BAT COUNTRY Entertainment Now (A Mighty Ohio Record)
Forty seconds into We’re
Your Entertainment, the second track off this album from these LA popsters,
you’d be tempted (like I was) to press “stop.” But then, the glorious
choral hook hits and it’s no looking back! Tracks like the breezy Can’t
Endure Any More, the poignant The Last Lovers On Earth, the
tongue-in-cheek disco-fried Miss You (yup that one), the beaty Jesse
James & the howling Downhill Racer display not only hook-laden
chops but the magic chord changes all card-carrying pop fans lust for. 7.5
POSSUM Strange Pets (Divorce Records)
Singer-songwriter Rick Monroe
has roped in a cosmopolitan group of musicians (including South African
guitarist Scott Miller & Norwegian keyboard player Johannes Stole) to
deliver an EP that hearkens back to the good old days when Top 40 pop referred
to the melodic sophisticated crunch of bands like the Raspberries. The tunes may
be sweet but the sound is tough as nails as songs like Numb, You
& Can I Call You Home cannot but leave a favorable impression. 6.5
EARLY EDISON Self-titled (Owmagroin Music)
Alice
is the high-point of this satisfactory collection, with its pleasing soft-loud
dynamics recalling punk and pure pop influences with one stroke. Elsewhere, the
perky commentary of Demographically Pleasing; the staccato whine of Victim
of the Truth, the metallic low self-esteem of Nothing Is An Accident
& hard rockin’ reflection of I’m Only Three marks this Long
Island quartet as one to look out for. Fans of Green Day, the Knack, Pixies
& Ben Folds Five will not be disappointed. 7.5
ARCH STATION self-titled
(Arch Empire)
Add Arch Station to the
growing list of modern rock bands (like Marvelous 3) that have elected to turn
to melody to spice up their sonic assaults on the big bad world. Difference is
that Arch Station choose to sing about the second coming, the Christian life and
what it all means. This focus in no way inhibits their ability to raise the
hairs on your neck with pristine pop songs like The Public Way, Crooked
Lullaby, Standing By – a gorgeous strings-inflected ballad, What
About You & the lively It’s Time. Highly recommended. 8
SPARKWOOD The La La Crutch (Sparkwood Music)
Stand up and take a bow,
Sparkwood! This homemade cookie has managed to simulate the creative soul of
Jellyfish’s Spilt Milk with a fraction of the budget that Sturmer &
Manning were given. Whatever…there’s a certain vibe about Sparkwood’s, a
definite assurance about the band’s mix of guitar and piano-based tunesmithery.
There are moments (e.g. Trilogy I, Trilogy II, Ben & Katy,
Wurly, the shimmering Naked Truth, Ramie) where The La
La Crutch truly urm sparkles. The 1970s are coming back in a big way
(there’s plenty of Todd, Raspberries, Supertramp and Randy Newman here) and
Sparkwood, thank goodness, are knee deep in the magic stuff. 8
LU BANGO The Little Bang Theory (Sam Records)
Lu Bango’s a
singer-songwriter cut from the same hallowed cloth as Elvis Costello, Robyn
Hitchcock, Marshall Crenshaw, Freedy Johnston and John Wesley Harding. Meaning,
the pop pedigree is guaranteed with marvelous tunes sustaining intelligently
worked out lyrics. Did I also mention that he’s Frank Bango’s brother?
Blissful folk pop that will never let you down. 7.5
H. CHINASKI Smaller-Sized Jar With An Idea (DPG)
Lo-fi, atonal, angular rock is
the obvious reference point in H.Chinaski’s domination plan. But that’s not
the whole story, there are fragile pop moments fighting to be heard amongst the
clutter of sloppy chords and screaming vocals. Seriously displaced. 6
BEN’S DIAPERS Celebrate the Cliché (Popatak)
Hailing from an unlikely powerpop source (Finland), Ben’s Diapers are no slouches in coming up with the goods, like keen tunes, spirited performances and lively guitar work. With production chores handled by the ubiquitous pop Aussie Michael Carpenter, Celebrate the Cliché is a splendid affair. 7
KENNY HOWES The Right Idea (Second Heaven)
A bouncing collection of album
tracks (from Howes’ three albums with Jukebox Records) and other odds and
ends, The Right Idea, showcases Howes’ penchant to meld catchy melodies with
garage rock sensibilities. Without any embarrassing filler whatsoever, The
Right Idea is an excellent place to get acquainted with first class
powerpop. 7.5
RAT WAKES RED Dizzy on Daddy (Rat Disk)
Proving that pop can be just
as compelling and affecting without percussive elements, the duo of James
Rafferty and Jeral Benjamin let the songs, vocals, guitars and strings
communicate the poignant and touching themes and concepts that fill this
ambitious album. 6.5
ELKS SKIFFLE GROUP The Space age Sounds of Elks Skiffle Group (Happy Beat)
Comprising four pop puppets
from outer space (allegedly), the Elk Skiffle Group combine cheesy synth
instrumentation with pure pop songwriting and an excellent female vocalist in
“Janice Electrolux”! Reminiscent of the Adventures in Stereo and Marine
Research, this is a joke that works and how! 6.5
RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOT The Ballad of Ramblin’ Jack Elliot: Original Soundtrack (Vanguard)
Providing the transition from
Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan is folk music legend Ramblin’ Jack Elliot. This
original soundtrack album features vibrant performances from the great man
himself and some noteworthy guests viz Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan (the hilarious Acne)
and Johnny Cash. A fitting tribute. 6
MELLOW
The Morning After Paintdrops EP (Atmospheriques)
From the same label that
brought the pop world the fabulous Tahiti 80 comes the “Air meets ELO”
methodology of Mellow. The opening Another Mellow Winter is a pleasing
Beatlesque rip through Baby You’re A Rich Man whilst the remaining tracks
resolve certain techno difficulties with tunes and substance admirably. A full
length album will be an intriguing prospect. 6.5
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS
Mwng (Flydaddy)
These fellows must be out of their bleeding minds – an entire album in the Welsh language! Yes, boys and girls, who else would attempt something this uncommercial, this inaccessible, this self-indulgent than our lovely pop anarchists, the Furries! Sure don’t know what the lads are singing about but the songs are wonderful nonetheless. Welsh album of the year, no contest! 7.5