Lannie Flowers - New Songs Old Stories OUT NOW

Quite how Lannie Flowers managed to fly under the "Ice Cream Man" radar is beyond me, but in my defence, I only started the blog last September and the prequel to this album, "Same Old Story" was released back in 2008. "Same Old Story" was an album of 30 or so song snippets from which Lannie's fans then chose what they wanted to hear full length versions of, and so, via one more full length release, "Circles" we now come to the latest release containing 7 songs as voted for by fans of the man globally and 2 extra's from that era.

I have to say that this is a remarkable album full of really great power pop, the only downside is that it is only a 9 track album, but then you know what they say, "Keep them wanting more!"  Well, this listener  wants more and thankfully Lannie sent me a copy of "Circles" which not only rectified my previous heinous oversight of Lannie, but gave me more of this very talented individuals music for my listening pleasure. Happy days indeed!

I can see this album making many top ten lists at the end of the year, it will certainly be in mine!

Lannie Flowers is from Kennedale, a small working class Texas town full of wrecking yards, garbage dumps, and an abundance of churches for an interesting blend of rough characters and church-going folk.

When Lannie was twelve years old, a friend living up the street got an electric guitar. After seeing all the girls oohing and ahhing at show and tell, Lannie immediately told him that they needed to start a band. Three months later they had their first gig, and suddenly, high-school girls were talking to him. From that moment on, other distractions weren't a priority to Lannie anymore.

Working in a warehouse for a couple of years while attending Tarrant County Junior College, Lannie knew he didn't want a regular job. He dropped out of college and became a full-time musician, going on the road off and on for the next thirteen years. It was the only thing he could see himself doing.

Contact, befriend, like and love Lannie Flowers here: Facebook

Lannie Flowers: Myspace Reverbnation

Check out everthing, buy the album, stream the album buy a fantastic Lannie flowers underground T shirt at Lannie Flowers official site here: http://www.lannieflowers.com/index.html

Ruby Free - Introducing Ruby Free. OUT NOW!

"Introducing Ruby Free" is a lush arrangement of songs that evoke feelings of nostalgia of music and  times gone by, with echoes of "ELO" and "Wings" even some of "The Who's" later offerings, (check out the intro to "Three Cheers For The Sun God") playing on the radio, but better, so much better!

This collection of sun drenched songs really hit the spot, sweet harmonies, well crafted lyrics and songs, this isn't a grower and there isn't a filler track in sight, this album is purely and simply, beautifully immediate.

Somewhere, deep in the valley, just northwest of Los Angeles, lives a family. Together they grow tomatoes, grapes, and very large lemons. They have visitors from time to time like raccoons, snakes, coyotes, and possums. They also have a little husband and wife band called Ruby Free. 

The players are Rick Hromadka and Lisa Cavaliere. Rick hails from veteran LA power pop bands Double Naught Spies and

 Maple Mars.

Lisa is an ex-choir girl, whose unique vocal stylings bring to mind Suzanna Hoffs. Their debut album "Introducing Ruby Free" is a delicious

blend of Paul and Linda McCartney melodies and sunny "Laurel Cyn" harmonies, producing a familiar yet new distinctive sound. The upbeat

theme of the album captures a band not taking itself too seriously, and living in the moment.

A three time Emmy Award winning sound editor and mixer, singer/songwriter/producer Rick Hromadka took a lo-fi approach to the production, and the songs echo tones of 1970's radio. Pulling back on "the gloss" was key! Lisa, who comes from a family of singers, adds a delicate female
perspective to songs like Bongos And Beards, Deep In Valley, and Three Cheers For The Sun God. Her lead vocal on the infectious "Tiny Stars" hallmarks
her range.

Rick Hromadka's last album "Galaxyland" (Maple Mars) drew quotes like, "Album of the year" - Bill Kopp (Musosribe), "A psychedelic masterpiece" - Mike
Lidskin (Twirl Radio), "Somewhere between Brian Wilson's Smile and Big Star" - Robert Kinsler (Orange County Times). Critics are already anticipating
the July 31st release of "Introducing Ruby Free", and the warm fuzzy sound will have everyone singing along soon!

Contact, befriend, like and love here:Facebook

Official page, Music, Photos, Video and buy the album here: Sodastarmusic

Album also available at: Amazon and Kool Kat Music

The Hardtops - The Hardtops EP out now.

Some of the best recommendations come from like minded friends with a mutual love of music and that is where The Hardtops came to me from (Thanks Isabel!) and hopefully you will also enjoy this upbeat, energetic, rocking band from Madrid in Spain. I have said it before and I will say it again, what are they putting in the water down there?

The Hardtops are a band from Madrid, Spain that blends Power Pop, Rock'n'Roll and Punk-Rock. The band consists of five guys who share a passion for melody and distortion. They all knew each other from other local bands, so when the project started it took shape in almost no time. In august they recorded their first ep, with four songs that define their sound.

Stream, share, embed the EP here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love The Hardtops here: Facebook

A Fragile Tomorrow - Kernersville OUT TODAY (FREE DOWNLOAD)

A Fragile Tomorrow release "Kernersville" today as a FREE DOWNLOAD and features their friends in The Bangles and The Cowsills, as well as Mitch Easter himself on guitar, if this single is a reflection of things to come, then we are certainly in for a treat come the release of the long player in January, jangly guitar, hook laden melodies and harmonies galore, fantastic!

Charleston, SC powerpop band A Fragile Tomorrow returns with their long awaited 4th studio album, 'Be Nice Be Careful', on January 8th, 2013 via Piewillie Records. Produced by the legendary Mitch Easter (R.E.M.) and Ted Comerford, the 14-song set highlights the band's energetic brand of harmony driven, hook-laden pop.

"We really wanted to make a record that was spontaneous and fun; something that sounded like a jangly pop band playing in a room together" says principal songwriter and singer Sean Kelly. "Working with Mitch and Ted allowed us to open ourselves up creatively and do these songs the way we originally envisioned. It was the best experience we've ever had making a record".

After three full-length albums and numerous high profile tours with the likes of the Indigo Girls, The Bangles, Matthew Sweet, and Antigone Rising, the band is ready to release what they feel is their best work to date. Full of classic powerpop jangle reminiscent of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star, and Jellyfish, 'Be Nice Be Careful' represents a band with a clear love of pop music.

Kelly says that with the January 8th release of 'Be Nice Be Careful', he hopes to "show people that we're finally the kind of band we've always wanted to be, and we made the record to back that up." With guest appearances from Bangles Vicki and Debbi Peterson, Susan Cowsill, Don Dixon, and Indigo Girl Amy Ray, 'Be Nice Be Careful' is an album that pop and rock fans alike will undoubtedly put on repeat for days. For more information on A Fragile Tomorrow, the new album, and tour dates, please visit http://afragiletomorrow.com.

Download "Kernersville" FREE here: Bandcamp

Offiicial band page: http://afragiletomorrow.com/intro.cfm

Contact, befriend, like and love A Fragile tomorrow here: Facebook

New EP coming soon from The Newds!

The Newds are currently finishing of their latest offering of a new EP which will hopefully be with us here in about 6 weeks for review and then the band will be working on their next full length LP for release sometime next year.

For now, please enjoy the video for the single "Go Getter" which I think you will agree is very good and the video is very amusing too!

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

Find The Newds first album The First Strike here: itunes

Slink - Desert Gem OUT NOW. FREE/Name your price.

I can't tell you an awful lot about these guys other than that they hail from San Diego and they play pretty fine power pop in a similar vein to FoW, Brendon Benson MIchael Carpenter etc.  This is a really cool album and the video for Super Laura is pretty cool too, certainly makes me want to head out to San Diego and hit the beach!

Band members are: Aaron, Allen, Jeff, Sam

Download Desert Gem here:Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love Slink here: Facebook

The Honeymoon Stallions - Moonlighting. OUT NOW

The Honeymoon Stallions "Monlighting" is the latest offering from ex The Sun Kings and The Goldbergs main man Andy Goldberg.



"Moonlighting" takes me back to a time of classic Power Pop tunes and bands, a time when music was created within a band not manufactured by fat, obnoxious label bosses who create a band, write some dirge of a song and then chuck out some good looking young lads in front of a bunch of 13 year old screaming girls and sell millions for five minutes!



Andy Goldberg has written a timeless classic here, whilst incorporating all that is good in music from the 60's, 70's and beyond.  The songs are lyrically very strong, well crafted and held together by by all the riffs, hooks, melodies and harmonies that you could possibly desire.

This album is available for download only here:

Amazon  

cdbaby

itunes

Official website here: http://honeymoonstallions.com/