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CD Sampler #28. Issue #66: Spring 2008
1. The Rite Flyers, “Suffer Fools Gladly," from Suffer Fools Gladly EP. Solidified now with bassist Steven Thomas Hall (ex-Sixteen Deluxe) and drummer Joey Shuffield (Fastball) in their lineup, Austin's Rite Flyers are at their jangly melodic melancholic best on "Suffer Fools Gladly," the lead track on their new EP. www.theriteflyers.com
2. Patty Hurst Shifter, “Promiscuous,” from Coma La Grava (Pants on Fire Records). Raleigh rockers Patty Hurst Shifter have long proudly waved the hard southern pop flag, with dashes of the Stones, Faces, and Crazy Horse in their mix as well. "Promiscuous," from their new EP, shows off their poppier, moodier side. http://www.myspace.com/pattyhurstshifter
3. The Successful Failures, "All I Can Take," from Ripe For The Burning (FDR Label). With their fab merging of crunchy power-chord pop and Stonesy drive, these Jersey rockers, with Mick Chorba of Dipsomaniacs fame leading the charge, are one of the best bands going. One listen to the rousingly infectious "All I Can Take" will hook you. www.fdrlabel.com
4. The Service Industry, “Have To Go To Work,” from Limited Coverage (Sauspop/Saustex). Critic Greg Beets nails the flavor of this song--"[it] hits like a prison work song reimagined by Cheap Trick," though I'd add that the guitars slash and burn much like vintage Johnny Ramone. Either way, Austin's rock heroes of you-want-fries-with-that have done it again--Limited Coverage is a hilarious, rockin' job of truth. http://www.theserviceindustry.net/ www.sauspop.com
5. Dan Israel, “News To Me,” from Turning (Eclectone Records). Minnesotan Dan Israel, whose blue-collar everyman songwriting has spun out dozens of classics, has been on a crazy streak of great records lately. Power pop nugget "News To Me," all internal rhyme and glorious chorus, appears on his brand new release, Turning. http://www.danisraelmusic.com/ http://www.eclectone.com/
6. The Lackloves, "On My Way," from Cathedral Square Park (Rainbow Quartz). The Lackloves are a world-class power-pop trio – pure pop confection with jangle and psychedelia abounding. Led by former Blow Pop Mike Jarvis on vocals/guitar, the Milwaukee combo's long-awaited fourth album, Cathedral Square Park, is out this spring. http://www.rainbowquartz.com/
7. The Goldbugs, “Every Time,” from A Star in the Corner (Home Tone Records). Columbia, MO rockers the Goldbugs, featuring former Sidehacker John Goldbraith on guitar, bill themselves as "non stop twang pop," and have been wowing audiences in the Midwest with a thrilling blend of melodic pop and keening dynamics--as evidenced by the sparkling, catchy "Every Time." http://www.myspace.com/goldbugs http://www.hometoneproductions.com/
8. Julie Ocean, "#1 Song," from Long Gone And Nearly There (Transit of Venus).
Led by Jim Spellman, formerly of early '90s underground darlings Velocity Girl, and featuring former members of Saturday People and Severin, D.C. combo Julie Ocean (name borrowed from the Undertones) hit the noise-pop sweet spot with the dazzling "#1 Song." http://www.myspace.com/julieoceandc http://www.transitofvenusmusic.com/
9. Craig Marshall, "Radio Girl," from Point of View (available @ www.texasmusicroundup.com). Singer/songwriter Craig Marshall is Austin's best-kept power pop secret, and has been quietly releasing records of true melodic grandeur in recent years. The glistening "Radio Girl" is an addicting treat from his brand new one--Point of View. www.craigmarshall.com http://www.myspace.com/cmarshall
10. The Orchid Highway, "Next World," from The Orchid Highway (Rainbow Quartz).
Described in press reports as "blending snappy melodic hooks and the kickass spunk of mid-60s British rock," Vancouver's Orchid Highway signal the arrival of a fine band, fully formed. One listen to "Next World" and its Beatlesque glow will convince you. http://www.myspace.com/orchidhighway http://www.rainbowquartz.com/
11. The Unfortunate Heads, “92nd Floor,” from Come Be Light (Whipsmart Records/Genuine). Quirky Austin outfit The Unfortunate Heads play wide-spectrum pop with depth. Bred on everything from the British Invasion to Desmond Dekker, the group brings pithy commentary, whimsy, and even a Theremin to their sound. "92nd Floor" is the lead track on their debut album. www.theunfortunateheads.com http://www.genuinerecordingsaustintexas.com/store.asp
12. South, “Better Things,” from You Are Here (Bluhammock Music/Young American Recordings). Londoners' South's electronic past is well known--from their influential Mo' Wax singles to work on the Sexy Beast soundtrack. Of late, as evidenced by the breezy jangle pop of "Better Things" (from their upcoming You Are Here LP) they've stripped their sound down to winsome melody and gentle harmonies. http://www.bluhammock.com/ http://www.myspace.com/southofficial
13. Matt Keating, “St. Cloud,” from Quixotic (Kealon Records). Talented NYC singer/writer Matt Keating, whose superb work stretches back to 1993's Tell It To Yourself, releases his sixth solo album this spring--an auspicious almost-unheard-of-these days double CD called Quixotic. If the searching, introspective "St. Cloud" is any indication, it's gonna be a doozy. www.mattkeating.com http://www.kealonrecords.com/
14. Greg Koons, “Los Angeles Looks Prettier on TV,” from Welcome to the Nowhere Motel (Kealon Records). Pennsylvania songwriter Greg Koons, backed by an all-star band, strikes a suitably burned-out mood on "Los Angeles," a weathered tale of disillusionment. This one would have been great covered by Warren Zevon!
http://www.kealonrecords.com/ www.myspace.com/gregkoons
15. Doug Hoekstra, “Disrepair,” from Blooming Roses (WingDing Records). With a novelist's eye for detail and narrative, and a songwriter's genius for melody and phrasing, Nashville outsider Doug Hoekstra just keeps rolling along. Blooming Roses, with its Velvet Underground-cum-steel guitar vibe, is his latest gem. http://www.wingdingrecords.com/ http://home.comcast.net/~doughoekstra/
16. KaiserCartel, "Okay" (Bluhammock Music). Led by the dynamic duo of Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel, KaiserCartel formed when the two Brooklyn-based musicians joined forces to tour the country in the summer of 2004. "Okay" strikes a gentle, lo-fi folk/rock vibe, riding a sublime Courtney Kaiser vocal and some terrific intertwining harmonies. http://www.myspace.com/kaisercartel www.bluhammock.com
17. Virginia Coalition, “Sing Along,” from Home This Year (Bluhammock Music). This glorious pop song, performed with a dollop of gospel fervor, comes from Virginia Coalition, winners of the 2003 and 2004 Washington Post Reader's Choice Award for Best Local Band. www.bluhammock.com http://www.myspace.com/virginiacoalition
18. Jennifer Leonhardt, "Patron," from Gods & Nations (Grassroots Records). Perhaps the arrival of a major new talent? You might have heard Leonhardt's hypnotic "Gentlemen's Bet," a striking cut on ShutEye Records' United State of Americana Vol 4 comp; but from the sound of the trenchant folk/blues of Gods & Nations, and the driving, impassioned emotion at the heart of "Patron," Leonhardt is a gale force to be reckoned with. http://www.myspace.com/jenniferleonhardt http://www.jenniferleonhardt.com/
19. Stockton, "Pipe Dream Blues," from Euphonia (available at http://www.myspace.com/stocktonmusic). With former members of Cotton Mather and 20/20 on board, you know Stockton's Euphonia is bound to be one of the most anticipated pop platter of 2008. Here at PCP, we're proud to present "Pipe Dream Blues," a brilliant, chiming folk/rock taste of said instant classic.
20. Faceless Werewolves, “Abracadabra,” from Pardon Me, Are Those Your Claws on My Back? (Super Secret Records). With their hyper-energetic, bruising guitar stomp and wild garage-and-rockabilly permutations, Faceless Werewolves are one of the most pulsing, exciting bands currently on the Austin circuit. The groovalicious "Abracadabra" emanates from the group's second Super Secret long-player. www.supersecretrecords.com http://www.myspace.com/thefacelesswerewolves
21. Blank Pages, “On My Street,” from On My Street (FDR Records). Charming guitar popsters in the classic Badfinger/Smithereens/Sloan vein, New Jersey's Blank Pages hit a beguiling XTC-like note on "On My Street," from their acclaimed second CD.
www.fdrlabel.com
22. The Gurus, "Yer Space Rocket," from Now (Rainbow Quartz). Barcelona rockers The Gurus' third album, from the sound of this thumping, driving number, will be firing on all cylinders. Think a smidge of early Pink Floyd hopped up on goofballs and keening punkish momentum. http://www.rainbowquartz.com/ http://www.myspace.com/thegurusbcn
23. Carp 18, "Understand," from Bug Rump (Rough Fish Records). Minneapolis' acerbic Carp 18 (no carpe diem?), led by singer/writer Joe Fahey, are one of the most entertaining, witty listens out there, a smart mix of indie rock, alt-country, and power pop. Bug Rump, recorded in '99 but only recently unearthed, with songs like "Muscle Car Blues" and "Padded Amps and Flannel Shirts" achieves a kind of rock kid's postmodern Zen. No kidding! http://www.carp18.com/ http://myspace.com/joefaheymusic
24. Nagel, “I Think You’re Insane,” from Barely Nagel (Royal Cherry Cavendish Records). From their Duran Duran knockoff cover art to some truly wacky songs to match, Austinites Nagel may appear to be merely a put-on novelty band; not so, though, just funny, and with plenty of power pop hooks to spare. http://www.myspace.com/nageltheband
All Tracks Used by permission
Collection copyright Pop Culture Press 2008
Mastering by Nick Landis @ Terra Nova Digital, Austin, TX.
Manufactured by EMA (www.cdmaker.com)
CD design by Mike Wachs
Free with issue Number 66 of Pop Culture Press.
Promotional only. Not for sale.
For more info, write us at:
P.O. Box 4990 Austin, TX 78765-4990
www.popculturepress.com
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