The Whims, after a very careful and methodical selection process, chose to send their self titled release to us to listen to and we are very glad they did!
The band say that they have siphoned their music styles through the best filters available and quote bands such as ICM faves like Teenage Fanclub, The Kinks, GBV, Cheap Trick etc. and it would appear that the filter system is functioning extremely well as this release features all the jangly guitars, chops, kicks and harmonies that you would expect from the the very best in Power Pop and beyond, but as always, don't take my word for it, take a listen for yourself and see if this New York City combo grab you in the same way they have grabbed us!
The Whims
The Whims are:
Dileepan Ganesan - Vox, Guitar
Fletcher Maumus - Vox, Lead Guitar
Michael McGivaren - Drums
Matt Stupp - Vox, Bass Guitar
The bands facebook page says that there will be some CDs of this album available very soon, but for now you can stream the album and download a copy here: Bandcamp
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Whims here: Facebook
The Newds have released their long awaited EP "Ready" which leads with the track, that we can probably all relate to, "Go Getter" which I fell in love with the very first time I heard it, and, as anticipated, the other 3 tracks that make up this wonderful EP also command equal amounts of love and respect.
The video for "Go Getter" filmed on a shoestring budget with copious amounts of humour!
The Newds were originally formed at Art college in 1999 by Paul Meagher & Dean Woods. With very much an art school band ethic.
Vox - Paul Meagher. Drums - Corporal Vinnie. Keys - DJ Tony. Guitar - Dean Woods.Bass - John Fallon
The Newds released their first album in 2009 and needless to say, it is well worth checking out if you are enjoying the tunes here and hopefully there is another in the pipeline, in the meantime, if you like to boogie woogie when you can, go get it (the EP and the album) here: itunes
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love The Newds here: Facebook
One of the Ice Cream Mans favourites, Bryan Estepa, is putting the finishing touches to his forthcoming album, "Heart Vs Mind" due out 1st of March.
Behind the scenes during the recording of the album.
The new album is to be released on vinyl, the superior format in my humble opinion, so get ready to hear the warm, rich sounds of Bryan's music even warmer and even richer as that needle traces through the grooves!
"Seachange" the first single from the new album "Heart Vs Mind." Featuring Bree De Rome on vocals.
There will be a full feature of the album on the blog as soon as the album lands in the offices of the Ice Cream Man, in the meantime, go on over to Bryan Estepa's "Reverbnation" page to get a free download of the new single.
Listen to more songs and download the latest single free here: Reverbnation
Contact, befriend, keep up with the news, like and love Bryan Estepa here: Facebook
Ballard is a one man lo-fi Power Pop band that produces some tasty bites of Power Pop influenced by the 60's Mod scene bands like The Who, The Kinks and The Move to name a few. To date, Ballard, have released one album, one EP and one Free single.
I can hear several other influences or similarities but not enough to take anything away from the originality of the tunes of the songs themselves. I was pretty gobsmacked to find out that this album had been written and recorded in just 10 days, which is testament to the talent on offer here, as each track has it's own distinctive qualities making this an amazing debut album with no fillers or fodder in sight.
Darren Riley, he is Ballard! (Photo by Ed Lake)
I am not sure if there are any left, but there is a limited edition cd of this album which will include a drawing of yourself by Darren on the cover if you send him a photo, so if you have ever had a desire to be a cover star, now you can be, you just send Darren (Ballard) your photo and hey presto, not only do you get a fantastic album, you can also wow your friends by being the cover star!
The 12th and final single of the "Single a Month" that has now completed the bands ambitious project, "Postcards From The British Empire."
Phenomenal Cat have now amassed an albums worth of songs, which was how this project was intended, the only difference is that they wrote and recorded a song each month to a deadline. Of course, this could have amounted to little more than a couple of half decent singles and some fodder, but this, now 6 piece outfit, after the addition of a 2 piece brass section during the year, have an album of songs where each track is of single release quality.
Sam and Mik Guitars and vocals.
I was sold on this band from the bands first release "Letters Home From Nazi Occupied France" and eventually got in touch with them after the release of the second single "Ramshackle Heart" to find out some more. At this time, singer Sam told me that there was a lot of pressure to write, record and produce a single each month and he wasn't sure that they would continue with the project.
Around this time, the band started to amass a following from all four corners of the globe and the bloggers started to blog about the band, radio stations in America, the UK and across Europe started to play their songs and halfway through the project the band were taken on by "Futureman Records" who released the first half of the album digitally, and thankfully the band continued with the recordings and completed the album.
Natalie, Bass.
I have a great admiration for the band for seeing the project through, I met them a couple of times in the year on my trips to the UK, they all have homes and jobs and some have young families and to produce 12 singles in a year is no mean feat, to produce 12 singles of this quality is amazing, and, if that wasn't enough, they have been gigging through the year too to promote themselves.
Also, another feather in this bands cap, every single that was released was pressed in a limited edition of 25 cds, they were then passed to a different charity shop each month who were told to sell the singles and keep all the profits for their charity. Time for a massive applaud? Not just yet, a friend of the band was commissioned to make a limited run of "Phenomenal Cat" keyrings for the band to sell at gigs with the all the money going to Guys and St Thomas' hospital charity in London, the first set of keyrings went at the first gig after they were made, another limited quantity were made and once again sold out at the next gig, raising even more money for Guys and St Thomas. Now applaud, 12 great singles, and every penny they have made from the singles and bespoke keyrings going to charity.
Ben, Drums
So, what next for the "Cat?" Well, a good rest and a break from the pressure of recording a single a month, a well deserved rest I would say, then the band are going to promote the 12 singles as an album and try to take the album to the next level and have it physically released during the year. More new material? Watch this space, but for now, enjoy the last single of the project and if you have not done so already, go and download the previous eleven singles for a name your price fee, this band is one of the best English bands out there right now, so go ahead and enjoy them!
Tim and Dan, Brass.
Download the latest single and all previous singles here: Bandcamp
Show the "Cat" some love, follow them, befriend them here: Facebook
Last year, I chose just one record as album of the year and that was The Turnback - Drawn In Chalk, but then the blog had only been running a very short time, that made life very easy for me. This year, however, is a little different, many bands and artists have sent me their albums and whilst I would love to feature every single one of them on this list, because they are all great, I have had to whittle it down to 30 or I would be here until next year! I have discovered many great artists and I hope this continues in 2013.
This will be my last post for a while as I take a break over the holiday period, but I will be back next year with more great selections for you to sample.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the bands for their submissions to the blog and of course all the guests that have come and read the blog, I am amazed, and humbled, that each month nearly 8000 of you visit here and share the music with me. Happy holidays to you all.
All links to the albums and contact details for the bands can be found within the blog using the search facility in the top left hand corner of this page. Enjoy!
30) The Joy Of Painting - Asterix
29) The Electric Mess - Falling Off The Face Of the Earth
28) Mr Day - Dry Up In The Sun
27) The Clocktower - Days Of Rosey Row
26) Chris Richards and The Subtractions - Get Yer La La's out
25) Paradise - Diary Of An Old Soul
24) Mark Crozer and The Rels - Self Titled
23) The Kaams - Uwaga!
22) The Ace - Next Time Around
21) The Frinchers - Table You Forever
20) Past Tense - Take Three
19)The Condors -3 Item Combo
From the bands 2nd album, unfortunately there are no
tracks to embed from this most recent one.........
18) The Bidons - Granma Killer!
17) Ruby Free - Introducing Ruby Free
16) Los Immediatos - 4 Tickets To Wonderland
15) Electric Stars - Sonic Candy Soul
14) Eytan Mirsky - Year Of The Mouse
13) The Seasongs - Out of the City
12) Marty Graveyard - Summer Holiday
11) The Sharks - Leave Me Alone (and other EP's)
(Whilst not technically an album, the bands output this year amounts to more than an albums worth of great music and I really didn't feel I could leave them off this list!)
THE TOP TEN *
10) Los Autonautas - Lo Que Quiero
Great band, claim they come from "Rhea" (13th Moon of Jupiter), they certainly sound out of this world. Love at first listen!
9) Budokan - Spin A Little Gold
Pure Power Pop with a seventies feel, this one will keep you rocking until next Christmas.....and the one after that and the one after................................
8) The Jac - Faux Pas
"The Jac" is a one man band and that man is Joe Algeri, member of Jack and The Beanstalk and The Brittanicas, a man who not only has an ear for a blinding tune, or eleven in this case, but he also has a pretty cool sense of humour too.
"Faux Pas" is a wonderful blend of Power Pop, New Wave, 60's and a dash of punk, music with no boundaries, plenty of humour and a little weirdness too, how refreshing that is!
7) Trolley - Things That Shine And Glow
With echoes of The Beach Boys and The Jam amongst others, this infectious album had to be included in the top ten and I should imagine it shall be gracing many more year end lists, can't wait to hear more from them.
6) Phenomenal Cat - Postcards From The British Empire
Phenomenal Cat have been a mainstay on the blog for virtually the whole year, they have written this album one song at a time, one a month to make up the album, they have released the songs as free downloads on bandcamp (or Name Your Price) and every single one of them has had single potential.
I am really going to miss the monthly release from these guys, but it is great to have the complete album as I think you will agree.
5) Gavin Guss - On High
When I first heard this, I was reminded of The Posies, well, Ken Stringfellow in particular, but the more I played it, the more I heard Gavin Guss' own individuality, this is a really lovely album with some beautiful, mellow songs sitting comfortably besides his more upbeat numbers.
4) Lannie Flowers - New Songs Old Stories
The cool cat in the hat, Lannie Flowers produces yet another dazzling nugget of Power Pop for our delight, a stomper from start to finish.
3) Kurt Baker - Brand New Beat
A man that really needs no introduction, the ever smiling and happy go lucky "geezer" that is Kurt Baker, making great Power Pop from the day he started making music. "Brand New Beat" certainly continues his tradition of making catchy, upbeat and fun Power Pop!
2) Surf School Dropouts - Summer Is A State Of Mind
If you like harmonies in the style of the 60's surf bands then Surf School Dropouts will most certainly grab your attention and what's more they will keep it too, without a shadow of a doubt, one of my best finds on Bandcamp. Now signed to Sunny Day Records in Spain, I look forward to hearing much more from them in the future.
Since receiving this album and featuring it on the blog, I have found myself going back to it time and time again. I first heard it back in the start of summer and it very quickly became my "summer album," it was perfect to listen to at the lakes, at the beach, on a plane, everywhere, it wasn't until the autumn dawned on us that I also realised that it was perfect for that season too and so on into winter. I am so grateful I have a download of this album because there wouldn't be much of the vinyl left if I didn't, but to play it on vinyl is the ultimate listening experience.
Another great Spanish band, hailing from Madrid, The Frinchers deliver a wonderful cocktail of Mod Revival/Garage/Power Pop with a healthy nod back to the sixties, all of which create a well blended mix of harmonies, guitar riffs and steady beats.
On the opening track, "Across The Albert Dock" you are drawn down the path of the 60's Mersey sound, maybe no surprise given the title, but the band catch the essence of that sound so well, giving it a refreshing modern makeover and maybe picking up the beat a bit too.
"If You Know My Number" and "When Will You Realise" are prime examples of Power Pop, catchy, melodic and remind me a little of the classic 70's Power Pop sound, and, once again that 60's sound work its way into the mix, which to these ears, is a real delight, as is the whole album
The band includes members of the 80's mod band "Los Potros," a major player within the Spanish Mod scene, whose singles and EP's are now highly sought after, and the band "Sunbeat."
The band also, very kindly, sent me their first, self titled, album which is every bit as exciting as the latest and I would suggest hunting them both down, because the 11 tracks on "Table You Forever" will certainly leave you wanting for more. This is an album that it would be very hard to pick a favourite track from, a solid and engaging album from start to finish.
The band are currently setting up a "Bandcamp" page which should be active some time next week in the mean time you can check out more of their music at MYSPACE .
Contact, befriend, follow, like and love (and buy CDs) The Frinchers here: Facebook
