The Bristols - Introducing... - 1999

Fabienne Delsol & Liam Watson’s garage supergroup featuring amongst it’s ranks Bruce Brand (Milkshakes/Headcoats) Owen Thomas (Graham Coxon Band/Cee Bee Beaumont) Parsley (The Adventures of Parsley / Dutronc / Dee Rangers) and the glorious vocal talents of Miss Fabienne Delsol they released two full length albums on Damaged Goods and three singles. They released their first single on Hangman’s Daughter in 1994 followed by a split single with Japanese giants Thee Michelle Gun Elephant a year later on Vinyl Japan. -Damaged Goods Records

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Telstar Sound Drone 7" now out on Bad Afro

Danish act Telstar Sound Drone have released "Mirror pieces" b/w "Golden needles" on Bad Afro on May 30

Telstar Sound Drone formed in 2007 when Hans Beck convinced Mads Saaby to join him in a project called Les Aprés L’amour Sonnes, an artist collective working with media such as sound and video. The first project was to add sound to old educational movies, playing along with the projections. With the addition of Sean Jardenbæk and Mads Løwe the project turned into a band and settled with the name Telstar Sound Drone.
The band recorded a self-titled EP that led to a show at Roskilde Festival in 2009. After that Telstar Sound Drone took a break while internal problems almost destroyed the band. At one point Hans Beck was the only member of the band playing all the instruments. The problems were solved and in early 2011 they recorded two brand new songs at the Black Tornado studio in Copenhagen with this single in mind.
Telstar Sound Drone cleverly blend shoegazer, drone and psychedelic rock and even though the noise breaks are quite breathtaking the music is always melodic making this release one of the most promising singles on Bad Afro in a long time.
The Telstar Sound Drone line-up is: Sean Jardenbæk (Vocals, Guitar), Mads Løwe (Bass), Mads Saaby (Guitar) and Hans Beck (Drums). The two last mentioned also play in Baby Woodrose.


Telstar Sound Drone - Mirror Pieces

Most recent Bad Afro releases are available for download including a fair share of rare stuff previously only available on vinyl. We’re connected to iTunes, Amazon, Fairtrade, E-music, Klicktrack, TDC PLAY, FNAC, WIMP, Spotify, Napster, Inprodicon, Rhapsody, Nokia and many more digital shops. Search for our artists at your favorite download joint and you will probably find them!

Billy Childish - In Blood - 1999

An excellent addition to the catalog of British garage-punk, icon Billy Childish teams up here with chanteuse Holly Golightly of thee Headcoatees. Her group is the female companion to his legendary Headcoats, and the duo share a passion for the monotony of lurching mono-chord riffs. Hence, In Blood is a concept album based around a message -- that three chords is too many. Backed by the Medway Delta Review, the band is effectively the Headcoats with the addition of Johnny Gibb of the Wildebeests. The group burn through a series of variations on the E chord -- staggering the beat and twisting the riff into every possible variation within the formula. The duos combined voices and lyrical wit make In Blood a kind of post-punk Lee Hazlewood/Nancy Sinatra affair. A compelling highlight in the expansive cannons of Billy Childish and Holly Golightly this comes highly recommended. -AMG

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Phoenix - United - 2000

The 2000 debut from the French band Phoenix gleefully combines the electronic- laced melodicism of their fellow countrymen Air with the sensibilities of 1980s UK pop (in the mode of China Crisis and Prefab Sprout) and imbues the results with a dance-floor sensibility. Toss in a bit of classic '70s stadium rock and tongue-in-cheek country, and you have UNITED, a Frankenstein's monster of a record, guaranteed to have something to please nearly any ear.

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New Kurt Baker Single "Why You Gotta Lie" OUT NOW!

Hey all you crazy wild and cool funky people!
Exciting news today! I've just released another brand new track called "Why You Gotta Lie". As it was with the last single I released, "Don't Steal My Heart Away", this tune was recorded by the awesome Jon Wyman here in sunny ol' Maine, and features my group : Geoff Useless (The Queers, the Guts), Josh Malia (Hi Fivin' White Guys, The Taxis), Craig Sala (Planeside, Paranoid Social Club), Kris "Fingers" Rodgers (Goodnight Process) and a special lead guitar solo by Miek Rodrigue (Holy Boys Danger Club).-Kurt Baker



Here's a special promo video for the tune

My friends at Oglio records are offering up a special offer! Woah!

BUY "Why You Gotta Lie" and get "Don't Steal My Heart Away" FOR FREE! 

http://blogoglio.com/2011/04/26/kurt-baker-special-offer/

"Why You Gotta Lie" on sale at iTUNES 

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/why-you-gotta-lie-single/id424764998

"Why You Gotta Lie" on sale at AMAZON

http://www.amazon.com/Why-You-Gotta-Lie/dp/B004RA1710/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1303843303&sr=8-1

"Like" and share "Why You Gotta Lie" on bandcamp! 

http://kurtbaker.bandcamp.com/track/why-you-gotta-lie

UPCOMING SHOWS

4/28/11@ Empire Dine Dance - Portland ME

w/ Steiner Street + The BF's, Northern Lungs, More!

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4/30/11 - @ Production Lounge, Brooklyn NYC w/ Hellfish, One Short Fall, New Rochelles + More!

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5/1/11- Paul Collins "Power Pop-a-Licious Fest" @ Asbury Lanes - Asbury Park NJ 

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5/2/11 - @ Charlies Kitchen, Boston MA w/ THE BF's, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion + More

Well, that's enough spam for one day right? haha! I hope you dig the new tune and come drink a beer and party with me at the upcoming shows! 

© Kurt Baker

Baby Woodrose, Mindblowing Seeds and Disconnected Flowers available now

In 2011 it’s 10 years ago that Lorenzo Woodrose started his own label Pan Records and released the Baby Woodrose debut album Blows Your Mind. The album is still a favourite among many Baby Woodrose fans and along the years the album has sold almost 10.000 copies on LP and CD and an unknown amount of downloads. To celebrate the 10 year anniversary Bad Afro will release Mindblowing Seeds & Disconnected Flowers April 25th – a collection of 15 of the original 4 track demos that led to the release of Blows Your Mind. Below Lorenzo Woodrose explains how the album came about:

“In the late summer of 1999 I was in quite a difficult situation, having no home, no job, no girlfriend, no money and perhaps worst of all, the band I was playing the drums in at the time lost our guitarist, so I was even fearing I was without a band, something that has always meant a lot to me. Usually, I ended up crashing on the couch of my friend The Hobbit and often in our rehearsal room in a northwest industrial area of Copenhagen. Sometime during that summer I had also been introduced to the magic of the Woodrose seeds and somehow the experience, combined with my rather desperate state of mind, spawned a creative outburst of unforeseen proportions.

I decided to call the project Baby Woodrose, because several of the songs (Baby Blows, Living A Dream, Spinning Wheels) reflected my experience with the seeds earlier that summer. I had a vision of a vast ocean and I saw what I believe was an image of my creative potential personified in a naked woman, mysteriously filling one water bucket at a time, dragging them ashore and piling them up on the soft sandy beach. Somehow, I figured it meant that I just had to start working. For several months during that autumn, I did nothing but write and record on my little Fostex Multitracker X-30. The result was something like fifty highly distorted demo tracks in a sixties garage punk style.

I have always felt that the blueprint for the soul and spirit of Baby Woodrose is really within these very first recordings of my own, so it feels great to finally have them on vinyl and I hope some of you can appreciate the beauty of these rough diamonds. I have picked out 15 tracks, many of which also ended up on the album in final versions, but two of them were released separately under the alias Disconnected Flowers on a 7” which is virtually impossible to dig up by now and a few are previously unreleased. Polishing these tracks proved a thankless task, but luckily I still had most of the original master cassettes and the original tape machine, so this album is basically a 24bit digital dump and a careful remix of the stuff I think is the most interesting”.

Lorenzo Woodrose 2011

Baby Woodrose on Bandcamp

Bad Afro Records

Bad Afro Records
Halmtorvet 29, Bygn. 12 A, 1
1700 Copenhagen V
Denmark
http://www.badafro.dk

The Jessica Fletchers - Less Sophistication - 2005

The Jessica Fletchers' free-spirited, effervescent approach to indie pop, steeped in the influence of psychedelic and bubblegum pop groups of the 1960s (the Monkees, the Association), nods to the Bicycles, Tullycraft, and the Apples in Stereo. Originally comprised of Bjorn Rune Lie, Vegard Syrstad, Andreas Mastrup, Thomas Innstø , and Rune Somdal, the group formed in a suburb of Oslo, Norway, in 1997, naming themselves after the crime-fighting mystery writer, played by Angela Lansbury, central to the hit television series Murder, She Wrote. The band self-released its debut album, I Can Shoot You from Here, one year later; the album subsequently caught the attention of the folks at Perfect Pop Records, who signed the band before the year was out. The Jessica Fletchers' first EP on that label, Sorry About the Noise!, came out in 2000; drummer Lie amicably split with the group after the disc was released, and was replaced by Jan Henning Sørensen. The Jessica Fletchers' profile was given a healthy boost later that year when they competed in and won Zoom, a Norwegian "battle of the bands"-style contest; the group toured Norway (which was part of their Zoom prize winnings) in the months that followed, during which time "Sorry About the Noise" became a fairly popular song on Norwegian radio.

Their next EP, (Come On) It's Only Nine (funded, at least partially, by the band's Zoom winnings), came out in 2002; Vegard Syrstad left the group that summer and keyboardist Ivar ("Ravi") Chr. Johansen was brought into the fold. The group's debut full-length, What Happened to The?, was released the following year, and the band was signed to the New York-based label Rainbow Quartz soon after. Johansen left the group around this time, citing a desire to work on a solo hip-hop project, prompting Innstø to bring his brother Mats into the band. The Jessica Fletchers toured heavily over the next year, embarking on their first major European tour and making an appearance at the 2004 SXSW festival. Their third full-length, Less Sophistication, was released in Norway that fall. Another full-length album, You Spider, came out in 2007. -AMG

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FIRST ANNUAL POWER POP-A-LICIOUS! MUSIC FEST KICKS-OFF IN ASBURY PARK, NJ ON APRIL 30TH AND MAY 1ST

CURATED BY POWER POP LEGEND PAUL COLLINS (THE NERVES, THE BREAKAWAYS, THE BEAT) POWER POP-A-LICIOUS! FEST TO FEATURE 19 RENOWNED AND UP & COMING POWER POP, GARAGE ROCK & PUNK-POP ACTS
 
The first Power Pop-A-Licious music festival will take place on Saturday April 30th & Sunday May 1st at the legendary rock club Asbury Lanes in Asbury Park, NJ. Conceived and curated by power pop legend Paul Collins (cofounder of THE NERVES, THE BREAKAWAYS and THE BEAT) the fest will bring together some of the finest young guitar-driven power pop, garage rock and punk-pop bands from across the U.S. and Canada. Power Pop-A-Licious is a unifying rally cry for this thriving rock-n-roll subculture, and is a means for power pop fans of all ages to discover a wealth of talented new music acts in one power-packed weekend.

Collins explains the concept behind the festival, “I was touring all over the country with my Beat Army Tours, when it hit me, I gotta bring all these great bands I’m playing with together for one crazy weekend!”

This all-ages event is ground zero for a burgeoning DIY power pop scene that’s been fueled by the immediacy of the Internet, the devotion of its fans, and social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Each day will feature bands from different regions of the country, with local DJs spinning sets to create an all-day dance party atmosphere. Similar in approach to “happenings” in 1960′s London, Power Pop-A-Licious is no mere rock n’ roll concert, it’s an event. DJs, performance artist’s video projections, and, of course, the spirited, high-energy live rock-n-roll performances from all these great new bands will provide the entertainment. The world-famous Asbury Lanes, where the two day fest will take place, is a vintage bowling alley, bar and live music venue with a capacity of 300, and is located in the heart of beautiful Asbury Park.

Tickets for the fest will be $15 for Saturday and $10 for Sunday, and will be available to purchase online through TicketWeb: http://www.ticketweb.com

SCHEDULED BANDS FOR THIS YEAR’S POWER POP-A-LICIOUS FEST:

SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH

BAM BAMS (Baltimore)
PEACES (Brooklyn)
NEUTRON DRIVERS (NJ)
BAXX SISI’S (Brooklyn)
LANDLORD (Bloomington, ID)
FUTURE VIRGINS (Chattanooga)
DIRTY SHAMES (NYC)
AMOEBAS (Grand Rapids)
MOTHER’S CHILDREN (Ottawa)
HALF RATS (Indianapolis)

SUNDAY, MAY 1ST

BFs (Gloucester)
KURT BAKER (Portland, ME)
THE ABOVE (Brooklyn)
THE SPECTACLES (Maryland)
ELECTRIC MESS (NYC)
GLORY FIRES (Birmingham)
THE WALNUT KIDS (Montreal)
THE SIGHTS ( Detroit)
PAUL COLLINS (NYC)

PAUL COLLINS may just be Power Pop’s greatest champion and spokesperson. Through extensive worldwide touring, and connecting to like-minded bands, artists and fans through social networking sites, Paul has created THE BEAT ARMY, a DIY network of people connected by their love of power pop, punk, new wave and rock-n-roll to help ensure its success at the club level – where rock-n-roll lives and breathes. While THE BEAT ARMY only began last March, Collins has already amassed over 2,700 members. In addition, he’s been touring heavily in support of both THE BEAT ARMY and his new album KING OF POWER POP! (on Alive Records). “Since forming THE BEAT ARMY we’ve done 50-plus shows throughout the South, Canada, East Coast, Midwest and the West Coast involving over 60 bands from around the country,” Collins states. “The shows all have low ticket prices (averaging from $8 to $10) and we book them ourselves. ‘By the people, for the people’… that’s our motto.”

FOR MORE INFO ON ASBURY LANES:

http://www.asburylanes.com

FOR MORE INFO ON PAUL COLLINS:

http://www.thepaulcollinsbeat.com

FOR MORE INFO ON THE BEAT ARMY:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/THE-BEAT-ARMY/346148489520

FOR MORE INFO ON ALIVE RECORDS:

http://www.alive-totalenergy.com

Power Pop-A-Licious is sponsored by The Beat Army, Hotel Tides Restaurant & Spa, The Empress, Comet Ping Pong, Vinyl District, GaragePunk NYC, BigMusic.org, JJ’s Bohemia, Sluggo’s Vegetarian Cafe, Alive Records, and Hoboken Recorders.

Source- Pavement PR

The Makes Nice - Candy Wrapper & Twelve Other Songs - 2007

Don't let the frantic bash-and-crash opening of "California Sun," the first cut on the Makes Nice's debut album fool you -- for all their outward scruffiness, these guys are popmeisters of the first order, and by the time the third track, "Enough Is Enough," has rolled around, they've pulled out their prettiest harmonies, and the title cut suggests what you'd get if you fused the Raspberries with the Who and transplanted their souls into three dudes jamming in a California garage. Josh Smith's melodic but elemental guitar runs definitely carry their share of rock & roll weight but don't overpower the hooks along the way, while drummer Jack Matthew and bassist Aaron Burnham fuse slightly teenage energy with a sense of musical discipline that never gets in the way of the fun. Cranking through 13 songs in less than 32 minutes, the Makes Nice clearly believe in the virtues of short and sweet, and can bring just enough smirk and swagger to keep things from getting too sweet (cue up "November Girls" or "Cop Killer" for evidence). The Makes Nice play forceful pop music with a punk rocker's lack of pretension, and Candy Wrapper & Twelve Other Songs is a debut that leaves the listener wanting more; let's hope they have another half-hour this impressive in them a year or so down the road. -AMG

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Flash and the Pan - Flash and the Pan - 1979

Not exactly your mother's Easybeats, this debut from the Vanda/ Young side project found some seriously deranged songwriting, with quirky but attention-grabbing music peppered with pointy, strange lyrics. A soundtrack for the dark side of the moon that's well worth searching out. -AMG

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The Candyskins - Fun? - 1993

Fun? is the second album from the Oxford- based quintet featuring brothers Nick and Mark Cope on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, respectfully. Released in 1993, Fun? is written entirely by the Cope brothers, along with lead guitarist Nick Burton, and is a jangly slice of British-tinged alterna-pop. The lyrics, mainly dealing with failed relationships, contrast the sweetness and lightweight feel of the music. "Wembley," the opening track, is a joyous pop/rocker despite the all too obvious interjection of soccer crowd cheering during a referential line. The tribal shuffle and blistering guitar on the title track, the country feel of the lilting "House at the Top of the Hill," and the effects-laden guitars on the psychedelic "You Are Here" are all highlights showing the band's musical diversity. Lyrically, things can be morose to the point of annoying as on "Everything Falls Apart." However, the acoustic "Grass," with its sweet harmonies and lyrical resilience, and the gorgeous closer, "All Over Now," more than make up for any shortcomings. -AMG

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PPO turns 3!

I just realized that Power Pop Overdose has turned 3!  I am amazed.  Thanks to everyone for helping keep PPO going.

Curty Ray

Freddy - Things You Never Thought I'd Say - 2003

Freddy's influences are under the surface, a mix of old and new. From the Beatles to Elton John to Marvin Gaye to Oasis, the result is fresh and captivating. Country music influences from childhood battle with Britpop influences from Freddy's years of living in the United Kingdom, when Pulp, Suede, Blur, Oasis, and the Stereophonics ruled the charts, and Craig David was just emerging. From the first time you listen, you get that tingle in your spine. Because the four right chords can make you cry, and when it's right, the first time you hear it will feel like forever. Acoustic meets electric, dark meets light and opposites blend seamlessly.

This special blend is now available in "Things You Never Thought I'd Say", the debut album by Freddy. The album's 11 songs were written over the course of ten years and represent the diversity and depth of Freddy's writing. It is a mix, and some songs are alike while others aren't. Listen with heart, mind, and gut, for they speak to all. From the edgy strings of "Apart", to the soaring chorus of "Let It Go", and the deep soul groove of "Secret", the album speaks in many ways but in one style: Freddy style. As you listen and enjoy, you find that genre becomes much less important than the music itself. -CD Baby

The Chevelles - Girl God - 2002

Sharing the writing duties, lead singers Adrian Allen and Duane Smith come across as the Fastball from down under. Sweet guitar hooks steering a tight rhythm section kick off "Every Moment," and from there on, every moment on this album brims with power pop ideal for long car rides in the summer. "Make It Happen" relies more on the melody and makes small use of either a xylophone or triangle, something Smith opts for throughout the record. On the other hand, Allen uses more guitar for a slightly harder, edgier sound, such as "First Time -- Last Time." The first few songs are all possible singles, and there is no hint of filler, but the title track seems to have the finest single quality. "C'Mon Everybody" is one of the weaker tunes here and sounds a bit like the Beach Boys. One of the best tracks is "Round and Round." It's one of the few times drummer David Huck Shaw gets to show his chops. "Goodbye Sally" is another stellar power pop song and has a hint of a string section near its conclusion. If there's one negative to the album, it's perhaps how interchangeable the songs are. While all very strong, none particularly stand out, but "Angelina Jolie" has far more urgency and intensity than the other songs. The same could be said for the adorable "Sleeper," with its great guitar finish. "Sunshine" has a melody similar to Wet Wet Wet's hit "Love Is All Around." -AMG

The Routes - Alligator out now on Dirty Water Records

There’s a huge number of great bands in Japan right now and one of the best is right here, right now on Dirty Water Records. With a sound that’s tough, breakneck yet soulful, there’s also real proper tunes coming from this trio. Yeah, this is freaked-out 100mph fuzz-bucket guitar garage rock’n’roll, and all executed with more than the usual amount of frenziedly primitive zeal, but it’s all delivered by people who actually know what they’re doing, who know how to play their instruments. This is no thrashing around garage-punk-by-numbers.

Their debut album “Left My Mind” was released in 2007 on Motor Sounds Records. The band then released their debut single on Dirty Water Records(UK) in April 2010 and in March 2011, their version of "Stormy" on Groovie Records .



Now, Their new album "Alligator" is out on Dirty Water Records.

The Routes are on


REVERBNATION

FACEBOOK

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Record Store Day at Kool Kat

Saturday, April 16, marks the fourth annual "Record Store Day" at independent record stores throughout the US and the rest of the world.
It is a day that retailers hope will draw both loyal and new customers to celebrate the indie record store and all that it has to offer. The first three Record Store Day celebrations were deemed a success by the independent retail community, and they certainly were as well here at Kool Kat! We are once again proud to be joining our independent brothers and sisters for this annual celebration!

Even though we're not a traditional "brick and mortar" retailer like the ones referred to above, we do share that same passion and enthusiasm for music that they do.

So, in support of the "indie" guys like ourselves (and, as a giant "Thank You" to you, our loyal customers), we have once again decided to
participate in the festivities and offer our customers another "Virtual
Record Store Day" on Saturday. And, just like we've done the past three years, we're extending it to be a "Virtual Record Store Weekend" as the below-outlined promotion will run on Saturday the 16th and Sunday the 17th!

Here are the particulars:

THE PROMOTION RUNS APRIL 16 & 17. ORDERS PLACED BY PHONE OR
INTERNET ON THESE DAYS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BELOW:

10% off our entire Power Pop/Alt Country Online Store catalog
including new and used CDs, vinyl, magazines and DVDs.
Discounts will be applied at the time your credit card is charged.
Paypal payments will be refunded accordingly.
(Does NOT include April 18 New Releases or Pre-Order titles)

PHONE ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM 10AM-5PM (EDT) ON SATURDAY.

WE JUST LOVE PHONE ORDERS! WE LOVE TALKING MUSIC WITH OUR
CUSTOMERS - JUST LIKE IN A COOL RECORD STORE! SO, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO PHONE YOUR ORDERS IN! IF WE'RE ON THE OTHER LINE LEAVE
US YOUR NUMBER AND WE'LL PHONE YOU BACK!

ALL DOMESTIC ORDERS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A RANDOM "FREE
SHIPPING" DRAWING.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have about the promotion. Here's to another successful "Record Store Day"
and to hoping you'll find something fun at Kool Kat in the process!
Again, thank you so much for your continued support!

Best,

Ray Gianchetti
KOOL KAT MUSIK

The Waterboys - Fisherman's Blues - 1988

Mike Scott had been pursuing his grandiose "big music" since he founded the Waterboys, so it came as a shock when he scaled back the group's sound for the Irish and English folk of Fisherman's Blues. Although the arena-rock influences have been toned down, Scott's vision is no less sweeping or romantic, making even the simplest songs on Fisherman's Blues feel like epics. Nevertheless, the album is the Waterboys' warmest and most rewarding record, boasting a handful of fine songs ("And a Bang on the Ear," the ominous "We Will Not Be Lovers," "Has Anybody Here Seen Hank?," and the title track), as well as a surprisingly successful cover of Van Morrison's breathtaking "Sweet Thing." -AMG

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Taking off for a while

Well work is getting in the way again and I will be gone for a week or so.  If you have any problems, requests or concerns, you can contact me at powerpopoverdose@gmail.com.

Later
Curty Ray

The Lolas - Something You Oughta Know - 2004

Something You Oughta Know doesn't stray far from the immaculate bubblegum/
jangle pop assault of the Lolas' previous releases. The Alabama combo are high-scoring students of the genre, and each heady blend of tight Byrds-like harmonies and Cheap Trick swagger is instantly catchy and deliciously transparent -- in a good way. They've got enough Gary Glitter/ELO rave-ups ("Little Deedra"), Nuggets-infused fist-pumpers ("Jungle Girl"), and sugary ballads ("Light Up Every Doorway") to satisfy the rottenest of sweet tooths, and despite the ultracompressed, a little too bright and radio-ready -- for 1977 that is -- production, they all work. Sure, it's just retro power pop and it's all been done before, but if hearing it filtered through the ears and amps of a band whose heaviest lyric is "since you've been gone, my guitar won't stay in tune" doesn't put a smile on your face, then you're just plain jaded. -AMG


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Kurt Baker NEW SINGLE "Don't Steal My Heart Away" Promo Vid

Which is OUT NOW and available for .99 cents on the following sites!
“Don’t Steal My Heart Away” AVAILABLE NOW on iTunes

“Don’t Steal My Heart Away” AVAILABLE NOW on AMAZON.com

“Don’t Steal My Heart Away” AVAILABLE NOW on BANDCAMP.com

Also we’ve got a bunch of cool shows coming up!
April 16th: Just announced will be an In-store acoustic performance at the South Portland Newbury Comics store. It’s record store day! I love records, you love records! Let’s all celebrate the act of record buying! Friends like Grand Hotel and Foam Castles will also be playing!
April 28th: We’ll be rocking Empire Dine & Dance in Portland, ME w/ Steiner Street and more!
April 29th/April 30th : TBA MA/RI/NYC DATES! More info TBA

And a little bonus:
Can't Have Her Back" LIVE @ Port City Music Hall by Kurt Baker and the Kurt Baker Band feat. Geoff Useless, Craig Sala, Josh Malia, Kris "Fingers" Rodgers & Miek Rodrigue. 2/22/11 Portland, Me. Photos by Erika Johnson Photography

The Kooks - Konk - 2008

The Kooks' debut album, Inside In/Inside Out, was a sleeper success story, going on to sell a whopping two million copies. It was a fabulous set, but their follow-up, Konk, wipes the floor with it. The title takes its name from Ray Davies' studio, where the quartet recorded most of the set. This direct connection to Britain's past obviously inspired the band to new heights, because the Kooks and this album are positively electrifying. Across a dozen songs (plus a hidden track), the quartet explores pop and rock in all their glory, with every number set apart from its neighbor in sound and feel. The Kooks wanted each song to be "its own little world," and they've succeeded brilliantly. Singer and rhythm guitarist Luke Pritchard is on fire throughout, a bundle of barely contained emotional energy. Vocally he's an amorphous mass of influences -- Phil Lynott, Steve Marriott, Brett Anderson, David Bowie, even Van Morrison among them -- but bar the occasional inflection, he rarely channels any of them directly, capturing instead their spirit and soul. Musically, his guitar adds a decided bounce to everything he plays, even on the most downbeat numbers. His performances are magnificent, but even so, Konk belongs to lead guitarist Hugh Harris, who swaggers like an epic hero right across this set. He struts out like Achilles onto the plains of Troy on the infectious '60s pop/rocking album-opener, "See the Sun." His leads are absolutely incendiary on "Do You Wanna" while adding subtle shades of color to the crash-and-bash "Always Where I Need to Be," and they're positively joyous on the bright, bouncy Beatlesque "Mr. Maker" and utterly irrepressible on the pop/rock perfection of "Down to the Market." Harris' show-stopper, though, is "Shine On," a midtempo '60s-tinged number that pushes the band into new territory, and Pritchard to new heights as well. The guitarist's work on the power ballad "Sway" is equally superb, and showcases his most emotive work. The members of the band's rhythm section are no slackers either -- drummer Paul Garred brings to mind a more disciplined Keith Moon, while bassist Max Rafferty is the Kooks' linchpin with his wonderfully understated work. The album sounds phenomenal, with producer Tony Hoffer giving the entire set a warm glow that heightens the band's retro elements. That glow turns luminous on "One Last Time," an acoustic-styled ballad with all the majesty of Green Day's "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," and burns just as brightly on the sway-along "Stormy Weather." Everything about this album shouts masterpiece, a set that will thrill listeners for years, nay decades, to come. -AMG


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The Bad Detectives - Get Hip - Let Rip - 2006

The Bad Detectives are a bunch of unlikely musical heroes from the West Country in Great Britain. They write and perform their own material with diverse influences ranging from 60's Brit-pop and kitch 50's novelty tunes. The result is an eclectic collage of catchy songs about old B-movies, rather uncool old cars and Elvis dying on the toilet! They have shared the stage with such British music luminaries as The Pirates and Wilko Johnson and always go down a storm. -CD Baby

New single "Daybreak" from City Reign released

The song writing pair Chris Bull (Vocals/Guitar) and Michael Grice (Guitar) met four years ago at a Ryan Adams concert, having both recently moved north from London. Having spent years writing and playing in bands going nowhere, the two met Michael Glaze (Bass) and Sam Jones (Drums) to complete the new line up. The band took the name from the Adams song, ‘City Rain, City Streets’.

'Daybreak’ has long been a fan favourite, its original recording being the title track of the band’s early demo, The Daybreak EP recorded with Grammy nominated producer Dan Parry. The band have since chopped down the song’s lengthy outro, leaving the punchy pop classic on the current record.

This is the second single from City Reign and can downloaded  from:
http://cityreign.bandcamp.com/album/daybreak-e-p
or to purchase physical CDs over at http://cityreign.bigcartel.com/
Daybreak by cityreign

Also the b-side is a live session recording of the song "The Line"



http://cityreign.bandcamp.com/album/daybreak-e-p
http://cityreign.bigcartel.com/

Frosting releases new single Katrina Wells

A refreshing take on rock music in todays over saturated world of cookie cutter bands, fledgling indie projects and one trick ponies, FROSTING delivers a mesmerizing blend of styles, rooted in the rock genre. From hook-laden pop songs to moody, introspective melodies to straight up guitar driven anthems, these "ingredients" of FROSTING blend to create a unique rock and roll sound.


Frosting - Katrina Wells

to hear more from Frosting's "Fresh Frosting" go to:http://www.frostingusa.com

The Freddy Jones Band - Waiting for the Night - 1993

The Freddy Jones Band's debut album, Waiting for the Night, infuses a bluesy, jam-band sound with Southern rock tendencies. "Take the Time" opens the record with a rolling acoustic guitar lick suitable for a summer drive with the top down. "The Puppet" exemplifies the band at its best, with a driving snappy drum beat, airy harmonies, and a playful electric guitar that eventually bubbles to the surface in the form of a scorching solo. The groovy folk compositions evoke a sense of euphoria and freedom that implores the listener to get lost in the music. The resplendent beauty of "In a Daydream" dreamily matches Marty Lloyd's pacifying vocals with Rob Bonaccorsi's magical guitar work. In between the customary roots rock tracks, the band manages to experiment with other genres like the guitar-laden blues song "The Other Side" and the quirky folk-country ditty "Dixie Dynamite." The Freddy Jones Band's sound is instantly identifiable, and easily accessible, proving that they are definitely onto something special. -AMG

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NEW! "Don't Steal My Heart Away" Single OUT NOW!

Kurt Baker's new track is called "Don't Steal My Heart Away" and it picks up just were the Leftovers left off! Recorded by the amazing Jon Wyman , the track features some amazing performances by Geoff Useless, Craig Sala, Josh Malia, Kris "Fingers" Rodgers and a killer guitar solo from Miek Rodrigue.-Kurt Baker



Buy on Itunes for .99 Cents

Buster - Buster - 1977

.. In May 1976, Buster released their debut single "Sunday" in England. The band were marketed as the new 'teeny bop' sensations and the record was an immediate success with their young fans although, as rock musicians, the boys felt uncomfortable with their 'teeny' image. Sunday raced into the UK charts reaching No46. Radio 1, refused to play the single due to the fact that they were getting a little tired of "Teeny" bands and a new sound was on its way in...PUNK! RVC (present BMG) which is the Japanese division of RCA released "Sunday" in Japan in January 1977. The single was an immediate top ten hit and the boys turned their attentions to the Japanese markets. Five further singles followed and all were top twenty hits. Christmas 1977 saw the band touring Japan, Philippines, Australia & Germany. In Japan 'Buster-mania' had taken a firm grip on the young Japanese public. -Buster


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David Mead - Mine and Yours - 2001

With his sophomore release, the Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne) produced Mine and Yours, David Mead proves that his stellar 1999 debut, The Luxury of Time, was no fluke. And while there's nothing here as immediately irresistible as, for instance "World of a King" from its predecessor, a couple of listens reveals the same mix of sophisticated, intelligent songcraft and pure pop delight. Mead is the consummate songwriter, much in the tradition of John Lennon and Paul McCartney or Paul Simon, creating timeless, memorable melodies that are fresh and inventive, while still ringing with a certain, inviting familiarity. Nearly every piece is meticulously put together, from the rich, textured arrangements to Mead's thoughtful lyrics: intricate, engaging tunes and warm, captivating tenor. Schlesinger's production follows the same basic idea used on The Luxury of Time, but with even more of an emphasis on the classic pop elements in Mead's songs. Mine and Yours, with cuts such as the dreamy melancholy of "Comfort," the buoyant '60s pop of "Girl on the Roof," and the infectious, rocking title track, shows Mead to be one of the best pop songwriter/performers to come along in quite a while. -AMG

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the commander / When I Lay My Burden Down album release

the commander is the new musical guise of Peder Claesson from Sweden.

Discerning music lovers will remember Claesson as the drummer and chief songwriting force behind The Motorhomes, architects of two of the finest albums to usher in the 21st century, before imploding in the usual mess of record label politics and directional uncertainties. Like any self-respecting musical survivor, Claesson re-focused on his craft and before long found himself behind the drumkit of Stockholm indie-rockers Friska Viljor. As it happens this turned out to be the perfect place from which to replenish his innocence, and with a new unblinkered clarity he found himself gathering together the various home and studio recordings that would fit together to create When I Lay My Burden Down. Working mostly alone in the studio, multi-instrumentalist Claesson achieved the intangible quality of layering sounds that truly evoke the spirit of a band playing live together in the studio.

Opening cut ”Dansmelodi” emerges in a swirling mass of cellos and piano and gives way to ”Gamla Stan”, a song about the pain of leaving a place, with a stunningly anthemic yet wordless chorus. First single ”Never Mind The Haters” builds around an irresistible guitar hook that recalls Claesson’s best writing for The Motorhomes, while the album’s title track steals its chorus refrain from the title of George Harrison’s masterpiece 1970 triple album before descending into a beautiful extended instrumental section. “I’ve got nothing but your tears in case of fire” Claesson sings on the closing track ”In Case Of Fire”, just one of many instances where his bold musical brush strokes dovetail beautifully with a lyrical vulnerability that bears repeated spins.

With When I Lay My Burden Down, Claesson re-asserts his position as a master craftsman of elegant, timeless songs.

The album will be available worldwide on digital music stores such as iTunes and Amazon.

Release date: 28 March 2011

Versions: CD and Download.

Pre-ordering of the CD: starting on March 14 at thecommander.se

Producer: Peder Claesson

Record company: Pristine Music Stockholm

Contact/Press/Booking: Johan Bergqvist / johan@pristine.se / +46(0)704-017218

http://www.thecommander.se / http://www.pristine.se

Carus Thompson upcoming CD release and tour

The CARAVAN ALBUM Launch Tour hits the UK this week. Carus & his band will be in London this FRI 11th at THE HALF MOON in Putney. Tix from www.halfmoon.co.uk. They’ll also play in Pymouth (Thur), Macclesfield (Sat) and at THE JAZZ BAR in EDINBURGH this Sunday 13th.

There are also new shows added for PARIS on Tue 15th March and Carus’ first headline show in Vienna on 22nd March. Check the tour dates for other shows through Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany & Switzerland.

Very pleased to announce the Australian leg of The Caravan Album Launch Tour. In his first full band tour of OZ in over three years Carus will play ten shows nationally with his new look Australian band – which features ‘true believer’ Jason McGann on drums and Ben Franz from The Waifs on bass. Yanto Shortis, who also co-wrote the album title track with open all shows and play electric guitar in the band. The tour kicks off in Brisbane on the 6th April at The Zoo. Tix onsale now!

6.04 – The Zoo, Brisbane / 8.04 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla / 9.04 – Great Northern, Newcastle / 10.04- Vanguard, Sydney / 15.04- Pelly Bar (Pier Live), Frankston / 16.04 – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne / 24.04 – Republic Bar, Hobart / 27.04 – Grace Emily Hotel, Adelaide / 6.04 – The Settlers Tavern, Margaret River / 7.04 – The Fly By Night Club, Fremantle

“CARAVAN” OUT IN OZ THROUGH MGM ON 1st APRIL, SPECIAL PRE-RELEASE COPIES AVAIL NOW FROM MUSICPLUG

The first single from CARAVAN – the rocking “You Can’t Find Me” has gone to Australian radio last week, fingers crossed! The Album will be officially in OZ stores & on iTUNES through MGM Distribution from the 1st April, however a few pre-release copies are avialabel through Music Plug. They are available for shipping right now from www.musicplug.me

Carus Thompson - 'You Can't Find Me'

Will Kimbrough - This - 2000

This opens with the majestic, Matthew Sweet-circa-100% Fun "Closer to the Ground." But the album's tone changes throughout, making for a varied, eclectic ride. The airy "Chimayo" comes with shadings of Burt Bacharach, breezy harmonies, and muted trumpets. The sad and slow "Down in My Mind" is a cloistered bit of countrified sentiment, all wrapped up in sparse, bluesy guitar licks. And "Diamond in a Garbage Can" -- with lines like "she's the rotten apple of her daddy's eye," "leaning up against the pawnshop door/I could see she wasn't an ordinary whore," and "she's too sad to be so young" -- is a mid-tempo ramble in the vein of the progressive roots music of the mid-'70s. "Goodnight Moon" ends the set. It's a lullaby-like ode to leaving home with lilting tuba, euphonium, and alto sax by David Jacques. Will Kimbrough's guitar work -- which can also be heard on albums by Kim Richey, Matthew Ryan, Josh Rouse, Amy Rigby, and Jess Klein -- is seamless, and his vocals, which lie somewhere between those of Neil Finn and Gram Parsons, are sweet and warm. -AMG

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Electric & Eclectic Rarities: Volume 1 (free with any order over $30)

Popboomerang Records are proud of our present you with this album “Electric & Eclectic rarities", a collection of hard to find or previously unavailable tunes from our roster of Popboomerang bands. Melodic guitar pop is a medium rarely well done but Popboomerang have cooked up a storm here, presenting a smorgasbord of b-sides,live tracks, covers & demos.

Nothing on this disc is half baked or underdone although some songs are served up raw or at perhaps medium rare!

Enjoy this hot pop of pop nuggets & head to www.popboomerang.com for more information on all the artists.

Tommy Womack - Circus Town - 2002

In an era where the Regular Guy has either been ferreted out of rock & roll or turned so earnest as to be practically unrecognizable, it's good to have someone like Tommy Womack around. Womack (who previously worked with the bands Government Cheese and the Bis-Quits) writes rock & roll songs about everyday stuff -- falling in love, trying to stay in love, life's ups and downs of all shapes and sizes -- with good humor, a strong dose of common sense, and the smarts to understand when this stuff is funny and when it isn't. Womack also knows when and where to use the right three chords, and his third solo album, Circus Town, faces rough-and-ready roots rock up against country-leaning midtempo ballads, and comes up with a set of 11 winners. "Fake It 'Til You Make It" is a funny song about a job gone wrong, "You Could Be at the Beach Right Now, Little Girl" is the sad and evocative tale of a college flunk-out, "We Can't Do This Anymore" is a sweet but potent cheatin' song, teenage romance gone wrong rears its head in "Nancy Dunn" and "Sleeping with Cecelia," carnies wait out the off season on the title cut, and Womack gives his all-time favorite band a long and richly detailed shout-out on "The Replacements." The presence of the latter song begs comparisons to Paul Westerberg, and while one might argue that these days the former leader of the 'Mats writes more from his head than his heart, Womack shows it's possible to use both at the same time, and in Womack's hands the results are winning. (It certainly doesn't hurt that he has some top-shelf help in the studio, including Will Rigby, Will Kimbrough, and Bill Lloyd.) Funny when he wants to be, heartfelt when he needs to be, and playing like he means it in both high and low gears, Tommy Womack proves that he may be a regular guy, but he's no ordinary Joe, on Circus Town. Points added for the hidden track, which finds Tommy's entrepreneurial instincts dovetailing with his annoyance over drug testing in the workplace. -AMG

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The Insomniacs - Out Of It! - 1997

New Jersey's mod power pop trio the Insomniacs formed in English- town in 1989 when their previous incarnation, the Tea Club, fizzled out after a year of rehearsals and infrequent gigs. By 1991, the group, made up of brothers David Wojciechowski (bass) and Robert Wojciechowski (guitar) and drummer Michael Sinocchi, released their debut 7", My Favorite Story, on Umbrella Records. The Time Ticks By and Going Out of My Mind singles followed, and in 1994, the band put out its self-titled EP on Estrus, known among fans as "the ghoul record." The next two years brought the Sylvia Gray and Already Down 7" records. The band's first album was delayed by the infamous Estrus warehouse fire, but in 1997, the Insomniacs finally debuted their first full-length of catchy munster rock, Out of It. The groovy, shag carpets and mood rings follow-up, Get Something Going!, arrived on the scene in 2000, and the similarly fabuloso Switched On! appeared in finer record shops in 2004. -AMG

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Michael Carpenter - Kings Road - 2003

After four albums in which he tackled either most or all of the instruments himself, Australian pop prodigy Michael Carpenter has finally jumped into the deep end and formed a band, and miraculously he's actually been able to improve his work in the process. The synergy of having other musicians to bounce ideas off of in the studio has allowed Carpenter to better focus his energies on the important stuff (truth to tell, he's still saving the flashy bits for himself), and Kings Rd. Works, named for his new backing band, fairly crackles with pure pop energy. Carpenter is still saving the songwriting duties for himself, of course, and this is where Kings Rd. Works shines brightest. In his liner notes, Carpenter describes this set as an effort to move past his influences, wanting "the records to sound like me," and while this stuff is as smart and tuneful as anything he's ever done, there are fewer aural name-checks of his obvious favorites (Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys) and a lot more straight-ahead guitar-centric pop/rock. And Carpenter is as strong a lyricist as he is a tunesmith and producer, which is no small accomplishment, and this album is full of wit and high spirits as well as a maturity and hard-won wisdom on what truly matters in love and life that one doesn't often see in a contemporary pop album. Simply put, Kings Rd. Works is a great record from a criminally underappreciated artist, and if you've been wondering why no one makes the kind of album that can tug at your heart as you sing along these days, well, perhaps you haven't been looking at Michael Carpenter. -AMG

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Got this this week

Baby Woodrose is now on Bandcamp Here you can listen to songs from all the Baby Woodrose albums as well as Lorenzo Woodrose sideprojects like Dragontears and Spids Nøgenhat. Also, the three very rare Pandemonica albums and the 12” are now available for download for the first time on the bandcamp site. Pandemonica was a Lorenzo Woodrose solo project which he recorded from 1993 to 1996. Equally as interesting is the three Baby Woodrose download-only albums called Unreleased Rarities 1, 2 and 3. They include alternative mixes, outtakes, demos + rare stuff by Dragontears, Spids Nøgenhat and On Trial. Finally, therë's also the Unreleased Realities download-only album which ended up as the soundtrack to the experimental movie Strange Artifacts of the Celebral Cortex. Bandcamp allows you to listen to the full songs before you decide if you wanna download and the word on the street is that bandcamp will become a serious contender to Myspace - who seem to be dying because of their own incompetence.

The Semantics - Powerbill - 1993

Cult albums are often a bit of a double-pronged fork: they're often "cult" because of elitist music fans or because the music is just so good that even if it's unreleased -- or only released in, say, Japan -- it manages to strike a chord with just the right audience. Powerbill, the 1993 debut (and only album from) Nashville popsters the Semantics, falls squarely into the latter category. The talent that existed in this band is undeniable; they were fronted by future solo artists Will Owsley and Millard Powers; featured Ringo Starr's son, Zak Starkey, on drums; and counted Ben Folds as an early member. That's part of the reason why this is 35 minutes of some of the most perfect power pop of the '90s. Right out of the gate, the opening duo of "Sticks and Stones" and "Future for You" leap off the speakers and crackle with more energy and "whoa-ohs" than should be allowed, and the pace barely slows throughout. Sonically, the connections to both the aforementioned Ben Folds and the first solo Owsley album are especially undeniable. Despite its merits, Powerbill is not exactly groundbreaking music, but that's not what power pop is about anyway: it is about well-crafted, catchy songs, and based on those criteria, Powerbill is an unquestionable success. But even if Powerbill is an excellent bite-sized chunk of radio-ready guitar pop, Geffen apparently didn't think so when they rejected it in 1993. At a time when grunge ruled the airwaves, the Semantics were probably too pop for alternative and too rock for pop radio, and Geffen felt they were unmarketable. At the last minute, the album's release was scrapped, effectively ending the band's career. Powerbill only saw the light of day three years later -- in Japan -- where it was a moderate commercial success. -AMG

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Los Immediatos - Second Chance - 2008

Toledo (Spain) based 4-piece is back with their 2nd lomgplayer, now on another italian label, Teen Sound (the 1st one was on For Monsters)!! 11 tracks in best Sixties style, super authentic & well played. Imagine a mix of spanish beat, US Nuggets style sounds & some mod revival, and out comes the fab sound of LOS IMMEDIATOS!!! Recorded at Jorge Explosion's insane Circoperrotti studio with the help of the master himself Mike Mariconda this is a great sounding journey thru Beat & YeYe history, incl. a superb version of THE GANTS' "I wonder". Soundflat




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David Myhr “Got you where he wanted” out now!

David Myhr (formerly of The Merrymakers) gives us his new single "Got You Where He Wanted" from his new album Soundshine due out later this year. How cool is that?



More information can be found on David's official website - http://davidmyhr.com

Tommy Tutone - National Emotion - 1983

Tommy Tutone were an early-'80s power pop band led by vocalist Tommy Heath and guitarist Jim Keller. The group's first single, 1980's "Angel Say No," scraped the bottom of the American Top 40, yet it was 1981's "867-5309/Jenny" that sent the group to the top of the charts. Peaking in early 1982, the single hit number four and went gold. Tommy Tutone was never able to duplicate that success and the band broke up after the release of their third album, 1983's National Emotion. -AMG




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The Giant Robots - Too Young To Know Better. Too Hard To Care! - 2006

The Giant Robots are a Rock’n’Roll band and are ready to conquer the World. Born in February 1996 (or was it in 1966 ?), the Giant Robots have already done many gigs in their hometown Lausanne, all around Switzerland, Italy and Germany and they’ve released several records. -The Giant Robots