Radio Days - Get Some Action

Italy's "Radio Days" know a thing or two about Power Pop as this album very clearly demonstrates, their harmony laden songs are firmly rooted in the sixties with the melodies, riffs and jangly guitars, but they also have the edginess of New Wave Punk in there too making the music exciting and energetic.

I have been lucky enough to have this album for a few weeks now, it really is an infectious sound that the band have created here and it is absolutely no wonder that the band are being lauded as one of the best Power Pop acts around at the moment by folk such as Bruce Brodeen of Not Lame Records/Pop Geek Heaven blog, who obviously knows whats what!

Radio Days are:

Dario Persi: guitar, vocals
Omar Assadi: guitar, backing vocals
Mattia Baretta: bass, backing vocals
Paco Orsi: drums

The band have plied their music all over Europe, playing gigs with the likes of Paul Collins, Kurt Baker, Rubinoos, Marky Ramone to name a few and they certainly deserve to sit beside those names as equals, this is bloody good stuff!

The album is now available to pre-order in all formats (Vinyl, CD, Digital) and with various packages including T-Shirts, stickers etc.  The official release date is 6th of March when all pre-orders will start shipping, so don't delay, "Get Some Action!"

Pre-order "Get Some Action" in all formats here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Radio Days here: Facebook

Don't forget the check out the bands previous album "C'est La Vie" too which is also fantastic!

"Sleep It Off" from Radio Days "C'est La Vie."

The Corner Laughers - Poppy Seeds

I have heard the name The Corner Laughers several times from friends but ashamedly I hadn't checked them out until now.

I have been listening to the latest album "Poppy Seeds" and I absolutely love it, it has some pretty eclectic reference points to these ears which is wonderful, it is like taking a road trip and deciding to turn left at the next corner, for no other reason than just to see where it goes!

This is very sweet sunshine pop, often reminding me of some of the classic 60's female fronted bands, as well as some of the twee pop bands that resided on the "Sarah Records" label, to name a couple reference points.  However the music goes much further touching on folk and indie pop, I even heard a splash of surf in there too (maybe not surprisng given the bands roots in California) and the lyrics are extremely well crafted too.

Listening to this album has encouraged me to listen to the bands back catologue, which is every bit as good and eclectic as "Poppy Seeds."

The Corner Laughers are: 
Karla Kane (Vocals, Ukulele, Percussion, Bass, Bell Choir) 
Angela Silletto (Guitar, Percussion) 
Khoi Huynh (Bass, Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion, Bell Choir) 
Charlie Crabtree (Drums, Percussion, Vocals, Bell Choir) 
KC Bowman (Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Percussion, Bell Choir) 

This album is certainly going to be one of my favourite summer time albums, it radiates copious amounts of warmth in every note played and sung, did I say I love it?

Stream and buy "Poppy Seeds" and check out the bands back catologue here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Corner Laughers here: Facebook

http://cornerlaughers.com

Ken Simpson - You're No Fun Anymore

I have had this little gem in my inbox for a few weeks now and due to moving house and work commitments, I haven't gotten around to listening to it until now and I am somewhat kicking myself for missing out on a few weeks of these songs from the very talented Ken Simpson.

The five tracks on this debut EP are all wonderful pieces of work and Ken, who is a veterinary surgeon by day, openly wears his influences on his sleeve, The Beatles, Jeff Lynne, Jason Falkner and The Rutles, but somehow manages to make the sound very much his own.  I am really loving these songs but as I always say, don't take my word for it, the proof is in the "pudding!"

I really hope that Ken is planning on releasing an album in the future, because if the songs contained here are anything to go by, then we are in for a very special treat sometime in the future, but for now, enjoy the EP.

Ken Simpson has been a pop music geek since his grandfather(from England) bought him his first Beatles album in 1973. Ken recalls it being the perfect birthday gift, a Capitol Records compilation that included "Hey Jude" and "Revolution". I was just a little kid, so I gravitated toward "Can't Buy Me Love"!

Simpson is also a musician with a passion for writing pop songs. He has performed onstage and on the radio with Neil Innes (The Rutles, Bonzo Dog Band)in Hollywood, New York and Chicago, among other places, but his dream of recording his own songs seemed a bit out of reach. That's when singer-songwriter David Mead stepped in. 

"I met David while he was recording his 2011 release, "Dudes", Ken says, "and asked him if he might consider producing a few songs for me. David asked me to send him a demo for consideration." Three months later, Ken was in Nashville recording "You're No Fun Anymore" with Mead as his producer. "It was David's first attempt to produce another artist besides himself, and as a fan of his music since "Tangerine", I was thrilled to be working with him!" 

In addition to Mead and The Beatles, Ken lists Michael Penn, The Rutles, Jeff Lynne, Pugwash and Jason Falkner as major influences.

Stream the EP here: Soundcloud

Buy and download the EP here: itunes cdbaby amazon

Esa Linna - This Is Who I am. Album out now!

Last year I featured Esa's single "She's Not A Human Being" which featured Roger Joseph Manning Jr of Jellyfish, Moog Cookbook, Tv Eyes and Imperial Drag, now, Esa Linna has delivered a rather splendid debut album "This Is Who I Am."

The ten tracks on the album are a mix of pure power pop and some rather beautiful slower paced numbers, Esa delivers both equally well with plenty of melodies and harmonies present in the proceedings, there is even a little darkness within too, for example on the track "Meat Market," which has a kind of early Pink Floyd sound to it.

This really is quite a debut album and hopefully the shape of things to come from one of Finlands best kept secrets.

Official website:http://www.esalinna.com

The download is available for a limited time at a price of 8 Dollars here: Gumroad

Also find tracks by Esa Linna here: Bandcamp

Dany Laj and The Looks - Telepathic Voices

If you like your power pop with an edge, then check out Dany Laj and The Looks.  Hailing from Totonto, Canada, Dany Laj and The Looks deliver a rather tasty slice of power pop here and I am not sure if it is Dany's looks (I watched the Chamberlain Sessions video before listening to the tracks on bandcamp) but I immediately thought of Elvis Costello when I saw him and listening to the mans music, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a fair amount of Mister Costellos music in his collection. 

The tracks here remind me of a mix of early Elvis Costello and The Replacements and let's face it, they are two excellent reference points, but this isn't saying that this is all you get, it isn't, these tracks are pleasently raw, energetic, bouncy and seem to have a little punk ethos about them, I like that.  In fact there is nothing here not to like, but, as always, take a listen to the tunes and judge for yourself, me, I am going to spend the rest of today playing this EP and the band previous EP "The Match."  Enjoy.

Dany Laj
Jeanette Dowling
Vassil Mester

Dany Laj flies the flag for Power Pop in Canada. Bursting out of woods with the hooks and harmonies of Power Pop's mid 1970's heyday. This ain't no skinny jeans new wave revival band. This is pure pop.

Stream and download the EP's here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Dany Laj and The Look here: Facebook

Visit the official website here: http://www.solventmagazine.com/danylaj/

The Sharks - South Of The River EP OUT NOW!

Never before has the term, "Throw 'em to the sharks" sounded so appealing and now the quartet from Brixton have added another absolutely rip roaring EP to their excellent catologue, you will probably throw yourself to The Sharks......and why not!

The first two tracks "South of the River" and "Girls, Girls, Girls" thunder along at a hundred miles hour, turned up to eleven, the EP starts to slow down on the 3rd track, "She's gonna make me go blind" which is less punky but still edgy enough to let you know they mean business and the more poppy approach of the band continues onto the fourth and final track "Tokyo."

I absolutely adore this band, their energy, the prolific output of quality Punky Pop and the fact that they play gigs in their home, as well as other venues, these gigs are set to continue every month, even after a visit from the local constabulary and a noise abatement notice (someone wasn't listening properly!) these gigs are set to continue and be a positively raucous, but fun affair.  If you want to get into one of these gigs, the best way to keep up to date with proceedings is to "LIKE" the bands facebook page.

Once again the band have a seperate striking image for each and every track on the EP as they have done on the 7 previous EP's.

Stream and buy the latest EP for a name your price fee (remember a small donation helps these bands to continue making music) here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Sharks here: Facebook

Bang 74 - High Flying Dreams

Bang 74, from Ferrol in Spain, shared the number one singles spot in my year end list last year with their fantatsic rendition on The Now's "Can You Fix Me Up With Her," and, needless to say, I have been waiting for the bands full length debut album with a certain amount of anticipation.

Well, did they deliver?  Of course they did!  The 11 tracks on the album were everything I expected and more, with a sound of classic power pop, blended with a touch of punk/rock and even a little country tinge in there, for example on opening track, "Cloud Of Rock & Roll."

With 2 EP's and a 7" single behind them and now the debut album, this band certainly look like they are really going places and quite rightly too, this debut album is full of catchy hooks and melodies as well as some rocky guitar riffs to beef it up beautifully, no doubt this album will end up in in many year end lists this year.

Cris Veiga - Vocals/Guitar

Fran Millarengo - Bass

Oscar Millarengo - Drums

Stream the album here: Bandcamp

Buy the album: Rufus Recordings

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Bang 74 here: Facebook