New Power Pop Reviews

(early June)

by Mike Baron

THE STANLEYS – s/t

There’s no point resisting the Stanleys whose infectious hook happy rock derives from every kick-ass power pop band that ever existed, strong emphasis on Raspberries Division.  “Always” may remind you of the Gin Blossoms and the Merrymakers, but much more upbeat than the former, an electric fountain of sound. “What Are We Gonna Do” has that Raspberries dynamic that makes it a repeat listener and “Kid’s Gonna Rock” is a world class “rock this town” type anthem.  I am grading the four songs and not this disc as an EP.

Five stars.

NOTE:  The Stanleys, while from Australia, will are touring the U.S. in June – details at:  www.thestanleys.com.au

JARED LEKITES: Star Map

Twenty years ago the Beach Boys seemed consigned to the oldies rack yet today their sound is experiencing the type of revolution that the Beatles have inspired since their inception.  It’s taken pop a while to catch up with Brian Wilson style music because it’s more complex than certain Beatles riffs.  Count Oklahoma’s Jared Lekites as one of the cannier innovators in this tradition.

“Too Far Gone” has the ear-worm form of The Knickerbockers meet the Beach Boys while “Star Map” is a more overt tribute, beginning as acoustic West Coast folk/rock before shifting up into pure surf. “Nepenthe” is an XTC-like melody with a sweet bridge and Lekites’ guitar recalls Curtains 4 You’s liquid lead guitarist   “Along the Lives of Love” dips into John Prine/Leonard Cohen territory and Lekites brings a touch of Tulsa twang to such songs as “If You Aint Lonely” and “For Lack of a Better Heart.”

“Girl Don’t Tell Me” melds Hollies and Beach Boys and is as good as Jeff Foskett’s “Through My Window.”  Which makes it as good as any number of Beach Boys songs.

Four stars.

FLASHBULB FIRES:  Gasconader

This Denver-based indie-rock trio deals in spacey free-form prog rock and in many ways are astronauts charting new territory.  But while they have undeniable instrumental and vocal skills, the songs suffer from a lack of dynamism.  Too often they consist of a tone or a mood built around one or two chords without the change-ups that snap your heads to attention.  In other words, no hooks.

“Whale” is a lovely two-chord head but the intensity doesn’t vary.  “Dark Ghost” sounds a little like Oliver Future and has three chords.  “Marathon” is a dirge.  “Holy War–Bitter Prophets” comes closest to dynamically involving the listener.

Three and a half stars.

www.flashbulbfires.com

D.L. Byron: Boa  (Zen Archer)

D.L. Byron has been recording outstanding power pop since the seventies but Boa sounds as fresh as today.  “One Hundred Million Dollars” is a funny rockin’ take on Publisher’s Clearing House.  Ain’t gonna happen.  The richly romantic “Sea of Strangers” sounds like a Goffin/King song for Lou Christie.  “Down To It” is pure guitar orgasm coupled with late-sixties folk/rock.  “Silver Sunday” is the Byrds doing Dylan–Byrdsian harmony, feverish guitar.  “Can’t Buy Love on Time” borrows the harmonies from Everlys.  “The Other Man” has the aching romance of all great pop songs.  “Breakin’ My Heart” is a triple scoop of ice cream including vanilla, “Tutti Frutti,” and Raspberries.  “When I Get You Alone” ups the Raspberries quotient exponentially. and “Stay” is an irresistible Twilley-like rocker.

Four and a half stars.

www.zenarcher.com\

PETER BALDRACHI: Tomorrow Never Knows  (Prodigal Son)

 Boston-based singer/rocker Baldrachi releases a strong set of rave-ups, rockers and ballads loaded with hooks and Gary Rand’s wildly expressive guitar.  “In the Dead of Night” opens with power chords and a righteous hook with backing chorus.  “Make It On Our Own” is an anthem to independence with a locomotive beat and good bones. “Promise Me a New Start” with its acoustic intro and harmony by Amy Rigby is very Mellencamp/Scarecrow in sound and theme, about a guy looking for a new start.  Three smart fast rockers to start.

“Pray For Rain” sounds like Nashville power pop, guitars speaking with a southern twang and echoes of Buffalo Springfield.  “Pick Up the Pieces” exudes a sweet country vibe thanks to the mandolin.  “Someone Isn’t Me” is major-chord full-throated rock with Rand laying it down like Van Halen.  The C,S and Nashish “In the Name of Love” has that Laurel Canyon lilt, acoustic guitars.  Even without the backing vocals it sounds great.  I also like how their logo resembles the old Blue Note mark.

Four stars.

www.peterbaldrachi.com

ORDER CD at KOOL KAT – HERE