The Joy Of Painting - Lighten Up EP OUT TODAY

Back in March I found The Joy Of Paintings "Asterix" album and raved about it like mad, played it to death and sat patiently waiting for news of more from the band, then in August the band released the sublime "Charades" single which is the title track for this EP (Available for free download on their bandcamp page) and now we have the complete package, 3 tracks sure to lift your spirit, this band deserve to be massive, they go from strength to strength and I thought the "Asterix" album would be hard to top, but no, they have topped it, go out and get this EP today and see what I mean.

The guys have put a "name your price" on the EP, but remember a donation of any size will help to ensure that we see another long player from these guys sometime in the future, sooner, rather than later would be great.

For those who like to have a physical copy, there is a limited edition multi coloured 7" up for grabs too, which you can order on the bandcamp page.

Stream and buy the EP here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Joy Of Painting here: Facebook

Zombie Valentines - Mejor Ahora

If you like your freakbeat garage delivered at pace and right in your face, then you couldn't make a better choice than to listen to and buy the amazing Zombie Valentines - Mejor Ahora album! The band hail from Madrid in Spain, where they clearly add something to the water to breed bands of this calibre. Half of the album is sung in Spanish and the other half in English, but then a scream is universal right?  This is an amazing album from another amazing band based at the Sunny Day record label camp.

Highly acclaimed by Spanish music press, god only knows where these four guys will get in the future, their talent to write unbeatable pop songs has no limit.

Stream and buy Zombie Valentines here: Bandcamp

Contact, befriend, like and love Zombie Valentines here: Facebook

Retroman meets the Ice Cream Man. Podcast.

Last week I met up with Steve from the Retroman Blog who was over from the UK to see The Soundtrack Of Our Lives play at Slussens Pensionat.  We had decided that I would sit in on a podcast with him and it turned out to be a Power Pop special he was putting together featuring the Ice Cream Man blog and artists that have been featured on it.  You can have a listen or download it here.  Enjoy!

Check out all the other Retroman podcast as well.................

L-R Steve (Retroman) Ebbot Lundberg and Wayne (Ice Cream Man) 2003?

Power Pop Wayne Lundqvist-Ford Ice Cream Man Blog The Jetsonics Beyond Veronica Monkeeman Seasongs Surf School Dropouts The Sensibles Mr Day Trolley Phenomenal Cat Budokan Wayne James & The Harry Evlar Experience Hans Selander Marty Graveyard Mod Soul

The Brigantines - Vacation! OUT NOW

I am pretty excited about this one, a really great Bandcamp find, a surf band with a distinctive pop edge, hailing from New Jersey, these 4 guys make tunes that really hit the spot with memorable riffs and hooks and much, much more! I highly recommend that you shoot off over to Bandcamp and buy this album, a fantastic 12 tracks for a meager 5 bucks, 3 quid, 34 Swedish Krona.........an absolute bargain and only 10 bucks for the physical CD, you can also purchase these and some really cool T-Shirts at the bands official site.

 

The Brigantines are an original Surf-Pop group from Red Bank, NJ - combining the classic surf sounds of The Beach Boys and The Ventures with the pop-sensibility of The Kinks and Chris Isaak.

Aaron Leonovich - Bass, Vocals Vincent Minervino - Vocals, Guitar Scott Saint Hilaire - Guitar, Vibe
Dan Tojeira - Drums, Percussion

Stream and download the album here: Bandcamp

Contact, follow, like and love here: Facebook

Official web page with bio, photos, music videos etc, here: The Brigantines

Neil Sturgeon and The Infomaniacs - Break Me EP

Many of you will be aware of the name of Neil Sturgeon from his former band The Goldenhour. Well, this is his latest venture which bolsters my belief about him being one of the most underrated songwriters out there right now. This EP, one of many on Bandcamp speaks volumes for him, so I am going to let the music do the talking!

After 2 critically acclaimed albums as front man of The Goldenhour, Sturgeon returned to the live arena in 2009 as a solo artist and in 2010 set up new label Buzzwagon Beat Recordings as an outlet for his new recordings. Working on new album 'Geography & Luck' with Teenage Fanclub's Raymond McGinley at the helm has so far produced 2 acclaimed singles 'Break Me' (2010) & 'Ride The Tide' (2011).

the infomaniacs (l-r) neil s, neil m, deborah, reuben, david.

I would highly recommend that you seek out anything and everything that Neil has worked on, The Goldenhour albums are 2 of my favourites and the track "Julies in Control" from the "Always in The Now" album is in my top 5 songs OF ALL TIME and I am adding a link here to the song, listen here: Julies in Control

Listen to and buy "Break Free" here: Bandcamp

Contact, follow, like and love Neil Sturgeon and The Infomaniacs here: Facebook

Follow the band here:  Myspace

Official web site here: www.neilsturgeon.co.uk

(The official website is undergoing a revamp right now but keep checking in there.) 

Power Pop and More T-Shirts

I have received a few T-shirts from some of the featured bands on the blog and this got me to thinking about how T-Shirts figure in music and for bands to spread their name and music, so I have started a sister blog to "Ice Cream Man" featuring a gallery of T-shirts, mostly ones I own, you can view it here: http://powerpoptshirt.blogspot.se/

If you would like to submit any pictures of your own to help build the gallery up, please drop me an e mail to icecreammanpowerpop@hotmail.com

Leaders Off - Yr Band Suck

I have been fortunate enough to see "Leaders Off" perform tracks from their first album "Giant Guitar" and also tracks from "Yr Band Suck." This band live is second to none, offering great music coupled with an exciting and energetic performance, with singer Simon Gustafsson often leaving the stage to dance and mingle with the crowd much to the delight of the audience, who leave the venue at the end of the evening with beaming smiles, satisfied in the knowledge that they have just witnessed one of Swedens best, up and coming bands.

Hailing from Vänersborg in the west of Sweden "Leaders Off" formed in 2003 having become inspired by the likes of Dinosaur Jr and Sonic Youth.  The young five piece set about creating their very own mix of chaotic melodies and wrote literally hundereds of songs, which they eventually whittled down to 12 tracks to form their exciting debut album "Giant Guitar."  The album was recorded at Welfare Studios in Gothenburg by Per Stålberg of Division Of Laura Lee , Peter Bader and Olle Björk.

Photo: Kristoffer Hedberg

"Giant Guitar" received positive reviews across the whole of Europe and beyond and expectations were high with the release of "Yr Band Suck" which was released this summer, "The album is more of everything you liked with Giant Guitar" says front man Simon Gustafsson.

I think that we can safely say that our expectations have been met........and exceeded, with this release!

Leaders Off are: Simon Järpvik, Fredrik Aghem, Mattias Fransson, Kristoffer Björkman, Simon Gustafsson

Contact, befriend, like and love "Leaders off" here: Facebook

Stream and share tracks from "Yr Band Suck" here: Bandcamp

(Also listen to the bands debut "Giant Guitar" and other releases at Bandcamp too)

Official Site: http://leadersoff.tumblr.com/

"Yr Band Suck" can be purchased here: Amazon 

"Giant Guitar" can be purchased here: Amazon

Free download of new album track "Don't be mean (when I can See)