The Ice Cream Men - Change is Gonna Come

"The Ice Cream Man presents The Ice Cream Men"......was the first thing that came into my head when I stumbled across the name of this band from  Metuchen, New Jersey, I just hoped that they wouldn't dissapoint when I listened to them and I am very pleased to say that they didn't.

I find it absolutely amazing that with such a great name and great tunes that they managed to evade me for so long, but no longer.

"Change is Gonna Come" was unleashed in 2010 and is chock full of poppy, well written songs and tunes and quite why this band aren't more well known is beyond me?  The arrangements are first class with a subtle sax and piano drifting into the fantastic album opener "Cut an Apple" which sways along with a real bouncy summery feeling, in fact the whole album has that warmth too.  Other stand out tracks are "Ruby Red Eyes" "Not Speaking" "Maybe On Monday" although it is quite fair to say that there is no weak track on this album, it is an absolute stomper of an album that doesn't fail to please on any level.

Free embed music player from ReverbNation.com

The band have made some of the tracks from this album available for free download on reverbnation, in fact, most of the album is there, but if you would like to support the band and get your hands on a physical CD copy of the band, then head on over to the bands facebook page and drop them a message.

Recommended if you like Squeeze, XTC, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers.

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Ice Cream Men here: Facebook

Visit the bands Reverbnation page for some downloads and to hear more: http://www.reverbnation.com/icecreammen

Jeremy Porter & The Tucos - Partner In Crime

Jeremy Porter & The Tucos, from Detroit, have released an album that encompasses everything that is great about music.  The band display a real passion for Power Pop in the vein of Cheap Trick, but they don't fear to wander through the other styles that they are passionate about too.  You may think that for a band to take these steps into such a diversity of styles could leave the band with an album in dissaray, but you would be wrong, this flows beautifully and keeps the listener interested and mesmerised within the diversity within the grooves.

Jeremy Porter grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and as a member of one of the first punk bands in the area, The Regulars, Jeremy learnt, at the age of 16, what a rock bar smells like.

By the lates 80's he was living in Detroit and playing at clubs all across the midwest and for two decades he would front bands touring and recording the states with bands such as Slugbug, The Offramps, Fidrych and more.

In 2010 Jeremy released his first solo album, "Party Of One" on Toronto's prestigious indie label "Magwheel Records" and toured the US and Canada extensively.

Jeremy Porter - Guitar, Vocals, Songs

Jason Bowes - Bass

Gabriel Doman - Drums

The more I play this record, the more I admire the band for playing what they love playing and not just slipping into the shoe that fits, even though every shoe seems to fit perfectly!

Learn how to make a free Electronic Press Kit

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love the band here: Facebook

Visit the bands excellent website here to buy the album, hear the back catologue and more information: http://www.thetucos.com

The album is also available here:  AMAZON  CDBABY 

The band have several shows coming up in the Michigan area, so if you are in the vacinity, be sure to check them out!

The Jac - Record Store

After some problems with my internet connection after relocating 300 meters up the road, I am finally back in business, anyone reading in Sweden, think carefully before choosing your broadband supplier!!!

Kicking things back into gear on "Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More" is one of my favourite bands at the moment, The Jac, with their latest offering "Record Store."

Regular readers will know that the band is made up of members from Australia, USA and Sweden who send music files to each other through cyber space and eventually deliver some fantastic pop nuggets for our delight and pleasure.

Needless to say the, The Jac, have this down to a very fine art as those of you that invested in the "Faux Pas" album already know, and this latest EP continues the trend of fine music for the band.

The four tracks that make up this EP meanders through different genres (if you like to pigeon hole things) and not only delivers the classic sound of The Jac's Power Pop influences but also dips into a bit of electronica and country and their rendition of these styles is tastefully done and fun, bloody good fun!

You won't find Joe, Herb and Stefan in the same room at the same time, here is Joe in a room at some time!

The band have commenced recording the next album which is tentatively titled, "Whether I'm Arthur or Martha" which I personally am very much looking forward to.

In the mean time........

Download the EP for a "Name Your Price" fee here: Bandcamp

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

If The Jac are new to you and you like what you hear, don't forget to check out the rest of the bands back catologue on Bandcamp too.

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