Jeff from the Smiling Strangers very kindly sent me a copy of the bands last CD called "Full Circle," an album which is a pleasant blend of 3 minute pop songs, not strictly power pop (if you have a definition of that?) but great, well written lyrics bolstered by great music, I guess you could call it Power Pop, folk infused...........hey, take a listen instead, I am certainly enjoying this album!
The Smiling Strangers was
an idea by Jeff Reynolds. They were formed in early 2004 and after some
pleading, arm-twisting, favour-calling and hours slaving over an
acoustic guitar and drum machine, the project was born. So far they have
released:
Dangerous Times (2004)
Space Graces and Smiling Faces (2006)
All The Way (2007)
To Think It`s Come To This (2009)
Full Circle (2011)
FULL CIRCLE available from iTunes and all major
digital distributors
For those of you, like me, who love Hammond fueled beat music, you need to check this band out, this is classic 60's sounding music at its very best.
STEREOSCOPE JERK EXPLOSION was born out of the whimsical imagination of a girl, Marie Julie, an organist passionate about Sixties music and graphics. To carry out her project, she appealed to some friends, musicians coming from the Strawberry Smell & The Cryptones, involved for a long time in the jerk & french 60's beat scene.
Since 2004, the band has been performing in many venues, opening gigs before Big Boss Man, James Taylor Quartet or before Mike Painter & The Family Shakers at the Sunslice Festival.
In 2005, they've realised their two first 7" on the new label Les Disques Cosmic Groove: one special Sitar SITARMANIA /L'HOMME GRENOUILLE, one special Hammond LA PANTHERE POP/ PROMENADE DES BRITISH with colorful pop art sleeves, 4 late 60's influenced instrumental grooves full of hammond, sitar, moog, fuzz or wah-wah guitar and a catchy rythm section.
In 2007, they were back with fuelled force for two new 7" on Les Disques Cosmic Groove. This time one is special Fuzz JERK A LA VAGUE / FUZZ PARTY, one special Moog BUMBLEBEE / MOOG TRAFFIC
For these tunes, the band has gain in maturity and the sound is more explosive and powerful than ever with the addition of horns, vocals or theremin.
Now the first album of STEREOSCOPE JERK EXPLOSION is just finished. It’s a concept album made like an original soundtrack of the film LA PANTHERE POP.
Album Teaser.
It includes 21 songs, played in different moods like 60's psychedelic, sitar beat, garage, cinematic, lounge or even bossa nova, but always with catchy pop themes, and a touch of modern sound.
New instruments and some additionnal musicians like Chris Joss come to supplement this fantastic album accompanied by a booklet including a complete scenario (in french and english) based on the name of the tracks, and the storyboard of the film in comic strip.
Marie Julie and other members from Steeroscope Jerk Explosion have another band called "Cucumber" which plays in a similar style, you can check them out their new album "The Frech Job." Listen here: Cucumber
And if you find, like me, you can't get enough, Stereoscope Jerk Explosion have several 7" single for sale as well as a new album in the pipeline, which, at present has no release date set.....so keep 'em peeled! Don't worry, I will let you know when it is released ;)
This is a fine EP, among the influences listed are Blur, The Breeders, Matthew Sweet etc, but you can safely add to that Super Furry Animals and many more great bands, that, is not to say that the songs or music lack originality in anyway whatsoever. This EP, or Mini Album of six tracks is remarkably immediate and extremely well produced, the more I listen, the more I love it and I am sure that you will too!
Sam Page climbing to dizzy heights!
Sam Page is an unsigned singer/songwriter whose guitar-driven pop/rock
combines upbeat grooves and powerful rockers. There is no electronica in
his music – just a raucous (albeit melodic) mix of guitars, bass,
percussion and vocals. After releasing a home-recorded EP in January
2011, Sam formed a band and did 20 gigs in southern California. He then
released a second EP (Waiting for Another Spring) in April 2012 that seems to resonate with fans of Matthew Sweet, Jack White, Sam Roberts, The Breeders, Blur, and CAKE.
What others are saying:
"Much like the rest of the EP, 'Pass Me By' has a fun swing to it,
complete with heavy distortion and happy riffs. It has a power popish
feel ... like Weezer." -- Audio Splash (June 19, 2012)
"Instantly hummable songs ... Page stands out among the DIY indie
hopefuls with his knack for songwriting and creating a full sound on a
shoestring budget." -- Here Comes The Flood (June 10, 2012)
"It conjures up good weather and good times, so you can put off waiting
for spring with Page’s own sunny melodies and laid back vocals, almost
Jack Johnson style. But in songs like Lottery and Like@FirstSite, it’s
mixed with loud and infectious riffs reminiscent of The White Stripes." -- Anastasia Aboim, New Reviews (June 2012)
"I really love the sounds and production on [Lottery]. The vocals reminded me a little of Beck in places." --Rathole Radio (May 27, 2012)
"Sam Page kicks ass ... It's the best EP I've heard so far this year. 'Nuff said."
-- Berkeley Place (May 22, 2012)
To listen to the EP, take a trip over to Sam's website and take a listen, if you like it, make a purchase and help support an artists that I believe we will be hearing a lot more from in the future.
Listen to Sam Page - Waiting For Another Spring HERE
Contact, befriend, like and love Sam Page: FACEBOOK
Futureman Records is one of those rarest of breed record labels where all profits go straight to the band, in fact the label was set up to promote good music and support the artists, this deserves our attention and support in order to help artists to continue to produce the music we love.
"Please Don't Eat The Daisies" is twenty
songs recorded over twenty years (1988-2008). These homemade bedroom
demos and studio recordings have been revived and made public here for
the very first time by Futureman Records. If you need convincing of the quality of this, take a look at the artists featured on this recording!
Joel Boyea, singing and playing. Chris Richards, bass playing. Doyle Dean, drum playing.
Other records on the label are "The New Sell Out" by Various artists in a tribute to The Who and the "Sell Out" album which contains some real gems of covers.
Put together 12 years ago and gathering cobwebs ever since, The New Sell
Out is finally out! Dedicated to Rick McBrien, the soul of Futureman.
Thanks to every contributing artist and everyone who worked on this!
Special thanks to Shawn Wolfe and Hans Martin-Buff! Full liner notes
and artwork included in download.
An artist that doesn't really need an introduction is the amazing Michael Carpenter who has an album of covers, SOOP (Songs of other people) on the Futureman label, these are brilliant covers, many of which I had not heard before, but will be playing plenty from now on.
Some highlights from Michael Carpenter's amazing collection of covers records! Head over to michaelcarpenter.bandcamp.com for the full collections along with his amazing originals.
Finally, for now, The What Gives, a band that had somehow passed me by until now and if they have also passed you by up until this point, you can rectify that now as this is a sterling piece of work that needs to be heard.
Recorded in various sessions during the late 90s at what was then Red
House Recording in Eudora, Ks. Principals were Jon Harrison on guitar
and keyboards, Bret Dillingham on Drums and Stephen Naron on Bass. Bret
and Jon sang. Dan Berchenko played guitar on "Right as Rain" and
probably something else. Kit Cole played the string section on
"Friends." Tawni Freeland-Crider contributed some backing vocals. Ed
Rose played a bit of guitar and other tasty treats, as well as recording
and co-producing with the band.
There are more artists being added to Futureman Records, if you would like to keep up to speed with who is being added, then join their facebook page and support the record label that supports the artists!
Contact, befriend, like and love Futureman Records here: FACEBOOK
The Kaams eagerly awaited album has landed, and, as was expected, is full of pulsating, rocking garage beats.
Hailing from Bergamo, Italy, this is a band that have obviously fed on a staple diet of the greatest garage/beat bands out there and their debut album has earned a place up there with the best of them.
Started as a duo piece by Andrea Carminati (vocals/guitar) and Marcello Giannelli (drums), the band released its first Ep “She’s a Killer” in march 2010 on Bedo Records/Dirty Water Digit Records. At the end of the same year a new 7'' split titled "Chose Your Coffin - The Kaams vs The Monolithics" was released on Boss Hoss Records and distributed by Area Pirata. After several line-up changes Andrea has finally met the right mates: Marco Facheris (guitar), Alberto Mafessoni (bass) and Tiziano Carozzi (drums).
This is a fantastic debut album from one of the finest bands in Italy and certainly a heavyweight contender within the scene worldwide, if you like raw, arse kicking, rock 'n' roll beats, then these guys should be adourning your turn table before every night out, hell, play it before breakfast and make every day great!!
Contact, befriend, like and love The Kamms here: FACEBOOK
Listen to a few songs from the album here: Reverbnation
Copies of the album can be purchased direct from the band here: thekaams@gmail.com
I wasn't really sure what to expect from an album and band called "Boys School," but then I remembered that I should never have expectations as I am often left dissapointed, fortunately, this was not to be the case here, in fact I was pleasantly surprised.
This album is a sparkling piece of work with ballads sitting comfortably besides more up-tempo numbers and a cover of Abba's S.O.S. Sometimes you get a hint of Brett Farkas influences, think Elvis Costello, T-Rex and The Jam and you are some way there to understanding what this album is all about. This is a blinding album, full of stompers and a couple of superb ballads. Go take a listen!
When do the girls get here?
Known for his uniquely prominent and wide spanned style of guitar
playing within the LA music scene for the likes of Lord Huron, Amnion
(with former Magnetic Zero Aaron Embry) and soul legend, Solomon Burke,
Detroit native Brett Farkas steps up to the front and assembles his own
clever cast to deliver a half hour fun-ride of sneering rock and roll,
addictive pop and thoughtful ballads. Boys School's self titled
debut album flows with immense energy, original attitude and lyrical
honesty while paying tribute to a rich inspiration of early rock n roll,
70's glam and punk, classic soul music, 90's college radio and the traditional songsmith.
-Featuring the up tempo tracks, "Medicated", "Talking to Myself" ,
"So Cool - featuring Andy Clockwise" and "There It Goes"; the ballad
"I'm With You"; and the epic rendition of Abba's, "S.O.S.".
-Produced by Luke Adams, and includes many regulars to the LA music
community including, Stella Mozgawa (drummer of Warpaint), Andy
Clockwise, Mia Dyson and Aaron Embry (Edward Sharpe).
Contact, befriend, like and love "Boys School" here: Facebook
For those of you who like your Power Pop tinged with some grating guitars and powerful vocals, you couldn't do much better than check out the wonderful "Deco Auto" from Kansas City MO.
Drawing influences from the likes of Superdrag, Superchunk and Oranger, these guys knock out some really cool supercharged music and if this EP is any indication of what the band can do, then we can hopefully look forward to a fuel injected, V6 growling album sometime soon in the future.
The band have several packages available when you purchase the CD EP, you can buy just the download if you wish, but for those of you who want a physical copy, you have the option for a limited edition Deco Auto print and a cd or a cd and an ultra cool T-shirt, both packages include a vinyl sticker, all available from the bands bandcamp page.
Contact, befriend, like and love the wonderful Deco Auto here: FACEBOOK
Buy one of the CD packages or download here: BANDCAMP
