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Upcoming Gigs & Albums
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Gig review: CARDINAL BLACK – Sub 89, Reading, 15 November 2024
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Gig review: SUZI QUATRO – London Palladium, 13 November 2024
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Gig review: HRH XVII, Great Yarmouth, 7-9 November 2024
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Gig review: WHEN RIVERS MEET, CHANTEL MCGREGOR, XANDER AND THE PEACE PIRATES – Dingwalls, London, 7 November 2024
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Gig review: DEEP PURPLE – 02 Arena, London, 6 November 2024
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Gig review: ELLES BAILEY- Islington Assembly Hall, London, 2 November 2024
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Tag Archives: power pop
Album review: LIBRARIANS WITH HICKEYS – How To Make Friends By Telephone
Big Stir Records/Bandcamp [Release date 08.11.24] Librarians With Hickeys are an indie pop rock duo consisting of Ray Carmen (vocals, guitars, drums) and Mike Crooker (vocals, bass, organ, piano, keys). They released their debut album in 2020 and this is … Continue reading
EP review: BARBARA – Happy Days
Website [Release date 22.05.24] Barbara are Henry & John Tydeman, songwriting brothers from Brighton and have played music together since they were children. They started the band proper in 2020 and decided on the name ‘Barbara’ because they wanted a … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged 70's pop, Barbara, baroque pop, chamber pop, disco, ELO, EP, Happy Days, melodic rock, Paul Weller, pop, pop rock, power pop, review
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Single review : KURT FROLICH – Another Heartbreak
Golden Robot Records [05.04.24] Single release from Kurt Frolich, vocalist with Riley’s LA Guns. It has only a passing resemblance to the music of his parent band. Doesn’t make him a bad person, of course. In fact … The first … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Kurt Frolich, LA Guns, power pop, review, single, The Raspberries
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Album review : NEW GUITARS IN TOWN Power Pop 1978-82 (3 CD Set)
Cherry Red [Release date: 16.02.24] By the late seventies, a genre that had blossomed in the Sixties was rediscovered by a new generation of teenagers. And so the legacy of the Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Who and others skipped … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Beach Boys, Beatles, Boomtown Rats, boxset, Elvis Costello, Feargal Sharkey, post-punk, power pop, The Jam, The Undertones, THE WHO
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Album review : Looking For The Magic (American Power Pop in The Seventies 3CD boxset)
Cherry Red [Release date 17.11.23] American Power Pop In The Seventies found what it was looking for numerous times. Something of a cliché, but you could almost stick a pin in the chronologically curated tracklist of this 3 CD anthology … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Alex Chilton, Andrew Gold, Badfinger, Carly Simon, Ian LLoyd, Linda Ronstadt, power pop, review, seventies, the Knack, Utopia
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Gig review: KATRINA LESKANICH- Half Moon, Putney, London, 28 September 2023
Now only really remembered for two major singles, in the second half of the eighties Katrina and the Waves were one of my guilty pleasures. Their sixties inspired guitar based sound stood out among the then dominant synthesisers in the … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Darren Loveday, gig, Half Moo, Katrina and the Waves, Katrina Leskanich, Nicki French, pop rock, power pop
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EP review: THE LICKERISH QUARTET – Threesome Vol. 3
Lojinx [Release date 20.05.22] The Lickerish Quartet – ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Beck, Imperial Drag), Tim Smith (Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, The Finn Brothers) and Eric Dover (Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper) – release their third … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged ELO, EP, Jellyfish, pop rock, power pop, review, rock, Supertramp, the Lickerish Quartet, Threesome Vol. 3
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EP review: ANDY PARTRIDGE – My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 2
Ape House [Release date 8.4.22] Following on from 2021’s excellent first volume, here are four more gems from Andy Partridge’s post-XTC period as a songwriter for hire. This is a great addition to what is building into a fascinating series. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Andy Partridge, EP, My Failed Songwriting Career Vol. 2, power pop, quirky pop, review, songwriter, XTC
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Quick plays: TAYLOR YOUNG BAND, AUTUMN’S CHILD
TAYLOR YOUNG BAND Mercury Transit Handrawn Records [Release date 08.10.21] Taylor Young drummed for the likes of The O’s, Young Heart Attack and Polyphonic Spree. Now he takes on the role of band leader and is joined by guitarist, vocalist … Continue reading
Album review: PEPPERKID2 – Adventures In Pepperland
Website [Release date 12.11.21] Pepperkid2 is the brainchild of FM’s keyboardist Jem Davis. Joining Jem is Mike Dyer (Grand Slam) as the main vocalist/co-writer. Also appearing on the album is Dyer’s fellow Grand Slam band member guitarist Laurence Archer, along … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Adventures In Pepperland, album, Cats In Space, FM, Grand Slam, Jellyfish, Jem Davis, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review
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Album review: VARIOUS ARTISTS – Rockets Of Love! Power Pop Gems From The 70s, 80s & 90s
Big Beat / Ace [Release date 25.6.21] Power pop collections are never going to be top sellers, so it’s encouraging to find Ace’s Big Beat imprint following up 2019’s “Come On Let’s Go” and last year’s “Girls Go Power Pop” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Cheap Trick, compilation, Josh Rouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review, Rockets Of Love!, the Knack
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Album Review: EXPLORERS CLUB – Rarities Vol 1
Gold Star Recordings [Release date 05.02.21] Explorers Club dropped two acclaimed new albums last year (To Sing And Be Born Again/Explorers Club). We reviewed both. In their own way they proved that Sixties Pop is timeless. Jason Brewer, the band’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Explorers Club, Gold Star Recordings, Jason Brewer, melodic, pop, power pop, Rarities Vol 1, Retro Pop, review
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Album review: THE GOLD NEEDLES – What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You?
Jem Records [Release date 19.02.21] The Gold Needles are onto album number three that features nine new original songs plus three covers including The Hollies ‘Have You Ever Loved Somebody’ and The Beatles ‘If I Needed Someone.’ Formed in 2015, … Continue reading
EP review: THE LICKERISH QUARTET – Threesome Vol. 2
Stranger Danger [Release date 15.01.21] The Lickerish Quartet return with their second four song EP. The band comprise ex-Jellyfish members Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Tim Smith and Eric Dover and like the much missed Jellyfish, they carry on that band’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged EP, indie pop, indie rock, Jellyfish, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, the Lickerish Quartet, Threesome Vol 2
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Album review: PICTUREHOUSE – 1999 Live in Dublin
Website [Release date 27.11.20] Ahhh live music we miss you so and even someone like me who isn’t normally a big fan of live albums has been playing a lot of live tracks this year. So when of the many … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 1999 Live in Dublin, album, David Browne, indie pop, indie rock, melodic, PictureHouse, pop, pop rock, power pop, review
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Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Atlantis
Harmony Factory [Release date 27.11.20] On new album, “Atlantis”, it seems the new CIS line up, with vocalist Damien Edwards replacing Mark Pascall, has largely abandoned the iconoclastic tone of its predecessor, “Daytrip To Narnia” That of course, is down … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged 70's rock, album, Atlantis, Cats In Space, clasic rock, Damien Edwards, glam rock, Greg Hart, melodic rock, pop rock, power pop, review, rock
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Album review: VARIOUS – Girls Go Power Pop!
Big Beat/Ace [Release date 28.08.20] Ace (via their Big Beat imprint) follow 2019’s impressive “Come On Let’s Go” power pop collection with a new 25 tracker. This time, compiler Dave Burke varies the theme by focussing on female-fronted acts. As … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Ace Records, album, Girls Go Power Pop!, Go-Gos, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review, The Bangles, The Runaways, various
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Album review: JOEY MOLLAND – Be True To Yourself
Omnivore Recordings [Release date 16.10.20] As the sole surviving member of the classic line-up of Badfinger, Joey Molland’s pedigree in power pop circles is second to none. Over the years he has regularly produced solo albums, notably “After The Pearl” … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Badfinger, Be True To Yourself, Chicago, Joey Molland, Julian Lennon, melodic, Micky Dolenz, pop rock, power pop, review, Ringo Starr
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Album review: ENUFF ZNUFF – Brainwashed Generation
Frontiers Records [Release date 10.07.20] There was a time Enuff Z’Nuff’s lineup seemed to go into an endless revolving door spin, but now, with founding member Donnie Vie apparently leaving for good, Chip Z’Nuff has assembled a solid, talented line … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Beatles, Brainwashed Generation, Chip Z'nuff, Donnie Vie, Enuff Z'Nuff, melodic, pop rock, power pop, review
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EP review: THE LICKERISH QUARTET – Threesome Vol. 1
Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic [Release date 15.05.20] The Lickerish Quartet formed in 2017, featuring former Jellyfish members Roger Manning Jnr. (Imperial Drag), Eric Dover (Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper, Imperial Drag) and Tim Smith. All three of them toured in support of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Cheap Trick, ELO, EP, Jellyfish, melodic, pop rock, power pop, quirky pop, review, SPARKS, the Lickerish Quartet
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Single reviews: THE DARKER MY HORIZON, MILTON HIDE, ALLAN CLARKE, CWF, THE LICKERISH QUARTET
THE DARKER MY HORIZON Carpe Diem Another band utilising their lockdown time wisely are the Darker My Horizon, who made the video with help from their fans with all proceeds going to the NHS charities. Nice riff-tastic tune with lyrics … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged Allan Clarke, AOR, classic rock, CWF, folk, Jellyfish, melodic rock, Milton Hide, modern rock, New releases, pop, power pop, review, rock, singles, the Darker My Horizon, The Hollies, the Lickerish Quartet, Toto
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Album review: SQUIRE – Get Ready To Go!/September Gurls
Hi-Lo Records [Release date 26.10.19] Squire formed around the time of the Mod revival in the late 70’s and were fronted by Anthony Meynell. They went on to release five studio albums, before relocating to the US in 1985 and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues
Tagged album, Anthony Meynell, Big Star, cover versions, Get Ready To Go!, mod, pop, power pop, review, Septembur Girls, Squire
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Album review: DONNIE VIE – Beautiful Days
Deko Music [Release date 07.06.19] Former Enuff Z’Nuff vocalist Donnie Vie returns with a new album, his first in four years and a treat as it looked that after his last album, ‘The White Album’, he wasn’t overly keen on … Continue reading
Album review: VARIOUS – Come On Let’s Go! (Power Pop Gems from the 70s and 80s)
Big Beat/Ace [Release date 26.07.19] Every few years a label attempts a new “Power Pop” collection, and this time it’s the turn of Ace Records via their Big Beat imprint. Dave Burke presents an impressive selection of 70′s and 80′s … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Big Star, Come On Let’s Go!, compilation, Flamin’ Groovies, pop rock, power pop, Raspberries, review
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Album review: THE REMBRANDTS – Via Satellite
Blue Elan Records [Release date 23.08.19] The Rembrandts – Danny Wilde and Phil Solem – return with their first new album in eighteen years. Forever known to many for the hit ‘I’ll Be There For You’ from the US TV … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, melodic rock, pop, power pop, review, the Rembrandts, Tom Petty, Via Satellite
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