Hi, Everyone. I’m back with my first column of 2022! Yes, I know it should have come earlier, but thankfully I’ve been very busy putting together various International Pop Overthrow festivals! Yes, we’re making our slow slide back to normalcy, or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof! Anyway, dig it, and dig in!!     Lolas-All Rise (Kool Kat; CD)   Birmingham, Alabama’s own Lolas have been releasing albums since the...

Hi Everyone,   Here are my lists of favorite albums of 2021. As is my usual custom, I’ve broken this down into several categories, as I’m just not comfortable ranking unlike entities on one list.   Those marked with an * are vinyl-only releases. Those marked with an ** are cassette/reel-to-reel only releases.   Contemporary Categories   Disclaimer alert: I heard A LOT of fine albums this year, despite COVID. From...

Hi, Everyone. Sorry it’s taken so long for me to write this column, but…IPO. Anyway, I’m back with some cool goodies for you! Dig in!   Badfinger-The Lost Broadcasts (Cantare; CD)   Ever wonder what Badfinger would sound like doing “Respect” or “Up On Cripple Creek”? I didn’t think so, but the answer is…really hot! The Lost Broadcasts contains mostly BBC tracks recorded in-studio by The Iveys and Badfinger, and...

Hello, Everyone!   We’ve got some new releases that I’ve been digging…and I think you will, too! Here’s my usual mini-review evidence for ya! 🙂   Rinaldi Sings-The Party’s Over (Tangerine; CD)   For many years, Steve Rinaldi has been the epitome of Swinging London, with his Paul Newman-looks, crooner voice, and just the right amount of confidence and swagger on stage. His albums have always reflected this, but on...

Hello, Everyone!   Here’s my June installment of Bash On Pop, featuring eight reviews of albums you need to own, so dig in… at your wallet’s peril! 😉   The James Clark Institute-The Colour Of Happy (Room 5; CD and LP)   This affable Torontonian has finally reached soundvana on his latest album, The Colour Of Happy, as it lives up to its title with 10 ultra hummable, singable power pop tunes which sound about as...