Bleu “Sargeant Pepper Grinder”

Bleu McAuley has grown by leaps and bounds over the years, finding mainstream success as a singer, composer, and producer while working with artists including KT Tunstall, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, etc. His commercial work is impressive, but his solo power pop is where Bleu gets to be playful, unpredictable, and completely himself. He also has a knack for creating musical magic when he pairs with a female vocalist, and longtime collaborators Kelly Jones and Carly Paige are both perfectly suited to the job.

On this new concept album, Bleu looks beyond the veil to communicate with his late friend Ducky Carlisle, the Boston-based drummer, recording engineer, and producer who died in October 2023 at age 64. Opening with the voice of his son, Bleu and Mike Gent introduce us to Ducky, his collection of snares, and the other musical treasures scattered around his basement. It all leads into the album’s main single, “Start a Band,” a catchy melody that captures his humor and enthusiasm. “This Song Won’t Sell” offers one of the album’s best examples of tonal whiplash. Dense, loud emo-inspired chords suddenly give way to a quiet verse built around the admission, “I’m not supposed to write slow songs ’cause they don’t sell.” “Where the Colors Bleed,” is another highlight, with Carly Paige in a beautifully balanced duet that confronts Ducky’s eccentricities while coming to terms with a complicated life. Bleu eventually turns the focus toward himself with “Deathbed,” looking back on his own life and closes with the big, bombastic “I’m Not Dead,” a reminder that Bleu still has time to live, create, and find the silver lining. Bleu turns the grief over his friend’s death into something deeply personal without losing his sense of fun. Highly Recommended.

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Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil “Temporary Sun”

North Carolina duo Steve Robinson & Ed Woltil return with another collection of richly textured baroque folk-pop. With able assistance from Dave Gregory (XTC) and Dave Mattacks (Fairport Convention,) they hit the ground running with the catchy “I Won’t Let Go.” The layered harmonies and beautifully constructed arrangement make it an immediate standout.

“Outrun the Sun” takes a more reflective turn, telling an intriguing story about confronting the past, with exceptional guitar work adding to its emotional weight. Steve and Ed’s weathered, comforting vocals fit perfectly on “Learn You by Heart,” a song about making the most of the time left in a mature life. There’s plenty of reflection here, but the album isn’t weighed down by it. The hopeful “Perfect Day” and “Squint” provide welcome bursts of optimism.“The Man with the Interrupted Heart” is quirky and fun, chronicling an aging lothario with clever lyrical analogies and a sly sense of humor. The songwriting is strong, and the musicianship is consistently impressive. Highly Recommended.

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Ultra Lights “Pleasure’s All Yours”

Atlanta’s Ultra Lights come out swinging on their debut, ‘Pleasure’s All Yours.’ The band delivers a scrappy blast of garage rock and punk pop with the loose, restless energy of the early 2000s. There’s plenty comparisons to The Strokes and Pavement here, but Ultra Lights has their own rough-edged personality. The title track gets things moving immediately, built around an upbeat rhythm, shouted vocals, and a hook that sticks without overstaying its welcome.

“Good Enough” follows with a denser, heavier groove, but “Bad Feeling” really hits the mark. The catchy melody clashes nicely with a darker lyric, summed up by the wonderfully nasty line, “It’s a pretty nice day for a kick in the face.” It’s catchy, menacing, and oddly danceable. “Nostalgia” turns up the guitar attack with a Ramones-like charge, while John Robinson’s delivery of “Watch out, here it comes” gives the chorus an extra jolt. “Diamond Dreams” pushes further into the dense guitar sound, while “What’s Wrong” gets downright snotty, leaning harder into the band’s punk side. The songs are short, loud, and packed with enough authenticity to keep the rough edges intact. Highly Recommended.

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Jacob Ungerleider “Congratulations”

LA-based Pianist Jacob Ungerleider captivates you with his opening ballad “Congratulations,” a mix of heartbreak and bitterness that recalls a mix of Harry Nilsson and Elliot Smith. He’s an artist who “wears his heart on his sleeve,” and the follow up “Everything You Can” opens up his sound with a lovely pedal steel courtesy of Alan Good Parker. After listening to his demo, Jenn Wasner (Flock of Dimes, Wye Oak) co-produced the album with him and got these very personal songs fully realized.

The reflections of love and loss, like on “Blacksburg” often have bits of humor thrown in like a girlfriend “with a Pomeranian that I pretend to like.” Highlights include the soulful “Letters of Your Name,” a polished ballad with  jazz overtones, “7 Dollar Coffee” with its looks at happy couples around him, and lots of regret on “Where or When.” It would have been interesting to show a few more pop songs like “Everything You Can,” but Jacob stays under that black cloud for most of the album. However if you are in the mood for it, this is melodic melancholy at it’s finest. Check it out.

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Video Premiere: Back when I had a music festival, Jana Peri was dynamite. Kim McClay is built along the same lines of female empowerment and self-love, resilience, assurance and strength. Check out the tune “Velveteen Girls,” a reflection on being a woman in the music industry. McClay spent years cultivating her work in the live music scene of NYC, and she often blends indie, folk, and rock styles, so check out her new EP “Worth It.” 

Next, the first single is out for John Larson‘s upcoming LP. The song features David Uosikkinen (The Hooters) on drums and Kenny Aaronson (Bob Dylan) on bass. The ever-active Dave Cope has a new EP ready for you, this gentle acoustic selection features the gem “The Moment Night Ends.” After that we have Candybar’s debut EP fronted by the talented Kait Eldridge (Big Eyes) and my fave here is “Love Comes and Goes,” and it’s sweet! Then a freebie from Moon Construction Kit is a dream-like project from Swiss musician Olivier Cornu, who is Brian Wilson influenced. It’s just hypnotic. More goodies to come. Stay tuned!

Finally I’m thrilled to hear something new from Colin Moulding (XTC) –check out the video! His new single  ‘Want It Bad (The Pep Talks and Playing Fields of Old England)’. is available on Burning Shed.

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Jeremy Messersmith “Fox/Coyote”

Jeremy Messersmith’s latest record, ‘Fox/Coyote,’ didn’t slip under my radar. Released in April, it has been sitting on my review list, waiting for its turn. Now that I’ve spent some time with it, I’m glad I did. This is a strong musical statement, an “easy listening” record on the surface, but underneath those inviting melodies are sharp observations, lyrical wit, and plenty of emotional defiance.

Messersmith has never been afraid to speak his mind. Following the invasion of ICE agents into Minneapolis, he unleashed the single “Fuck This.” ‘Fox/Coyote’ isn’t nearly as strident, but the record carries plenty of the same conviction. “Billionaires” rides a laconic beat while imagining a more equal society, while “Boomers” is a mid-tempo ballad seemingly designed to provoke a reaction. Messersmith knows exactly how much tension to build into a beautiful melody. “Stallions” is a standout, a surprisingly touching song about finding love in midlife. “Can’t Get Out of My Way” turns awkward self-reflection into something both funny and painfully relatable, while “I Don’t Trust That Boy” delivers a steady jangle wrapped around a father’s advice. It’s an thoughtful album without becoming ponderous, political without turning into a lecture, and melodic enough to make you want to come back for another listen. Highly Recommended.

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Hurry “Zoned Out”

The Philadelphia power pop band, Hurry is back. Lead songwriter Matt Scottoline wears his early Teenage Fanclub influence proudly. Hurry kicks off “All Sunk In” with crunchy guitars and rich harmonies before the lead synth arrives to carry the melody. The title track “Zoned Out” is a another example of the laid-back melodic approach. “Moving After You” takes the connection even further, featuring Teenage Fanclub’s own Gerald Love on vocals. Notable tracks include “Just Fine” and “The Dumbest Person You’ve Ever Seen.”

Nostalgia has always been part of power pop, and there’s nothing wrong with leaning into your influences. Still, a little more variety in the songwriting and arrangements would have pushed ‘Zoned Out’ to another level. Even so, this is an easy recommendation for anyone who misses the fuzz guitars and Gerald Love’s influence from the current lineup of Teenage Fanclub. For some listeners, that’s all you need.

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Yeah, these guys (Games We Play) have been a viral sensation, and now they are poised to do it again. “The Smash” is a pretty damn accurate account of what goes into your head when songwriting. Jeff Graham is new to me and he really brings the riffs! Check out “Leaving Chicago,” due out late August and you’ll be impressed. The Gershwin Brothers are a “supergroup” in my opinion, a band led by Dave Foster (Fuzzbubble) with personal faves Lane Steinberg and Mike Fornatale on guitar. “Doomscrollin’” kinda says it all in our crazy world. Its been a while, but Vista Blue is back with another Ramones inspired freebie for you all. And Jamie Turner can “Paint A Good Picture” especially if it involves retro 60s sounds. Finally, a new single from legendary power pop band Semisonic “Don’t Give Up Yet.” I will keep the faith as long as you do!

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