Power Pop News 'n Tunes
APRIL 2022
your (now)monthly fast-track summary to
what's happening now in pop
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Welcome to Issue #17!
(because of the length of this issue, if you are reading this in your desktop email browser, it will cut off half way through.
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Hey, Hey, Hey Friend!
It's been a month already?!
A lot has been flowed across my desk over the past four weeks. It's always hard to pin down what pleases you, dear reader.
In the end, this effort is simply to keep you informed and aware of relevant new releases, interesting news and interviews and have a bit of fun with tidbit music geek friendly diversions. I hope you enjoy it all.
Don't miss my feature box below which highlights a truly special release, by far my favorite release of 2022 so far. Who might that be? TAMAR BERK. Not heard of her? Well, let's change that. Scroll below.
SIDEBAR: If you purchased "The Best Power Pop" CD...your order will be shipping between May 14-20, depending on when you placed your order.
With that out of the way...
Letsdoit.
Rawk, no Roll,
BRUCE
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ANNOUNCING: A NEW CD PROJECT TO BENEFIT
THE CITIZENS OF WAR-TORN UKRAINE
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I recently recorded an fascinating video interview with Big Stir Records co-founders, Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome. It was a interesting deep-dive into the unique vision they have for their labels' activity and its connection of artists with fans. Next month, I will include a link to the full interview.
Over the coming months, Christina and Rex are doing a fund raiser around this war where 50% of all sales will channeled into humanitarian and medical aid funds going to this region in deep strife.
Christina is a first-generation, Ukranian born woman who has been deeply and personally moved and affected by the war in Ukraine. In the interview next month, we'll discuss the impact this war has had on her life and the benefit projects Big Stir has going on to speak(and sing) into the struggle.
For now, CLICK HERE to go visit the store where you can support their efforts.
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BUR - We Are Bur
This one arrived in my in-box a few days ago and what a gem you'll find here, friend. So cool to see 'young guns', generations behind me(and likely you) who 'get it', craft good songs, intentionally design melodies and are having fun.
Read more
burtheband.bandcamp.com
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The Warmbabies - Let's Live Underground...
NEW ON KOOL KAT! Pure, catchy, top-notch power pop, for fans of the The Plimsouls (BIG TIME), The Flamin’ Groovies, The Stems and The Barracudas! Joyfully jangling 6 & 12 string guitars, descending basslines, pristine harmonies a plenty.
Read more
snaprecordsspain.bandcamp.com
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Meet ROMERO, Australia's Soulful Power-Pop Dynamos
It's 9 a.m. in Melbourne, and Alanna Oliver's energy is palpably high. The day may be young, especially by rock'n'roll standards, but she's already gone for an early-morning run and cleaned her room by the time our video call connects.
Read more
pitchfork.com
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JIM BASNIGHT(the Moberlys) Updated Remaster: "Pop Top"
Basnight's first solo album, originally a cassette only release in 1992 and his first CD album release in 1993. It has never been released digitally for downloads and streams and long out-of-print in any physical form.
Read more
powerpopaholicproductions.b...
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NEW SONGS from The Lickerish Quartet
JELLYFISH FAN Alert, right? You know what to do. Just listen.
Read more
open.spotify.com
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Bad Sneakers | Lost Power Pop From the early/mid 80s
Welcome to the global Bad Sneakers community. Between 1979 and 1986, this Newark, Del.-based band released three albums and performed 200 nights a year. Now, you can listen to this rich recorded legacy of 50 original songs and read the history of ...
Read more
www.badsneakers.com
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The Sighs....are BACK!
The Sighs will celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album, "What Goes On," at Race Street Live in their hometown of Holyoke on June 11. A power pop band which built its reputation playing clubs around New England in the 1980s, The Sighs...
Read more
www.masslive.com
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Star Collector | Interview | New Album, 'Game Day' -...
Star Collector's latest album, 'Game Day', was produced by singer/songwriter/guitarist Vic Wayne, engineered by drummer/vocalist Adrian Buckley and features Kevin Kane (Grapes of Wrath/Northern Pikes) and Evan Foster (Boss Martians, Dirty...
Read more
www.psychedelicbabymag.com
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LOST REPLACEMENTS Family Band and Music: Bob Stinson
Bleeding Hearts was the brainchild of Rolling Stones-fixated singer / songwriter / guitarist Mike Leonard, who started the group with drummer Bob Herbers
Read more
glidemagazine.com
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All over the Shop
Thanks to Eric Schornhorst for letting me & letting you know of this band from Detroit. The song to key up on is "Movin' Too Slow". Make sure you let ME know of anything you discover out there while yr living your life out loud so we can share here.
Read more
open.spotify.com
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TAMAR BERK
You'll want to listen to this one, my pick for *THE BEST" album of 2022, so far....
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Okay. Glad my busy life did not miss this one because I would have to engage in some kind of weird black 'n blue sort of flogging fury that would have confused my wife of almost 40 years. Alas, I did not.
So, I don't want you either. As in, do NOT MISS this one.
"Start at the End" is gorgeous mellifluous stunner.
Listen to this one, as I did: without distraction, headphones on.
CLICK HERE to listen to it, in all its glory on Bandcamp
CLICK HERE to read a bit more behind on the album and see some videos
CLICK HERE for another article I just found for you
I'll stay short on the word because you should be listening to this album, in its entirety and, as the article above states, it will restore you faith in music(not that it was lost, my friend but it will break through your sometimes cynical set of ears).
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'Marquee Moon' Turns 45,a band that changed my life, yours?
So you say you want a revolution? Two rearguard beatniks banded together on the anything-goes streets of Manhattan in the early '70s, at the height of its postapocalyptic glamour, when taxi cabs hated to venture below 14th Street but the...
Read more
www.theringer.com
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The Rave-Ups Return With All New Album!
The Rave-Ups' three previous albums-1985's independently released Town + Country, along with 1987's The Book Of Your Regrets and 1990's Chance, both for Epic Records-established the group as one of the pioneers of the cowpunk genre that...
Read more
omnivorerecordings.com
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YOUR DREAM JOB: How to get a job as a music supervisor.
No one says a word in the opening sequence of "The Sopranos," but you'd never think to watch it with the sound off. It's not that the vistas of industrial and working-class New Jersey are particularly evocative.
Read more
www.latimes.com
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Gilbert O'Sullivan Interviewed by Ken Sharp
Gilbert O'Sullivan Q&A: On His First U.S. Tour in Nearly 50 Years(!), a 'Good Song' vs. a 'Hit' and Beyond Boasting classic hits such as "Alone Again (Naturally)," "Get Down," "Out Of The Question" and "Clair," anybody with an ear tuned to the...
Read more
www.rockcellarmagazine.com
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OBSCURE LIVE RECORDED, UNEARTHED!
THE DIRTY ANGELS - Live 1976
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Lost Bands Of The New Wave Era
I should be dead by now. The FaceBook scammers were not happy with me. "You'll die before the year ends" one said. "You will die this weekend" said another. A scammer had posted they had tickets for sale for every Fleetwood Mac show in the U.S....
Read more
lostbands.blogspot.com
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LOST BAND FROM THE 90s: MUDPIE: The Brown Album
Listen to The Brown Album on Spotify. Mudpie · Album · 1994 · 18 songs.
Read more
open.spotify.com
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REVIEW OF EXCELLENT NEW RELEASE: Amoeba Teen
Since the arrival of the Beatles and the Kinks sixty years ago, the UK seems just stuffed to the shores with guitar-led pop bands with a batch of cool tunes. Add Stourbridge's Amoeba Teen to the list, and it's a list they deserve to be on.
Read more
bigtakeover.com
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ROBIN WILSON 90s side project plays TOMMY KEENE |
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Out To Get You! Live 1977
This was a Record Store Day release a few years ago, vinyl only. But, man, stream the batch of awesome on YouTube. Ripping performance and fan-friendly set list.
Read more
music.youtube.com
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INTERVIEW WITH MARSHALL CRENSHAW on
Power Popaholic Podcast
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SPECIAL FEATURE:
David Fagin of The Rosenbergs
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Some fun, interesting and exciting music to share with you from a 'lost' 90s and 00s power pop great. |
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CLICK on the image above and listen to the JUST RELEASED new song from David Fagin's latest project. |
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CLICK HERE to check out David Fagin's most recent music project, BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB.
While we're hanging out there, here is a Spotify playlist to check out from 'da club'. CLICK HERE
Ever wondered what happened to THE ROSENBERGS? CLICK HERE to read a truly horrific, Spinal Tap story of the band. It's unbelievable and hysterical at the same time. Though, not for David while it was happening.
The Rosenbergs on Discogs, click HERE
The Rosenbergs on All Music, click HERE
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Click on Image to go to Wizzard In Vinyl site. Look for this release to available at Kool Kat soon |
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UPCOMING REISSUE RELEASES:
BUZZ CLICK ADVENTURE Featuring Phil Seymour
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Released originally on cassette in 1991, it's making a proper CD release in 2022. When the Rubber City Rebels were inactive in the mid-1980's, Buzz Clic ventured out on his own (as did Rod Firestone) and put together an all-star power-pop band including his brother Bob Clic (of the Lewd), and Phil Seymour and Dwight Twilley. The result is this 13-track opus of California guitar pop that finally sees the light of day.
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COOL ARTICLES FROM
POP GEEK HEAVEN:
REVIEWS FROM
MIKE BARON
Peruse, read and enjoy the last 6+ months of columns
(click on image to read)
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COOL ARTICLES FROM
JANGLE POP:
REVIEWS FROM
ERIC SORENSEN
Peruse, read and enjoy the last 6+ months of columns
(click on image to read)
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SILLY MID-70s SATURDAY MORNING (bad) SHOWS. Bet you forgot 'bout this one! Wonderfully awful, classic show intro. |
ROSELLAS - Before The Storm
A load of guitars in a washing walls of synths. Manchester based guitar band Rosellas give a cheeky nod to the bands of 90’s Manchester; while drawing sonic comparisons to the Artic Monkeys. Check out their other releases.
Read more
rosellas.bandcamp.com
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Interview with Eytan Mirsky - Neighborhood Weekly Radio
Interview indie power poppin' and always writing and creating pioneer for over 20 years, EYTAN MIRSKY. Warning; Baseball talk (briefly) discussed. That's a positive but I've been chastised by Yankees fans that there is talk about the Mets.
Read more
neighborhoodweeklyradio.com
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NEW(ish) Power Pop Friendly Podcast
From one of your fellow Pop Geek Heaven brethren, Jeremy Edmond, you'll find interviews with Paul Collins, Joey Molland, Star Collector, Nada Surf, Ted Ansani of Material Issue and music playlists that will warm your pop lovin' soul.
Read more
robojackrecords.com
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TWO NEW RELEASES FROM POWER POP LEGEND, JEREMY |
I'm pretty much 100% positive that there is no one in the power pop world more consistently prolific than JEREMY MORRIS. Proof? CLICK HERE
Anyway, his latest two are LIVE FOR TODAY and BRIGHTER DAY and they are very, very good, some of his best work in years, even.
JEREMY(the name he records under) rarely disappoints in this massive body of work.
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I'm guessing there's a good portion of you power pop 'old timers' who remember fondly the indie power pop explosion of the 90s, the days when Not Lame Recordings was taking its first steps, hundreds of bands embracing overt melodies and vocal harmonies were not waiting for major labels to find them and releasing music on their own and little fanzines like Yellow Pills, Popsided and Audities were finding their mark with fans.
The last name listed above, Audities, touted(loudly, regularly) a guy named TERRY CAROLAN. I had not heard of him at the time(in the late 90s) and hundreds of power pop geeks explored and checked out Carolan's new music of the time --- and then his 70s and 80s bands like Just Boys and True Hearts.
Fanzines exist to push their own agenda and special passion projects( and its editor, Gary Littleton(RIP, our brother in pop arms) was no exception. He single handedly benevolently forced music fans to pay attention, to listen up. (Note: if you were a reader of Audities, there's a touching tribute on Terry's site to Gary...)
I encourage you do some deep diving inside of Terry Carolan's music.
I'll provide a kick-start with some links below. It's your journey. Have fun.
JUST BOYS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMhSbHwHiIE
(this one is a true 70s indie power pop classic)
TRUE HEARTS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGCwNwF0hB0
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CLICK HERE to read a great interview with Terry Carolan
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CLICK on image to listen to Terry Carolan's new song |
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London's The Hazmats Release Debut Power-Pop Single...
You can definitely tell that this release made by punks. It’s fast and nervy and lo-fi, but this band is going for shimmery, dazed melody, and the song is all kinds of catchy melodies with early 90s shoegaze guitar slicings and slashes.
Read more
www.stereogum.com
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NEW SONGS from Gordon Michaels
Featured on 'The Best Power Pop of 2020" CD, Gordon Michael released one brilliant AOR-ish album in the late 70s called, STARGAZER which you need to find a vinyl copy. Not on CD, sadly...except in Japan for $100.
Read more
gordonmichaels.bandcamp.com
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COMING IN MAY: New from Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men
10 new songs from Nick and the Boyz. At times both more rocking and more reflective than what you may have come to expect. But still full of great riffs, melodies, and lyrics deeper than what the catchiness of the songs would suggest.
Read more
nickpiuntimusic.bandcamp.com
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NEW SONG from Kai Danzberg
Get It Right (2-Track Single) by Kai Danzberg, released 09 April 2022 1. Get It Right 2. Get It Right (Acoustic Version). This is a song originally written by Michael Corcroan of The Orgone Box.
Read more
kaidanzberg.bandcamp.com
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GINGER WILDHEART
(click on image to listen)
Ex-Wildhearts frontman is going to surprise many who are familiar with this work. I've been a fan since the 90s, seeing the band live a few times on the rare US tour dates. This release is his most overtly melodic and set apart from his previous work - in a very good way.
This album originally came out in 2019, but it was not given a proper release due to rushed deadlines and other external factors. In 2022, Ginger Wildheart makes his Wicked Cool Records debut with a rerelease of The Pessimist’s Companion complete with a new mix, reordered tracks, and five songs that were recorded for the album but were not finished in time. Ginger says, “This is a deeply personal release for me. I hope you find something here to warm the colder nights alone.”
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KURT BAKER &
BEBE BUELL
(click on image to listen)
This is a cover of The Smithereens’ 1986 hit, Blood & Roses, which hit #14 on the US singles chart, performed by Kurt Baker and Bebe Buell. Though Buell calls Baker “one of [her] favorite artists,” this is their first musical collaboration and it is only fitting that it is a tribute to one of their mutual favorite bands, The Smithereens.
Baker says, “The Smithereens were an integral part of my rock n roll education growing up…without [their] music I wouldn't be where I am today” Both artists inject their unique musical perspective into a track that shaped their lives.
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NEW RELEASE FROM Cheap Cassettes
Swims confidently in the 70s end of the power pop pool, happily indulging in the sweet melodies/tough attack modus operandi of the Raspberries, Shoes, Dwight Twilley, Cheap Trick, the Plimsouls, etc." - Big Takeover Magazine
Read more
rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com
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SURPRISE! New Song from Blue Cartoon
Preview of the new Blue Cartoon album Lee Elliott (guitars, bass, stringed instruments, keys and vocals) Dave Loren (vocals, keys, percussion and effects) Mike Reynolds (Drums and percussion) With contributions by Greg Estes, Jeff Tracy, Terry...
Read more
soundcloud.com
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