Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More!

3 Great bands to sign off with before my holidays with the most excellent,Travel Lanes, Too Much Saturn and Shelta.

2013-06-18T23:32:00.001+02:00

Travel Lanes - Hey Hey, It's The Travel Lanes

Well, I am heading off for my holidays now for a few weeks, so this will be my last bit of blogging for three weeks or so, but don't stop sending submissions for the blog, as you have probably noticed I love the challenge of catching up with myself!

Three things I will be packing for my travels are the cds of the bands I am featuring here today, kicking off with the aptly named "Travel Lanes." What a fantastic CD this is, this is classic Power Pop, I have been playing this loads this week and I am sure that it will be getting plenty of play during my holidays,

The band hail from Philadelphia and they have a wish, that wish is that you will turn out for a show, have a great time and buy a CD and help them on their way. This is a band with great form, playing edgy, melodic tunes with a fantastic amount of energy, it would be quite fair to say that I am absolutely loving this.

Scared Of Girls by Travel Lanes

I really can't impress enough how much you should grab a copy of this album, support this band and go along and see them if you can, did I say how much I am loving this? ;) Recommended for those that love the sounds of Elvis Costello, The Replacements and Nick Lowe.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love the excellent Travel Lanes here: Facebook

Download "Hey Hey It's The Travel Lanes" here: itunes and cdbaby

Contact the band for physical copies.

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More classic power pop here with added rock 'n' roll style keyboards for an extra dimension, if that was needed for a band with an album with the title, "Moving Forward Sideways."

This Chicago band tick all the right boxes, they have the songs, the tunes, the delivery and some soul too, which both vocalists deliver with an absolute passion and style.

This album kicks off with the brilliant song "Photogenic," a real kick arse, stomp along song, that will have you playing air guitar or air drums to. Every track on this album has a great quality, at times I was reminded of The Cars more rockier tracks, I am not sure if that is the keyboards or the production, but I don't care, this is brilliant, another classic slice of power pop.

Moving Forward Sideways by Too Much Saturn

Once again, I am absolutely loving this, this album will be gracing the ICM stereo for quite some time!

Stream and buy the album, CD/Download here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love the wonderful "Too Much Saturn" here: Facebook

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Shelta.

A very good friend of mine dropped a track on my facebook page from this band and I was absolutely gobsmacked by their songs and thought of The Small Faces immediately when I heard the track, it had the depth and style and what is more the vocals were really powerful, so I dropped the band a message to find out more. Shelta have been treading the boards for some time and then split, fortunately they realised that they had something special and re-formed and thank f*** they did!

The band is heavily influenced by the Mod and Brit Pop sounds, but, there is something about this band that puts them in a different place from the other bands in this scene and that is the powerful vocals and the fresh approach that they have to their influences, this is rocky, soulful, punchy and bloody clever and whilst there is no album out, or even a single, this is a band to watch out for, get on their facebook page and lets get an album out of them, to sum it up, GREAT! Cheers to Joey for the heads up.

Style and substance!

Contact, befriend, follow, encourage them to make an album here: Facebook

Listen to more fantastic tunes here: Soundcloud

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Right that is me done for my holidays, I will be back soon, take care and keep the faith!

Strangely Alright - The Time Machine is Broken OUT NOW

2013-06-16T17:05:00.002+02:00

The say you can't judge a book by a cover and I guess the same applies to promotional material? This album arrived neatly packaged in a folder with a complete biography of the band, an introduction to each of the members, photos and an introduction letter from vocalist guitarist Regan Lane. This is possibly the best most informative promotion pack I have received from a band or record company, and what is more the album is also delivered with the same amount of care and attention as its promotional packaging.

"The Time Machine is Broken" is the first release for this band, which was formed after Regan Lane found himself at a low point in his life sitting on Tacoma's waterfront with nothing more than a broken down car, an empty crack pipe and a nasty opiate addiction, helpless and lost.

Time passed and Regan changed his outlook and gained a whole new perspective on life and a chance meeting with Ken Schaff (Bass/Vocals) led to a musical partnership that would soon, along with Jeff Reiner, Guitars, Lee Gregory, Keyboards/Vocals and Preston Darville Drums, become "Strangely Alright."

Time, acceptance, taking action, living in the moment, forgiveness and invariably love are the recurring lyrical themes that are addressed here, with a point of view that could be considered spiritual but is based on the thought that basically you get what you give.

With Lanes emotional vocals, crunchy, chiming guitars, lush harmonies, swirling mellotrons and strings, "The Time Machine Is Broken" is both modern and retro with a colourful production.

With reference points of The Beatles, Jellyfish, XTC, Be Bop Deluxe and even David Bowie, this album will sit pretty with a wide variety of listeners, who, like myself, will be only too happy to climb on board and go for a ride through space and time and come out the other side feeling totally elated for the experience, and that is, "Strangely Alright!"

Get Band email for free at ReverbNation.com

Expect to see this album sitting pretty, high up in many "Albums Of The Year " lists. This is an instant classic!

Contact, befriend, follow, like, love and travel with Strangely Alright here: Facebook

CD available to buy here: cdbaby

Official Website: www.strangelyalright.com

Hanky Panky - Precious Bitch EP - FREE DOWNLOAD

2013-06-15T12:06:00.002+02:00

Winning best name band of the year so far is "Hanky Panky" from Nantes in France, but not everything in is a name, as we well know so it is a good job that this band have recorded 3 excellent songs for their first EP too.

"Hanky Panky" are a relatively new band so there is not an awful lot I can tell you about them at the moment, other than that they are one of the bands that are starting to put France on the musical map again, along with bands like "Crusaders of Love" and "Fuzzy Vox," in fact I can't even tell you who does what in the band, but, one of the members of the band Gianni Tremolo tells me that they use Rickenbacker guitars, Fender Rhodes and a Hammond organ to get their sixties styled sounds and that they are influenced by some of my very own favourite bands, Teenage Fanclub, The Prisoners, Apples in Stereo and The Muffs to name but a few.

The three tracks on the EP are "Precious Bitch" followed by two excellent cover songs, "Bubble Skies" by Batmen and the best cover version of Buffalo Springfields "Burned" since Teenage Fanclub covered it! This is certainly a band to keep you eye on.

The band record at home and will be releasing more free downloads in the year, they are also looking to start playing in Spain and Italy as well as on their home soil, so if you are a promoter in one of those countries, or know someone who is, then pass this link onto them and get this band booked, you won't be dissapointed I am sure. Personally, I am hoping that they will make it further afield and take in Sweden too, selfish, I know, but I would love to see this band live!

Check out the fantastic video the band have put together for their track "Precious Bitch."

HANKY PANKY - A Precious Bitch from HANKY PANKY on Vimeo.

As soon as there is any further information or music available from "Hanky Panky," you can be absolutely sure that you will be hearing it here on the blog.

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love, with all you heart, "Hanky Panky" here: Facebook

Download the single FREE here: Bandcamp

Round up of the week with, Nick Piunti, The Mad Doctors, The Joy Of Painting, Ballard, Welcome Pariah, Paul Messis and The Royal Flares

2013-06-12T20:57:00.001+02:00

Once again, I am way behind with my mail, so many e-mails come through from great bands playing great music that I simply don't have time to get them all out there, so I am going to continue with my "round ups" in order to get them all out to you and what a blinding album to start with. Nick Piunti, who you may know as one of the Respectables (Detroit) or member of Chris Richards and the Subtractions, apparently, he is the cutest member of the band, but we are not able to confirm or deny this here at ICM headquarters, but, we do know that he has made a blinding power pop album with "13 In My Head" and that you should bag yourself a copy of this album with immediate effect!

by Nick Piunti

Stream and get your copy from the very excellent Futureman Records here: Futuremanrecords.Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Nick Piunti here: Facebook

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Brooklyn based garage punk band The Mad Doctors have just released an EP of surf rock, garage punk and psychedelic sludge and it contains exactly that, if The Black Lips had a slimy kid with The Ghastly ones, then this is what it would sound like and we like this, it kicks in all the right spots and hits the parts that other music just can't reach.

by The Mad Doctors

Yep, definately mad!

Stream and buy the EP here: Bandcamp

Join in with the madness, contact, follow, befriend, like and love (at your own peril) here: Facebook

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The Joy Of Painting have been a favourite of mine since I first stumbled across them on Bandcamp with their album "Asterix" and now a few singles later they have unleashed another mini album which once again reminds me why I fell in love with them in the first place, 7 songs of complete and utter joy, no pun intended, this is top quality pop craftsmanship direct from Nashville, check it out, seriously, check it out!

by The Joy of Painting

The Joy of Painting get the thumbs up from me too!

Stream and buy the album here with many different colouful packages available, including vinyl, T shirts etc here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Joy Of Painting here: Facebook

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Ballard started working on this album immediately after releasing his previous album "Little Rockets" (which we featured on the blog earlier in the year), it began with the track "Everybody Knows" which was a departure from the punky/mod sounds of "Little Rockets" with the visions of a more epic Phil Spector type sound, whilst still retaining the lo-fi qualities of the previous Ballard recordings.

"Bucky" is more varied album in styles of music with Nilsson, The Kinks and Working Boys as inspiration.

The album is a short affair with 9 songs clocking in at just over twenty minutes which leave you wanting for more and I am quite sure that there will be more this year.

There are rumours abound that Ballard are to be recording with Dana Myza of Cotton Mather in the future and we'll certainly keep you abreast of any developments there as that promises to be something very special indeed. For now, enjoy this great album.

by Ballard

Stream and buy the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Ballard here: Facebook

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From Southampton, vocalist/lead guitarist John Waghorn, vocalist/guitarist Josh Butcher, bassist Daniel Manuel, and (session) drummer John Martin are causing a bit of a stir on the music scene. Supporting The Dexters, The Moons, Chris Helme, Steve Craddock and Mark Morriss; landing an interview with the Huffington Post, and debuting their latest single, ‘Neither Here Nor There’ at This Feeling… Say hello to Welcome Pariah.

On my first listen to the band I was reminded a little of "Cast" but on subsequent listens I discovered many other influences, albeit subtle, but this band brings something else to the table, great tunes, excellent musicianship and well crafted lyrics. These guys are just what the British music scene needs right now (and many places beyond) this is a really refreshing and very tasty outfit and I can't wait to hear some more from them, welcome Welcome Pariah and enjoy!

Find more songs here: Soundcloud

Contact, befriend, follow, find more tunes (be sure to check out the excellent "Liberty Pill" on Youtube) like and love Welcome Pariah here: Facebook

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I discovered Paul Messis via a large selection of CDs sent to me by his label "State Records" last year and immediately his music resonated with me, full of chiming guitars and licks that could have come straight from the sixties garage scene.

I spent a large part of my youth seeking out 60's garage records and collecting the Rubbles, Pebbles, Texas Flashbacks etc records and I absolutely loved the bands I was discovering, I would guess that Paul was doing the same as he encompasses many of those sounds but in his own original way bringing the folk rock, psychedelic, punk and garage elements of the sixties together beautifully, this has to be one of my records of the year so far, I love it!

by Paul Messis

Stream and buy the album here: Bandcamp

Make sure to discover and submerge yourself in the sounds of Paul Messis' back catologue whilst there.

Paul has also started his own record company with a release by The Young Sinclairs being his first single release.

The aims of the label are to release a succession of cool 45s for many bands over time, whilst keeping true to our musical integrity and original aims

Find out more here: http://marketsquarerecordings.bandcamp.com

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Keeping with the sixties garage scene, here is another band that are currently getting plenty of air time in our "office." This band from Munich, Germany obviously share my passion and love for the sixties garage scene too and we also love them!

The Royal Flares are dedicated to the raw, wild, frantic and driving sound of 60s garage rock’n’roll as epitomized by the legendary „Back From The Grave“ series. Drumsticks flying through the room, the Farfisa organ grinding the sole off your shoes, the singer snarling and screaming out his anger, angst and longing, the bass like a heavy maelstrom underneath and guitars like rusty blades slashing through mountains of fuzz and twang.
„Tales Of Sound & Fury“ was recorded in an old building of the German Federal Railway, which makes for an authentic, almost archaic sound (the secret being high ceilings, like the studios in the sixties used to have them). It’s live, including the vocals, and it’s wild. This is not a clean and neat simulation of long gone garage punk greatness, this is the real thing. Forceful, massive like an old steam engine, rolling downhill!
„Bad Part Of Town“, the original already being a top-notch rocker- the Flares turn it into a downright „punk juggernaut“ as a US collector of sixties garage 45s has put it. Their rendition of the all-time garage favourite „Going All The Way“ is a blasting ’66 jangle ride on a ’77 punk engine. And another reputable expert of 60s garage rock’n’roll has only one word for their version of the hard-core garage anthem „Last Time Around“: „killer“!
Their original material doesn’t lack behind. If you think „Signifying Nothing“ with its biting blasts of fuzz is right off a Back From The Grave comp, you could be right, only that it’s the Royal Flares’ very own creation. „The Stalker“, another 60s punk smasher, has been described as „the Great Scots blended with the Ramones (Blitzkrieg Bop)“. With tunes like „This Is Why I“ the Royal Flares even prove to be competent on Beau Brummels territory and „Mavis“ is a beautifully haunting and moody 60s garage ballad.„Tales Of Sound & Fury“ is like a massive rock in a sea of plastic. It’s raw, it’s wild, it’s pulsating with the blood of original rock’n’roll. Welcome to the Stone Age!

"Last Time Around" from "Tales of Sound and Fury" Live.

Listen to more from this outstanding outfit here: Soundcloud

Buy the album from the excellent label CopaseDisques here: Copasetic

(Release date 28/6/13)

Contact, befriend, follow like and love The Royal Flares here: Facebook

The Popdogs - Cool Cats For Pop Dogs. OUT NOW

2013-06-09T18:24:00.002+02:00

Putting the Pop firmly in Power Pop by name and by virtue, The Popdogs lead us through 10 tracks over 30 minutes that will have you tapping anything to hand, singing along to catchy lyrics, punky power chords and if you are a cat person, you will certainly become a dog person!

James Styring (Ex "Postcards From Places That Don't Exist") on vocals and Tim McKeating on guitar and backing vocals, hail from Lincoln in England and seem to have cracked the perfect pop song formula as this album displays. It is very hard to pick out a favourite track on this album, every track on the album could quite easily be released as a single, something that is pretty rare these days.

Promote your mixtape at ReverbNation.com

The Popdogs are now a five piece outfit having put together a a band for some prestigious gigs at The Cavern in Liverpool, it was at these gigs that the band officially released this album, you may remember when I first ran a feature on this fine album last year, it wasn't then available but it is now and everyone should own a copy of this delightful piece of power pop.

The album is available at: itunes amazon and physical copies can be purchased from KoolKat Music

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Popdogs here: Facebook

The Solicitors - Made To Measure EP

2013-06-08T11:43:00.002+02:00

This exciting New Wave/Power Pop band from Melbourne, Australia is made up of an American, a New Zealander a Brit and an Australian and obviously this is a great blend of nationals to perform some of the most infectious Power Pop, think Elvis Costello jamming (and pumping it up) with Silver Sun and you have The Solicitors.

Pretty Penny by Popboomerang Records

The lead track "Pretty Penny" is pretty quickly becoming one of my favourite tracks of the year so far and the other 4 tracks on this superb EP are all equally snapping at my heels for some full on attention, this is a really excellent EP and I can't wait to hear a long player from the band. Also included on the EP is a cover of the brilliant song "Back Of My Hand" by The Jags which the band give a freshening makeover to.

"Made To Measure" will be released on the excellent "Popboomerang Records" on June the 14th.

The Solictors, suited and booted and ready to rock your world!

Stream and buy the "Made To Measure" EP here: Bandcamp

There will be a CD release for those of you who like to own the physical product, this will be limited to 300 copies, also available to order at bandcamp or direct from Popbomerang Records

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Solicitors here: Facebook

Seaweed Meadows - Ruins OUT NOW!

2013-06-05T19:01:00.003+02:00

A little while ago, I went to catch some live bands locally at one of the venues in my adopted home town of Gothenburg, Sweden. I went along specifically to see a band that I have been helping out in one way or another, but the band they were supporting were so good, I felt that I should include them on the blog, with one thing or another going on, I got somewhat distracted and haven't gotten around to it until now.

I was prompted to look into them again when I found out their latest single "Ruins," which was released in March, is climbing high in the students charts here in Sweden, which is no mean feat when you see the more established artists that the band are up against, and, the reason they are doing so well? Well, basically we have a band here that know how to write a good song and deliver it with absolute passion and conviction as well as all being very adept musicians.

The band plan to release a follow single towards the end of the summer, which, I am told will be a bit "dirtier" and a less polished, slick affair than "Ruins" which certainly leads me to believe that it will be something exciting to look forward to and warm our souls as the summer fades away.

After the release of the next single the band are planning for a long player, obviously, not a band that are sitting still.

Seaweed Meadows have also signed a deal with "Amazing Media UK" which means that we could soon be hearing their music in TV and films as well as more airplay on the radio stations, so they are certainly going to a band to watch out for and a band that are taking the high road.

Seaweed Meadows are:

Matthias Johansson, Vocals

Jonas Oresten, Guitar

Christian Sundin, Guitar

Jonas Jansson, Keyboard

Terje Selnes, Bass

Johan Rask, Drums/Vocals

Download the single here: Spotify and itunes

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Seaweed Meadows here: Facebook

Monday round up with Stanley Road, Mod Gun, Fuzzy Vox, The Ballantynes and "The Various Flavours of Power Pop" by JP of Pezband.

2013-06-03T19:22:00.001+02:00

Stanley Road - Spanish Art Today

Blog Mod faves Stanley Road are back serving up a delightful debut album, that frankly, looks good enough to eat.

Stanley Road deliver more of the high quality tunes that we have come to expect from them in the stylings of The Jam, The Chords et al, but on this very fine debut they offer up several songs in their native Spanish, which I think is great. This is Mod revival with a twist at it's very best!

The Tyger by STANLEY ROAD

The album is available to download and also available on CD, I believe it will be available on vinyl soon too which will be worth having to have that very tasty artwork in 12" form, not to mention the top tunes, brilliant!

Stream, download and buy the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love Stanley Road here: Facebook

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Mod Gun - No Beaches

When I featured this bands last album "Fools" I couldn't tell you much about them, other than who they were and who played what in the band, well, now I can tell you a little more, the band consists of husband and wife, Paul and Kathleen Peters, her brother and Paul's best friend and they come from Boston, they have been playing together for three years and of course, this is all trivia, but, they make some bloody good shoegazing/indie/psychedelic music, and that is the important bit right....oh and as before, the album is available for a Name Your Price fee or FREE to download, so go get it and enjoy!

As I always say, if you can contribute something, it ensures that the band can carry on making music, if you can't, get it anyway and share the bands links.

Party Line by Mod Gun

Stream and download the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Mod Gun here: Facebook

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Fuzzy Vox - Technicolor

Next up we say "Bonjour" to our new favourite band from France "Fuzzy Vox." This Paris based band take good old rock and roll, give it an almighty great boot in the derriere and blow your ear drums out, this band rocks, like a good band should, the bands version of Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire is simply amazing, I also love there version of Thee Vicars "Everyday," absolutely brilliant, I could sit here blowing smoke up there arse all night, but go take a listen and do that yourself, they are that good!!!!!

Fuzzy Vox are about to embark on a few dates with that other superb French outfit "Crusaders Of Love" so check out the bands dates and if you are close to any of the venues (or even if you aren't) I seriously wouldn't miss one of the gigs, I have a feeling they will be dynamite!!!

The "Technicolor" EP has been released on vinyl, unfortunately, I don't have any info on where from, but I am sure that the band will hook you up with a message to them on facebook or here: fuzzyvoxband@gmail.com

Listen to more tracks here: Soundcloud

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Fuzzy Vox here: Facebook

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The Ballantynes - Faith/Velvet 7"

Last year I ran a feature on the very excellent "La Ti Da Records" and one of the bands that I mentioned in that feature was The Ballantynes, who, are now back with a new single, steeped in a sixties pop feel, this little nugget will have you dancing on the table, so don't play it until you have finished eating. This seven piece Vancouver outfit really know how to knock a tune out, organ wailing, hips shaking, tambourine shimmering....love it!

Faith by The Ballantynes

Buy the 7" vinyl here: La Ti Da Records

(Be sure to check out the other bands on this fantastic label too!)

Stream and download the single here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Ballantynes here: Facebook

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When you ask anyone what their favourite Power Pop bands are, you often get a groaning reaction about the term "Power Pop." For me personally, it takes in an extremely wide spectrum of music, which to my mind is very healthy, I still don't listen to Whitney Houston though.....anyway, I digress, I got this great e mail from JP from Pezband, a band that always get a notable mention when you talk about great pop bands, and I like to share it with you as it really puts things into perspective, but first, here is a Pezband tune to warm you up!

The Various Flavors of Power Pop

Pezband has been around since the Fall of 1971, and I have played with Mimi for even longer- he and I did a live radio broadcast playing the Yardbird's "New York City Blues" when we were kids in 1969. The group hasn't been active for all that time, we've all done other things, been on tours, session work, major/minor/indie labels, etc etc. But we are currently back together because we figured out that we like playing this music, and are pretty good at it.

There are quite a few bands who have played our kind of music, and for one reason or another are doing it again, as well as a lot of younger bands who are doing it for the first time..a lot of the latter are really good. In order to put this style of music in a 2 word byte..the term Power Pop has resurfaced. Pezband has always had a love/hate relation with it.

The term Power Pop was coined by Pete Townsend in 1967 to describe The Who. Pop music in the UK at the time was a catch all for everything that wasn't classical music. This could be the Beatles and Stones..but also Acker Bilk, Dixieland/trad, ethnic music and Ja know what else. I think what Pete was trying to say here was that the Who were pop..but to differentiate them from the rest.. POWER Pop, and if you've ever heard the Who in those days, you wouldn't confuse them with Mr Bilk. The term went dormant for a while until Mimi used it again to describe Pezband in around 1976. All of a sudden it seemed to make sense to describe a few groups around at the time..not punk, not new wave, not hard rock. Great bands like Dwight Twilley's, Big Star, The Motors, you probably have your own list.

For me, the one distinguishing feature of a great Power Pop band is that it's a product of it's locality, ("terroir", as my friends in Paris would say about wine), and uses the music from its region to blend in with mostly 1960's Brit Invasion styles. The Who did this (although they were part of that invasion) by blending in the Mod Culture R&B of Swingin' London. Big Star blended in Memphis blues and soul to their take on it, Twilley blended in Memphis rock and soul with Beatles harmonies. Pezband took Chicago Blues (via both the original, which was played nightly 3 miles east of where we grew up) as well as the Brit versions of Fleetwood Mac and the Yardbirds, and blended it with the Who and Kinks. All of these bands play Power Pop, but have different approaches and sounds.

I mentioned we at Pez have had a love/hate relationship with the term. In the late 70's a lot of bands had turned the genre into something that was so stylized and self consciously derivative that it made us not want to be associated with it. I think Twilley and Chilton felt the same. This was the time when any band with a skinny tie and mod hairdo could put together a set of not so original songs and parade around as a Power Pop group. Most of these bands were really terrible live, clearly showing they had no real roots in anything, except for being mimics or entertainers. It got so terrible that the term (and bands with it, good and bad alike) self destructed in the 80's.

As I said in the beginning, we all branched out and played other things for a while, retracing our roots for a refresher. It's a good thing to retap what made you want to play in the first place, as you come back stronger and with a deeper understanding of the music you play. Also with a better view of where you fit in the long view of things.

When we play now, we are as likely to blast into an extended version of a Billy Boy Arnold (via the Yardbirds) tune like "I Wish You Would" as we are to do "Love Goes Underground" or any other Pezband back catalog number. We are also writing new material that reaches back to our roots and blends in over 40 years of playing. And we don't mind it all that much to be labeled a Power Pop group..just as long as people get what that really means. And as we are finding out when we take to the boards again..they do.

JP also mentioned to me that the band were hoping to get to the UK in Autumn and asked what I thought of that? Well, I think it would be great and it would be great to see the band embark on a complete European tour, Sweden can be quite pleasent in the Autumn too JP! ;)

Contact, befriend, follow, find out more, like and love Pezband here: Facebook

A round up of great albums and singles with: The Pinecones, The Recordettes, The Bottle Kids, The Black Roses and Ivory Daggers.

2013-05-28T19:10:00.005+02:00

I have received a ton of e mails lately and, sadly, I have fallen behind with the blog, due to work and other things, but the bands that have written to me are so good that it would be criminal not to share them with you. Hopefully, after the summer I will be able to get back on track with the blog, but for now, I will offer up a round up of some of the albums/Singles/videos that have been forwarded to me. Many thanks to all the bands that have submitted e mails to me. Please continue to send me your great music! ICM.

"Ooh!" by The Pinecones is a sublimely beautiful piece of work, jangletastic tunes and some beautiful harmonies, this is definately a summer album, it is a truly wonderous piece of work, loving this one loads as I am sure you all will. Also note that this is the Toronto outfits 3rd album, I know I will be checking out the first two very soon too!

Kimberly Keeps by The Pinecones

You think The Pinecones smiles are big, you want to see mine when listening to this absolute gem!!!!

Stream and buy the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like, love and sing along here: Facebook

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This band from Brooklyn are sure to get pulses racing, another superb band, jeez, I feel like I am really spoiling you all today with this selection!

"The Recordettes are a primed, well-oiled rock ‘n’ roll machine and on this killer 7” mesh together punked up three- chord power pop and exuberantly sweaty garage rock with 50's Happy Days hooks that would make even Richie Cuttingham proud. You need this badly. Get it, throw a party and get it sooooon.''

Candy Store by The Recordettes

Expect great things from The Recordettes!

Stream and buy the EP here, available in different flavours, well, colours, but I bet you will want to eat it and digest it too! Bndcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Recordettes here: Facebook

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As soon as I heard the tracks offered up by The Bottle Kids, I was reminded of great, old school power pop and wasn't surprised to learn that main man Eric Blakely had played lead guitar on Paul Collins "King Of Power Pop" album. Now, when I call Eric the main man, he literally is the man, playing everything on this album himself, recorded it and produced it, and, he will quite possibly personally deliver your copy of the album when you order it, although I can't guarantee that!

Check out more at the bands official page here: www.thebottlekids.com

Buy the album here: Kool Kat Records

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love The Bottle Kids here: Facebook

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Next up is a young band from Illinois who have only been together since last October but who have made quite a splash on the scene with a support slot opening for Paul Collins Beat, supported 60's garage rock band "Gonn," released an EP and played at the prestigious "International Pop Overthrow festival" in Chicago. All of this in such a short space of time shows that we have a band here who are biting on the bit and getting it out there, I think we can expect some exciting things from this band in the future.

Easier To Stomach by The Black Roses

Shout to the top!

Stream and buy the bands EP here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Black Roses here: Facebook

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New York band Ivory Daggers say, "We're Ivory Daggers -- four friends with a mutual love for indie powerpop and hard-hitting rock. Sunny harmonies, catchy pop rock hooks, gutsy, no nonsense guitar, infection melodies and unashamedly heartfelt lyrics."

We say, yes, you are hard hitting rock, have sunny harmonies, catchy pop rock hooks, you are gutsy with no nonsense guitar, infectious melodies and unashamedly heartfelt lyrics and we love it and want to hear more, absolutely adorable!

Starry Night by Ivory Daggers

Stream and buy the EP here (and check out more): Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Ivory Daggers here: Facebook

The Young Sinclairs - Engineer Man b/w Problems OUT JUNE 10th

2013-05-23T16:04:00.001+02:00

This sparkling piece of 60's styled power pop in the vein of The Who and Powder, is being released on 7" vinyl, strictly limited to 300 copies in a cool hand numbered picture sleeve.

Regular readers may recall our favourite guest contributor "Interplanet Janet" raving about the bands previous EP, "We Spoke Our Minds," suggesting that The Young Sinclairs would have been the produce if The Beatles and The Kinks had love children, calling the songs catchy and clever.

Well, I am happy to say that the 2 songs on this EP are also catchy and clever and certainly go to the top of my favourite singles list for this year so far, as I am sure that it will yours too!

The Young Sinclairs - Engineer Man b/w Problems by The Young Sinclairs

The single is being released on the "Market Square Records" label, a small DIY label, which is coincidently run from the Ice Cream Mans own home county, West Sussex in England in a small market town called Billingshurst and run by underground musician Paul Messis, whose latest album I will be featuring in the next few days.

The aim of "Market Square Records" is to release a succession of cool 45's for many bands over a period of time, whilst keeping true to their musical integrity and their original aims. Keep an eye out here for new releases from the label in the future.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Young Sinclairs here: Facebook

Stream and buy the limited edition 7" single here: Market Square Records Bandcamp

Souvenir Stand - Wherever You Go. Name You Price.

2013-05-22T16:09:00.002+02:00

The fantastic Souvenir Stand are back with a new single, this time it is sitting amongst the stylings of The Ronettes and The Crystals and just as they did of their first EP, they take you right back to the height of the 60's, sunny days and great music, which is exactly what "Souvenir Stand" make.

I absolutely adored the bands debut EP, "Days I spent with you" and I absloutely adore this too, the band have really crafted the essence of the sixties into their sound, it feels like they are literally taking you time travelling and I am happy to follow on the journey.

Wherever You Go by Souvenir Stand

Of course there is a downside to this single and it is one that really upsets me, unfortunately there is just the one track, I am absolutely aching to hear a long player from this band and hopefully I won't have to wait long?

Stream and download the single for a "name your price" fee here: Bandcamp

(Be sure to download the FREE "Days I Spent With You" EP too)

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Souvenir Stand here: Facebook

The Ocean Hounds - Thank God Someones Making Waves

2013-05-19T17:08:00.003+02:00

The Ocean Hounds formed 20 years ago, signed to a Spanish indie label and released their debut album, "Thank God Someones Making Waves." The album took them, on the crest of a wave, to number 5 in the Indie Charts.

Listening to this album reminded me a lot of one of my favourite albums called "Keroscene Hat" by a band called "Cracker." It too has a fantastic atmosphere throughout the album and tracks like "Heroine" are absolute classics, this album plays through 17 tracks of well written, well constructed songs with all the hooks, jangleness and tunes that you could wish for.

Sadly, after the initial success of the album and before things really took off for them, the band split and went there seperate ways and that is where the story ends.........well, no, after a long hiatus the band decided to reform and get back out there and continue performing their blend of new and original material, that, in my humble opinion, promises to be something really special and I think that it would be prudent to keep your eyes peeled for this outfit and see just what nuggets they will unleash upon us for our listening pleasures in the future, I for one, shall certainly be keeping a beady eye out for their next body of work, with twitching ears as well!

The Ocean Hounds - Market Town

Contact, follow, befriend, like and love The Ocean Hounds here: Facebook

Listen to more here: Soundcloud

For a physical copy of the album, contact the band or download the album on itunes

Phenomenal Cat - Pop Wasteland

2013-05-17T21:27:00.002+02:00

Down in a quiet corner in the garden of England lives a band that are the most quintessential of English bands to grace our presence since The Kinks, I am referring to Phenomenal Cat, of course, a band that aren't happy to rest upon their laurels after releasing a single a month for the whole of 2012, all of which were stunning pieces of work and songs that gained them positive critique both home and abroad. Now they are back with a new project entitled "Pop Wasteland."

So, what exactly is "Pop Wasteland?" Well, it is a rock 'n' roll soundtrack with an accompanying graphic novel of which installments will be released throughout 2013/14 until it reaches, from what the first edition suggests, a climatic ending, eventually.

The graphic novel follows the life of a character called "Albert Blood," the title of the first accompanying single, a legend, a man who's life is about to be turned upside down by love, death, fear, murder and rock 'n' roll.

ALBERT BLOOD (CD single)!!! by Phenomenal Cat

I think this is a really great concept and having read the first addition, I can honestly say I am eagerly anticipating the next installment. Phenomenal Cat continue to impress me, I am sure that it is only a matter of time before the band become well known and respected for the great musicians that they are, their concept/lyrics about modern Britain really harks back to some of Blurs conceptual work in the 90's, but time flies and that was all ages ago, this is new and updated for the UK in recession and I love it!

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Phenomenal Cat here: Facebook

Stream the "Albert Blood" single and order a physical copy with copy #1 of the graphic novel here: PC Bandcamp

(Also be sure to check out the collection of singles from last year, now all neatly packaged onto one album)

Phenomenal Cat will be appearing at this years International Pop Overthrow festival in Liverpool this weekend (18th May) playing both The Cavern Club and The Cavern Pub, if you are in the area, you really should catch them live, they put on a fantastic show!

* Thanks to "Interplanet Janet" for some inspiring words about the band which I have used in this feature.

Attic Lights - Super De Luxe. OUT NOW

2013-05-15T18:16:00.002+02:00

One of my favourite albums from 2008, if not my favorite album that year, and one of my all time favourites, was Attic Lights - "Friday Night Lights." The album was an immediate power pop masterpiece with beautiful four part harmonies tinged with a country feel and slide guitars and now they are back with their second album "Super De Luxe" which is every bit as exciting and brilliant as the first, but, I had a few questions about the album, so I decided to drop Kev Sherry, singer and guitarist an e mail which he very kindly replied to. But lets have a song first!

ICM: Can you tell be why there was such a long break between "Friday Night Lights and the new album?

KS: A few answers to this. Amidst other things, I think it's a case of 'life getting in the way.' Initially, during the promotional campaign for our first album, the head of the record label (who had been instrumental in signing us) left Island Records to go to EMI so we kind of lost an ally. We were always a risky proposition for a major label to sign (let's face it, we don't sound like a major label band) so I think there was some confusion over what to do with us. Just as we signed to our publishing label, Island records told us they weren't going to go do a second album with us (this would have been about mid 2009 I think.) Which was a bit bizarre as we were really only beginning our album campaign. Speaking to our new publishers about it, the general feeling was that the record label had lost their nerve a bit - or maybe by that point they just didn't quite know what to do with us.

Our publishers and management were confident we would get another label so we pressed ahead and started work on the 2nd album. Spent about a year writing tracks for it, a few false starts and different sounds and avenues were pursued. We recorded half the album in late 2010 and the other half in Spring 2011. As we were finishing the record, Jamie, our lead guitarist told us he was leaving the band. His wife was about to have a baby and he didn't fancy being on the road away from his family. My mother passed away around this time after a long illness (which also perhaps influenced the album in terms of lyrical content and darker sounds) so it wasn't until a while later that we started looking for another guitarist before realising that the answer was right under our noses. Jim Lang, who had engineered and co-produced the second album turned out to be the ideal guy for the job. Colin then got married and had a baby of his own. By this time it was 2012 and our management had placed the new album with Elefant Records. When you hand an album to a label they need a good four months or so of prep time to plan for release (Unfortunately, this lead us up to Xmas 2012 and the only people who release records in the last quarter of the year are the big major label artists cashing in on xmas.) So, we held off on release until this year.

To the general public it looks like 5 years (2008-2013) since our last release, but to us it's only really been 3 years since our last single released on Island and this new album coming out. Kinda weird the way it works out!

ICM: What have you planned for the promotion of the new album, live dates etc?

KS: Currently sorting out gigs, festivals etc, shooting videos, doing interviews, acoustic sessions etc... There will probably be a tour later this year after the festival season has finished. We are just enjoying being back doing the thing we love. It's early days so we dont' have the full marketing plan in action yet but I imagine we will be working on pushing this new record for the next year and a half or so. Looking forward to playing at Benicassim Festival on July 19th. Doing a wee show in Glasgow in Nice'n'Sleazy's on May 26th to test our live legs.

Looking forward to shooting some videos for forthcoming singles (lots of daft ideas), organising gigs and festivals and doing radio and online wherever we can. We will have specific tour dates further down the line, all of which will be on our new website which is almost complete. www.atticlights.com

ICM: I read on your website that we won't have to wait so long for the next album, can you tell me a bit about that, I saw that you have many songs ready to go for that which is great.

KS: Colin and I are always writing songs both together and seperately. Since we finished recording the 2nd album in 2011 we have been writing solidly and have tons of tracks. Colin sent me a song last week that broke my heart, solo piano and vocal, like a Neil Young song, just beautiful. He is without doubt the most naturally gifted songwriter i've ever met. However, that gets my competitive blood up so now I need to knock one out to equal it. It's a friendly rivalry that gets the best out of both of us (I hope)

ICM: I also read that you are related to David Byrne of Talking Heads which I didn't know before.

KS: Yeah, David was my mum's cousin. They grew up together in Scotland before he emmigrated to Canada and then America. Whenever he was playing in Scotland we would always get on the guest list and go to the gigs and he would come up for lunch to my parents house before shows. I remember being a kid and watching Top of the Pops and my mum telling me that I had a cousin who did that job and pulled out the "Remain in Light" LP and put it on the turntable. I remember thinking.."Oh.. so that's a job that normal people like us can actually do.." It sort of brought it out of the TV and into reality for me. So, it was never this unobtainable thing. It was always something that was possible.

"Say You Love Me" available as a single release.

Many thanks to Attic Lights and Kev Sherry for his time and the information kindly provided.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Attic Lights here: Facebook

Attic lights official website: www.atticlights.com

Buy the album here: Amazon

Official Press Release:

Attic Lights were one of the biggest surprise hits of 2008 after debut album Friday Night Lightsappeared on Island Records to rapturous applause. The Guardian described it as “Chiming 12-string perfection”, the NME claimed how Attic Lights “comes on like The Eagles lassoing Fountains Of Wayne to The Beach Boys” and Artrocker classified Friday Night Lights as “one of the finest guitar pop albums this year.” The Fly called it “spellbinding” whilst Uncut noted how it was “truly infectious”. Q could barely contain themselves when mentioning the “sumptuous harmonies”. Tastemakers Mojo exclaimed, “These lads really knock together a perfect tune.”

If the major label success was not to continue, a slightly modified Attic Lights signed with Elefant records in 2012 and released the Say You Love Me EP. The four songs lovingly melded indie pop with everyone from Big Star to sunshine pop ’60s legends Harper’s Bizzare and The Cyrkle. “Since our previous single in 2009 we've changed labels, lost one guitarist, gained another, written countless new songs and recorded our second album,” states vocalist and guitarist Kev Sherry matter-of-factly. “I guess, if anything else has changed, as songwriters we feel we've got better at our craft and that we have come in to our own a little bit more and shaken off our early influences to develop a more unique sound.”
On Super De Luxe (produced by Teenage Fanclub’s Francis Macdonald) the band take the cleanest pop to even higher levels whilst adding new flavours along the way. Named after the very same jukebox brand that guitarist Tim Davidson has at home, the album itself serves up short, sharp doses of pop nirvana akin to a dream 45 collection. “We were all massive fans of Weezer and The Lemonheads growing up so that has really driven our desire for catchy melodies mixed with loud guitars,” says Kevin of things that have inspired this new outing. “The Beach Boys and Beatles/Paul McCartney are of course key but we have also recently been listening to a lot of classic soul, Motown and disco, which you can hear in tracks like ‘Future Bound’ and ‘Stay Before You Leave’ while there's also a touch of anthemic rock thanks to some Bruce Springsteen and Death Cab For Cutie.” ‘Say You Love Me’ (the album’s opening track) really is solid proof of the band’s perfect pop sensibilities; reminiscent of Camera Obscura yet more wide-eyed and innocent with a ’50s bobbysox feel about it, ‘Mona Lisa’ has an unforgettable chorus in the same school as The Cars and Red Kross and ‘Don’t You’ has something of an early ’90s buzzsaw guitar stylistic and the kind of soaring to-die-for harmonies that may well draw Teenage Fanclub and Fountains Of Wayne comparisons. “Orbison” , the aptly named tribute to Roy Orbison, has a classy foot to the floor mid-70s powerpop vibe, somewhere between a burning Elvis Costello and a red hot Raspberries, pushing the euphoria up to unknown levels. Album closer ‘Gabrielle’ is majestic, proving the Scottish band’s ability to sound tremendously contemporary and also show their love for circa 1970 Paul McCartney. It’s as if Elliott Smith is still with us.

It’s been four years since Attic Lights breakthrough yet they still maintain that very same timeless Scottish pop sensibility in an era of One Dimension, synth pop and so on. “The musical landscape is such a vast canvas these days and in general people seem to be listening to ever wider types of music,” says Kevin. “I don't think it's the same as 10 years ago when you would find exclusive little musical tribes. Nowadays the kinda thing we do sits alongside everything else...” But clearly chiming guitars will always have a place whatever the weather, won’t they? Even in cloudy Glasgow. “It’s a strange thing that coming from such a grey, rainy country so many bands are drawn towards sunshine harmony indie rock. I don't really know why it's so popular in Scotland,” laughs Kevin, “other than maybe it's the best escape from the appalling weather. And obviously we all are influenced by our local heroes so bands like Teenage Fanclub and Belle & Sebastian showed that there is an area of music there worth exploring.”

From big label money to hip Spanish indie pop mecca Attic Lights are certainly continuing to explore the possibilities of sunshine driven chiming pop and in doing so it almost sounds as if they could appeal to that whole landscape: the 10-year-old girls that follow today’s sanitized pop, daytime Radio 2 listeners and of course the gently beard stroking fans of Big Star. A light shineth!

Camera 2 - Just About Made It. (And More!)

2013-05-13T16:57:00.003+02:00

I am not a big fan of electronica in music but every now and then a band comes along and shift the boundaries of my perception in this genre and Camera 2 are one of those bands, I really like this, every aspect of this bands music lifts me and makes me smile and that is what music should be about, right?

The bands music isn't strictly electronica, there is the usual instruments included as well and I happen to think that it sounds pretty damn neat, as always, let's let the music do the talking!

Brooklyn foursome Camera2 is made up of producer-songwriter-vocalist – Andy Chase (Tahiti 80/Juliana Hatfield/Smashing Pumpkins), guitarist – Michael Jurin (Stellastarr*), bassist – Aric Gillis (Teenage Kick) and drummer – Mike Williams (Teddybears). The band came together in mid-2012 and soon after completed an album Andy wrote and produced in his home studio with co-production by Blondfire’s Bruce Driscoll. Camera2 is a decidedly new direction and a departure from the sounds of the previous projects for all the members who have now stepped into a harder hitting, darker, upbeat and more electronically driven indie-universe.

The music quickly caught the attention of former Morning Becomes Eclectic host, Nic Harcourt, who took the new band under his wing as a mentor and has begun championing them at his new radio home, KCSN in Los Angeles. Over the past 6 months Camera2 has been making music videos for every song on the album, in locations as broad and diverse as rural Pennsylvania, Martha’s Vineyard, San Francisco, and their hometown. In each video the band takes a back seat to a striking nine-year-old boy who walks, (or runs), the music through a series of twists, turns and interweaving themes.

The bands videos are part of a nine part project so there are more to come so keep 'em peeled and keep up to speed with this band, I think they have a refreshing sound that will appeal to many and will hopefully go on to make more breezy, delightful pieces of music like the three songs included here.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Camera2 here: Facebook

Official website here: Camera2

Listen to more here: Soundcloud

Buy the songs here: itunes

The Most - Auto Destructive Art. OUT MAY 17th.

2013-05-10T20:40:00.001+02:00

The Most hail from Umeå in the north of Sweden. Umeå is a centre of education, technical and medical research, they also produce some pretty fine musicians too as The Most testify with their debut long player "Auto-Destructive Art."

The band are not your typical Mod revival band as they have their music rooted in the 50's and 60's, predominantly, Jazz Soul, black R'n'B, Bluegrass, Rock and Delta Blues, which gives them a feeling of the original British invasion bands with a touch of the American garage bands added for good measure, which when blended together by the 5 members of the band produces something achingly brilliant.

The Most - Spiderman

"Auto-Destructive Art" was recorded using anologue technique which really gives the band a great vintage sound and captures the live experience on record that so many bands try to attain but often fail to do so, this album hits where it counts on all 12 tracks with no fillers or fodder in sight, which is a rare occurrence these days.

Sweden has produced some excellent bands over the years but I can whole heartedly say that The Most are one of my very favourite bands to come from these shores. I am absolutely positive that when they play Liverpool's famous Cavern Club as part of the International Pop Overthrow next week, they are going to win the hearts and ears of many new fans. The band will be playing many dates across Europe this year to promote the album and I would strongly advise that you go along and see them if they come to a venue near you.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love (very much) The Most here: Facebook

Find out more about The Most here: Wikipedia

Buy the album here: Copasetic Available May 17th.

Singles round up, featuring: Tree House Society, The World Service, Weird Mob and The See No Evils.

2013-05-09T17:30:00.002+02:00

A really lovely jangly 3 track EP from Italian Power Poppers "Tree House Society" currently hanging out on "Melody Hill" and having a party as the songs on this single confirm.

Molly by Tree House Society

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Tree House Society here: Facebook

Stream and buy the single here: Bandcamp

The World Service are from Camden in London and offer up music in a similar vein to Interpol and The National, but in my opinion, much better. Generation is the first single from the bands 2nd EP "Hideaway."

Generation from The World Service on Vimeo.

Listen to more tracks from World Service here: Soundcloud

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The World Service here: Facebook

Is this a mini album or an Extended Play single? Not really sure but I am sure that it is a really great piece of synth driven pop from married librarians Dave Gibson and Renee Reighart, music with a twist of 60's pop melodies and cool 80's New Wave, we like this, we like it alot!!!!

They're A Weird Mob by Weird Mob

Sweet songs and stories from the warehouse.......

Stream and buy the album/EP here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Weird Mob here: Facebook

Now, I don't know if these guys have a record out, but, they are just too good to ignore. Hailing from Leeds, the band have only been together for a year and aprt from churning out some excellent songs, they have had support slots with The Pretty Things and The Fleshtones to name a few. The bands blend of 60's garage tunes is absolutely awesome, take a listen and hopefully the band will keep me informed of any future releases.

Stream more here: Soundcloud

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The See No Evils here: Facebook

Labradors - Growing Back. OUT NOW!

2013-05-09T16:31:00.000+02:00

From Milano, Italy, Labradors are a power pop band with an enviable immediacy about them, their music sweeps you off your feet like you just stepped out into a hurricane, got swept off your feet and taken for a whirlwind ride!

Labradors fall on the rockier/punkier side of the power pop fence, not so much the jangly side of proceedings but the driven, edgier side, as per usual, take a listen and let the music do the talking!

ALBUM TEASER

Photo by Catarina Colombo.

Stream the complete album here: Rolling Stone

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Labradors here: Facebook

Listen to more from the band here: Soundcloud Labradors

Buy the download here: itunes

The Great Affairs - 4" EP

2013-05-08T19:14:00.003+02:00

After a brief hiatus from the blog due to affairs back home in blighty, I am finally getting back on track with the blog, and, what better way to start getting into the swing again than a feature on Nashvilles "The Great Affairs."

With an eclectic mix of influences ranging from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to Oasis, you know you are in for something special and this quartet don't fail to deliver and what they deliver is some very tasty, bouncy, driven power pop.

Sell Music online at ReverbNation.com

After 3 releases in as many years, 2009's "The Great Affairs", 2010's "Ricky took the wheels..", and 2011's "Happy Ender", The Great Affairs have recently completed work on the aptly-titled "4" EP, seven more tunes in the patented Tom Petty & Cheap Trick-inspired, rootsy pop-rock vein that has become their calling card.

In early 2012, having taken a brief hiatus in order to complete a long-gestating sophomore release, "The Kids Deserve Cable", from their power-pop side project fORMER, frontman Denny Smith, and lead guitarist Patrick Miller reconvened The Great Affairs, with a new rhythm section featuring Henry Go(Mink) on bass, and Kenny Wright(Bonepony) on drums and co-lead vocals.

With this shift in lineup, and fORMER now defunct, the decision was made to incorporate material from both bands into The Great Affairs' repertoire. In short order, the guitars got a little dirtier, the drums acquired some additional swing, and the band began to display a spring in its step that may not have been quite so evident in an earlier incarnation.

With "4", the band have set aside some of the acoustic-driven tendencies of their previous outings, relying instead on a slightly heavier guitar sound, with splashes of Hammond organ, piano, and percussion throughout to assist in the further realization this new sonic ambition. The introduction of Wright's bluesier vocal stylings on several tracks serves as a perfect counterpoint to Smith's breathier rasp, giving the band some new firepower in that department as well.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Great Affairs here: Facebook

More info here:

http://www.thegreataffairs.com/

and here:

http://www.dennysmithmusic.com/

Grant Lindberg - The Narrows. OUT NOW - FREE DOWNLOAD

2013-04-17T14:28:00.001+02:00

Another one of our very favourite artists, Grant Lindberg, has a new album out and as expected, it is an absolute corker!

This one man band produces some of the finest power pop out there. Citing his influences as Cheap Trick, Nirvana, Brendan Benson and Ash, without hearing his music you can come to the assumption that his music is both melodic and noisy and you would be correct, the tunes are there, the guitars, the pounding drums and driving bass lines and after listening to "I Would" from this album, I would add Dinosaur Jr to that list of influences too as it has that bitter sweet quality to it that J Mascis has in his music.

I Would by Grant Lindberg

Grant is a keen angler and spends a large part of the year fishing Muskies in the lakes around Minnesota, fortunately for us, the fishing season only last for 6 months and then Grant gets back into the studio and fills his time making great music for our absolute delight.

Shibuya Nights by Grant Lindberg

This album is certainly one of my favourites so far this year and will surely be many other peoples favourite album too and to think that Grant is giving it away FREE is absolutely mind blowing, but that is the way he rolls.....when he isn't fishing!

This is a totally FREE download and I can't recommend it enough, go get it!!!!!!!!

Downlod "The Narrows" FREE here: Bandcamp

(Check out the back catologue too which is not only great but FREE as well!)

Find more music from Grant Lindberg here: Reverbnation

The Reply - Downtown Soul

2013-04-15T13:08:00.004+02:00

After my feature of "Quitty and The Don't,"(Who "The Reply" will be playing with in Toronto soon) I received a rather nice e-mail from James Bond, no, not that one but it did leave me shaken and stirred!

James plays Keyboards and sings in Toronto based Mod/Soul outfit The Reply who have a fantastic sound, like a mash up of The Turtles, Them, early Manfred Mann and Arthur Connoly on speed!

They very kindly sent me a copy of "Downtown Soul" their Debut EP which is fantastic, encompassing the feeling of 60's America and beyond, anyway, I am not going to teach you lot to suck eggs, you know what's great, have a listen and see if I m wrong.....I don't think so!!!!!

Free music player widget at ReverbNation.com

In a musical landscape where almost everything is referential it's hard to acknowledge a deep musical heritage without becoming nostalgic or appropriative. Trying to copy a sound misses the point: great soul is not a guitar sound, an organ sound, or a bassline. Great soul was, is, and will be as innovative and varied as any genre, growing and changing through every artist. And so great soul just *is*... if you love soul music, you know when you're hearing something soulful. It doesn't have to have horns; it doesn't have to not have a guitar solo. It's a feeling. It lifts you. It speaks to your heart and moves your body.

The Reply are about this idea of music, and have the pedigree to do it. Each member has 10+ years of performing, recording, and touring under their belts. The Reply knows how to play and they know how to be a band.

Carl Nanders (bass, vocals)
James Bond (keys, vocals)
Freek Ace (guitar, vocals)
Dr. Twist (drums)

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Reply here: Facebook

(Also some free tracks here to download)

More info here: Reverbnation

Quitty and The Dont's - All Of You.

2013-04-10T14:26:00.002+02:00

Hailing from Brooklyn New York, Quitty and The Dont's deliver some extremely tasty slices of 60's Garage Pop, these guys have to be one of the best bands out there playing this style, sure it is retro, but there is a reason that these bands, and many of them young, keep playing this music, is because it is simply brilliant!

All of You by Quitty and the Don'ts

The three tracks that these guys have up on Bandcamp are all equally superb, organ driven beauties to behold and at a "name your price" fee, you have to ask yourself, can you afford not to have them, which I will answer for you, NO, you can't! And, if like me, you love your vinyl, that band will be releasing 2 of these tracks on a 7" single in May.

"Sometimes the most trivial of pursuits can spiral into an intense labor of love. Inspired by both the classic mod sound of early Kinks and the gritty revivalism of Billy Childish and Thee Headcoatees, drummer Quitty Bastardo set out in 2009 to form a basic 3-piece, all-girl garage band. This primitive conception of Quitty and the Don'ts didn't last long, however, as Quitty began collaborating with keyboardist Nogood Nick in early 2010, and Mike Q. joined on lead guitar later that year. With a more stable lineup, the band's signature sound emerged: urgent but soulful garage pop with dispassionate lyrics, driven by angular beats, layers of moody organ, and stabbing guitar lines.

After a year-long break, Quitty, Mike, and Nick reformed the Don'ts in 2012 with bassist Matt M., and vocalist Jordan D. Arsie completed the lineup in the summer of that year. Digging deeper into mod R&B and beat influences, the new quintet began playing shows in the fall and have recently recorded their first singles."

It's Not a Crime by Quitty and the Don'ts

Stream and download the tracks here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like, love and Mod on with Quitty and The Dont's here: Facebook

For enquires regarding the 7" single, contact the band here: Quittyandthedonts@gmail.com.

The Pearls - The Pearls FREE DOWNLOAD

2013-04-10T13:59:00.000+02:00

Featuring one of my favourite female vocalists, (well, two of my favourites, now that I am aware of Simona) Stella from the fantastic Italian band The Sensibles, Simona is the front person with Thee Bomb'o Nyrics and together they have created an alternative, psychadelic 8 track album that will have you plucking influences out of the air and dismissing them faster than they hit you, but they have created something quite unique and audibly pleasing.

B2 Infinity Call by The PeΔrls

At times it reminds me of some of the bands from the late 80's indie scene with DIY ethics, raw but honest and what's more good fun!

Check out more and download the album FREE here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Pearls here: Facebook

Details for purchasing a physical copy can also be found on Bandcamp.

I also recommend that you check out the other bands of these ladies, The Sensibles and Thee Bomb'o Nyrics

Baby Scream - Baby Scream (Special Expanded Edition)

2013-04-09T14:49:00.000+02:00

Blog favourites "Baby Scream" are back with yet another release, is this the 7th or 8th album now?

One could be forgiven for thinking that this is a massive output for a relatively unknown artist and question the quality of the songs on that many albums, but principal songwriter Juan Pablo Mazzola is a craftsman with a keen eye on his quality control and this 14 track albums maintains, and, exceeds his usual high standards of song writing, you only have to read the press the band receives to know that I am not alone on this one.

This album was originally released in 2010 by OK Records and received a fantastic response from, radio stations, blogs and specialised sites in the UK, USA and beyond. Now Juan and OK records have decided that now is the right time to re release the album with original mixes by Muddy Stardust (Chris Robinson Brotherhood, L.A Guns, Col. Parker).

Powerpop Crush by Baby Scream

Tracks like the sombre and musically rich "Lazy" the volcanic "The Ghost Of Valerie" which features Eric Dover (Alice Cooper, Jellyfish, Sextus) and the progressive and beautifully melodic "Nipone" are mere examples of how fantastic and magical this album really is, elegantly written and masterfully played, "Baby Scream" is an album with limitless potential and an abundance of songwriting power that can not be undermined or overlooked.

Be you a lover of the classic or of the modern, with a sound that sits comfortably between Lennon, 70's Power Pop and T-Rex, there is something for everyone to cherish on this album.

The Ghosts Of Valerie (feat Eric Dover) by Baby Scream

Are friends electric?

You can find this album to stream at Bandcamp along with Baby Scream's previous output, some of which are free and are all most certainly worth taking some time to indulge in, and remember, they don't just come highly recommended by myself, but everyone else who happens to be in earshot of this remarkable band.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Baby Scream here: Facebook

Stream "Baby Scream Special Extended Edition" here: Bandcamp

(Don't forget to trawl that back catologue!)

Physical copies of the album are available to buy here: OK RECORDS STORE

The Felt Tips - Symbolic Violence.

2013-04-07T11:24:00.001+02:00

Once again we are joined by our favourite guest contributor "Interplanet Janet" who will guide you towards a love affair with Scotlands "The Felt Tips" and their soon to be released album, "Symbolic Violence."

The Felt Tips have a new album out called Symbolic Violence. Having really enjoyed their first album Living and Growing, I wondered if the second album would be similar or depart into new musical territory. The steady, melodic nature of their songs haven’t changed much, which is a good thing because if it ain’t broke, you know. This is down to guitarist Miguel Navarro’s magic touch, which continues to lift the songs up to pop heaven. Anyone who is a fan of a particularly melodic blend of 80’s pop and social realism, along the lines of The Smiths, Squeeze and The Housemartins will find The Felts Tips to be in the same vein, but refreshingly now. This also means you might even be lucky enough to catch them play live.

In a world saturated with indie bands, The Felt Tips hold their own because they have a combination of strengths which make them stand out. On top of Navarro’s melodic contribution, we have the talents of Scottish singer-songwriter, Andrew Paterson (Morrissey to Navarro’s Marr, although Paterson truly has a style all his own). His laid-bare Scottish accent adds to the delightful mix, but it is in the highly-personal lyrics where we really see his unique fingerprint. As a writer, he doesn’t so much write songs, but scenes. Really awkward ones at that, quite frankly, yet for some reason we do not want to leave.

It’s clear the album retains The Felt Tip’s melodic nature, Scottish accent and delightfully tense social scenarios, however one aspect that stands out as different in this album is in the production. I sense they had the confidence to play around with it and it really works well. Another difference is in the lyrics. They have become more sophisticated, observant and tongue-in-cheek than on Living and Growing. What we still have, though, is an open window to observe a memory or a moment that can be seen as both ordinary and extraordinary. This is reassuring because that’s what gives them depth. A good pop song does not necessarily need depth, but when you find one, you know it’s been lovingly crafted. This is good news for those who like to dance to music, but also like to have a few thoughts provoked by it as well.

If you really want to analyse Symbolic Violence (and who wouldn’t? The name alone practically begs for analysis) then I would suggest not to focus too much on it as a whole, like in a feature film, but rather think of it as series of shorts. In each song, the listener enters the world of a complex and interesting man. Although, however much we are taken in, we are still essentially voyeurs. The realism and awkward nostalgia are interesting because they are from the point of view of someone who seems still quite young. These are not the usual world-weary musings of the middle aged (nor should they be) but they are also too sophisticated to be dismissed as speaking only for the young. It’s a delicate balance of looking back, but also an awareness that so much can change in such a short amount of time.

There are a number of standout tracks on the album. The opening track and the first single, “Iron Lady”, is especially noteworthy for it’s blend of pop bliss and unique subject matter. A scene of psychological tension plays out on New Years Eve and we witness it through the lens of someone with an extremely determined weight-loss resolution. Perhaps she is the Iron Lady of the song’s title, but we never really know. That infamous Kate Moss quote makes up the whole of the chorus—

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels. It’s hard to read this as anything other than parody, because as a straight piece it would border on the ridiculous. The lyrics are very clever throughout, for example, I’m counting down to zero might be an aspect of the New Years Eve scene, but it could easily refer to counting down to the unrealistic size zero that dieters sadly often have as their ultimate goal.

Another track,“Lyrics by Lennon”, is one of those simple-yet-complex narratives that I could see James Joyce writing if he were in the business of writing awkward pop songs. Perhaps it’s just as well it’s Paterson doing it, because he is clearly made for it. If you are a huge Beatles fan, try not to judge the subject too harshly in his hatred of the unnamed Lennon and McCartney songs. Besides, regardless of who it is, haven’t we all uttered opinions that, in the end , came back to haunt us?

Although they all have their merits, the final song I want to mention is “Backwards Born”. In terms of personal, it doesn’t get more personal than this. This is a bitter tale of sibling rivalry that makes me want to consult a qualified family therapist for advice on how I am supposed to feel about it, um, but at the same time enjoying its lovely and melodic nature. It can happen (see The Smiths).

Overall, there’s a strong theme of the passage of time in this album. Each song seems to be chronologically going deeper back in time. Looking at the track listing, I notice that the first song, Iron Lady, plays out during the last moments of the last day of the year and the final song, Backwards Born, describes the subject’s first moments in this world. For The Felt Tips themselves, time will tell if they continue to hone their craft well (of course they will), but for now, we can live in the moment with this exceptional second album.

Buy it. Enjoy it. Think of your own awkward past and wear it with pride.

Review by "Interplanet Janet"

Find the official "The Felt Tips" site here, complete with music streams: thefelttips.com

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Felt Tips here: Facebook

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