Power Pop Overdose Popcast Volume 36 Big Stir Special

This week on Power Pop Overdose, I’m doing something a little different. I’m throwing out a big shout out to the folks at Big Stir Records and playing a bunch of my favorite songs from them. Big Stir is all about community, they make everyone feel like they are part of the family plus Rex and Christina keep raising the bar with every release and I look forward to what is coming in the future. 

 As always, enjoy the music, support the artists and thanks for listening to Power Po Overdose!

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Bash On Pop, September 2020

Hi, Everyone!

It’s been a few months since my last column, but I always wait until the muse moves me…or something pretentious like that. Anyway, here are five discs I wanted you, dear reader, to know about, and hopefully purchase, so read on, if you dare! 😉

Bill Lloyd-Don’t Kill The Messenger (Whole In One; CD)

The Nashville “King of Twang” has been delivering top shelf power pop albums since the late ‘80s, but his latest may be the best thing he’s done since his debut, Feeling The Elephant. Classic Lloyd tracks like “Undone”, “I’ve Had Enough Of Your Love” and “Not This Time ‘Round” abound, while “Baby’s In The Mood” channels his inner Zevon, “You Got Me” is pure old time rock ‘n roll, and “KAKE’N’8IT” is as much fun as the title would suggest. But it’s the opening title track, with its warmth, chord changes and a hook that won’t quit, which steals the show! What more could one want??

Miracle Glass Company-MGC² (Self-Released; CD and LP)

Ever since I saw this young Edinburgh-based trio play IPO Liverpool a few years ago, I’ve believed that they had a shot to break it big, as their vocals, musicianship and attitude just scream out “success!” Their overall sound is a bit harder-edged than I’m accustomed to writing about, but those harmonies…kinda like a supercharged Status Quo without the boogie! Tracks like “BB22”, “Sweet Spot” and “Professional Noise” are exemplars, but the boys can do ballads with the best of them; “Golden Love,” with its America-esque harmonies and the epic “Morning Sun”, on which you can hear a pin drop in the first part, are top shelf…but “Sea Of Cortez” outshines even those, as its counterpoint-laden refrain is one of the best I’ve heard in quite awhile!

Mike Randle-Rough Mixes & Demo Pyxis Vol. 1 (Self-Released; CD)

The co-founder of the iconic L.A. band, Baby Lemonade, and guitarist for the legendary Love has released his first disc in many of a year, and this 7-song EP is a fine mix of rich, beautiful tunes such as “How Do I Get Close?”, “Miss Loucifer”, and “Twenty Years”, playful soft rockers like “You Let Me Down” and “Moana’s Town”, and the power pop “REVO”. Fans of Wondermints and Baby Lemonade will especially love this, as it’s redolent with cool chord changes and hooks. I very much look forward to Vol. 2!

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Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave Berry-Sunshine Walkers: The Best of Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry (KL; CD)

Yes, you know the names: Kimberley Rew of The Soft Boys and Katrina and The Waves, and Lee Cave-Berry, who has logged more gigs than a turbo-powered computer. This collection features both solo tracks and those by this dynamic duo, and it’s a fun, organic listen throughout. Fans of Dave Edmunds will love “The Dog Song”, “English Road” and “Yours Truly”, among others, while the late ‘70s discofied “Happy Anniversary” could have fit on Back To The Egg; “Flat Cat” is pure rockabilly goodness, and “She’s Still Got It” is a ska delight. There are also a few jangleholic tracks from Rew’s classic EP, The Bible Of Bop; throw in a nifty cover of The Troggs’ “I Want You”, and you’ll be well hooked on this disc. Among the luminaries playing on these tracks are Mitch Easter, Peter Holsapple, Glenn Tilbrook, and Rew’s Soft Boys mates, Robyn Hitchock and Andy Metcalfe!

Louise Goffin-Two Different Movies (Majority of One: CD and LP)

Ms. Goffin’s 10th album is a return to her Laurel Canyon roots, albeit with a modern touch; its cover art, drawn by her former Laurel neighbor, Joni Mitchell, is quite fitting. Two Different Movies definitely has that mellow, homemade vibe, at times not unlike her mom’s landmark, Tapestry. The opening cut, “Simple Life”, appropriately takes the listener back to a simpler, post ‘60s wind down; “Heart Attack” is a sexy, soulful rocker; “Oh My God”, arranged by Van Dyke Parks, has a lush, dizzying arrangement not unlike Parks’ Song Cycle; “Every Love Song” will coax you to dance without being obvious about it; and “It Started A Long Time Ago” channels Nilsson at times. A fine, diverse album with an array of fine feathered friends accompanying Goffin, such as Benmont Tench, Pete Thomas, the aforementioned Parks, and the Zelig of Pop, Fernando Perdomo!

Cheers, until next time,

David Bash

Front To Back Episode 5 Featuring Rick Hromadka "Better Days"

This week on Front to Back, we feature singer / songwriter Rick Hromadka. Rick gives us a track by track commentary of his latest album Better Days, surely a PPO top ten contender. Sit back and crank up Front to Back with Rick Hromadka.

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Blake Jones - The Homebound Tapes

I wish I were a wordsmith, then I could describe the emotion, that’s right, I said emotion, that the new Blake Jones EP from Big Stir Records elicits from me. Trust me, throw on your headphones, sit back and grab a Dr Pepper and just enjoy “The Homebound Tapes”, you will see what I mean. 

Is this a Power Pop album, no, it is not? What it is, for me, is a fantastic EP that has elements of Americana and maybe a little Skip Spence meets Laurel Canyon vibe thrown in just because. Heartbreaking and harrowing but stunning as well, Blake Jones with the help of Rex Broome as well as Blake's fellow Trike Shoppers, push all the emotional buttons. 

 “The Homebound Tapes” was written and performed during the 2020 pandemic and only clocks in at 18 minutes, but feels like a full length album. I wish there were more but I’m happy with what there is. Just grab a copy from Big Stir, your money and your time will not be wasted. 

Get your copy here!

Front To Back Episode 4 Featuring Thomas Marolda "The 1979 Sessions by The Toms"

This week on Front to back we are honored to have Thomas Marolda of The Toms fame share with us his memories and behind the scene comentary of his latest Futureman Records album. "The 1979 Sessions by The Toms". 

 As always, enjoy the music, support the artists and thanks for listening to Front To Back.

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Power Pop Overdose Popcast Volume 35

This week on Power Pop Overdose we have new music from Walker Meadows, The Well Wishers, Kurt Baker and more. Additionally, we feature music from 1979, tunes from Chiswick Records, Five from Artful Dodger and some great cover tunes. 

As Always, enjoy the music, support the artists and thanks for listening to Power Pop Overdose!

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PPO v35 on Google Play

Front To Back Episode 3 Featuring Joe Giddings "Better From Here"

This week on Front To Back, Joe Giddings shares his new album, Better From Here. Joe gives us some track by track commentaries on his music and you wont want miss it! 

As always, enjoy the music, support the artists and thanks for listening.

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Front To Back v3 on Apple Podcasts

Front To Back Episode 2 Featuring Jim Basnight "Not Changing"

This week on Front To Back, Jim Basnight stops by to give us some insight into his latest album “Not Changing”. Sit back and enjoy, don’t forget to support the artists and thanks for listening to PPO’s Front To Back.

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Power Pop Overdose Popcast Volume 34

This week on Power Pop Overdose we have new music from The Persian Leaps, Garfields Birthday, SLD | Marveline, The Lemon Drop Gang and more. Additionally we feature some classic power pop, Bunch of Stiffs, Utopia plus some outstanding cover songs.

As Always, enjoy the music, support the artists and thanks for listening to Power Pop Overdose!



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PPO v34 on Google Play
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