BIG STAR The Story Of Rock's Forgotten Band

Although Big Star were together for less than four years and had little commercial success, the influence of their three original albums – #1 Record, Radio City, and Third – continues to grow. Big Star bucked all the musical trends of the ’70s. In an era of glam and prog rock they wrote catchy, radio-friendly power-pop tunes that remain influential today. Artists as diverse as Primal Scream, R.E.M., The Bangles, The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Jeff Buckley, and Wilco have spoken about the Big Star legacy.

In the decade since the original version of this book was published, Big Star have made a belated fourth album, In Space, and released an acclaimed four-disc retrospective, Keep An Eye On The Sky. The band have also lost two original members, an influential producer, and the photographer of their iconic logo. But interest in the group is as high as ever in the 21st century, with new bands such as Yo La Tengo and Hot Chip – and even pop superstar Katy Perry – carrying the flame.

Now fully updated, and drawing on firsthand interviews with the band, family members, friends, and the major players at Ardent Records, this is the definitive history of rock’s forgotten band.

Rob Jovanovic is the author of numerous books on such diverse subjects as Pavement and Kate Bush, Beck and George Michael, R.E.M. and The Kinks. His books have been published in ten countries and in nine different languages. He is also a contributor to magazines including Mojo and Uncut. He lives just outside Nottingham with his wife and two young children.

The Big Star movie Nothing Can Hurt Me is screening this summer and the accompanying soundtrack featuring alternate mixes is available on Omnivore. Jawbone's superb book will arrive at just the right time when the music of Alex, Jody, Andy and Chris will once again ring out.

The Big Star movie Nothing Can Hurt Me is screening this summer and the accompanying soundtrack featuring alternate mixes is available on Omnivore. Jawbone's superb book will arrive at just the right time when the music of Alec, Jody, Andy and Chris will once again ring out. 

BIG STAR

The Story Of Rock's Forgotten Band

JAWBONE

ISBN: 978-1-908279-36-1

Pictures: 20 b&w

US Price: $19.95

UK Price: £14.95

Pub Date: June 20th 2013

The Solicitors: Made To Measure

This June sees the release of the stomping debut ep 'Made To Measure' from Melbourne pop-group 'The Solicitors'.

Made up of laconic guitars, off-kilter arrangements, jumbo hooks and sagacious lyrics, The Solicitors sound is akin to great bastions of the New-Wave scene from yesteryear. Influences ranging from XTC, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads and The Knack.

Their first recording on Popboomerang (the Stiff Records of Australia) 'Made To Measure' pulls no punches, 5 tracks of good old-fashioned rock 'n roll to dance and drink and make out to.

The Cleaners From Venus Volume 2 Due the week of May 13th!

ACCEPTING PRE-ORDERS NOW!!

 The 4CD "Volume 2" collection covers the the three year period between 1983 and 1985 for the Martin Newell-led, Brit Lo-fi combo, who are now being described as "D.I.Y Beatles." While the rest of the 1980's rock world had immersed itself in epic and often empty gestures, the Cleaners concentrated on neat little lo-fi pop songs of a quality and standard which, as one critic later noted: “Pop music elsewhere had pretty much forgotten.” By now, one of the band’s founder members, Lawrence Elliott had left the band. Its chief songwriter, Martin Newell, like the captain of a strange pirate ship took charge, and Cleaners from Venus went sailing… Here within this second fractured pop feast, are three remastered albums by The Cleaners ("In The Golden Autumn", "Under Wartime Conditions", and "Songs For A Fallow Land") – as well as a fourth one, containing not only the usual rarities, but also previously unreleased tracks and a few genuine treasures. The Cleaners had a back story, too. Included here are some of its fragments. Even today the chief question asked about the Cleaners from Venus is why they weren’t huge at the time. The answer to that is that Martin Newell believed that if they involved the music business in their work, the music might be spoiled. They therefore never bothered approaching a record company. For most of their existence, in fact, they didn’t even have a telephone. The Cleaners weren’t so much independent, as genuinely feral.


TO ENSURE SHIPMENT NEXT WEEK,YOU MUST PRE-ORDER BY NO LATER THAN THIS FRIDAY, MAY10.

Simply go to http://www.koolkatmusik.com

PLEASE NOTE THAT, DUE TO THE PACKAGING AND WEIGHT OF THIS ITEM, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PRICES FOR US AND ALL OTHER NON-US CUSTOMERS!

US PRICE: $35
FOREIGN PRICE: $40

The Young Sinclairs - Engineer Man b/w Problems

The sophomore single on 'Market Square' is a wonderful release by Virginia based folk-rockers The Young Sinclairs, this 7" single is strictly limited to 300 copies only and each will be individually hand-numbered.

The Young Sinclairs' newest 7" offering here on Market Square Records (based outta West Sussex UK) is a double-sided jangle fest with layers of vocal harmony, bringing to the listener a strange yet familiar echoing of bands from yesteryear, groups such as The Byrds, The Who, Powder and Big Star, to name but a few. Samuel J Lunsford, creative leader of The Young Sinclairs combines his influences well and creates something solely his own, unique to himself as a songwriter and hopefully to you the listener as well.

The top-side 'Engineer Man' hits first with perfect power-pop precision, pitch-perfect harmonies and a steady driving-beat throughout, the flip hosts the melancholic 'Problems' which sends us into all too familiar terrain when someone we love, gets up and goes... The sentiment endorsed further by fantastic usage of chiming 12 string guitar and melody-lines straight outta the Brian Wilson songbook.


Be sure to grab this great 45 fast, it's a killer.


Engineer Man (Final Stereo Mix)

Check this out on Facebook.
Recorded at Magic Twig Studios - Feb/March 2013. RELEASED 10TH JUNE 2013.

Available at www.marketsquarerecordings.bandcamp.com (on release date)
PLUS... numerous outlets worldwide and of course via the band themselves.

Bronco Bullfrog return with a brilliant single on State Records

Bronco Bullfrog issued a pile of great records across the early part of the century (that’s this one!!!), wowed small crowds in the UK and did amazingly well in Spain. Those who heard and saw ’em fell passionately in love with their “technicolour pop” sound. But it’s all a long time ago now, with their last album seeing the light of day in 2004 and a compilation appearing slightly later on the prestigious Rev-Ola label. So what happened? “Basically, we broke-up,” says bassist Louis Comfort-Wiggett. “Not split-up like Led Zeppelin, but broke-up, like love that went off the boil (only ours was a love triangle from the outset). We didn’t divvy up the books and records, so effectively left our options open for reconciliation. That reconciliation came around two years ago, and since then we’ve been hanging out and writing new material.” What makes Bronco Bullfrog so special and endearing is that both then and now they have never been, or had the slightest inkling to be, fashionable. All obsessive record collectors and pop music fanatics, the trio of Mike Poulson (vocals/guitar), Louis Comfort-Wiggett (bass/vocals) and Andy Morten (drums/vocals) avoid obvious genre mimicking or being a part of any movement. This isn’t Mark E Smith anti-fashion or deconstructionism, but it’s not wear your influences on your sleeve plagiarism either. What the Broncos do so well is to take their inspirations and aspirations and play them hard and with abandon. “ ‘Never Been To California’,” Andy explains, “was conceived in the midst of an obsession with '60s sunshine-pop acts like The Fun & Games and The Gordian Knot but came out sounding like The Jam after a 12-hour yoga marathon. Again.” Not getting it quite right is what has always made Bronco Bullfrog unique. In fact, they’re the only band that can actually sound like The Jam in full broken vowel flight AND The Bee Gees at their balladeering best in the same song.


Clarifoil

BRONCO BULLFROG

Clarifoil / Never Been To California

State Records / Sandgate Sound Acetate

THS-011

70g vinyl single

Release Date:  22nd July 2013

ZERO HOUR RECORDS 5 day PROMO - Ends 25th April

Zero Hour Records has just dug up Beat Tribute CDs that they never knew they had, good news for us!

Buy The Records Tribute and get The Beat Tribute plus a Records Badge too for just  $16.95 PP World-Wide. Just use the Records link and add 'BEAT PROMO' in the message at checkout.  Tell your friends too!

The CRY! Announces West Coast Tour Date with Paul Collins Beat

Portland Power Poppers “The CRY!” have announced dates for their upcoming West Coast Tour. The schedule includes a series of shows with legendary Power Pop icon The Paul Collins Beat.

The CRY!/Collins connection started last summer when Paul went to see The CRY! at Bowery Electric in NYC. Impressed, Paul went to see the band the next night as well. Since then, the two bands have been looking for opportunities to do some dates together. That opportunity is here!

The CRY!, currently #1 on The Reverbnation US punk/power pop charts, is touring in support of their debut LP (The CRY!) and the recent 7” release of
“Discotheque” and “TCP” (The Boys/cover) on Mooster Records.

Originally released in Japan and Germany in 2012, “The CRY!” LP gained international attention including dozens of stunning reviews and positive mentions in Maximum Rock & Roll(print version), IAE, and Rolling Stone magazines!

In March 2013 The CRY! earned even more international attention when Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer selected them to help celebrate the 10year anniversary of The Exploding Hearts “Guitar Romantic” LP by performing/recording "Thorns And Roses" and “Modern Kicks”.


The CRY! is currently finishing production on their high anticipated sophomore effort. So far the band has only given fans a few sneak peeks at the new material. New LP tracks will include “Seventeen” and “Dangerous Game”.

Telstar Sound Drone - Satellited

Telstar Sound Drone will release their debut album on Bad Afro May 27th. The album is called Comedown and will be released as LP and download. Expect feedback-ridden psychedelic rock as well as slow heavy psych.

The 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 the project turned into a band and settled with the name The Telstar Sound Drone.

The band recorded a self-titled EP that led to a show at Roskilde Festival in 2009. After that The 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 spring 2011 they released the Mirror Pieces 7” on Bad Afro.

It has taken some time for the band to finally get Comedown finished which is also due to fact that Hans Beck and Mads Saaby also play in Baby Woodrose and have been touring Europe a lot for the past couple of years.

The Telstar Sound Drone line-up is: Sean Jardenbæk (Vocals, Guitar), Mads Saaby (Guitar) and Hans Beck (Drums).



TSD web & facebook

Bad Afro Records
Fensmarkgade 36, st th
2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark

http://www.badafro.dk
http://www.facebook.com/badafrorecords

The Wicked Whispers - Voodoo Moon

Since The Wicked Whispers and Electone debut 10” in 2011 exploded into the latest indie releases from seemingly nowhere, immediately picking up airplay from 6Music and achieving veritable reviews in the monthly glossy music rags way before the late 2012 renaissance of the music, the band have rolled and gathered no moss. After gaining fans across Europe and America and packing in some high profile gigs along the way the young Liverpudlian quintet returned with the harder hitting ‘Dandelion Eyes’ (recorded at London’s famed Toe Rag Studios – The White Stripes, The Zutons, Supergrass, Tame Impala) with Michael Murphy’s plaintive warbling vocals packing Country Joe, Grace Slick and the whole San Franciscan vibe into three delightful minutes. New seven inch ‘Voodoo Moon’ features another track from that famed Toe Rag session based on Murphy’s enchantment with the forever-beautiful actress Audrey Hepburn. Softer in tone than its predecessor the singer’s shimmering, yearning vocal and a piping Farfisa create a romantic psychedelic pop sound that could have quite easily been made by a late ’60s New England Ivy League school band in thrall with The Zombies and Donovan. The equally strong flipside ‘Nightbird’ (which features ex Zutons’ guitarist Paul Molloy and Austin Murphy on saxophone and flute) has something of the early Doors and Seeds about it. More garage but just as tuneful – and the guitar stuns!

The Wicked Whispers yet again grasp the melodies, lyrics and superb song structures of all those great “old bands” yet play with the vitality and youthfulness that is winning over today’s audiences.

Third time’s the charm. Let ‘Voodoo Moon’ shine on you.

Ian Skelly

Cat. No: ELEC003

Format: Limited Edition Single / Download

Release Date: 22nd April 2013

Heavy Psych Sounds present APE SKULL

Let’s forget stoner…. It’s so 1990s! C’mon let’s get over that rather contemporary metallic retread of classic Sabs riffs by guys in baggy shorts with shaved heads! There’s no need to reinvent the source material when it’s so good.

Rolling back four or so years before Brit rock and its US cousins had slowed riffs down to a doomy level Eric, Jack and Ginger, Peter Green and one Jimi Hendrix had taken the mantle and done something of their own with their beloved blues. That spirit spread around the world and inspired bands like Blue Cheer, The Damnation Of Adam Blessing, Jerusalem, Dust and a whole host of long haired lads and lasses that combined acid-rock with blues, country-rock, soul and funky grooves to create the heavy and hard-rock scenes. Its influence has never passed, but it’s often mutated in unpleasant ways that must sicken the forefathers. Italy’s Ape Skull certainly won’t be offending anybody who can remember sitting cross-legged at hashish infused open-air festivals across the late ’60s.

Just as the old bands came to rock from humble beginning (starting in beat, blues and garage bands) Ape Skull’s roots lie in the late ’90s psychedelic and freakbeat scene – Giulianio Padroni (drums) and Fulvio Cartacci (guitar) played in the superb The Victorians, who graced the stages of mod and ’60s events all across Europe. Unlike many new bands who have come from metal and turned the clocks back to ’73 Ape Skull have worked forward; a far more apt path to follow. The same root that led to Cream and Led Zep!

In covering the heavy psych groove of the dancefloor classic ‘I’ve Got No Time’ (by little known German act Orange Peel) Ape Skull tie their colours to the mast, knowing that in certain circles this will mean something. ‘Time In Wind’ sees them in a more American mode recalling the softer moments of Blue Cheer, Kak or even British soulful rockers Free. Across the entire album they shift tempo and motifs, never stuck on that one same gloomy chord progression!

The “Classic Rock” brigade will go ape for this band, but then so will Black Keys followers, ’60s psych fans and everybody in between. It really is that good.

Listen up and make sure you get wind of Ape Skull. It’s certainly the best rock album you’ll hear this year.

'So Deep' from the album "Apeskull"

Formats: LP / CD / Download

Release Date: June 2013

www.heavypsychsounds.com

Paul Messis - Case Closed

Case Closed is the second album by underground singer - songwriting sensation Paul Messis; following the tradition of Messis' earlier works this fierier and janglier follow-up confirms his place in the arena of garage-punk legend.

After a slew of 45rpm singles and the critically acclaimed debut album this new release continues where Paul's first left off, giving the listener an exceptional slice of reality and a deep insight into the thoughts of a youngster from today using cleverly written prose-like lyrical meanderings and existential themes. In essence Case Closed is an outsider album—outsiders usually pinpoint society's faults with little effort whatsoever, the same applies in regards to Messis and the album you're reading about. It’s also a rip-roaring pop album that picks up the energy of the early Brit Invasion and the leagues of both disenfranchised and invigorated teen combos that aspired, if not always having the tuneful ability, to be the next Beatles or Byrds.

Messis, however, does not sound old, tired or retrogressive. His production methods and chord changes may recall Back From The Grave, The Wylde Mammoths, the C86 lo-fi jangle movement and so on, but his songs, attitude and pissed-off, sad outlook are the real deal. More punk than anything else out there, more introspective than any glossy Emo or downer folk band and as good as anyone schooled in three-chord pop song craft.

The album travels through the sounds of savage garage punker, gentle jangling folk-rock and melancholic ballads, giving the listener a wholesome and varied experience.

Billy Childish may have once said, “Simple music for simple people”. Well, it’s somewhat changed now. “Simple music for people that think”. Like the young Dylan, Messis is defiant and has a lot to say.



PAUL MESSIS
Case Closed
State Records
180g Vinyl LP
Release Date: June 2013

The Records - Starry Eyed (Shipping 1st April) from Zero Hour

Finally in production. This tribute gathers a host of bands and artists from around the world to pay tribute to one of the finest power pop bands. Featuring: Bill Lloyd, Off Broadway, Dan Sarka & The Moistness, Donovans Brain (Bobby Sutliff/Dennis Tek), Steven Deal, Devin Hill, The Split Squad, Lannie Flowers, Zombie Western Baby, Mike Dees, The Injured Parties, The Mold Monkies, The Bottle Kids, Vex and The Vextones, Words, The World Record, The Popdogs, Undecided By Default, The Cheeks and The Broken Rekkids.

PRE ORDER now from Zero Hour Records for only $16.95 Post Paid World-Wide. (PRE ORDERS GET A BONUS GIFT). This Item will ship1st April 2013

Secret Friend release their music video for Killing Time

Secret Friend today has released their 2nd music video from their debut album "Time Machine". The live-action and animated "Killing Time" video was shot in Northampton, England by London-based director Stephen Smith.

This video brings to life the dark comedy of the lyrics of "Killing Time", and carefully straddles a fine line between being gruesome and hilarious. According to songwriter Steven Fox, the lyrics were initially just an exercise, "I wanted to try to write a song using strictly conversational tone -- no rhymes or metaphors or other poetic flourishes, yet still maintaining the underlying meter and rhyme of the song, albeit disguised. The lyric can be spoken aloud without giving away the fact that it is from a song." He added, "I can’t recall how I came up with the subject matter, but rest assured, it is pure fiction."

"Killing Time" features Willie Wisely on lead vocals, supported by Kelly Jones on background vocals, Linus of Hollywood on guitars and Roger Manning Jr. on keyboards.

"Killing Time" is from Secret Friend’s debut album “Time Machine”, available on CD at Amazon.com, plus iTunes and all the other major online services. Recorded last year in Los Angeles California, "Time Machine" is the unique pairing of Australian songwriter Steven Fox with acclaimed American producer Linus of Hollywood. The result is a collection of 12 exceptionally crafted and original pop songs, which has received rave reviews from around the world since its release in January.




Official website: http://secretfriend.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecretFriendMusic
Time Machine Album Video Sampler: http://youtu.be/SBjV7Qgw8QA
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/time-machine/id589121344
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/secretfriend/sets/time-machine
Spotify: http://open.spotify.com/artist/5jfqJx2w42uiykGALZuSOB
BandCamp: http://secret-friend.bandcamp.com/
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/ASIN/B00AY1T326

ZERO HOURS BUNDLE ~ 4 x CD bundle ZEROHOURPROMO

Zero Hour Records needs to move some stock for some new releases. What you get in this bundle is the 2 x Loaded Dice CDs, the CHOPPER reissue CD and a mystery classic Australian power pop album that won't dissapoint.

more info at www.zerohourrecords.com.au

Scott Morgan's "Three Chords and A Cloud of Dust"

As many of you know, our friend Scott Morgan was diagnosed with severe liver disease and ascites over a year ago and is still in recovery. To help alleviate his healthcare costs, Easy Action Records is releasing a 3CD box set titled 'Three Chords and a Cloud of Dust', featuring 62 songs Scott has recorded between 1965 - 2010 with his bands The Rationals, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, The Hydromatics, Powertrane, The Solution, etc. as well as solo material.

You can pre-order it here

For more info and news about Scott, please visit www.scottmorganmusic.com

Listen to the new Baby Woodrose single “Light up your Mind”

On April 1st Baby Woodrose will release a new 7” containing two exclusive songs originally recorded to be included on the Third Eye Surgery album from 2012. But the songs did not fit in, not because of the quality of the songs but the mood of the songs was just too different compared to the final album. Light up your Mind is an uplifting song about regaining strength while the flipside Bubblegum is a tight Kinks-type rocker.

Light up your Mind is dedicated to the memory of Ralph A. Rjeily. Lorenzo Woodrose wrote on his website: “Ralph was my friend, technician, producer, booker, soundman, tourmanager and travelling companion since 1996. He died last year after a yearlong battle against cancer. I miss him.”

Listen to Light Up Your Mind here



Baby Woodrose will be touring in Europe from end of March to the beginning of May.

26.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Torino, United Club (IT)
27.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Trento, C.S.O.A Bruno (IT)
28.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Savignano sul Rubicone, Sidro (IT)
29.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Brescia, Latte + (IT)
30.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Rosá, Vinile (IT)
31.03.2013 – Baby Woodrose – La Spezia, Skaletta Rock Club (IT)
06.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose + The Setting Son – Copenhagen, Loppen (DK)
08.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Hamburg, Molotow (DE)
09.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Düsseldorf, Pitcher (DE)
10.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Paris, Les Combustibles (FR)
11.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Leuven, Sojo (BE)
12.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Würzburg, Cafe Cairo (DE)
13.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose – Lübeck, Treibsand (DE)
30.04.2013 – Baby Woodrose + Kadavar – Barcelona, Razzmatazz 3 (ES)
01.05.2013 – Baby Woodrose + Kadavar – Zaragoza, Rockinhouse (ES)
02.05.2013 – Baby Woodrose + Kadavar – Madrid, El Sol (ES)
03.05.2013 – Baby Woodrose + Kadavar – Gijon, Acapulco Centro (ES)
04.05.2013 – Baby Woodrose + Kadavar – San Sebastian, Cultural Larratxo (ES)


Bad Afro Records
Fensmarkgade 36
2200 Copenhagen N
Denmark

http://www.badafro.dk

http://www.facebook.com/badafrorecords

Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock

Andrew Curry really has something going here!  Go check out the new Kickstarter campaign for Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute To Lite Rock. They have THIRTY days to make the magic happen so after you've had a look, go to the Kickstarter page and get it. Also tell your friends about what it, they will be glad you did!. Share the link, and share the wealth!  Thanks to all of you in advance for helping us make this dream a reality!

The Dolly Rocker Movement – Your Side of Town 7”

It has been a little quiet around the Australian band The Dolly Rocker Movement since they released their third album Our Days Mind the Tyme in 2010. Main man Daniel J. Poulter moved to the US for a while and when he returned to Australia he started a new band called Kill City Creeps.

But Poulter has not completely forgotten about The Dolly Rocker Movement which is why Bad Afro is proud to present a brand new 7” EP. The title track is a slightly melancholic psych pop song with vibrant guitar licks and cool organs while Silently We Sung has a more quirky beat miles away from the usual garage thang.

The 7” single is featuring a bonus track compared to the download version in shape of “Girl of the 13th hour”, a cover of the obscure Texas garage band Chaz and the Classics from 1967.

Artist: The Dolly Rocker Movement
Titel: Your Side of Town
Format: 7”/Download
Barcode: 5709498209975
Cataloug number: BARINT003
Release: 01.04.2013
Label: Bad Afro Records – www.badafro.dk



www.myspace.com/thedollyrockermovement
http://www.badafro.dk
http://www.facebook.com/badafrorecords

The Market Squares - Afternoon Tide b/w Inside My Mind

The Market Squares, is a one-off side project featuring UK based singer-songwriter Paul Messis alongside Calvin Laporte and Evan Smith (both from Nashville group The Sufis), recorded over a few hours during the Summer of 2012, Afternoon Tide and it's b-side are pretty much the most crudest psych cut's you'll hear all year.

Released on February 4th 2013, the 45 will be limited to just 300 copies housed in a cool pic sleeve, each copy is hand-numbered and will be released on Messis' own label 'Market Square Records'.  You can get a copy on Paul's Bandcamp or at Kool Kat




www.paulmessis.com
www.paulmessis.bandcamp.com
www.marketsquarerecords.blogspot.co.uk

The PPO 2012 Top Ten

Every year I think about the great music that has been presented to us and I find it difficult to come up with just 10!!

So many talented artists and groups, It is hard to make a decision! I am basing my list on the fact that most of these discs were in heavy rotation at home, work and in my car.
Well, here you are... Sorry it took so damn long!

10) The Well Wishers - Dreaming of the West Coast - Based on a solid foundation of melody, songcraft, and the ever important "musical hook", the Well Wishers' deliver a warm, full-bodied sound and engaging take on the typical power pop formula. In addition to five full studio albums,

9) Jeremy - Love Explosion - You can call him Mr. Consistency. Jeremy (Morris) is a lot like Steely Dan. Not in music style, but in terms of consistency and having a pretty good idea of what you can expect to get with each release. And you know, that can be a good thing indeed. Think in terms of high-end musical "comfort food" and you should get a real good idea of what we're getting at.

8) Fay Hallam & The Bongolian - ‘Lost In Sound’ the very first collaboration between Fay Hallam (Makin’ Time, The Prime Movers, Phaze) and Blow Up Records’ The Bongolian. Both share a serious passion for 60’s Hammond Beat and Soul. A variety of styles are covered here: Bossa Nova, heavier 70's grooves and a strong Northern Soul influence.  Not just a rehash of old grooves, Lost In Sound mixes in a good amount of the new with the old.  Always good to hear. Get ready to get Lost In Sound . . .

7) Shoes - Ignition - Self-produced and released on the band’s own Black Vinyl Records, The Shoes have gathered the remnants of their former band, and produced a first class album. Inspired by late 70’s Power Pop, Ignition is loaded with jangly riffs and hook-packed pop vocals. The Shoes craft great pop music that hits you from the first note to the very last.

6) Seven Long Years - Chained To Your Love - The opening moments of "Don’t Break My Heart In Ink" make it very clear that Seven Long Years, the first solo project of Eric Knoxx  , is a Psychedelic/Dream Pop explosion . Layers of sound are stacked one by one until the songs are so full they have nowhere to go but outward in all directions. It's percussive, but pleasingly melodic cover to cover. It's not "all-sound-all-the-time", though. Song writer Eric Knoxx does however leave a little breathing room throughout the entire album, which is good. You'll need to catch your breath.

5) Marty Graveyard - Summer Holiday - The Madd's former drummer /songwriter gave us his first solo album, Summer Holiday on V2 Records ! Filled with relentlessly catchy vocals and hook-laden guitar power pop, this album deserves some many repeated listens! It’s a great pop album which doesn’t get boring, or overcomplicated. There’s loads of fun to be had with this one.

4) Paul Bertolino - Where The Buildings Hit The Sky - Presenting 11 tracks from Brooklyn's finest "unknown" artist! Paul Bertolino, the talent behind the curtain, intermingles psychedelic pop, classic production and some well placed baroque melodies into an appealing blend of Beatles meet Burt Bacharach, constructing a most enjoyable album. Another winner from Paul! As if we expected less.


3) The Trashed Romeos-Where Dreamers Never Go - The Trashed Romeos, led by Greg Roberson (Tiger High, Reigning Sound, Arthur Lee’s Love, Compulsive Gamblers), hail from the very epicenter of rock- n -roll, Memphis, Tn. Roberson has a pretty straight forward mission with his bands debut record Where Dreamers Never Go, to pay homage to his late friend Jim Dickinson (Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, Big Star, The Replacements, Ry Cooder) and to focus attention on some of his hometown heroes and the obscure psychedelic garage rock 45’s they released in the mid 6o’s.  

2) The DomNicks - Super real - Their debut album Super Real marks a coming of age for The DomNicks. Forged by Perth based Dom Mariani and Nick Sheppard, the band is a powerful blend of swagger 'n' roll rock, soul and pop smarts. Among the 12 tracks you'll find the Exile era Stones' sound of Reconcile, the brazen brass and swing of Let's Go Baby, soul flavours in I Wonder What You're Doin' Now, the straight ahead rollicking of Miracle and tantalising twists and turns of the electric sitar driven Winter. It's bound to cause the head and heart to shake.

1) Kurt Baker - Brand New Beat - This is what a Power Pop Album should sound like! Part time librarian and full time Ass Kicking Power Popster Kurt Baker  has bestowed upon us an unquestionable pearl of Power Pop goodness. Baker and band does not disappoint on their sophomore release. 10 addictive songs, each better than the last, it is difficult to put this album down, even more difficult to wipe the smile off your face when you are finished listening to it. Thank you Kurt Baker!

The PPO Top Ten Power Pop Albums of 2012/rs
or
The PPO Top Ten Power Pop Albums of 2012/zs

1. Escape the Light / The Well Wishers
2. Gotta Find A New Love / The Trashed Romeos
3. Don't Break my Heart in Ink / 7 Long Years
4. Do You Really Wanna Dance / Marty Graveyard
5. Where the Buildings Hit the Sky / Paul Bertolino
6. Freefall / Fay Hallam & The Bongolian
7. The Joke's On You / Shoes 3:05
8. I Wonder What You're Doin' Now / The DomNicks
9. Rise Above The Clouds / Jeremy
10. Don't Go Falling in Love / Kurt Baker
11. Black Eyed Girl / The DomNicks
12. Lost In Sound / Fay Hallam & The Bongolian
13. See Me Now / Paul Bertolino
14. Honoree / The Well Wishers
15. Stop What You're Doin' / 7 Long Years
16. Weekend Girls / Kurt Baker
17. Working Man / Marty Graveyard
18. I Thought You Knew / Shoes
19. My Way Of Thinking / The Trashed Romeos
20. Not Of This World / Jeremy