in April*, this disc came in at #25 even though I hadn't mentioned it on the site. It was an mp3-only deal at first, then an import-only disc, and now is finally available domestically in the USA. Captain Wilberforce is Simon Bristoll, which is about as Brit-sounding a name as one can have, and by and large, his music is as Brit-sounding as it gets. His debut release, 2005's Mindfilming, was one of the more underrated and overlooked releases of that year, and it would be a shame if this followup suffered a similar fate. So let me put it simply: if Michael Penn or Jon Brion had grown up in Leeds instead of L.A., this is what they would sound like.

Bristoll, er Wilberforce, is equally adept with the uptempo tracks as well as the slower, languid ones. In the former camp are "No Strings or Ties", the rollicking opener; the near-title track (I say "near" because it's titled "Everybody Loves a Villain"), which has an XTC-meets-Jackdaw4 vibe, and "The Longest Night", which reminds me in a way of Coldplay's "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face". In the latter camp are the lush, pretty "The Girl Who Broke Her Own Heart", the McCartneyesque "A Different Sea" and the acoustic closer "The Twilight Kids". Topping them all is the Jellyfish stomp of "Born Again Brand New Man", a bright, bouncy track that bears a bit of Beach Boy influence as well. Well done, and it'd be a good thing to have a little Captain in your music collection.

CD Baby | MySpace

*I should have done a mid-year best-of, but never did, and now that it's already September, I'm just going to wait for the year-end.

CD of the Day, 9/2/08: The Romeo Flynns-Pictures of You

Detroit has a long and proud rock'n'roll tradition, and The Romeo Flynns are the latest entrant from the Motor City. Their debut disc, Pictures of You, manages to bridge the divide between rock and pop in the context of a concept album about one of music's favorite subjects, a relationship gone bad.

After a "conversational" interlude that sets the stage, the title track kicks in, and it's a great display of their kind of sound, one that borrows from the poppier side of Cheap Trick and KISS. Although the track is a bit on the long side at 5+ minutes, the extended time allows them to even work in some sax near the end, a nice touch. "Gonna Feel Alright" is a tour de force of famous rock sounds - from the glam stomp of the beginning to its Jerry Lee Lewis-piano pounding to its horn section. "A Better Man Than Me" supplies more high-energy rock'n'roll, "Wasting My Heart" is outstanding jangle-pop that calls to mind another Detroit native, Marshall Crenshaw, and "Just Fade Away" is high-grade power pop a la The Shazam. Frontman D. Lawrence Lee can also handle the slower numbers - "Every Time We Part" and "Kristine" are as good as the rockers, and the latter, with its swelling strings and piano, is reminiscent of KISS's "Beth". They close matters out with a fine cover of The Kinks' "Better Things".

It's always refreshing when a band shoots for a big sound, and The Romeo Flynns do just that; thankfully, their reach doesn't exceed their grasp here, and rockers and poppers everywhere should get a kick out of this disc.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/29/08: Jim Boggia-Misadventures In Stereo

Boggia is back. Those three words are all some power pop fans will need to hear, but for the uninitiated, Jim Boggia is one of the top artists in the power pop field these days, and Misadventures In Stereo, his followup to 2005's superb Safe In Sound, is another feather in his cap. He's been a session pro for years, and he's a musician's musician.

You know you're in for quality right away with the catchy "Johnnie's Going Down", an uptempo shuffle that combines clever lyrics, fine harmonies and a Bachrachian horn section and screams pop perfection. He has a way with the slower numbers as well, which comprise the middle of the disc: "No Way Out" is like a cross between Emmit Rhodes (who appeared on Safe In Sound) and Aimee Mann (who did likewise), while "So" and the wistful "Nothing's Changed" dive into Elliott Smith territory.

The tempo comes back with the disc's centerpiece, "8-Track", which seems on the surface an ode to the much-maligned and long-forgotten music platform. Boggia cleverly notes how songs were cut in half, how clunky the format was, and how his sister used to listen to them all the time. But then when he abruptly stops the song midway through, admitting that he was too young to listen to 8-tracks and never even really had a sister, the message of how we value nostalgia for nostalgia's sake comes through. Boggia follows with "Listening to NRBQ", a tribute of sorts to the legendary band which features a guitar solo from none other than NRBQ's Al Anderson. The Beatlesque "Chalk One Up for Albert's Side" is another highlight, and the album closes with the elegiac "Three Weeks Shy", a moving tribute to an Iraq war soldier who dies three weeks short of the end of his tour of duty, and which closes with a reading of the names of his fallen comrades in arms.

There's no misadventure here in picking up this disc - it's a pop tour de force that's a cut above most of the genre. Boggia has done it again.

CD Baby | MySpace

Wednesday Roundup.

Billy Kill-Minuits in the Making. Billy Kill hails from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, a Philly suburb, and his debut disc is a definite ear-catcher. It's kind of a combination of Doug Powell and Bryan Scary with a bit of Jason Falkner thrown in. Top tracks: "You Belong to Me", "Big Things Come", the 80s-kitschy "Destination Love", the gay wedding celebration of "Patti & Susie" (where the Bryan Scary comparison comes in), and "Salvadore Dali", whose art inspired the album cover. And the hometown tribute "Conshohocken Strut" closes the disc with a perfect dose of whimsy. I can definitely see this one being big among fans of the more baroque power poppers mentioned above.

CD Baby

Kai Reiner-Kai Reiner. We all know the old saying about judging a book by its cover, but this is one case where you can most definitely judge a disc by its cover art. The Rickenbacker pictured on the cover of Kai Rainer's debut disc says it all: 11 tracks of jangle. Although he's German, there's a Swedish power pop sound at work here (I hear The Tangerines) as well as a definite Teenage Fanclub influence. Top tracks: "Cold Summer", "Only We Both Know", "I Don't Want Your Crown" (definite TF sound), and the driving "Brown Eyes". There's a real uniform quality to these tracks, and if jangle's your thing, Kai Reiner's your man.

CD Baby | MySpace

Radio Days-Midnight Cemetery Rendezvous. At Absolute Powerpop, we scour the globe for power pop, leaving no stone unturned. Our latest global find is Italy's Radio Days, and their enjoyable EP Midnight Cemetery Rendezvous (OK, truth be told, we haven't left Florida and they sent a disc for review). These guys do put the power in power pop, and recall a mix of Cheap Trick and the Paul Collins Beat. "Brand New Life" comes right out the gate with hooks, guitars and more, "Don't Keep Me Waiting" throws a bit of Beatlesque melody into their crunchy mix, and "Rock 'n' Roll Girl" will have your head a-bobbin'. Bravissimo, guys!

MySpace | Buy Here

CD of the Day, 8/25/08: Waz-The Sweet Bye and Bye

This one has been steadily growing on me until it reached the point where in good conscience I couldn't not feature it. A few weeks back, I mentioned it on my Twitter feed with the idea I'd leave it at that, but more and more listens have convinced me otherwise. Anyway, Waz is an LA musician who used to be a sideman for Pete Yorn, and with The Sweet Bye and Bye he's crafted one of the best soft pop/folky pop/singer-songwriter discs of the year as it turns out. Points of reference include Gus Black, AM, Adam Merrin and maybe even a more conventional Michael Penn.

"Hardly Enough" opens the disc and encapsulates Waz's sound: starting off soft and slow, building to a crescendo, and highly melodic. The guitar-based "Home" is another winner, reminding me of Ben Forrest Davis' "Roughs" album from last year, and "Mine to Remember" builds off a nice piano hook. "Why Can't We" is one of the more rocking songs on the disc, and bears the most resemblance to the sound of his former boss. "She's Gone" has the right mix of despair, melancholy and melody to live up to its title; and "Sleep In The Day" has a gorgeous, Neil Finn-style melody to it.

If you're a fan of this style of music, don't less this one pass you "Bye".

CD Baby | MySpace

New Jackdaw 4 track (for free!)

Jackdaw4 has a new track they've recorded for a British TV series, and they're making it available as a free mp3 download from their official site. It's called "The Beautiful Game" and it comes as part of a .zip file download with 4 additional tracks, two from each of their first two discs. So even if you've been immune to Jackdaw4's charms, this is a great chance to sample them.

(h/t: Audities)

CD of the Day, 8/22/08: Patrick Leonard-Begin The Beginning

A couple of years ago on his Tangerine album, David Mead wrote a song called "Hard to Remember", which he said was inspired by his fairly nondescript name being just that. Well the name Patrick Leonard doesn't exactly jump off the page either as particularly exotic or memorable, but the Californian stands a real chance at making a name for himself in the pop community thanks to his top-notch debut album Begin The Beginning. Leonard comes across as a pop stylist in the manner of Michael Penn, Jon Brion and Elliott Smith, and fans of these artists as well as those of Braden Blake and the recent Andy Reed and Adrian Whitehead discs will enjoy this one as well.

Naturally, the title track begins the disc, and it's a wonderful mix of swirling melodies, intricate hooks and Lennonesque vocals. The rocking "No One Else" is another gem, with a bit of an Oasis-like swagger, while "Mars Theme" is pop near-perfection and "Down South" is a fun George Harrison-influenced shuffle. Speaking of Harrison, "The One" also bears his influence with a bit of a mystic sound yet is still highly melodic. The dreamy "Light of My Love" is definitely Brionesque, while the low-key "Be Loved" recalls E.Smith. The penultimate track, "Miss You", is a fine jangler in the vein of Michael Carpenter, and the disc closes with "Majicku", a trippy, exotic number that brings Peter Gabriel to mind.

All in all, this is an outstanding debut of sophisticated pop that I can see making more than a few year-end lists, and hopefully this is just "The Beginning" for Mr. Leonard.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/20/08: The Doll Test-Mosque Alarm Clock

Seattle's The Doll Test made a splash two years back with their debut EP Gasoline and Banks, a hard-driving, power-poppin' effort inspired by The Who and The Kinks. Now they're back with their full-length debut, provocatively titled Mosque Alarm Clock and not afraid to mix it up politically.

"I'd Rather Be Asleep" opens the disc with a distinct 60s-garage sound. "Everything's Fine" is a rocking look at the effort it takes to get through the day, and it makes way for the wonderfully jangly "Fall Away", which itself is followed by the "harder" jangle of "The Bell, The Map, The Stars". Meanwhile, "My Future Self", with its spoken verses and retro chorus, sounds as if it came from 1969, and "Ballad of Your Blue-Eyed Boy" sounds like a cross between John Lennon's "Mind Games" and Oasis' "Don't Look Back In Anger".

The political is represented by "The Decider" (which is about you-know-who) and "The Last Rung", a "Street Fighting Man"-type rocker with horns (both literally - there's a horn section - and metaphorically). Overall, the disc is quite sonically similar to the Shake Some Action! albums, which is starting to lead me to believe there may be a distinctive "Seattle Power Pop" sound out there.

CD Baby | MySpace

Hurricane roundup.

As it now appears that Tropical Storm Fay has bypassed my home area (Tampa Bay), it's time to get back to business here.

Steve Caraway-Hurricane Season. Well of course I just had to include this disc in today's roundup. Despite the title, Caraway hails from Gloucester, Mass., not Florida or the Gulf Coast (MA hasn't been hit since Bob in 1991), but we'll overlook that since he's put out a fine disc of rootsy power pop. Caraway played the Charlotte Pop fest recently, and his set was well-received there. The sound here is The Smithereens meet Petty/Springsteen, and highlights include "Before You Run Away" (reminds me of Marah), the jangly "When I Change My Mind", the rocking "Rabbit" and the 80s pop of "Evangeline". It's good to be able to say something nice about hurricane season for a change.

MySpace | eMusic

The Bellfuries-Palmyra. This Texas band has a pleasingly retro sound, not unlike The Offbeat, The Scruffs or fellow Texans The Krayolas. If you want a clean, classic, 60's pop-sounding disc, this one's for you. Standout tracks: leadoff grabber "Welcome to the Club", the merseybeat of "Sung by Someone Lonely", and the jangly "Give It, Get It" (mp3 link below). Retro-a-go-go!

CD Baby | MySpace | "Give It, Get It" mp3

Owen Sartori-Another Beautiful Day In The Cube. Here's a find. This Minneapolis popster has come out of left field with a sophisticated yet poptastic disc that will have fans of everyone from Ben Folds to Jason Falkner to Josh Fix excited. It's a look in some respects of the life of a newly-turned thirtysomething stuck in a dead-end office job, but it's more than Dilbert-rock. The bright, piano-based "Could You Be The One" is a particular highlight, as is the FoWesque "Punching Bag", as well as the lush ballad "Separate". An extremely promising debut.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/15/08: Jeff Larson-Left of a Dream

We all know the cliche about death and taxes being the only certainties, but there's another one to add to the list: about once a year, Jeff Larson will release a quality disc of laid-back California pop in the vein of America, Dan Fogelberg and The Eagles and make it sound effortless. He's done it again with Left of a Dream, his best since his 2006 career-highlight Swimming in the Make Believe.

After opening with the fine-but-brief "Wake Up", Larson gets down to business with "Anywhere She Goes", complete with guest vocals from America's Dewey Bunnell. "Ghosts of San Miguel", is California soft-pop noir featuring backing vocals from the other half of America, Gerry Buckley. Meanwhile, "Red to Rust" stands out as a particular highlight with its upbeat melody and Larson's use of the gitjo, which as its name implies, is a guitar-banjo hybrid. "Where Is Indio, CA" is another winner, and although Buckley's harmonies are prominent here, the sound is more Jayhawks than America.

Other standouts include "California Rail", which features the gitjo again and sounds as rustic as the title would indicate; the Eaglesque "Easy on Me" (both of which feature Brian Wilson bandmember Jeffrey Foskett on backing vocals), and album closer "Be Here Anyway", which just seems to be the quintessential Jeff Larson track.
Larson isn't plowing any new ground here, but that's OK - with the Eagles and America only making new discs about once a decade, he fills a niche that's certainly worth filling.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/13/08: Ben Sadock-You Are The Beneficiary of Us

And now for something completely different. OK, not completely different, but not quite power pop. New Yorker Ben Sadock has given us the album we didn't know we were waiting for until we heard it with You Are The Beneficiary of Us, in which we get a return to the sound of pre-Graceland Paul Simon, Can't Buy a Thrill-era Steely Dan, leavened with a dash of Randy Newman. In other words, NYC-influenced, sophisticated 70s singer-songwriter pop that takes its cues in equal doses from The Brill Building and Motown.

The disc opens with "Pity the Fool", and it sets the tone both musically and in terms of sensibility. A catchy midtempo number heavy on electric piano, the promise of the song's title is kept with a reference to Mr. T. "Stepping out of Jersey" might be the best track here, with a hooky melody and a nod to the sentiment of "Born to Run" (the song, not the album) without the teenage melodrama. Elsewhere "Wise Women" calls to mind the early Steely Dan tracks on Can't Buy a Thrill when David Palmer sang lead instead of Donald Fagen; "Help Yourself, She Said" is a fine, soulful ballad; the piano-based "Glory Be" is where the Newman comparisons come into play; and "The Most Important Thing" recalls some of Stevie Wonder's breezier tunes from the early 70s. Speaking of Stevie Wonder, the bouncy "No More Loving" makes explicit several of the reference points just mentioned, quoting lines from "Sir Duke", Steely Dan's "My Old School" and even "The Way We Were".

If you grew up in the 70s (especially the first half of the decade), this type of sound was as integral to the pop landscape of the time as any other, but it's been woefully underrepresented among today's revivalists. So bravo to Ben Sadock for bringing back a piece of our memories. Even the misty, water-colored ones.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/12/08: Khalid Hanifi-Pamplemousse Presse

Those of us who remember the 2000 (re-released in 2005) Maypops disc Spirits of Agnew remember the name Khalid Hanifi, and know that seeing his name adorn a new 2008 solo release is a big deal. Those who don't will soon learn, if it's anything I have a say about. Spirits of Agnew was a power-poppin' gem, and Hanifi's 2008 solo debut Pamplemousse Presse is another winner, sure to appeal to fans of the poppier side of Elvis Costello, The Odds, and David Grahame.

"Mr. Wonderful" opens the disc, and the midtempo number is quite reminiscent of the recent Rip Off artists release. "When You Wake Up" is another fine track, piano-based with a stacatto guitar hook that just won't quit. The soft pop of "I'm Gonna Dedicate This One to You" gives way to the lovely "Hard to Believe", which features fine harmony vocals from his sister Sophie.

Meanwhile, the bouncy "Truck" should satisfy anyone's powerpop jones, and "Don't Hurry Me" offers up a bluesy vibe, and perhaps the disc's high point comes with the combo of "July" and "Idiot Box": the former glides along on an effortless melody, while the latter cuts like a lost Posies track. All in all, this disc is a quality addition to anyone who values smart, sophisticated pop in the vein of the artists mentioned above.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/7/08: BrownLine Fiasco-Superstar

Chicago's BrownLine Fiasco is back with another disc of what they call "positive power pop", on the heels of their fine debut disc of late 2006, New Revolution. I first came across these guys on the strength of their track "Milk & Honey" on last year's IPO compilation, and I'm glad I did, as Superstar is a leap forward from the first disc and a great example of crunchy power pop a la Cheap Trick, The Knack and contemporaries such as Rooney and Weezer.

After the somewhat trippy opener "Lovely Day", the boys get down to business on the title track, which has enough power chords and riffs to keep you busy for a while and gives off a late 90s Collective Soul/Better Than Ezra vibe. "Over Our Heads" is a bit more midtempo and could pass for a Gin Blossoms tune, and "Without Love" is a real gem - a sugary confection with hooky harmonies that recalls Big Kid at their best.

Elsewhere, the midtempo "You're Not Alone" is radio-friendly, and the nearly-six minute "So Into You" takes a sonic detour, as it's a bit of a mini-suite that goes from strings to rock and back before it's over. The album concludes with "Look of Amazement", a catchy track that flirts with an R&B groove. Despite the band's name, Superstar is anything but a fiasco.

CD Baby | MySpace

CD of the Day, 8/5/08: Andy Reed-Fast Forward

Many of you may not know Michigan's Andy Reed, but those who snagged his 2006 debut EP The Great Compression certainly remember him, and now that he's released his first full-length the power pop community is going to take notice. The EP was quite good, but it didn't prepare me for how stunningly good Fast Forward is. If your tastes run in the Jon Brion/David Grahame/Emmit Rhodes/Elliott Smith area, just go ahead and click on the links below.

Two other albums that spring to mind here are the recent Adrian Whitehead disc and Braden Blake's A Year In Pajamas from 2004, pure pop with a sophisticated edge and pristine melodies. "The Ballad of...." kicks things off, and it's about a perfect an opener for this kind of sound as it switches between Brionesque balladry and Beatlesque bop without missing a beat. "Crazy Things" is a lush, string-laden number that calls to mind Jellyfish's quieter moments, while "The Criminal" and its breezy feel is Joe Pernice-meets-Paul McCartney country. "Novacaine" is as languid as its title may imply, but that doesn't mean this beautiful ballad will put you to sleep.

Meanwhile, the tempo picks up mid-album with "Thank You", a high-quality traditional power pop number in the vein of Michael Carpenter, and the Cars-like synths and distorted guitars of "Tied Up". "Around the Town" is a jaunty acoustic guitar-and-honky tonk piano number that boasts another of Reed's signature melodies, and the disc ends where it began with "Are You Listening?", another fine Brion/Beatles-influenced track that concludes with some outstanding guitar work. There's a good chance I'll be making room in year-end top 10 for this one, and you should be making room on your CD shelf as well.

CD Baby | Kool Kat (with bonus EP) | MySpace

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

CD of the Day, 8/1/08: The Favorites-Bright Nights, Bright Lights

Straight outta Houston come The Favorites, who may soon be yours after crafting one of the brightest discs of 2008 with Bright Nights, Bright Lights. They remind me quite a bit of The Meadows (more their first album that the new one), The Gin Blossoms, The Rembrandts, and to some extent a less smart-assed Fountains of Wayne or an Americanized The Feeling.

"Something That You're Missing" and "In Case You're Wondering" are a great 1-2 punch to open the disc that immediately let you know what kind of sound you're in for: hooky, upbeat and hard to shake from your head. "Hope In The Sky" throws in some tasteful synths and rocks harder than the first two - it's more Waltham than The Gin Blossoms. "I've Got a Feeling" (not a Beatles cover) is heartland rock a la Tom Petty, and the lovely "Golden Like The Fall" shows that The Favorites know their way around the slower numbers as well.

Elsewhere, "Try, Try, Try" is where the Fountains of Wayne comparison comes in, and they share that popular band's wry outlook in "The Great Outdoors", a humorous look at a camping trip gone bad. "Let Me Come Home" is a power ballad whose title sums it up; and they channel Jeff Lynne on the outstanding "Pity Me Parade". Rounding things out are the Tex-Mex "La Tortuga Terrible" and closing ballad "8:00 am".

This is one of those discs that will jump right out of the speakers at you, and one I can see slotting into my Top 20 or better come year's end.

CD Baby | MySpace