Weekend Roundup.

Bubble Gum Orchestra-The Discovery. A 2013 release I missed was the latest from Michael Hildebrandt, a/k/a Bubble Gum Orchestra. As there haven't been any hints of Bleu and Mike Viola reconstituting L.E.O., this is where you'll have to get your fix of new "ELO" music. As on his previous releases, Hildebrandt is anything but subtle with his ELO homages and the title of this disc alone indicates that. So it wouldn't be a surprise that the best track on the disc is an "Evil Woman"-styled proto-disco/rock track called "Evil, Evil Girl". Other treats include ihe jaunty "Lovely Days, Lovely Nights", which has a hint of "Mr. Blue Sky" about it; the frenetic "There Goes My Baby", and the catchy "Until You Say Go". Fun stuff, and since Jeff Lynne isn't going to be walking through that door anytime soon, a must for ELO fans.

CD Baby | iTunes

Sell Music online at ReverbNation.com

Baby Scream-Greatest Failures. Juan Pablo Mazzola has had enough releases as Baby Scream to warrant his first-ever compilation, which he's self-deprecatingly titled Greatest Failures. While they may be "failures" from a commercial perspective, there's no failure of quality here and for those who have until now been immune to the charms of his Lennon-esque musical stylings this is a great opportunity to catch up. Thanks to Bandcamp, you can visit (or re-visit) all these tracks yourself, but if you want to know my favorites they're the languid "Mars", the sneering rocker "Every Day (I Die a Little Bit)", the gentle and melodic "The Riots", and the twisty "Nicole". How does the old song go? "I scream, you scream, we all scream for Baby Scream".

Bandcamp | iTunes

David Bash's Best of 2013, Part 2.

Here are the remainder of the 2013 lists from David Bash. All comments are his:

III. Top 2 Compilations-Single Artist

1. The Grip Weeds-Inner Grooves (Rare And Under-Released Tracks) (Ground Up)
2. Ben Jones-Retrospective: A Collection (Self-Released)

IV. Top 5 Compilations-Various Artists

1. International Pop Overthrow Vol. 16 (Pop Geek Heaven)
2. Christmas Without Cancer (Vandalay)
3. Sweet Relief 3: Love Is Everywhere (Jam)
4. Power Pop Planet Volume Two: 30 Bands, 30 Smiles (Pop Geek Heaven)
5. Pop Garden Radio Presents The Rock On The Road Show Season 4 (Pop Garden Radio)

V. Top 4 Tribute Discs

1. Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock (Self-Released)
2. The Records Tribute: Starry Eyed (Zero Hour)
3. Skrang: Sounds Like Bobby Sutliff (Cool Dog)
4.. Pop Garden Radio Presents: Legacy/A Tribute To Rick Nelson Vol. 1 (Pop Garden Radio)

VI. Biggest Disappointment

Fitz And The Tantrums-More Than Just A Dream (Elektra)

VII. 2014 Releases I’ve Heard And Am Excited About (In Alphabetical Order)

Note: some of these have been available for download in 2013, but a little birdie told me that these will be released as physical product in 2014…so that’s why they’re in this category. I’m always going to favor physical product, and so if there’s a physical release, that’s the year in which they will be ranked. I want to do my part, small as it is, to keep the physical release alive and well. 

The Belltower-Day Breakaway
Adrian Bourgeois-Pop/Art
The Cry-Dangerous Games
The Fast Camels-Dead Rooms And Battery Dreams
Peter Fedofsky-False Ties and Nice Hoods
Jimmy Haber-New Bondi Hippies
The Hot Place-The Language Of Birds
The Len Price Three-Nobody Knows
The Brothers Restaino-Have Issues
Valley Lodge-Use Your Weapons

Reissue Categories

For this category, at least one of the following criteria must be met for the album to qualify:

a. those that are on CD for the first time
b. those that had been previously issued, but are now out of print or difficult to find
c. those in whose current issue have lots of bonus tracks, or some other unique feature
d. those reissued on LP where they never had been
e. those which were previously unreleased but are “old” enough to where they should be considered reissues.

A CD or LP which contains exclusively previously unrelesed material which is not from current times is still considered a “reissue” in my ranking structure.

With the above in mind, while quality is the major factor in determining the rankings, other factors such as number and type of bonus tracks, liner notes, sound quality, etc…do come into play.

I. Top 50 Proper Albums

1. XTC-Nonsuch: The Surround Sound Series (Ape House)
2. Chilliwack-Lights From The Valley (Mushroom)
3. The Mamas & The Papas-The Mamas & The Papas (Sundazed)
4. Abba-Ring Ring: Deluxe Edition (Polar)
5. Tee Set-Emotion: The Album, The Rarities (Pseudonym)
6. Tears For Fears-The Hurting: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
7. Los Brincos-Contrabando (El)
8. Ian McNabb-Truth And Beauty (Cherry Red)
9. The Vogues-Sings The Good Old Songs And Other Hits (WEA International)
10. The Serendipity Singers-Love Is A State Of Mind: Deluxe Stereo/Mono Edition (Now Sounds)
11. The Sugar Shoppe-The Sugar Shoppe (Now Sounds)
12. Dave Edmunds-Subtle As A Flying Mallet: Expanded Edition (RPM)
13. The Supremes-Sing Holland, Dozier, Holland (Culture Factory)
14. Small Faces-There Are But Four Small Faces (Varese Sarabande)
15. Bananarama-Bananarama (Rhino/Edsel)
16. Chilliwack-Dreams, Dreams, Dreams (Mushroom)
17. The Mamas & The Papas-Deliver (Sundazed)
18. The Alan Parsons Project-I Robot (Legacy)
19. The Boys-Alternative Chartbusters (Fire)
20. Family-Bandstand (Snapper)
21. The Kinks-Muswell Hillbillies: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
22. Reggie King-Looking For A Dream (Circle)
23. We All Together-We All Together (Repsychled)
24. Nektar-Down To Earth (Purple Pyramid)
25. R.E.M.-Green: Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
26. Sandie Shaw-Reviewing The Situation (Salvo)
27. Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera-Elmer Gantry’s Velvet Opera (Grapefruit)
28. The Seeds-A Web Of Sound (Ace/Big Beat)
29. The Association-The Association: Deluxe Expanded Edition (Now Sounds)
30. FM-Black Noise (Esoteric)
31. The Gods-Genesis (Esoteric)
32. Hep Stars-It’s Been A Long, Long Time: Expanded Edition (RPM)
33. Richard Barone-Cool Blue Halo (Digsin)
34. The Seeds-Future (Ace/Big Beat)
35. The Primitives-Lovely (Cherry Red)
36. Bananarama-Deep Sea Skiving (Rhino/Edsel)
37. The Flaming Ember-Westbound # 9 (Solid)
38. The Boys-The Boys (Fire)
39. The Blue Aeroplanes-Beatsongs: Deluxe (Cherry Red)
40. Spirogyra-Bells, Boots, and Shambles (Esoteric)
41. The Gods-To Samuel A Son (Esoteric)
42. The Seeds-The Seeds (Ace/Big Beat)
43. Doris-Did You Give The World Some Love Today Baby (RPM)
44. The Bongos-Phantom Train (Jem)
45. Fairfield Ski-Fairfield Ski (Guerssen)
46. Kenny O’Dell-Beautiful People (Real Gone Music/Varese Sarabande)
47. The Headboys-The Lost Album (Pop Detective)
48. Sly & The Family Stone-There’s A Riot Goin’ On (Sony)
49. Barclay James Harvest-Turn Of The Tide (Esoteric)
50. Alan Munson-Good Morning World (Guerssen)

II. Top 10 Two-Fers, Three-Fers, Four-Fers, and Five-Fers: Proper Albums

1. Paul Revere & The Raiders-Something Has Happened! 1967-1969 (Raven)
2. Badfinger-Badfinger/Wish You Were Here/In Concert At The BBC 1972-3 (Edsel)
3. Greenfield & Cook-Greenfield & Cook/Second Album (Universal)
4. Paul Revere & The Raiders-Evolution To Revolution: 5 Classic Albums (Raven)
5. The Bee Gees-The Festival Albums Collection 1965-67 (Festival)
6. The Strawberry Alarm Clock-Incense And Peppermints/Wake Up…It’s Tomorrow (Tune In)
7. Little Anthony & The Imperials-On A New Street/Hold On (Soul Music)
8. The Swimming Pool Q’s-The A&M Years 1984-1986: The Swimming Pool Q’s/Blue Tomorrow (Bar None)
9. Lake-Lake/Lake II/Paradise Island (BGO)
10. Tommy James and The Shondells-Hanky Panky/It’s Only Love/I Think We’re Alone Now (BGO)

III. Top 25 Compilations, Single Artist

1. Michael Fennelly-Love Can Change Everything: Demos 1967-1972 (Sundazed)
2. The Beatles-On Air: Live At The BBC 2 (Capitol Universal)
3. The Beatles-Live At The BBC (Capitol Universal)
4. Pete Ham-Keyhole Street: Demos 1966-67 (Without You Music)
5. Big Star-Nothing Can Hurt Me (Omnivore)
6. Pezband-Dangerous People: Unreleased Tracks and Demos 1979 (Air Mail)
7. Del Shannon-The Complete UK Singles (and More) 1961-1966 (Ace)
8. The Three O’Clock-The Hidden World Revealed (Omnivore)
9. The Stained Glass-A Scene In-Between 1965-1967 (Big Beat)
10. Giorgio Moroder-Schlagermoroder Vol. 1: 1966-1975 (Repertoire)
11. The Paley Brothers-The Complete Recordings (Real Gone Music)
12. The Fourmyula-Inside The Hutt: New Zealand’s Pop/Psych Kingpins 1968-1969 (RPM)
13. The Aardvarks-Sinker, Line & Hook: The Anthology 1987-1999 (Cherry Red)
14. The Bee Gees-Morning Of My Life: The Best Of 1965-66 (Festival)
15. Neal Ford & The Fanatics-Good Men (Big Beat)
16. Jellyfish-Radio Jellyfish: Live Radio Broadcasts 1993 (Omnivore)
17. The Fleur De Lys-You’ve Got To Earn It (Acid Jazz)
18. Tim Andrews-Something About Suburbia: The Sixties Sounds (RPM)
19. The Primitives-Everything’s Shining Bright: The Lazy Recordings 1985-1987 (Cherry Red)
20. Honey LTD.-The Complete LHI Recordings (Light In The Attic)
21. John’s Children-A Strange Affair: The Sixties Recordings (Grapefruit)
22. Tandyn Almer-Along Comes Tandyn (Sundazed)
23. Lynsey De Paul-Sugar and Beyond: Anthology 1972-1974 (RPM)
24. Ruthann Friedman-Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook (Now Sounds)
25. Athenor-Flashback (Guerssen)

IV. Top 15 Compilations, Various Artists

1. Mixed Up Minds, Part Seven: Obscure Rock & Pop From The British Isles 1969-1974 (Particles)
2. Book A Trip 2: More Psych Pop Sounds Of Capitol Records (Now Sounds)
3. Power Pop Prime Volume Three: 2000-2001 (Pop Geek Heaven)
4. Era Northern Soul (Kent)
5. Pop Muzik: The Stories Of 70s Pop (Universal)
6. Fading Yellow-Volume Fifteen: Sunshowers U.S./Canadian Pop Psych & Other Delights (Flower Machine)
7. Alice In Wonderland: The Great Lost Southern Popsike Trip (Charly)
8. Piccadilly Sunshine Part Fourteen: British Pop Psych And Other Flavours 1965-1969 (Particles)
9. Piccadilly Sunshine Part Fifteen: British Pop Psych And Other Flavours 1967-1971 (Particles)
10. Born To Be Together: The Songs Of Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil (Ace)
11. 94 Baker Street Revisited: Poptastic Sounds From The Apple Era 1967-1968 (RPM)
12. Sophisticated Boom Boom!-The Shadow Morton Story (Ace)
13. Mixed Up Minds, Part Six: Obscure Rock & Pop From The British Isles 1971-1974 (Particles)
14. Piccadilly Sunshine Part Thirteen: British Pop Psych And Other Flavours 1967-1970 (Particles)
15. Piccadilly Sunshine Part Sixteen: British Pop Psych And Other Flavours 1966-1972 (Particles)

V. Top 25 Box Sets: Single Artist

1. The Beach Boys-Made In California: 1962-2012 (Capitol)
2. The Moody Blues-Timeless Flight (Universal)
3. Sparks-New Music For Amnesiacs: The Ultimate Collection (Lil’ Beethoven)
4. Nilsson-The RCA Albums Collection (Sony Music)
5. Four Tops-50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Hip-O-Select)
6. Yes-The Studio Albums 1969-1987 (Warner Music)
7. Sly and The Family Stone-Higher! (Sony)
8. Fleetwood Mac-Rumours (Warner Bros.)
9. The Monkees-Present (Rhino)
10. The Shadows-The Early Years Expanded Edition: Their Complete Studio Recordings 1959-1966 (Parlophone)
11. The Zombies-In Stereo (Repertoire)
12. Scott Walker-Scott: The Collection 1967-1970 (Universal)
13. Family-Once Upon A Time (Snapper)
14. *Fleetwood Mac: 1969-1972 (Rhino)
15. Showaddywaddy-The Complete Studio Recordings 1973-1988 (Edsel)
16. Donovan-Breezes of Patchouli: His Studio Recordings 1966-1969 (EMI)
17. The Who-Tommy: Superdeluxe (Universal)
18. Marc Bolan at The BBC: Radio Sessions and Broadcasts 1967-1977 (Universal)
19. Van Morrison-Moondance: Deluxe Edition (Rhino)
20. Leo Sayer-The Complete Studio Recordings 1971-2006 (Edsel)
21. Duane Allman-Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective (Universal)
22. Stephen Stills-Carry On (Rhino)
23. Paul McCartney and Wings-Wings Over America: Superdeluxe (Hear Music)
24. Elvis Presley-Elvis At Stax: Deluxe Edition (Legacy)
25. Be Bop Deluxe-At The BBC 1974-1978 (Parlophone)

VI. Top 10 Box Sets: Various Artists

1. Lee Hazlewood Industries-There’s A Dream I’ve Been Saving 1966-1971 (Light In The Attic)
2. The Sound Of Young America: The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12 A 1972 (Hip-O-Select)
3. The Sound Of Young America: The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 12 B 1972 (Hip-O-Select)
4. The Millennium-At Last (Sony Japan)***
5. Oh Yes We Can Love: A History Of Glam Rock (Universal)
6. Love, Poetry and Revolution: A Journey Through The British Psychedelic and Underground Scene 1966 to 1972 (Grapefruit)
7. Scared To Get Happy: A Story Of Indie-Pop 1980-1989 (Cherry Red)
8. Cooler Than Ice-Arctic Records and The Rise Of Philly Soul (Jamie/Guyden)
9. Los Nuggetz-‘60s Garage & Psych From Latin America (Rockbeat)
10. Looking Good-75 Femme Mod Soul Nuggets (RPM)

***was released in Japan only in Sept. 2012, but I decided to rank it in 2013 because nobody I know, including me, had been aware of it until 2013. I know it doesn’t look like a various artists box, but it includes all the solo issues by various members of The Millennium.

VII. Top 5 Reissue Labels

1. Ace/Big Beat
2. Now Sounds
3. Particles
4. Hip-O-Select
5. RPM

David Bash's Best of 2013.

Once again we're happy to bring you the Best-of-2013 lists from David Bash, Mr. International Pop Overthrow. Today I'll run his top album and EP lists, and tomorrow (or Monday) I'll post his miscellaneous lists. As always, as comprehensive as I think I am, I can't hold a candle to David as I see numerous releases that passed me by this year, and so like many of you I have a lot of discovery ahead of me. I'll turn it over to David now, with this prefatory comments that I wholeheartedly agree with regarding late-year releases:

Those marked with an * are LP-only releases, those with a **are download-only.

I. Top 100 Albums

As always, I listened to a lot of albums this year, and there were significantly more than 100 which I thought were quality discs. I could have extended this list to 200 and still liked what I’ve heard, but after 100 I decided to stop as I had a difficult time distinguishing between, e.g. 101 and 110. Anyway, if you released an album this year and it’s not on my list, it certainly doesn’t mean I didn’t think it was good. 

There may be a handful of albums on this list which appear to be from 2012, or in fact were “released” at the tail end of last year. As anal as I am in making my lists, I also feel the need to be sensible about this issue, and rank these albums in 2013. As it is with most indie releases, it takes a few months for awareness to be created, and if I don’t follow what sense dictates, I am left with two alternatives, neither of which are viable to me:

a. I wait until June of a given year to post my list of the best of the previous year, when nobody cares anymore.
b. These albums simply never get ranked, which would be a damn shame.

So, I choose to do it this way. If you want to scream bloody murder that some of my fave albums of 2013 were “released” in late 2012 (“released” is in quotes, because often that means a download on the artist’s bandcamp page), then by all means, get your jollys. Me, I’m going to do what makes sense.

1. Mothboxer-Three (Self-Released)
2. Ben Jones & The Rifle Volunteers-Shangri La (Rifle Tone)
3. Nick Piunti-13 In My Head (Self-Released)
4. The Maureens-The Maureens (Self-Released)
5. The Grapes Of Wrath-High Road (Aporia)
6. Lee And The Lovedaddies-Lee And The Lovedaddies (Self-Released) *
7. The Resonars-Crummy Desert Sound (Burger) *
8. Neighbours-Prime Numbers (Get Hip)
9. Shake Some Action!-Full Fathom Five (Sattelite 451)
10. Alfa 9-Gone To Ground (Blow Up)
11. The Nines-The Nines (TAS Gold)
12. Glenn Case-Throw Money (Self-Released)
13. Wiretree-Get Up (Self-Released)
14. Miles Kane-Don’t Forget Who You Are (Sony)
15. Phenomenal Cat-Postcards From The British Empire (Self-Released)
16. Greg Pope-Pop Motion Animation (Octoberville)
17. Liar’s Club-Come And Go (Charlatan)
18. Surf School Dropouts-Summer Is A State Of Mind (Sunny Day) *
19. Eureka Machines-Remain In Hope (Wrath)
20. Ulysses-Kill You Again (Black Glove)
21. Agony Aunts-Big Cinnamon (Mystery Lawn Music)
22. The Cherry Bluestorms-Bad Penny Opera (Roundhouse)
23. Groovy Uncle featuring Suzi Chunk-One Vowel Away From The Truth (Trouserphonic)
24. Mikal Cronin-MC II (Merge)
25. The Sun Sawed In ½-Elephants Into Swans (Self-Released)
26. King Washington-The Overload (Self-Released)
27. The Connection-Let It Rock! (King Yum)
28. Brendan Benson-You Were Right (Readymade)
29. The Most-Auto Destructive Art (CopaseDisques)
30. Eric Barao-Eric Barao (Self-Released)
31. The Popdogs-Cool Cats For Pop Dogs (Self-Released)
32. Radio Days-Get Some Action (Rock Indiana)
33. Adam Marsland-The Owl And The Full Moon (Karma Frog)
34. London Egg-If It Takes Forever (Self-Released)
35. Michael Mazzarella-Love In Laureltide Green (Angelica)
36. The Bottle Kids-Such A Thrill (Kool Kat)
37. Vegas With Randolph-Rings Around The Sun (Caged Giant)
38. Dynamo Bliss-Poplar Music (Self-Released)
39. The Cherry Drops-Everything’s Groovy (Musick)
40. Jacco Gardner-Cabinet Of Curiosities (Trouble In Mind)
41.Stephen Lawrenson-Obscuriosity (Kool Kat)
42. Harper Simon-Division Street (PIAS)
43. The Orange Peels-Sun Moon (Mystery Lawn)
44. The Playmates-Soul Cookin’ (Green River)
45. Wyatt Funderburk-Novel And Profane (JollyRonnie)
46. Phil Angotti-Life And Rhymes (ouR House)
47. Lisa Mychols-Above, Beyond & In Between (Vandalay)
48. Paul Bertolino-Where The Buildings Hit The Sky (Self-Released)
49. Raymond Meade-Fables And Follies (Self-Released)
50. Schnauser-Where Business Meets Fashion (Self-Released)
51. Maxi Dunn-Edmund & Leo (Dabooboo)
52. Scissors & The Cuts-3 July (Trashy Creatures)
53. Gleeson-Gleeson II (Almost There)
54. Andy Klingensmith-Pictures Of (Futureman) **
55. The Mergers-Monkey See Monkey Do! (Soundflat)
56. David Brookings-The Maze (Byar)
57. Laurie Biagini-Sanctuary Of Sound (Self-Released)
58. Colleen Green-Sock In To Me (Hardly Art)
59. 8x8-Azalia’s Room (Self-Released)
60. Dana Countryman-Pop! The Incredible, Fantastic Retro Pop World Of… (Self-Released)
61. The Yum Yums-…Play Good Music (Screaming Apple) *
62. The Histrionics-Cannon (Self-Released)
63. Third Of Never-Downrising (Jam)
64. John LT-Suburban Superstar (Mother West)
65. Secret Friend-Time Machine (Odd Tunes)
66. Jackdaw4-Dissecticide (Too Many Robots)
67. Bubblegum Orchestra-The Discovery (Out Of This World)
68. Of Montreal-Lousy With Sylvianbriar (Polyvinylrecords)
69. Chris Degnore and The Black Drops-Cinema (Self-Released)
70. The Junior League-You Should Be Happy (Greenleaves)
71. Corin Ashley-New Lion Terraces (Murray Hill)
72. Sugar Stems-Can’t Wait (Screaming Apple) *
73. Smith Westerns-Soft Will (Mom & Pop)
74. The Temponauts-The Canticle Of The Temponauts (Other Eyes)
75. The Bye Bye Blackbirds-We Need The Rain (Self-Released)
76. Tudor Lodge-Stay (Cast Iron)
77. The Tor Guides-Lots Of The Pops! Volume 1: Caught In A Sweet Refrain (Digit)
78. Adam Daniel-Pop Baby (Self-Released)
79. Andrea Perry-Four (Self-Released)
80. Beachwood Sparks-Desert Skies (Alive)
81. Paul McCartney-New (Concord)
82. Fonda-Sell Your Memories (Minty Fresh)
83. Beady Eye-Be (Sony)
84. The 88-Fortune Teller (Self-Released)
85. The Beat Rats-Have Mersey! (Cavern/Kool Kat)
86. Magic Eight Ball-Sorry We’re Late But We’re Worth The Wait (Magic Cat)
87. The American Professionals-We Make It Our Business (Charlie In The Box)
88. Et Tu Brucé-Suburban Sunshine (Worldwide)
89. Joe Symes & The Loving Kind-Joe Symes & The Loving Kind (Truly Independent)
90. Esa Linna-This Is Who I Am (Teosto)
91. Richard X. Heyman-Richard X. Heyman (Turn-Up)
92. The Bamboo Trading Co.-The Bamboo Trading Co. (Self-Released)
93. The Contrast-A Sinister Flick (Angel Air)
94. Nektar-Time Machine (Purple Pyramid)
95. Goodfellows-The Name Of These Girls (Self-Released)
96. Blue Cartoon-Are You Getting On? (Aardvark)
97. JoDee Purkeypile-Messenger (Self-Released)
98. NRWY-Negatives (Self-Released) *
99. Mount Pressmore-Enjoy (Self-Released)
100. Pete MacLeod-Rolling Stone (359 Music)

II. Top 5 EPs

Disclaimer alert: I’m not a big fan of EPs, as they always seem to leave me wanting more. For this reason, I never seek them out the way I do full-length albums, and 2013 was no exception. At the end of 2012 I promised myself that I would more actively seek out EPs, but unfortunately I didn’t. For this reason, I’m limited to a Top 5 that I particularly enjoyed, but please don’t take this list as an end-all be-all; there are plenty of other fine EPs out there!

1. The Junipers-Euphonious Trolley (Self-Released) **
2. honeychain-Futura (Self-Released)
3. The Well Wishers-Dunwoody (That Was My Skull)
4. The Head-Girls & The Yukon (Self-Released)
5. The Real Numbers-1 2 3 4 5 (Self-Released)

Two for Thursday, 1/9/14

Marshall Holland-Marhsall Holland & The Etceteras. After returning to the scene in 2011 for the first time since 2004 with a new EP, Marshall Holland is back with his first full-length in a decade and it's the first standout pop album of 2014. Continuing in the same vein as previous releases, the San Franciscan offers up his winning mix of Posies/Brendan Benson-styled pop that also brings to mind the likes of Phil Angotti and Ken Sharp. "Take Me" is an amiable opener that shows Holland's songcraft at its finest, and the ruminative "At 65" is like a grown-up "When I'm Sixty-Four". Meanwhile, "Oh Please" is first-rate jangle pop, and the primarily acoustic "Fool Me" is another melodic gem. Also included here is "Radio Style", released as a single last summer, in which Holland decries the state of radio today and makes a well-earned plea to listen to more music like his, done so of course in the most melodic of styles. The album officially drops this coming Tuesday, but you can pre-order at Bandcamp.

Bandcamp / iTunes



Steve Judd-Sugarcoated. Ottawa's Steve Judd brings up a mix of classic rock and power pop from north of the border with Sugarcoated and he isn't messing around, serving up a collection of crunchy melodic rocking tunes with sugar coating. The title track kicks things off in fine fashion (even mentioning the Russian mafia!), and "Takin' Us to Task" is a melodic rocker that splits the difference between Tom Petty and The Replacements. Elsewhere, "Lost and Found" slows things down a bit yet still rocks melodically, "99%" boasts a chorus that'll stick in your head, and "Liquid Courage" boasts a high jangle quotient. And Judd closes things out nicely near the end with the power ballad "Testament". This is a fine rocking disc, and I'm not sugarcoating things.

CD Baby | iTunes

New Year's Roundup.

The problem with doing year-end best-of lists in December is that the music community doesn't stop releasing new material at any point during the year, meaning lists like mine (compiled in mid-December) will miss out on a few strong releases that come out in the latter half of the month. Typically I push these into my lists for the next year, and here are two excellent releases that didn't quite make it under the wire for my 2013 lists.

Cheap Star-Rosetta Stone EP. Although their name is a nod to Cheap Trick and Big Star, the French band Cheap Star sounds more like The Posies than either band (although the Posies themselves were heavily involved in the resurrected Big Star before Alex Chilton's death). This isn't a coincidence, as they've toured with The Posies and Ken Stringfellow produced this EP (as well as their 2009 debut Speaking Like an Elephant), and Stringfellow and Jon Auer play on the record. This time around you get six tracks that fit in comfortably on any Posies compilation, from the midtempo rocker "Crushing the Zeros" to the lovely, elegiac "A Song for You". If you like the Posies at all, there isn't much risk here.

CD Baby | iTunes

J Scott Bergman-Beautifulordinary. Calfiornia's J Scott Bergman has crafted a wonderful mixture of folk/rock and indie pop on Beautifulordinary that owes much to the singer/songwriters of the 70s. In fact, it reminds me quite a bit of the late 90s/early 00s Pernice Brothers records, especially The World Won't End. "The Exit" opens the proceedings in majestic fashion with an intricate melody and soaring choruses, while the uptempo title track is first-rate guitar pop. Meanwhile, having extensively mentioned The Posies in the review above, I'd be remiss not to point out that "On Earth as a Room" has a Posies vibe, while the rocking "Black Snow" is hands-down the catchiest track on the disc, and the Beatlesque "Old Songs" isn't far behind. I'm a bit disappointed I didn't catch this one before making the 2013 list, because it would easily be top 20 material. Wait until next year (er this year), I guess.

CD Baby | iTunes

Sell Music online at ReverbNation.com

My favorite track of 2013.

A bit busy now to try and compile a top tracks of 2013 list, so I'll just post my favorite of them all right now. To me, "Third Man" has it all - a great ELO-inspired melody and effects, clever lyrics, and a spoken-word interlude from Harry Potter himself. What more can you ask for? (OK, not having to look at that naked guy jumping over a wicket for the next four minutes would be nice).

What was your favorite power pop tune of 2013? Let me know in the comments.

The Absolute Powerpop Top 15 EPs of 2013

1. Moore-The Great Escape
2. Nick Capaldi-The Golden Summer
3. Justin Kline-Doormat
4. An American Underog/Brandon Schott-The A/B EP
5. Brady Harris Band-NoHo Confidential
6. Timmy Sean & The Celebrities-East Coast Girls
7. The Well Wishers-Dunwoody
8. Erik Voeks-Finulu
9. Eddie Orso-He Said/She Said
10. The Allrightniks-Nothing's What it Seems
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-Backburner
12. Brendan O'Neill-Outside Worlds
13. Butch Walker-Peachtree Battle
14. The House of Jed-S/T
15. The Maladaptive Solution-Heal

The Absolute Powerpop Top 100 Albums of 2013, #1-50.

Now you see why I changed the rules on VA albums. And yes, there are a couple of albums in here that were released in 2012, but I didn't hear them until 2013 and/or they didn't gain a lot of traction in the power pop community until this year. The bottom half (51-100) can be found here.

1. VA-Drink a Toast to Innocence
2. Nick Piunti-13 in My Head
3. Greg Pope-Pop Motion Animation
4. Eric Barao-S/T
5. Valley Lodge-Use Your Weapons
6. The Incurables-The Fine Art of Distilling
7. Phil Angotti-Life & Rhymes
8. Adam Daniel-Pop, Baby
9. The Nature Strip-Stars Turn Inside Out
10. Prattle on, Rick-Some Quiet Majesty
11. Mark Crozer & The Rels-S/T
12. JoDee Purkeypile-Messenger
13. The Sun Sawed in 1/2-Elephants into Swans
14. Gleeson-Gleeson II
15. The Nines-S/T
16. Todd Herfindal-Right Here Now
17. Wyatt Funderburk-Novel and Profane
18. Bohemian Radio-On the Air
19. Coke Belda-Coke Belda I
20. Chris Abad-Darling Dear
21. Roseland-S/T
22. Brendan Benson-You Were Right
23. The Tor Guides-Strawberries & Chocolates
24. The Duckworth Lewis Method-Sticky Wickets
25. Vegas With Randolph-Rings Around the Sun
26. Hot Nun-S/T
27. Rich McCulley-The Grand Design
28. Gregg Swann-Turn to Stars
29. The Tor Guides-Lots of the Pops! Volume 1
30. Nathan Roberts & The New Birds-S/T
31. Bryan Estepa-Heart vs Mind
32. John Amadon-The Bursting Sheaf
33. The Junior League-You Should Be Happy
34. VA-International Pop Overthrow Vol. 16
35. The Electric Soft Parade-Idiots
36. Joel Sarakula-The Golden Age
37. Any Version of Me-We Are You
38. Paint 31-Hot Dogs on Tuesday
39. Daren Sweet-Pop's Three Minute Pleasures
40. Wiretree-Get Up
41. Superchunk-I Hate Music
42. The Amprays-Brave New Strange
43. Shane Lamb-Together, We'll Get Through
44. Carter Beckworth-Humble Heart
45. Keith LuBrant-Who I Am
46. Bob Evans-Familiar Stranger
47. Shake Some Action!-Full Fathom Five
48. Stephen Lawrenson-Obscuriosity
49. Chris Degnore & The Black Drops-Cinema
50. Bobby Emmett-Brighter Days

The Absolute Powerpop Top Albums of 2013, #51-100

It's time again for the year-end list! One change I've made from previous years is that I'm considering Various Artists (VA) releases for the Top 100. In years past, I had basically ignored them at year's end, but this year there are a couple I feel need to be considered among the year's best and you'll see them when the top half of the list is posted. Here's the bottom half:

51. Sheboygan-Triple Fantasy
52. Third of Never-Downrising
53. Ted Billings-American Bedrooms
54. Tony Scalzo-My Favorite Year
55. Christopher Holland-Corner Green
56. David Brookings-The Maze
57. Skypilot-Distant Days
58. Josh Rouse-The Happiness Waltz
59. The Breakup Society-So Much Unhappiness, So Little Time
60. Dan Miraldi-Devil at Our Heels
61. Kevin Lee & The Kings-Breakout
62. Sean McMorris-Lo & Behold
63. The Grapes of Wrath-High Road
64. Happy Ashtray-Seventy Miles
65. Glenn Case-Throw Money
66. Dave Keener-Slugger
67. Ballard-Bucky
68. Lamar Holley-The Color of Day
69. Travel Lanes-Hey Hey, It's Travel Lanes!
70. Chase Hamblin & The Roustabouts-VAUdeVILLE
71. Magic Eight Ball-Sorry We're Late But We're Worth the Wait
72. The Big Sweet-Bicycle Nights
73. Extra Medium Pony-11868
74. Jimmy LeGuillox-Everything and the Box it Came In
75. Dave Rave & The Governors-Ashtray Makeup
76. The Charlie Watts Riots-A Break in the Weather
77. The Affections-Prologned Adolescence
78. The Castell Brothers-S/T
79. Bleu-To Hell With You
80. Richard X Heyman-X
81. Secret Friend-Time Machine
82. Rob Fetters-Saint Ain't
83. Jeremy Porter & The Tucos-Partner in Crime
84. Tommy Rivers-Cool Slip of Coins
85. Pete Donnelly-Face the Bird
86. Free Energy-Love Sign
87. Radio Days-Get Some Action
88. Sam Page-Breach
89. The Scruffs-Kill! Kill!
90. Michael Davis with Bandages-Real Love
91. Brett Goldsmith-Ordinary Life
92. Straw Dogs-No Dividing Line
93. Parthenon Huxley-Thank You, Bethesda
94. Red Jacket Mine-Someone Else's Cake
95. Liar's Club-Come and Go
96. Brett Newski & The Corruption-Tiny Victories
97. The Bottle Kids-Such a Thrill
98. Late Cambrian-Peach
99. Split Sofa-Coloured Dream
100. Anny Celsi-January

EP of the Day, 12/16/13: Moore-The Great Escape

Before I drop the year-end lists later this week, I felt I had to get one more release in under the wire since it'll place highly in top EPs of 2013. Moore is Aiden Moore, a NYC folk musician who ended up writing some pop songs over the last few years while working on his folk album. If The Great Escape is any indication, Moore might want to concentrate on the poppier side of things. With a sound that's comprised of a mix of Jellyfish, Ben Folds, Coldplay and similar to indie power pop artists like Kevin Martin (of last year's great Throwback Pop EP) and Josh Fix, Moore has cranked out a top-notch piano-pop EP. The title track opens with a bit more synth than piano, but has an infectious chorus which you'll eventually surrender to. But "Table Talk" is the real triumph here - a catchy and clever piano-based number that's one of my top tracks of the year and which would be more than worthy of some of the artists name-dropped earlier in this piece. And the following track, "Celebrity Crush". isn't much of a comedown from "Table Talk", with its own sharp set of hooks.

Meanwhile, the bouncy "In Your Head" earns the Jellyfish comparisons, and "Crazy Kinda Cool" maintains the quality with its Blue/Mike Viola vibe. Moore slows it down a few notches on the closing near-ballad "Clicks and Clanks", and while it doesn't reach the giddy highs of the rest of the EP it's still a pretty darn good track. With the likes of Mumford & Sons seemingly turning everyone with an acoustic guitar into a folkie these days, my (admittedly biased) advice for Moore is to zag in the pop direction while everyone's zigging in the folk direction as this is as good a pop debut as I've heard in 2013.

CD Baby | 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

Pre-Thanksgiving Roundup.

The Well Wishers-Dunwoody EP. You just had to know the prolific Jeff Shelton couldn't go too much longer without a new Well Wishers release. Oh sure, he released the Hot Nun project at the beginning of the year, but it's been almost an interminable two years since the last Well Wishers album. So he's back with Dunwoody, which sounds like the place The Governor ran on The Walking Dead and actually is a suburban enclave outside of Atlanta. So while this EP isn't about a post-apocalyptic world overrun with zombies it does, as Shelton states, "chronicle the imaginary lives of those trapped in Southeastern suburban bliss...or misery, depending on how bad the heat and humidity might be." And as one who himself lives in Southeastern suburban bliss/misery, I guess I'm qualified to review it. The EP does find Shelton in a more laid-back mode but not in full retreat from his customary uptempo jangle rock. And his sense of melody remains completely intact as well as demonstrated on the opener "Peel Away", and "Real Today" and "Open Up Your Eyes" are vintage jangly Shelton/Well Wishers. Just released today, we should all give thanks for more Well Wishers music.

CD Baby | iTunes



Nathan Roberts & The New Birds-Nathan Roberts & The New Birds. Before this album, Toledo's Nathan Roberts had a couple of EPs to his name which I found enjoyable, but his debut full-length is a revelation of pop songcraft. The best way I can describe his music is Wilco-meets-Oasis, and if that sounds incongruous to you I make the comparison because he has a buoyant pop sound that's grounded to some extent in Americana and indie rock. The driving leadoff track "In Stereo" recalls Wilco's "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" (but thankfully doesn't run as long), only to be followed by the slick Pearlfishers/Silver Seas-styled pop of "No Trouble" and "Dead on Arrival". The 70s-era classic rock stylings of the bluesy "Step into the Light" are a nice touch, while the Oasis comparisons come in with "Heaven Knows" which has a bit of "Champagne Supernova" to it (and which is also thankfully not as long). Throw in the lush pop of "Two Dreamers in One Dream", and you have an audacious pop debut on your hands that will be more than worth your while to check out.

CD Baby | iTunes

Friday Roundup.

Gregg Swann-Turn to Stars. As I noted upon his passing from colon cancer in early 2011, not only was Gregg Swann an outstanding power part artist (his 2006 release placed at #11 on my initial year-end list) but he was a gentleman as well in his dealings with me when it came to reviewing his disc. After hearing of his death, I thought we'd never hear new material from him again, but thanks to demo recordings he made in his last year or two along with newly-recorded backing tracks from his band who funded the process through a Kickstarter campaign, we have a new Gregg Swann album. And although it's a bit short and a bit uneven as posthumous albums of this type are, it's still a fitting sendoff and a damn fine record. "Rain Dance" opens on a staccato guitar riff similar to Green Day's "Brain Stew" and starts off the disc in melodic rocking fashion while the midtempo "Stereo Down" recalls the excellent "The Truth Hurts' from his previous album. Elsewhere, "LA, CA" is a fittingly mellow number about Los Angeles that sports a memorable chorus, "Idlewild" features a haunting, slow-burning melody and "Today" makes a fitting epitaph as it sends the album off with a buoyant power pop tune. RIP Gregg.

CD Baby | iTunes

David Brookings-The Maze. After four years largely away from music (along with a move from Memphis to the San Francisco bay area), David Brookings has returned with sixth album and first since 2009's Glass Half Full. The latest features more of his easygoing melodic style, and takes a more personal look at life. The jangly "If I Didn't Make it Back" starts things off in classic Brookings mode and makes us glad he made it back, while the Beatlesque and ornate "Cora" (which even name-drops Gene Simmons) follows as the disc's real standout. The autobiographical "No Regrets" is another highlight, as Brookings looks back on key moments of his life, and while "The Dream is Over" seems like a title for a dirge or an elegy it's instead a rollicking number that shows off Brookings' guitar playing and melodic skill. "Heroin Donna" is another catchy Beatlesque track, and "I've Got No Game Now" is a lovely ballad about the fear of having to date again. It's great to have Brookings back.

CD Baby | iTunes / Stream at official site

It's IPO Time Again!

One of my favorite annual power pop traditions is the release of the new International Pop Overthrow compilation. This year sees compilation #16 from David Bash, the man behind the festivals and the discs. As always, the IPO compilation works on two levels - one as a sampler of some of today's best independent power pop artists, and the other as a chance to sample new artists in the scene. The former is represented by tracks (new and old) from the likes of Lannie Flowers, Dave Rave, Jeremy, Adam Daniel, The JAC, Didn't Planet, Lisa Mychols, Laurie Biagini, Stephen Lawrenson and Private Jets.

Among the new artists, the tracks that caught my ear (and will lead me to investigate these artists further) are Mothboxer, whose "Shame it Always Rains" leads off the compilation and boasts a groovy, psych-pop sound that recalls The Green Pajamas; the straight-ahead power pop of the Cronin Tierney Band's "Harmony", Hawk Bjorn's piano-popping "Who Do You Say I Am"; Cool Whips' "Boom Shang-a-Lang" which you might guess is goofy fun; the edgy, mod sound of Norrish Reaction's "Let it Go"; the fine garage rock of Gooey's "Watch Out"; the Ray Davies-esque "Mrs. Reginald" courtesy of John McMullan; and the jangly pop of Salvadore Dali Llama's (love the name) "City in the Sky".

Head on over to the official IPO site to hear a nice sampler of tracks from the compilation - maybe some of those will strike your fancy. The IPO comp always make a great holiday gift for the power popper on your list, or of course a fine gift from you to yourself.

Kool Kat | Amazon

Friday Roundup.

Greg Pope-Pop Motion Animation. It's always a good day when Greg Pope releases an album, as his body of work as both a solo artist and as frontman of Edmund's Crown is some of the very best power pop of the last decade. And while the adage "brevity is the soul of wit" is true, brevity is also the soul of power pop, and Pope never outstays his welcome as the 11 tracks here clock in around 28 minutes and leave you wanting more. The opener "Partner in Crime" might be his best opening track since Popmonster's "Sky Burn Down" with its staccato guitar riffs and crunchy melody, while "More Like You" is 1:44 of breezy guitar pop. Meanwhile, "The Mattress" is a southern-styled power pop stomp that's right out of Terry Anderson's playbook with its imagery of losing a mattress off a truck, "Don't Wait" is an acoustic guitar-propelled mid-tempo gem, and "Cloud and Thunder" is a gentle, lovely near-ballad that shows Pope can pull off the slow numbers as well as the rockers. And one could almost view the Police-influenced "Meanwhile Back at the Office" as a sequel or allusion to his last Edmund's Crown record, Regrets of a Company Man. All in all, The Pope of Power Pop has delivered again.

CD Baby | iTunes



Brendan O'Neill-Outside Worlds. Singer-songwriter Brendan O'Neill debuts with a promising 4-track EP which features the guitar work of site favorite Rich McCulley. Like McCulley, O'Neill specializes in smooth-sounding roots pop/rock, and the four songs here leave you wanting more. "Orchard Girl" sounds like a long-lost hit single from the 90s with its slow buildup and powerful chorus, all augmented by McCulley's slide guitar. "Tic Tac Toe" is a soulful number that makes great use of O'Neill's vocals, while "White Picket Fences" is a Wilco-like mid-tempo gem. The reflective "Workin'" closes the EP in fine fashion, and the best part of all this is O'Neill is offering up the EP as a free download at the CD Baby link below.

CD Baby | iTunes

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Weekend Roundup.

Vegas With Randolph-Rings Around the Sun. The Mid-Atlantic region's answer to Fountains of Wayne returns with its third full-length album, and much in the manner of their previous release Above the Blue, the new album consists of singles they've put out in the interim plus several new tracks. This time around they've enlisted the help of power pop luminaries such as David Myhr (Merrymakers), Andy Reed (An American Underdog) and Brandon Schott and the result is their strongest disc to date. Opener "You Set the World on Fire" sets the album on fire with some classic-sounding power pop, "Salt Water Taffy" and "Cool Things" draw the FoW comparison in stark relief as everyday pleasures are turned into pop odes, and "Everybody Wants an Atom Bomb" somehow condenses the last 75 years of US geopolitics into 3 1/2 minutes of catchy-as-hell power pop. Elsewhere, they write about stuff that interests them: "My Lost Colony" is ostensibly about the lost colony of Roanoke that was the basis for a recent Sleepy Hollow episode, and who doesn't love a "Snow Day"? And Myhr, Reed and Schott lend their talents and harmonies to the anthemic title track. One of 2013's best from a band that just keeps getting better.

CD Baby



Roseland-Roseland. This Greensboro, North Carolina band isn't strictly power pop; rather, they're highly melodic folk/rock, alt-country, Americana, whatever you want to call it. But if you listen hard, you can hear some Teenage Fanclub in there if it makes you feel better. Regardless, those who love a good melody with sweet harmonies will want to check this one out. "Plans to Ride" is a brilliant opener with its "fell in love with a rolling stone" refrain and jangly melody reminiscent of The Jayhawks or CSNY, and "Long Hard Way to Fall" sounds like a lost Gary Louris/Mark Olson collaboration. Meanwhile, "In Between" could almost pass for one of Alex Chilton's more acoustic-leaning early Big Star tracks, and "Nice Place to Go" is lovely in its simplicity. As far as I'm concerned, this is the best album of its type I've heard all year, and if you pop leanings take you to the folk or country side at all, this is a must.

CD Baby | iTunes

Friday Roundup,

Sheboygan-Triple Fantasy. Austin, Texas's Sheboygan (no, they're not from Sheboygan, Wisconsin) return with their first record since 2008's It's OK Say Yes, their third (hence the album title). In large part they pick up where they left off, serving up another delicious disc of power pop. Opener "Needle Hits the Groove" is classic power pop in the style of The Rubinoos and The Singles, while the midtempo "Come Back Around" recalls Badfinger with a touch of Jellyfish. With 14 tracks in all, they mix and match quite a few pop styles - the raved-up "1000 Eyes", the jangle-pop of "Minutes Last Forever", and the Brian Wilson-esque piano ballad "Morning Sea Waves" are just a few of the varieties in play here. These guys know their way around a tune, and there's something to like her for everyone.

CD Baby | iTunes

Timmy Sean-East Coast Girls EP. Ex-Luzer frontman Timmy Sean made quite an impression in 2010 with Music From & Inspired by Noisewater, which placed at #5 on my best-of list that year. East Coast Girls is his first proper release since then, and it's five blazing tracks of put-the-top-down (or at least roll the windows down) sunny, high-energy pop that might be what Fountains of Wayne would sound like if they hailed from California instead of New Jersey and were a bit less smart-alecky. The title track and "She's Mine" are certainly in FoW form, which their infectious melodies, crunchy guitars and insistent synths. "This Time Around" and "You're Still on My Mind" are highly melodic and rocking as well, and closer "Back to the Middle" deviates from the formula ever so slightly, which throws a lively sax and some "shoo-be-doo-wah" backing vocals into the mix, making it perhaps the most fun track on the EP. While maybe not quite as inventive or flat-out awesome as Noisewater , any new music from Timmy Sean is a good thing and nobody will regret adding this EP to their ocllection.

CD Baby | iTunes

Friday Roundup.

The Tor Guides-Lots of the Pops Volume 1: Caught in a Sweet Refrain. After about a 5-year absence, The Tor Guides came back late last year with the wonderful Strawberries & Chocolates. The warm reception to that release must have inspired them to come right back less than a year later with another album, albeit one with a convoluted title. If nothing else, the title does pass the truth-in-advertising test as there's lots of pop here with sweet refrains, and fans of other Swedish popsters like The Merrymakers and The Tangerines will enjoy this collection. Whether it's driving power pop numbers like the 1-2 punch of "Dynamo" and "Things We'll Do Today" to open the disc or the more reflective "If I Didn't Love You" and "Apricot" or breezier pop tracks like "All About the Loving", the Guides find a way for the melody to shine through. And the poptastic "Happy" will make you just that. We're into fall now, but this is a perfect summer album.

CD Baby | iTunes



Prattle on, Rick-Some Quiet Majesty. Another new release that lives up to its title is the latest EP (or at 8 songs, a "mini-album") from Patrick Rickleton and friends. Prattle on, Rick has become perhaps my favorite folk-pop artist these days as Rickleton continues to weave gorgeous acoustic-based melodies which achieve, yes, a kind of quiet majesty. The ethereal "Day 1" sets the mood, followed by "Hope & Promise", a wonderful lived-in track buoyed by strings and a light sax and which sounds like a undiscovered classic. Elsewhere, the upbeat "Jennie" will warm the cackles of the most hardened stoic's heart, and the jaunty "Your Dreams Will Always Follow" could be the long-lost descendant of "I've Just Seen a Face". It's always a treat to come across an artist that gets better with each release, and I hope that Rick keeps prattling on.

CD Baby | iTunes

Midweek Roundup.

The Nines-The Nines. The Nines are back! Their self-titled latest is their full album of all-new (well almost all-new, as "Jack McGee" was on their CQDZ Transmission Files EP many years back) material since 2007's Gran Jukle's Field. Steve Eggers & crew once again deliver their ELO-meets-1980s-Moody-Blues power pop, although this new one isn't quite the genre-hopping affair Gran Jaukle's Field was. Opener "Blackout" is a blast, with fake crowd noise and a funky backing that builds into a quintessentially Nines chorus and it's following by "Far Away" a driving piano-based number that channels Ben Folds. Meanwhile, the garage riffs of "Jackie Smokes" and the Bleu-like "No More Time" add to the fun. Elsewhere, "Don't Worry Misery" and "Martin" are in the spirit of Eggers' classic piano ballads, and the jaunty "Seasons" recalls The Red Button. Odds are if you're a reader of this site, you already know The Nines, so if you haven't picked this one up already, run - don't walk - to your nearest online retailer.

CD Baby | iTunes



Bohemian Radio-On the Air. Bohemian Radio is Brooklyn's Brett Stratton, and his debut here (billed to be the first in a series of releases) is a loose concept album about a fictional radio station, WBOH, that plays a variety of genres from rock to pop to Americana. After an acoustic intro number and a station ID, we get the Replacements-style rocker "About Nothing", built around a nice guitar riff and followed by the midtempo "The Sky Was Brighter", which sports a memorable chorus. Other standouts include the moody power ballad "Sincerely", the banjo-backed "Summer Friend", and the Cheap-Trick-meets-The-Ramones straight-ahead power pop of "Fan Club". The album closes with the wonderful "What Have You Done?", a wistful ballad with a lovely melody, and "WBOH Signing Off", a hypnotic electro-rock number that repeats the station's call letters. Stratton shows quite a bit of potential here as he masters multiple genres but never loses sight of the hooks, and I look forward to his next installment.

CD Baby

Two for Thursday, 9/19/13

Chris Abad-Darling Dear. Chris Abad is back with the followup to 2010's No Glory, and it's another fine collection of melodic pop that recalls Squeeze and Matthew Sweet as well as the likes of Cliff Hillis and Michael Carpenter. "Lucky One" kicks off the proceedings with its bright pop and singalong chorus while "Routine" is a midtempo rocker with crunchy guitars that recall Gin Blossoms, with the real standout being the title track - a bouncy number that wouldn't have been out of place on a Jellyfish disc. Other highlights include the country-tinged ballad "Shelter" and the jangly "Wide Awake". Abad has a way with a melody, and these 10 tracks display a real consistency.

CD Baby



The Brigadier-Suburban Incubation. It seems like I've been writing about The Brigadier (a/k/a Matt Williams) since I started this blog seven years ago, and he's back with his sixth album after a little longer interval (his last full-length came out in 2010). Suburban Incubation finds Williams having started a family, and the overall theme here is settling into that kind of life. He still offers the Beach Boys-meets-XTC sunny British pop of previous releases, as "It Needed to Be Sunny" is a bright opener, while "Don't Want to Think Anymore" is an introspective number that has a memorable hook and an Andy Partridge feel to it. Elsewhere, "Do You Want Me Too?" is a breezy slice of power pop right in Williams' wheelhouse, and the quirky piano fills and guitar of "Music Makes the Pain Go Away" make it one of the album's standouts while "The Middle Ages" is a jaunty, Brian Wilson-style tune. It's good to have The Brigadier back.

CD Baby