The Reigning Monarchs - Black Sweater Massacre OUT NOW!

The Reigning Monarchs latest album was released on the 24th of September and once again this band ticks all the boxes for the perfect album which plays like a film soundtrack to your day, your life, your anything!

The band are packing venues wherever they play right now and it is no surprise, the music is fast, exciting, stimulating and catchy.

The album was funded by fans of the band and to hi-light how dedicated their fans are, they raised 30k dollars, the goal was to raise 10k.  

The guys are now going to make a feature length documentary and take the album out on the road and wear black sweaters for the duration of both projects.

While their music and live shows stand on their own the band has made a habit of to featuring guest vocalists at shows.  The Monarchs' versatility and musicality has seen them backing the likes of Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, alternative country heartthrob Rhett Miller as well as comedians and actors like Ben Stiller, Marc Maron, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Jason Segel.  

As Greg and Mike release the new album, their story of two dads in their 40s attempting to juggle families, careers, and the perhaps foolish dream of being the world's greatest (and best dressed) instrumental rock band is being documented for an upcoming film tentatively titled, Eat Pray Ska!

The Reigning Monarchs shall conquer all!

I am absolutely sure that this album will become a firm favourite for Surf Punk lovers everywhere, this is an instant instrumental classic with horns, I mean the instruments, of course!

Stream and buy the album here: Bandcamp

Official Site: thereigningmonarchs.com

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Reigning Monarchs here: Facebook

Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More debut show on Swedens Radio Andra.

The Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More show on Swedens Radio Andra.

Double click on the title in the player to go to the Podomatic page to get track details.

Win a "Death Valley Rally" EP.

Our friends over at Planting Seeds Records have given us 3 copies of "Death Valley Rally's" debut EP for a competition, simple to enter, simply like "Death Valley Rally's" facebook page (lnks below) and send me an e-mail address with your full name.  Planting Seeds Records will be passed the names and will draw three lucky winners at random next Thursday.  Good luck.

Like Death Valley Rally's facebook page here to enter: Facebook

Send your name and valid e-mail address to me here: icecreammanpowerpop@hotmail.com

Keep up with all the Planting Seeds Records releases here: Facebook

Keep up with the Ice Cream Man blog activity here: Facebook

The Grimm Generation - The Big Fame. OUT NOW!

"The Big Fame" is the second full length release from this Connecticut outfit and this release finds the band shifting up to top gear and pressing the accelerator firmly to the floor.

Carmen Champagne and Jason P Krug started the band as an outlet for suburban tales of menace that they came to recognize. Love lust and longing, addiction, poverty and lives lived online all became fuel for the duo's form or carnal rock.

With the new album the band continue to identify the oddities of modern life in society, Carmen's distinctive vocals add a somewhat haunting touch to the proceedings, which is lifted by Jason's driving acoustic guitar to a less scary place.....until you listen to the lyrics of course.

I have been a fan of The Grimm Generation since my first listen, immediately hooked onto the concept of the "Grimm Twins" (as Carmen and Jason refer to themselves) song writing and of course, with their chosen subject matter for their music, we are assured a longevity for the band and for that I am actually grateful that society is a little bit odd, well, very odd, but "Rock 'N' Roll" all the same.

I asked Carmen and Jason to pick a song off the album and tell us something exclusively about it, they chose the albums second track "The Next Indie Boy," but before we hear what they have to say, let's take a listen to the song.

 

The Grimm Twins on 'The Next Indie Boy'

(Jason) What we tend to write about is what we know. So were light on GeoPolitics (as we aren't especially bright) and tend to have faith in the The Sex and The Drugs and The Rock And Roll versus The Father, Son and Holy Ghost. And, on occasion, we will write about each other.

(Carmen) Hmm, right...on occasion.

(Jason) 'The Next Indie Boy' was a song Carmen wrote while observing a long online break up between me and an ex. The idea was a song for the ex stating 'don't worry about it. Another singer will come along...'. Which I did not appreciate. But...it was so good. The lyrics so perfectly capture that morning/mourning after effect of a break up, when all the memories are fresh and the ex's things still fill your bedroom. More specific, the line about 'your work shirt lying around...' which I thought nailed that feeling in real time.

(Carmen) Indeed, Jason's break up was the inspiration, but it could have been me or any number of women who find they want to move on from a relationship but they just can't let go of what could have been. The gamut of emotions, from despair to indignation to flat out frustration of not being able to move on that you feel during that time runs alongside the chorus (I just can't shake it) quite nicely, I think.

(Jason) Bringing the band in to the studio for 'The Next Indie Boy', we amped it up, faster, more driving, more Rock and Roll...and came up with a sound that can't be compared to any bands I know, but purely pop music. (Carmen) The overlay of words that Jason came up with in the bridge, the 'he says" version of the story, is just two sentences. That, to me, was delicious as it fit the dynamic of an unrequited love so wonderfully: growing the object of affection into a myth. Meanwhile, the myth already has his hands up another skirt.

(Jason) Regarding the video, its a tribute / obvious rip off of The Replacements 'Left Of The Dial' video.

(Carmen) Always go for the cheap thrill.

Contact, befriend, follow, like, love, become a part of The Grimm Generation here: Facebook

Buy and download The Big Fame here: cdbaby and itunes

Official Website: www.thegrimmgeneration.com

Friday on my mind with, The Solicitors - Quicksand & Mark Crozer & The Rels - Backburner.

The Solicitors have a new song out which you can get free when you buy their "Made To Measure" or buy it as a seperate track.

"Quicksand" is the name of the single, something the band is obviously not standing in as this band are floating to new heights with their infectious blend of power pop and, dare I say it, becoming one of the hottest exports from the Australian music world.  Check out the video and then check out more of The Solicitors.

Find the "Quicksand" track here with the other great releases from this band here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like, love and keep up with all the bands news here: Facebook

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This time last year Mark Crozer and The Rels released a sterling self titled album that helped make summer feel a little bit longer with its sparkling tunes and now they have released another early autumn gem, in the shape of a 7 track mini album, that will also bring back the warmth of summer to your hearts, minds and ears.

These 7 tracks are all songs to die for, this outfit doesn't seem to put one foot out of place when it comes to making perfect pop songs.

Those of you not familiar with the name Mark Crozer may like to know that he was a member of both The Jesus and The Mary Chain and the highly acclaimed International Jetsetters and now he is finding acclaim with his own band and quite right too, this is sure to become a favourite album of many new and old fans alike.

Buy and stream the album here: Bandcamp

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

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The Young Sinclairs Competition Winners.

Firstly, thank you to everyone who took part, sadly there could only be three winners and those lucky people are:

Bruce Dumes, Emma (with the mod related E mail) and Gene Brown.

Congratulations to you all, Planting Seeds Records will be in touch with you soon for your mailing addresses.

We will hopefully be running another competition in association with Planting Seeds Records very soon.

Win a copy of The Young Sinclairs latest EP. Three copies up for grabs!

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.

Good Luck!