The cool folks at Planting Seeds Records have very kindly given "Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More" 3 copies of The Young Sinclairs EP, which is due for release next week, to give away to exclusively to our readers.
All you have to do is send an e mail to me HERE (icecreammanpowerpop@hotmail.com)with your name and an e-mail address and like Planting Seeds record on Facebook HERE and next Wednesday September 18th we will choose 3 names from the hat and send them a copy of this fantastic EP.
Hailing from Swindon, UK, The King In Mirrors, play some poppy, jangly gems reminiscent of the style of the Go Betweens and several of the bands that featured on the Sarah label like The Field Mice, which is most apparent on the EP's third track, the brilliant "Gaurdian Angel" which could have very easily sat comfortably amongst the best releases from that band.
The band was formed in 2012 by Rich May and the mini album "The KIng In Mirrors" was released the same month the band was formed and the band are now back with the "Rolling In The Sun" EP which has four tracks of lo-fi indie, post punk pop with rough and ready guitars and great tunes for your listening pleasure.
Stream and buy the EP and Mini album here: Bandcamp
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The King In Mirrors here: Facebook
I only became aware of this collection after blog faves The Sensibles dropped me a copy of their song that is included within the grooves and I have to say that it is an absolutely immense collection of songs from bands such as The Sensibles, Dead Ghosts, Los Vigilantes, Good Habits, Midwest Beat, Pop Zeus to mention just a few.
This is garage music at it rawest, dirtiest and most beautiful and if that wasn't enough to whet your appetite, it is all FREE too!
I received a nice e mail from these guys which sums up their music, drive and influences in their own words really well....so, here they are!
"We, Sunday Guts, are a guitar pop band from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The band is primarily the music project of Billy Kilgannon (Vocals/Guitar/Programming), with collaboration from close friend Victor Berger IV (Bass/Vocals/Keyboard). We enjoy the exquisite songwriting of XTC, Brian Wilson, Stevie Wonder, Robert Pollard, The Free Design and Joe Jackson. Tegan & Sara and Wavves are some of the newer acts we like, too. Emphasis is heavy on vocal hooks, interesting chord structure, open-for-interpretation lyrics, and actual guitar "riffs". In other words, the guitar is a way to enhance the composition of the song, along with sonic reinforcement. We also laid in some string samples (the Mellotron sound) here and there, for some depth and variation.
"Leave it Go" was created by trading files over sites like Wetransfer.com. The skeleton of the songs would be arranged, and sent off to Victor. He'd add bass and a bunch of tight harmonies, then send those individual tracks back. This seems to be a standard procedure for many artists in 2013.
The high point for us is "Edge of the Universe" (track 3). We've been in bands together for a long time, and have mutual interest in each others' work. Yet, this is the first song we've ever really wrote together. Vic came up with the heart of the song, and I finished it off with a bridge and the words. We are very proud of all four songs, as well as our previous release - Grey Tipi."
Gleeson are a rock 'n' roll band with some fantastic influences like Ray Davies, Big Star, The Beatles, GBV, Queen, Superchunk and others and there are a few nods to their heroes on this album and when your influences are that great, why not and secondly, it has helped mould a really great album.
This Austin based band has taken some time in getting their songs to fruition with the ideas having been stored in a "concept warehouse" for many years, but they say the best things are worth waiting for and eventually a band was formed featuring song writer Ty Chandler and father and son Raul Vela III & IV and the songs were given the light of day....thankfully.
This is a really great album, possibly a bit long at 22 tracks, that said, they are all of excellent quality which you may not expect from such a vast collection and this listener is now off to listen to this bands back catologue too!
Stream and buy this album for a "Name Your Price" fee here: Bandcamp
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Gleeson here: Facebook
"Here it Comes" is the first single from this Medway Power Pop outfits 3rd album which is nearing completion and which promises to be something of another classic album from this conurbation and unitary authority in South East England that is well known for producing top quality musicians such as The Prisoners and a million Billy Childish outfits.
Theatre Royal break the mold of the punky, mod, garage band normally associated with the area and to me honest, when I read that they came from the Medway, I could almost hear the songs, or so I thought, shame on me for stereo typing! Theatre Royal are a breath of fresh Power Pop that doesn't fail but to give a fantastic audible experience.
I think that Theatre Royal are going to become well played around here and I haven't even found my way through their whole back catologue and I already love them!
Stream and buy the single here (and check out the back catologue) Bandcamp
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love Theatre Royal here: Facebook
I was very kindly asked to make a return visit to "Mister Suave's Mod Mod World" with another guest host podcast, some of the songs crossed over onto my recent pilot podcast, but I think this one worked out a little better in terms of quality. Please check it out, share it amongst friends and check out all the great shows that Mister Suave does as well.
Full track listing: The Above - The girl with the peacock tattoo The Solicitors - Pretty Penny Mark and The Spies - Please Think it over Nick Piuntin - 13 in my head The Pinecones - Kimbererley Keep The Most - I Don't want it The Sympathy - When The Sun Goes Down The Riots - Out Of Control The Shade - Tommy aint your thief Shelta - Faraday Stephen Lawrenson - Words to say Souvenir Stand - Days I spent with you Bobby Fuller Four - Magic Touch The Judes - Let's fall in love again Attic Lights - Say You love me
They are back again after what seems ages, of course it isn't ages, just a couple of months which seems like a lifetime for this band of prolific songsmiths, and what a brilliant release they have for us.....again!
In the past two years, I have twice made a trip back home to England from Sweden to see bands, one of course was The Sharks and, their live performance is every bit as exciting as their music and was well worth the trip, so if you get a chance to see the band play, don't let it pass you by.
The four tracks on this EP further go to bolster the suspicion I have, that they are possibly the greatest Power Pop/Punk band in the world right now, great musicians with great songs and a live set that will blow your socks off.....what more could you possibly want? Free music maybe? Well, unbelievably, you get that too, everything they have released is available for free download or a name your price fee. So tell me, what the fuck are you still doing here reading this shit for, you have some downloading to do!!!!
Shark on shark action!!
Go download the "Cocaine Radio" EP and everything else FREE here: Bandcamp
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Sharks here: Facebook
I received a lovely e mail from WeePOP Records introducing me to their latest release from The Just Joans and if Twee Indie Pop is your thing, then you have come to the right place with this band.
Opening track, "Winters On It's Way," on this collection of "6.9 Love Songs" instantly took me back to the days of Talulah Gosh, Heavenly, BMX Bandits and The Vaselines, it is poppy and bouncy with vocals that are sugar sweet, it is beautifully refreshing and of course the other 5.9 songs follow suit. The vocalists Scottish accents shine through on all the songs, as The Very Most once sang, "All the best bands come from Scotland." If the band had been around at the time of that recording, I think they would certainly of been name checked in that song too. Brilliantly satisfying.
I aslo want to talk a little about the record company that has put this album out. WeePOP Records are a small indie label based in London with DIY ethics. As soon as I visited the site, I almost understood what they were all about immediately.
Entering the site is like opening the pages of those Indie Fanzines that you used to be given, or sold at gigs back in the 80's introducing you to all the new bands that are out there hat you should see, of course, we now have the internet for such things and the fanzines have all but disappeared......sadly.
The label releases limited releases of all their signings, so if you like what you hear when you visit their page, order quickly to avoid disappointment. The songs are not available to download which may or may not be something the label will address in this digital age, but the way the label operates takes me back to another time, a simpler time, a happy time and I love them for that.
When you visit WeePOP Records site you can listen to selected songs from each release they have put out, I spent the best part of a day going through the songs of the 30 bands they have on their roster.
Listen to The Just Joans "Some Boys Are Bigger Than Others" here: WeePop Releases and work your way through the other artists on the label too...naturally.
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Just Joans here: Facebook
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love WeePOP Records here to keep up with any new releases: WeePOP Facebook
Thought I would have a crack at a podcast and see if I can use it to further help the promotion of the bands that I feature on the blog. Take a listen and let me know your comments on it if you wish. I had some microphone issues which are being addressed, but let me know your overall thoughts on the concept and the podcast itself.
