Bash On Pop: August 2021
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 the new Rinaldi Sings platter, The Party’s Over, there’s a bit more of a power pop flavor imbued with the usual soulful thing goin’ on. Steve’s voice is also not quite as baritone as usual, which fits the album’s material more suitably; perhaps it’s partially the influence of Bob Kelly (of the great power pop band, Kelly’s Heels), who is all over this record. Everything here is catchy as hell, including a fine, uptempo take on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “She’s Still A Mystery”. Fab stuff! https://rinaldisings.bandzoogle.com/store
Tamar Berk-The Restless Dreams Of Youth (Check-Out Girl; LP)
One look at the cover of The Restless Dreams Of Youth, and you know that Tamar Berk is a badass! Long a part of the Chicago pop and rock scene, she now resides in Portland, Oregon and Chicago’s loss is certainly Portland’s gain! Several power pop would-be-hits herein, including the opener, “Skipping The Cracks”, “Heavy & Abusive”, and “In The Wild”, but as good as they are, the greatest strength of the album is Berk’s way around an introspective ballad; “Shadow Clues”, “A New Case”, and “Suitcase & Gun” are particularly gut-wrenching. Fans of The Breeders, Belly, and other riot-grrrl era sounds will particularly love this album! https://tamarberk.bandcamp.com/album/the-restless-dreams-of-youth
Ramirez Exposure-Exit Times (Lovemonk; CD)
The brainchild of Victor Ramirez, of Valencia, Spain, who delivers as always some beautiful jangle pop on his latest album, Exit Times. Victor’s gentle, nasally voice serves well the lilting quality of tracks like “Bridges And Roads”, the title track, and the suitably mellifluous “Dalengeria”. Victor had a little help from his friend Ken Stringfellow, who adds some production touches and sings/plays on several tracks. A perfect Sunday morning record, if you subscribe to such things; for me, a good record is good anytime, and Exit Times is certainly that! https://ramirezexposure.bandcamp.com/album/exit-times
Underwater Sunshine-Suckertree (Futureman; CD)
It took more than 20 years for these songs to be released, but thankfully main man John Nikolic found the tapes and, along with Futureman Records, made it happen! Underwater Sunshine is a quartet from Vancouver, BC who really know their way around a hooky, harmony-filled power pop song! Literally every track on Suckertree is strong, and fans of The Posies, Shoes, and anything Jeff Shelton has done will particularly dig this. Well played, well sung, well produced; oh, did I mention this is a freaking good album?? https://futuremanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/suckertree
The Mergers-Three Apples In The Orange Grove (Soundflat; CD and LP)
I’ve long been a fan of these boys from Nürnberg, Germany, and they’ve definitely hit on all cylinders with Three Apples In The Orange Grove. If you’re a fan of ‘60s-inspired garage, psychedelia, or power pop, or all three, then you’ll find a lot to love here! The Mergers’ main songwriter is a gent with the ironic name of Jerry Coma, because he’s anything but sedate on this disc, belting them out with the best of them. The band also adds some tight harmonies, particularly on tracks like “Herman”, the lilting “Seekin’ For The Light”, and “Till You Get Me”, all of which particularly blend the three aforementioned genres. Others like “In Course Of Time” are absolutely gorgeous pop/psych, and there’s no way you’ll be able to sit still when “Mauerpark” is playing! Another winner from Soundflat, a label which, if you’re unfamiliar with their releases, you need to change that pronto! https://www.soundflat.de/garage-mod-surf/garage-mod-surf-lp/mergers-three-apples-in-the-orange-grove-orange-vinyl-lp
The Recreations-S/T (P-Vine; CD)
The Recreations is more or less a one man show, provided by a gentleman from Japan called Yohei Namba, who’s clearly a fan of both soft pop and power pop, because he deftly imbues them on the songs herein. Namba’s soft voice is a perfect complement to the mix of dirty guitar sounds and gentle melodies on each song. On songs like “Winter Balloon” and “Spooky Ruby”, one could imagine a shoegaze/power pop band fronted by Brian Wilson! Intriguing? It ought to be, and the recommendation here is that you dive right in without a life preserver. Big kudos to Kirkaldy McKenzie of Famous Groupies for ,/aturning me onto this one! https://p-vine.lnk.to/R5Uz8A
Kris Rodgers & The Dirty Gems-Still Dirty (Wicked Cool; CD and LP)
Damn, what a belter of a record this is! It’s no surprise that Wicked Cool took on this outfit from Portland, Maine, because they’ve got all the goods! Rodgers is the kind of vocalist who can sing the phonebook and shred it with the sheer force of his voice, and the songs here, like the funky opening cut, “She Likes To Party”, the soulful should-be top 10 “Can’t Give It” and “Don’t Turn Around”, which centers around a Temptations riff, along with the hard rocker “Don’t Look Back”, certainly serve his voice well. Rodgers can also sing hell out of a ballad like “Across The Galaxy”, which might remind one of a soulful early Elton John, and that’s fitting enough, as the album’s next track is a faithful cover of “Take Me To The Pilot”. The Dirty Gems are one of the tightest bands around, and everything about this album is pro all the way. Extremely highly recommended! https://krisrodgerswcr.bandcamp.com/album/still-dirty
The Poppermost-Hits To Spare (Think Like A Key; CD and LP)
The irrepressible Glaswegian Joe Kane has worn many hats in this pop biz, and The Poppermost is his latest. Kane calls himself a “McCartney type guy”, and he certainly is that as Hits To Spare is redolent of very early Beatle-isms, most specifically those The Fab Four and other bands delivered day after day at The Cavern Club during those pre-Invasion daze (the front cover of the album is, well, redolent of the wall behind “The Beatles stage” of The Cavern). The album is a delightful affair, well executed by this talented gentleman who does everything on the album, and each song will have you singing along gleefully. Lots of fun!! (note: the Japanese version of the album contains six bonus tracks!) https://thepoppermost.bandcamp.com/album/hits-to-spare
Until next time, I bid you happy listening!