Back again with another extremely cool "tenner" (title for title one of the best of the year) of "the best of the best" new (and not-so-new), pop and related goodies for your ears! Enjoy!
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED TITLES (You may have to cut/paste song links)
An American Underdog (Andy Reed) Always On The Run + bonus disc
GREAT!! $11
Brand new “band” effort from former Kool Kat label alum (and personal fave) Andy Reed! Like all of Andy's previous efforts, this one's literally a pop goldmine! "I was going for a more American sound (hence the band name). As a result of listening to a lot of Harry Nilsson and Beach Boys, I really tried to stay true to a lot of that classic pop production." explains Andy We hear all kinds of musical touchstones throughout this BRILLIANT effort! Want some proof? "Your Reign Is Over" sounds like Brendan Benson (actually Andy's voice resembles Brendan's - must be the Michigan water). So does "The Day The World Was Lost", "World Of Make Believe", and "I'll Miss You Girl". "Portland" could easily be a Squeeze song/solo outing sung by Chris Difford. Speaking of Squeeze, "Parades" could be a Glenn Tilbrook sung/or solo song. "Nothing I Can Do" reminds us of Dan Jones (with Beach Boys-like backing vocals). "Beautiful Dreamer" could be a Jellyfish song. "Put Out The Fire" reeks of Brian Wilson/Beach Boys-ness and comes complete with a "Penny Lane"-like trumpet solo! Harry Nilsson comes to the fore on the title track (imagine if Brendan Benson sung Nilsson). Despite all of the aforementioned references, Andy's identity still shines through! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC CONTAINING 5 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SONGS! TRACK LISTING: "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE" (Beatles cover inspired after being in New York and visiting the Dakota the day before the anniversary of John Lennon's death) AND 4 TRACKS ("MAKE UP YOUR MIND", "SATURDAY NIGHT", "ON MY WAY", AND "YOU SAY YOU LOVE ME") FROM A 2004 STUDIO PROJECT CALLED THE HOTEL BUZZ (The band consisted of Andy Reed (vocals, guitars), Jason Reed (bass), and Jeff Hupp (drums). This project was created after their previous project - The Rioteers - disbanded)!
(listen @ http://soundcloud.com/anamericanunderdog)
Terry Anderson & the Olympic Ass Kickin Team
More Smooth Jazz & Sweet Sweet Jams + bonus disc
GREAT!!! $14
ROCKPILE ALERT!!!! "The title of their latest effort will make you think of a convenience-store comp with a soft-focus cover shot of a couple in a field of daisies and a track listing that sports a Kenny G number and 'Sometimes When We Touch'. But 10 seconds in, it’ll make you think of tongue firmly in cheek. There’s nothing dreamily gauzy about Terry and the OAKTeam. Their songs live in the real world, not a damn daisy field. Sometimes when their neighbors touch, they share way too much, as laid out in the Rockpile ‘n’ roller 'Too Much Information.' Elsewhere, you’ll find sex addicts ('Enabler'), wagered-away loves ('Gambled and Lost'), and hell-sent roommates ('Time for You to Go'). Of course, real life has its charms too, and the guys are never more charming than when confessing to the titles of 'Nervous Around Pretty Girls' and 'Your Sweetness (Is My Weakness).' As always, the music that propels the tales hits the sweetest spot at the intersection of power pop, bar-band rock, and what the young people used to call 'alt-country.' It’s a festival of few frills but unlimited hooks, a sound as uncluttered as a West Point dorm and that much more appealing because of it. Every song’s a keeper, but among the best are 'Ridin’ Around,' an appropriately hard-driving cut that cries out to be paired with NRBQ’s 'Ridin’ in My Car' for a double-shot of joy-riding bliss, and the harmony-rich pure popper 'Not Turning Around'." - Rick Cornell/Indyweek.com "Few evoke that glad-to-be-alive feeling as well as these guys, reminding you why you fell in love with rock-and-roll in the first place. They don’t try to reinvent the music, they just distill it to its glorious essence. And they are getting even better at it. As a unit, the OAKTeam has developed into a powerhouse unit. They can rock like ass, as their leader likes to say, but also deftly navigate the sweet but never sticky pop of numbers like 'Spend the Night.' This is music that SHOULD be blasting from radios everywhere." - Philadelphia Inquirer COMES WITH A 3-SONG BONUS DISC OF PREVIOUSLY DOWNLOAD-ONLY TRACKS - "HE'S YOUR GIRLFRIEND", "DIDN'T FEEL AS BAD”, AND "TAKE A LEAK & GO"!
(listen @ http://www.reverbnation.com/terryandersonandtheolympicasskickinteam)
Blackfoot Sue The Singles Collection GREAT!!! $17
Blackfoot Sue don’t immediately spring to mind when discussing early 70’s hit-makers; indeed, they don’t even qualify for the more recent back-handed compliment of being classed “junk shop glam”, scoring a No 4 single in August 1972 before disappearing forever. There was a time, however, when they meant something to pre-pubescent glam fans whose only source of information was Disco 45, Top Of The Pops, and the Radio 1 chart run-down. Bearded hipsters who perused the NME and Melody Maker were, however, more able to follow the rise and fall of this able, but oddly misplaced bunch of rock/glamsters. The No 4 single was "Standing In The Road" – not unlike Slade with strange percussion – but, by the time glam kids flipped its B-side, "Celestial Plane", they were already hearing more straightforward rock. The follow-up single "Sing Don’t Speak" scraped into the Top 40 at No 36, with shades of the Glitter Band, but it just revealed a band with an identity crisis. Their third single, the dreamy, breezy instrumental "Summer", was reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s "Albatross" and only confused potential fans further. All these years later, though, this set – which rounds up all of their single A's and B's – reveals a very strong rock band with some finely-crafted songs. They were one of the few bands like Sweet who appealed to both the Rock and the Glam Rock crowds. The accompanying booklet features detailed notes on each single and pictures of each release including many rare European ones.
(listen @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs9iqD34x1U)
Cleaners From Venus In Chimp World GREAT!!! $14
EXCLUSIVE CDR RELEASE!! Previously a 4-song download-only EP, "In Chimp World" has been expanded to include 7 previously unreleased tracks - ONLY AVAILABLE ON THIS RELEASE! Martin Newell explains "This 'album' came about almost by accident. Sometimes I'll go and make an album with a definite theme to it. Other times, I'll be on a rolling recording programme, eventually ceasing work at a certain point to declare the project finished. In this case, neither of these methods applied. This collection of songs was done almost absent-mindedly, just because Dave Allen and I thought we should be recording. In the end, I decided to go the 'Magical Mystery Tour' route: that is, to leave 'Chimp World' as an EP in the UK and then let the Americans have it as an album. It's a funny thing, but to me now, one or two of the songs actually do sound a little American: 'Good Morning Mr Jenkins' for instance – and 'I Wanna Stay In'. Maybe this is what was meant to happen. It still sounds like the Cleaners From Venus." It sure does! "Picking up right where 'English Electric' left off, once again the production is simple, built around Martin's graceful, plangent acoustic guitar work, with just a touch of electric 12-string jangle or playful parlour piano and the tofu equivalent of real drums. Martin himself calls this as 'an album of inspired demos,' and that’s a perfect description! The distinctive chord changes that Cleaners/Newell fanatics constantly ring for again ring loud and clear on a collection of songs that just might be even better than his previous one. They’re filled with addictive melodies, references to such everyday charms as shop windows, and very English vocals and song titles like 'The Shadows and Me' and 'Bloody Tuesday'. He suggests that 'Good Morning, Mr. Jenkins' and 'I Wanna Stay In' 'sound a little American,' and maybe they do. But one thing’s for sure: as long as he keeps coming up with wonderful tunes like these, he will remain North Essex’s Greatest Living Englishman as far as passionate fans in the U.K., U.S., Far East and everywhere else are concerned!" - Baron Saturday Spot on, as always Baron! We'll take a new one from Martin or The Cleaners any day!
(listen @ http://www.martinnewell.co.uk)
Kippington Lodge Shy Boy: The Complete Recordings 1967-69 GREAT!! $17
Before he taught us that it was "cruel to be kind", and even before he first wondered “what’s so funny ‘bout peace, love and understanding?,” Nick Lowe was one fourth of the groovy lite psych-pop outfit by the name of Kippington Lodge, yet they remain one of the least known English pop groups of the late 60's. This despite boasting a line-up that along with Lowe, included Brinsley Schwarz and Bob Andrews (future members of Brinsley Schwarz/Graham Parker & The Rumour) who would all find fame and in Lowe's case, fortune for their musical exploits in the decades to follow. During their brief existence, they managed to release five singles through Parlophone that were in perfect step with baroque-tinged pop-psych of the times. Their first two singles were produced by famed EMI producer Mark Wirtz, including their contemporary version of the Keith West penned "Shy Boy". Not that Lowe, or most of the rest of the band, had much to do with the earliest releases, as these were the days of seasoned session men providing the music. The group would eventually morph into pub-rock pioneers Brinsley Schwarz. This long overdue, official collection represents the missing chapter of the aforementioned members' earliest recorded efforts. It includes all ten of Kippington Lodge's single sides, along with an alternate takes of "And She Cried", two alternate takes of "Land Of Sea" (a previously unreleased song), and live BBC performances of "Shy Boy" and a cover of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Younger Girl"!
(listen @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmj5gWb3eCw)
Muck and The Mires A Cellarful Of Muck GREAT!! $16
It's the number 1 Garage Rock band in the USA, man, back with their 4th release on Dirty Water Records! Muck's unique "Hamburg-Beatles-meets-1977-Ramones" sound has them dancing in the aisles from London to Worcester! The band hails from New England, yet features a distinctly 60's English sound and songwriting style. Legendary producer Kim Fowley describes them as “The 1964 Beatles meets The Ramones”. They have built an incredibly successful career over the past decade. After gaining national attention as the winners of Little Steven Van Zandt’s battle of the garage bands on MTV, the band was signed to Dionysus Records before setting up shop with UK-based Dirty Water Records, producing albums that are now considered “garage rock” classics. Along the way, they have had the opportunity to perform/tour around the globe with many of their heroes and influences; in Europe with The MC5 and Kinks front man Ray Davies, and in the USA with The New York Dolls, The Bay City Rollers, Pete Best (of The Beatles), Bo Diddley, and Dick Dale. On this record, they teamed with producer Jim Diamond (White Stripes) at his famed all-analogue Ghetto Recorders Studio in Detroit, Michigan. "The resulting collaboration features high energy Detroit grit combined with some of the catchiest tunes to hit magnetic tape in decades. The opening track, 'King of the Beat', is an anthem for every pub band dreaming of stardom. 'Saturday Let Me Down Again' rocks like a lost AM radio hit, and, really, what could be more garage rock than a love/hate relationship song entitled 'Love Hates Me'? This may be their finest release to date, proving that they haven’t grown up, they have just become better at what they do – pumping life into the genre that so many others have managed to run into the ground." - PiccadillyRecords.com Will appeal to fans of The Inmates and Dr. Feelgood too!
(listen @ http://soundcloud.com/cani-planeta/muck-the-mires-a-piece-of)
The Poets Wooden Spoon: The Singles Anthology 1964-67 GREAT!! $21
Mean, moody and utterly magnificent, in 1964 the Poets were the best thing to come out of Scotland in quite some time. It’s true that this is akin to being a big fish in a small pond - not many Scottish bands recorded in the ’60s, and not many of them were at all notable. But that shouldn’t detract from the genuinely high quality of their records, which still remain known only to a relatively small band of collectors. The Glasgow group differed from most other Scottish combos of the time in that they concentrated almost exclusively on original material, which alternated between mournful, almost fey ballads and storming mod rockers. Managed and produced by Rolling Stones svengali Andrew Loog Oldham, between October 1964 and January 1966 the group released a quintet of classic singles, ranging from the aggressive mod pop of "That's The Way It’s Got To Be" and "Baby Don t You Do It" to the Top Forty hit "Now We're Thru'", whose haunting minor key melody, edgy lead vocal, eerie Celtic drone, clanging acoustic twelve-string guitar, keening backing vocals and general air of quiet menace encapsulated the Poets unique, spellbinding appeal. Without the massive hit single that their excellence deserved, the group fragmented in early 1966 after the departure of lead singer and chief songwriter George Gallacher. However, a revised line-up bounced back in fine style the following year with "Wooden Spoon" b/w "In Your Tower" another unaccountable flop, but now widely acknowledged as a seminal British freakbeat/psychedelic record. Taken from
the Decca and Immediate archives, this first ever official Poets anthology features the group’s entire released output during their 1964-67 glory days, proving beyond any shadow of doubt that, despite their relative lack of commercial success, they were one of the most vital bands to emerge from the British beat boom!
(listen @ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtBJEOyy7uw)
Pugwash The Olympus Sound GREAT!!! $18
WOW!!! Following on from the success of Ivor Novello nominated The Duckworth Lewis Method (with co-conspirator Neil Hannon), Pugwash (Thomas Walsh + mates) have unleashed their fifth studio album! And it's packed to the gills with the usual Pug goodies, melody, humor and that Pugwash sound (a/k/a PURE POP)! "They are purveyors of the finest classic pop you’re likely to find these days; heavily influenced by ELO, The Beach Boys and The Beatles their sound is full of lush harmonies, chiming guitars and some of the most catchy choruses imaginable!" - SimonLittlebass.com "Pure Beatlesque joy!" - PopFair.blogspot.com "You won’t be hearing Pugwash’s primary motivating force, Thomas Walsh, saying his next album will be taking on a brand new direction. Which is fine by us - he does what he does (pristine power pop) and does it so well that we’d rather have it than a new direction that doesn’t do it well at all. Reference points established, influences noted, ambitions secured, it’s gratifying to point out that their new album is their best to date. Whether Walsh felt he had a point to prove we don’t know, but the songs here are sterling stuff, as good as any power-pop, or variant thereof, this lover of power-pop has heard. You know the score by now, of course. The songs have that familiar ring, that 'which-song-is-that-melody-from?' sense that only the very best can get away with. And make no mistake about Walsh – in the past ten years he has progressed from being something of an oddity in Irish music terms to one of the most highly regarded psychedelic-pop songwriters around. This record is full of such treats; songs such as ‘Answers On A Postcard’, ‘Be My Friend Awhile’, ‘Dear Belinda’ and ‘15 Kilocycle Tone’ (to name but four) are perfect examples of the form, each one executed with due diligence and attention to detail. Something of a triumph for the underdog then? Woof, woof!" - Tony Clayton-Lea Abso-frickin-lutely!
(listen @ http://www.hmvdigital.com/artist/pugwash/the-olympus-sound-1)
Dwight Twilley Soundtrack GREAT!!! $14
HE'S BACK!!!! The rather prolific Dwight Twilley’s new record is simultaneously unique and perhaps the most powerful recording of his career. It all began when he signed on to write and produce the record to accompany a film documentary now in production about his life. Dwight explains “Creating this album was a real challenge for me. Something I’ve never attempted. It’s completely autobiographical. For me these songs are like musical photographs of the people, places and events that tell my story.” Special guests on the album include Susan Cowsill (The Cowsills) who contributed her typically amazing harmonies on “Bus Ticket”, “God Didn’t Do It” and “The Cards Will Fall,” and fellow Tulsan Taylor Hanson (Hanson) who adds organ and magical keyboard sprinkles to "The Cards Will Fall” and “The Last Time Around.” The new album marks a bittersweet milestone of the end of a more than 30-year collaboration between Dwight and legendary guitarist Bill Pitcock IV, who made a significant contribution to the album. Bill passed away near the completion of the recording. A new Dwight Twilley record is always akin to reuniting with an old childhood friend. The years have not changed them a bit – and you can always count on an enjoyable time without any pretense! That being said, we're thrilled to report that the sound is still classic Twilley all the way!
Mike Viola Electro de Perfecto GREAT!! $13.50
Mike's first new release in four years features legendary sidemen Victor Indrizzo (Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Beck) and Sean Hurley (John Mayer, Alicia Keys, Miley Cyrus) as his rhythm section. Also guesting on the record are Semisonic's Dan Wilson (vocals) and Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger (bass) on the song "Get You Back". The new record represents a slight shift of direction - it's a more stripped down effort, tighter, and more focused than his previous release "Lurch". "This was worth the wait! Mike rocks hard here and the songs are edgy and raw! The album is a journey through life, love and loss, expertly conveyed by his haunting vocals and colorful lyrics. While every song is perfect in its own way, my favorite is the catchy 'Soundtrack of My Summer', one of the more upbeat tunes, which really captures his emotion and quickly has you singing along!!! You will not be disappointed!!!" - RayRay "I cannot wait to hear the rest of this record again, because right now I am almost completely stuck listening to the first track over and over. If his past albums were undergrad work, this is his doctoral thesis. Full of muscular, complex guitar playing, delicious pop melodies and harmonies couching his usual survey of unhappiness and ecstasy. His voice and guitar are jacked up in the mix the way I've always wanted to hear his music. One of the best singers in the business, he takes lots of vocal chances - more so than on other records - and does not wipe out a single time. This record reminds me a bit of the Candy Butchers' 'Falling Into Place' album, but even better, if that's possible." - Mark Wade Stone "He's fronting a new electric trio and he means business. The tracks are a bit louder, yet the hooks are classic Viola." - PopFair.blogspot.com
(listen @ http://www.rhapsody.com/#/album/Alb.49799031)
RECENT EXCLUSIVES - REMEMBER: UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE, THERE IS NEVER AN "EXPIRATION DATE" ON ANY OF OUR EXCLUSIVE OFFERS
Nick Lowe The Old Magic + bonus disc $18
One of our all-time faves has returned! Of Nick Lowe, NPR once observed, "Few musicians get better with age, Nick Lowe is an exception." While it's undeniable that his last album ("At My Age") garnered him some very high praise - dubbed "utterly fantastic," by The Village Voice - there is little doubt in our minds that he has always been at the forefront of modern music. He has always set the standard for smart, switchblade-sharp pop music. His latest continues his late-career evolution. Amidst urbanely insistent grooves ("Sensitive Man"), and spare-yet-imposing shuffles ("Checkout Time"), the record also features three exceptional Lowe ballads - album opener "Stoplight Roses," "House for Sale" and "I Read A Lot." As has been his latter-career custom, he also peppers the album with three covers - "Poisoned Rose" (Elvis Costello), "Shame On The Rain" (Tom T. Hall), and "You Don't Know Me At All" (Jeff West) - that fit seamlessly with his originals. "He is pop’s master of pastiche, and this delightful collection of country bar-room and lounge ballads sounds like a game of spot the musical references." - Telegraph.co.uk "Geraint Watkins, Steve Donnelly, and Bobby Irwin create a modest but nuanced sound, and his voice remains an unlikely asset. He often sounds so laid back as to not even be really trying to sing - his phrasing is always articulate and deftly conversational - inhabiting his songs with elegance and poise. Broadening his palette a bit, the uptempo reggae feel of 'You Don’t Know Me At All' suggests that he might have been drawing inspiration from the likes of James Hunter, not least because of its sumptuous horn arrangement. His songs sound like they could have been written at any time since the mid-50's." - Musicohm.com COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC - " I HEAR YOU ROCKING" - A BLISTERING 15-SONG LIVE ROCKPILE SET FROM THE BOTTOM LINE IN NYC ON 11/20/79! TRACK LISTING: "DOWN DOWN DOWN", "SO IT GOES", "I KNEW THE BRIDE", "DEBORAH", "I LOVE THE SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS", "NO MORE MR. NICE GUY" (sung by Billy Bremner), "TROUBLE BOYS" (sung by Billy Bremner), "IT'S MY OWN BUSINESS", "LET IT ROCK" (featuring Keith Richards on guitar!), "THE PROMISED LAND", "I HEAR YOU KNOCKING", "THEY CALLED IT ROCK", "FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN" (sung by Billy Bremner), "THE HEART OF THE CITY", AND "LITTLE SISTER" (sounds like the “Concert For Kampuchea” version, featuring Robert Plant on lead vocals)!
Richard Snow & The Inlaws Am I Really That Boring? + bonus disc $15
JANGLE ALERT!!! The first album credited to Richard and his band is a true cracker! One of the great-unsung talents of the power-pop genre, he successfully melds the styles of the Beach Boys, the Byrds and Elvis Costello into a style that is purely his own. "A classic on all fronts: songwriting, playing, and production. The strength of the songwriting is what elevates the songs above the mere 'retro' tag. There are subtle, but not overpowering nods to the power-pop greats (the Byrds, Merseybeat, Ray Davies, Elvis Costello, Badfinger, Buddy Holly, Beach Boys, and Wings), but the way Snow weaves these influences into his songs results in a unique sound all their own. Cleverness in his lyrics abound: 'I put my records in order alphabetically cause I want them in the right place…am I really that boring? Yes I am and I don’t care!' If there ever was a renaissance-man-of-power pop, it is Richard Snow." - Earcandy.com "Bursting with winning melodies, interesting songs and gorgeous harmonies, he shows genuine genius in places." - Alistair Harris "Whether it's jangly power pop, fun new wave, or splendourous and Beach Boys influenced, Richard Snow is an artist who truly 'gets it'! " - David Bash/IPO "His songs are full of melody, ringing Searchers/Byrdsian guitars and beautiful pin sharp harmonies. He has an intimacy and spareness of expression that captures common experiences and relates them with candid honesty, plus a rare gift for melody, harmony and hook. He connects well with his audience and sometimes you might think, we've found the British Marshall Crenshaw – Ladies and Gentlemen – this is a good thing!" - Powerpopreview.blogspot COMES WITH
AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC - "ARE YOU BORED YET?" - FEATURING 7 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED AND ALTERNATE VERSIONS OF SONGS RECORDED DURING THE "AM I REALLY THAT BORING?" ALBUM SESSIONS!
The Great Affairs Happy Ender $11
The latest and greatest (and last from The Great Affairs) from Denny Smith (fORMER) is now available as a physical CD, but is only available from Kool Kat! Previously a six-song, download-only release, this edition adds seven, intimate, previously unreleased demos of "Gone", "I Should've Known", "Aimless", "Missing Me", "Crawl", "Sleepwalking", and "Me On Saturday"! ""In the neighborhood of Tom Petty, Wilco, and The Jayhawks. The sound is earnest and organic, pleasant and mellow." - Bill's Music Forum "Smith is a soulful, rustic rock `n' roller whose music takes in the rootsy guitar rock, the strained angst, the wavery worry of the Honeydogs, the throbbing blood-vessel edginess of Paul Westerberg, and the soulfulness of Paul Carrack-era Squeeze. All delivered with a passion and desperation that demand attention. In the end, it's just straight ahead rock and roll. No frills. Not sappy, not loud...just oozing with great energy, good songwriting and a powerful voice." - Max Humphries "They prove why Nashville is one of the hotbeds of the nation for new talent. Their sound is simple, but effective and draws you into what they’re saying. Pop, Folk, Rock, Americana; they cover them all. The music flows so smoothly that you keep wanting more and more as each song is as well-written as the one before!” - JP's Music Blog "An aural barrage of Americana pop, country rock and honky-stomps. Think dusty boots and a crisp-collared button down...country-fried with nuanced pop undertones...straddling alt-country and radio-ready rawk. One part Whiskeytown, throwback Soul Asylum and the Jayhawks with a bit of Wilco thrown in for good measure." -Skope Magazine "Contains more of their laid-back, tuneful best. It has a loose-limbed feel, with the peppy 'Bird On A Wire' the highlight." - Absolutepowerpop.com
Shake Some Action! White Lies and Bloodshot Eyes $11
The latest from Aussie ex-pat James Hall and mates is a terrific odds 'n sods collection of B-sides, demos and tracks recorded between 2005-2011 that, for whatever reason (not quality, that's for sure), never made the cut on any of their albums. Previously a download-only release, it is now available as a physical CD, but only from Kool Kat! Songs like "Get It Together" features a distorted Hammond organ riff that the "Sunny Days Ahead" version lacks - for that reason James still prefers this original version. Dave explains further "We recorded 'Let Me In' in late '05 and was left off the debut, mostly because I was focusing on uptempo numbers and this had a slow John Lennon vibe to it that didn't fit in well with the other songs. Gary had written a lovely ballad 'The Long Haul' and from memory he taught it to us in the studio as we recorded it at the end of the 'Sunny Days' sessions. Gary's vocal was supposed to be a guide but I just couldn't hit the high notes, so this became the only SSA song to feature a different lead vocalist. He did a great job!" "If you're a bit nostalgic for those 80's jangle hooks of The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Cure and Psychedelic Furs then you'll dig this band. The quality of the work here proves that many of these really deserved a proper release. 'One Way Ticket' is a first class single with equal helpings of The Kinks and The Jam. Surprisingly these songs hold together as an album quite nicely. 'Wherever You Are Tonight' and 'Get It Together' are solid rockers with the latter track's organ leading the way. 'I Get Tongue Tied' is about shyness and the lovely harmonies here make it a gem. Included is a terrific cover of The Velvet Underground's 'White Light/White Heat'!" - Powerpopaholic.com "Power pop packed with rich harmonies and indelible hooks reminiscent of Hoodoo Gurus, Robyn Hitchcock, the La’s and other pop greats." - KEXP.com "Their music is steeped in the influences of classic pop from the '60s through the '90s." - Amazon.com Very, very Hoodoo Gurus-like throughout! James' voice is very Dave Faulkner-ish!
Honeywagen Atomic Café + bonus disc $14
JANGLE ALERT!!! WOW!! Chock full of ringing, jangly, sometimes twangly, 6 and 12-string guitars, the third effort from Mike Penner and his mates, who hail from the heartland of America, is a brilliant garage jangle-pop gem! "What the heck is in the water in Nebraska? Whatever it is, you could bottle and sell it to aspiring jangle poppers everywhere! If you're a fan of The Flamin' Groovies, Plimsouls, early Gin Blossoms, The Belltowers, The Smithereens, The Searchers, The Byrds, and other janglers of their ilk, then you're gonna DIG the 'Wagen - BIG TIME! Guitars, guitars, and more guitars are the order of the day - and that's only the half of it. The songs, full of great melodies, song structure that features some very groovy twists and turns, are just as catchy and hookladen as the best of the bands they remind me of. Every one is good, every one is memorable, and flow with a life of their own. The band adds inflections of harmony from their jangle roots to meatier rock `n' roll sounds of the latter-day Flamin' Groovies. Swirl that with a healthy dollop of 12-string guitars, some awesome riffs, a little bit of folk-rock influences, and a jigger of sugary pop and you have their most diverse album to date. In fact, the record sounds like it could have very easily have been recorded at Rockfield Studios in the UK! They successfully manage to take a very limited sub-genre - jangly garage pop - and turn it into a varied tapestry of similarly styled, but constantly fresh sounds. The end result being garage pop of the highest order!" - Max Humphries Spot on, Max! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC "MIKE PENNER DOES 'A HARD DAY'S NIGHT' " - COVERING, FROM START TO FINISH, THE UK VERSION OF THE CLASSIC BEATLES ALBUM! WOT!!! Can't say enough about this!
Chris Richards Historia Pathetic Dos $12
EXCLUSIVE CDR RELEASE!!! Initially a download-only release, the 18 track "Historia Pathetic Dos" is the second release in Chris Richards' "Pathetic History" archive series - and, for those of you who don't download and like something tangible, it's being made available on CD - but only from Kool Kat!. Chris has been kicking around the Detroit music scene for the better part of 20 years. This collection features all unreleased Pantookas, The Phenomenal Cats, Hippodrome, and Chris Richards solo material from the mid 80's through the mid 2000's. As one of the Midwest's unsung heroes of contemporary power pop, he has been in the game long enough to have a firm command of the classic hard pop lexicon, and he's learned to write a memorable hook and a ear-catching melody with the same ease and aplomb as Tommy Keene, Marshall Crenshaw, the Posies, or Sloan. His tunes are known to have a freshness, energy, and punch that shows he's a kindred spirit, not a follower, and the big guitars, and spot-on vocal harmonies will satisfy your craving for quality, hard-rocking pop. All of tracks have been digitally remastered. "Indie pop and especially power pop are dead. Every melody has been played, every guitar riff has been strummed. But every time one thinks so, along comes someone that proves you wrong. Richards is someone like that. His music sounds as if he had just invented power pop, pulling melodies out of his magic hat, that sound so refreshingly easy and catchy at the same time. They make you wonder how he does it. And then this man sings with a voice that makes you shudder. It rains melodies. Humming is permitted." - Robert Pally "A perfect batch of ditties to tap your toe to under the summer sun like an adrenaline-flavored popsicle." - Real Detroit Weekly Don't let the title fool you! Demos or not, there's a lot of great, high quality stuff here!
The Red Button As Far As Yesterday Goes + bonus disc $14
YES!!!!! Seth Swirsky and Mike Ruekberg, are back with the eagerly anticipated, jangle-filled, top-notch song filled, second installment of The Red Button! In 2007, Shindig! Magazine hailed Seth and Mike as the new Power Pop Princes. We're happy to report that their reign continues! Once again filled with Beatles-era melodies, harmonies and concise song construction, the new album continues right where they left off on "She's About To Cross My Mind". Swirsky, writer of hits for many recording artists over the years is also a successful solo artist in his own right having just won Pop Song of the Year at the 2010 Hollywood Music Awards with the title track of his latest solo album, "Watercolor Day". Ruekberg is well known as one of the top singer-songwriters on the L.A. scene. Together they make a formidable songwriting duo who haved studied and respect the art of the song. "It would take a spacious Ferry Cross the Mersey to carry all the accolades heaped upon their debut. The record featured 'Cruel Girl', a song that charted #1 in Billboard as the 'Coolest Song in the World' on Little Steven's Underground Garage Radio Show. There's plenty more of that refreshingly retro goodness here Driven by the stirring musical chemistry of Swirsky's romantic optimism offset by Ruekberg's tart sense of realism, it features delightful melodies, harmonies and production textures that sound as if they could have been transported directly from the magical era when AM radio was king." - Marketwire.com Yep, it's that good! Our money's on "Caught In The Middle" as Little Steven's next "Coolest Song In The World" pick. The title track sounds like it could be a lost Zombies song (in fact, we wouldn't mind if the current Zombies lineup covered it). Stylistically, the new collection expands beyond the strictly mid-'60s Beatlesque vibe of their debut to embrace what Mike, the album's producer, calls the "golden age of singer/songwriter-driven pop/rock." Seth loves the rub that comes from having catchy melodies that inspire people to sing immediately, "before they realize that there's a dark and light thing happening." Mission accomplished guys! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 3-SONG BONUS DISC FEATURING "UNPLUGGED MIXES" OF "AS FAR AS YESTERDAY GOES", "PICTURE", AND "GENEVIEVE"! Seth Swirsky himself declares "These songs are really worthy of being 'bonus material'. I would even buy it with these three extra tracks!"
John Holk & The Sequins If You See Her + bonus disc $13
Top-notch, melodic, harmony-filled country pop outta....Detroit???? And don't let that cowboy hat fool you either – the man’s got some pop chops in him too! The smiling Dutch cowboy named John Holk (nee Holkeboer) sings both psychedelic honky tonk numbers for besotted females and males alike. Part Gram Parsons, Nick Lowe and Robert Pollard, his originals spring forth from a place so deep in his subconscious that many listeners swear he's in a dream state when he sings them. He's backed by the Sequins who, in 2010, were voted "crispest honky tonk band"! The record is a document of John's longstanding obsession with pure honky tonk songs, 60's Brit Pop, close harmony, jangle, and psychedelia. "One of the most pleasant surprises I've come across in a while, this band with a fondness for vintage Western wear and sweet Jayhawks/Gram Parsons-styled melodies has released the twang-pop record of the year. The album is one gloriously melodic track after another, from the opener 'No Other Way' to the jangly title track to the wonderfully gentle 'Carry The Load', a thematic cousin to 'The Weight'. But the top track here is 'Autograph', a catchy clever number with wonderful harmonies that would make Gram and Emmylou proud. I've thrown around to phrase 'year-end top 10' more than ten times this year (so have we!), but this one is guaranteed a spot. What The Red Button are to 60's Britpop, John Holk & The Sequins are to early 70's country-pop!" - Absolutepowerpop.com Hard to argue with you, Steve! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE, 10-SONG BONUS DISC - "COVERS BY HOLK" - FEATURING: "CRY, CRY, CRY" (Johnny Cash), "HALF AS MUCH" (Hank Williams), "OMAHA" (Waylon Jennings), "TAKE ME WITH YOU" (Prince), "STRONG BOY" (International Submarine Band), "WRECK ON THE HIGHWAY" (Roy Acuff), "MILLER'S CAVE" (Hank Snow), "HIGH ON A HILLTOP" (Buck Owens/Merle Haggard), "CUP OF LONELINESS" (George Jones), and "PLEASE HELP ME I'M FALLING" (Hank Locklin)!
The Belltowers The Lily Pad Sessions + bonus disc $13
JANGLE ALERT!!! WOW!!! If authentic-sounding, 6 and 12-string guitar-filled, jangly, 60's-inspired garage rock/folk-rock is a weakness, then you must have this! The Belltowers are led by Paul Mutchler of the equally awesome late 80's/90's ultra groovy group outta Orlando, Florida - The Lears! "I'm usually very wary of retro-sounding modern American garage bands with 12-string guitars. Most are ridiculously generic - with more image than substance, dumb-ass Carnaby Street wannabe costumery, ridiculous fake English accents and cookie-cutter identikit songs in which the singer always seems to be terribly concerned about some 'wudds' he is going to have to say to a "gull". So when I saw the cover of this record I wasn't very enthusiastic. Well, surprise. These guys are absolutely great. It's the songs, you know. They do the Beau Brummels/Byrds cross rather effortlessly, I must say. The 12-string is spot-on, the singing is quite lovely, and some of the songs would have fit nicely on that first Bangles EP. You know, the good one. Or that first Long Ryders EP. You know, the ... But seriously, when I saw the sport jacket over the white turtleneck and the English driving cap, I almost didn't even listen to it. Which would have been a mistake, and my loss. And yours too!" - Shindig! Magazine And we're here to bring it to ya! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 5-SONG BONUS DISC CONTAINING DEMOS OF 3 SONGS NOT FOUND ON "LILY PAD SESSIONS", ALONG WITH ULTRA-KOOL KOVERS OF "THOUGHTS AND WORDS" (THE BYRDS) AND "I CAN'T HIDE" (FLAMIN GROOVIES)! BUT, YOU MUST ADD TO YOUR SHOPPING CART TO RECEIVE THIS BONUS DISC!
The Belltowers FREE!!
This is the free-with-purchase bonus disc that features demo versions of 5 songs not found on “The Lily Pad Sessions” CD – covers of “Thoughts and Words” (The Byrds) and “I Can’t Hide” (Flamin’ Groovies), along with originals “Look Away”, “In Your Eyes”, and “Now I Ride”. YOU MUST ADD TO YOUR SHOPPING CART TO RECEIVE THIS DISC!
You can access the POWER POP/ALT COUNTRY ONLINE STORE via our main site - http://www.koolkatmusik.com. There you can view all of the recent New Releases, recent Top Sellers, and search our New & Used inventory!
Thanks for your continued support, and as always, enjoy the music!
Until next week!
All the best,
Ray Gianchetti
