Browsing Tag

power-pop

Observe the 93rd – punchy, potent, power-pop with new single ‘TRL’

Posted on 25 June 2021
Observe the 93rd

Based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Observe The 93rd make a hell of a racket for a duo; that’s intended as a compliment, both vocalist/guitarist Derek Henry and drummer Dylan Zepp making some formidably good alt-rock power-pop noise. ‘TRL’ opens with a picked guitar line that’s kinda reminiscent of Blink 182’s ‘Adam’s Song’ or ‘I Miss You’, gently reverb-ed and turned up front and centre in the mix, before the track smacks you in the face like a badly-landed kick-flip; yeah, it’s got that ‘skater-punk’ feel in parts, a little of Simple Plan or Good Charlotte, but there’s an extra bit of heaviosity to the guitars, too, along with a Calling-like SERIOUSLY pop -driven, hook-laden catchiness to the chorus that works its way into your head really, really easily and then refuses to ever leave again.

It’s an absolute belter of a tune. You can check out Observe the 93rd on YouTube or here.

Review by Alex Holmes

Fall Town has released their punchy alt-punk-rock anthem, Freedom without End.

Posted on 17 May 2021

The evolution of punk gained a brand-new trajectory with Fall Town’s latest single, ‘Freedom without End’. The Scottish powerhouse put accordant tones up against caustic walls of noise that power-pop, pop-punk, and alt-rock fans alike will want to hear.

Freedom without End is from Fall Town’s forthcoming debut album; the endlessly pioneering track that seamlessly switches up instrumental style is transfixing from the first unpredictable progression to the last. It’s so much more than a random smorgasbord of assimilative increments; Fall Town made every texture their own.

The screeching guitars get forcibly shunted into overdrive after melodic reverb-soaked winding chords, while the vocals prove to be just as versatile as the instrumentals. Discernibly, Fall Town have perfected the art of punchy power-pop choruses; it’s the kind of track you hear for the first time and know you have to see it live. We can’t wait to hear what the rest of the album holds.

You can check out the official music video for Freedom with End via YouTube.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mark McQueen puts us on the ‘Guest List’

Posted on 21 April 2021

Mark McQueen is an underground performance-pop artist based in Brooklyn, NYC; he began sketching fashion designs aged four, acting in theatre at five, and playing piano at six – all of which combines here to provide the background to McQueen’s performance-pop.

‘Guest List’ is a vaguely electronic-based perfect slice of pop, a kind of mix of Tori Amos/Amanda Palmer mixed with Erasure, Peaches, Mika, and the Scissor Sisters. It’s that sort of electronica-dance-pop thing that has a touch of the 1980’s without ever sounding dated or retro, like Daft Punk on ‘Instant Krush’ mixed with a little bit of Nicki Minaj. It’s fresh and familiar at once, catchy as hell, and – in the nicest possible way – inoffensive, despite the NSFW language. It’s a perfect pop song.

Hear ‘Guest List’ on Spotify; follow Mark McQueen on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Angelo Amarello – A perfect summery invitation in ‘Let’s Drink’.

Posted on 21 April 2021

It seems like everyone’s starting to think about the end of lock-down and getting back out to seeing friends, sharing a drink, maybe going to the pub…with ‘Let’s Drink’, Angelo Amarello sings us an ode to overindulgence and perhaps having just one glass of wine too many and waking in the morning ‘with a hammer on your mind’.

It’s fun, it rocks out in a very, very well-put-together post-grunge radio-friendly kind of way – think The Calling or the Goo Goo Dolls, and maybe at times even a little single-releases-Bring Me The Horizon – with one of the catchiest choruses we’ve heard so far this year. Amerello’s voice is perfect for the track (or vice versa), laconic without being lazy and effortlessly familiar, instantly. It’s a great, perfect, summer radio rock single, and a wonderful look forward to the end of isolation.

Check out ‘Let’s Drink’ on Spotify; follow Amarello on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Rebel Kicks takes the existential weight off with their indie pop-rock track, ‘Floating’.

Posted on 14 April 2021

There’s no better breeding ground for power pop than NYC, as proven by the latest release, ‘Floating’, by Rebel Kicks. With similarities to evocative pop-rock outfits such as The Calling and Lifehouse, the brother-fronted duo welcomes you into a familiar soundscape before setting themselves apart with their angular indie jangle-pop guitar notes and the sincerity in their optimism.

Rebel Kicks’ tour plans may have been crushed by the pandemic, but they still endeavoured to lead their listeners to a brighter perspective after recognising the dangers of internal reflection. In short, Floating is an invitation to cut through the noise and reserve energy for positivity. It’s an invitation that you don’t get much of an option in accepting thanks to the infectious positivity.

Floating is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Narley Tree puts a warming funk twist on their indie pop-rock debut ‘In Your Head’

Posted on 14 April 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0uABBDZOuw

Soul pop fans are going to want to pay attention to Narley Tree’s debut indie single, ‘In Your Head’,  which comes with a warming funk twist while never compromising on the international commercial potential. After spending years as a session guitarist, founding member and singer-songwriter, Alex decided to release their debut; based on In Your Head, he was well overdue.

With a Maroon 5-style level of smooth, In Your Head is an intimate declaration of affection sweetened by high-octane power-pop melodies. By switching from dreamy grooves to massive pop-rock choruses, In Your Head offers everything you could possibly ask for. But if that wasn’t enough, Narley Tree will be releasing their forthcoming debut EP – you’ll want them on your radar before that drops.

To fully appreciate In Your Head, head over to YouTube and check out the official music video that premiered on February 12th.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Philp Guele has released their intimate indie-pop earworm ‘She is My Summer’.

Posted on 2 April 2021

You’d assume that a retired airline employee would have plenty of stories to tell; based on Philp Guele’s single, ‘She is My Summer’, we can confirm that is the case.

The prolific traveller got some crimps in their travel plans during the 2020 lockdown; instead of jet-setting to new locations, he revisited old memories and pulled the poetry out of them. The poetry soon ended up as lyrics to their amorous indie-pop earworms such as She’s My Summer.

The slightly lo-fi vibe amplifies the intimacy of the proclamation and shows just how torrid and intense our lives can become when a whirlwind romance starts to kick up dust. It’s a timelessly relatable release that falls nicely into the contemporary demand for folky acoustic pop.

She is My Summer is now available to stream via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Bag Ratty Bro share their automated aspirations with their pop-punk single, ‘ROBOT HOOVER’

Posted on 1 April 2021
Bag Ratty Bro

While I never thought I would hear a punk track with lyrics that aspire towards acquiring a Roomba, I’m ridiculously glad that I did. Bang Ratty Bro’s debut single ‘ROBOT HOOVER’  may not be the 70s anti-capitalist punk we came to love and build our morality around, but it’s a punk playlist staple all the same. This mostly comes as a courtesy of the guitarist exhibiting some serious prowess outside of the usual ‘you know 3 chords you can start a band’ punk form.

Bag Ratty Bro’s ROBOT HOOVER is easily up there with Candyskins’ release Mrs Hoover as an anthemically-charged hoover-inspired feat of dopamine-boosting indie punk.

You can hear Bag Ratty Bro via SoundCloud.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Airi’s bring us the next chapter in fine Finnish rock with ‘Tranquilizing’

Posted on 31 March 2021

Finnish rock bands seem to have a certain something – H.I.M., The Rasmus, Lordi, and of course the leaders of the pack Hanoi Rocks – so there’s quite a pedigree for Airi’s to live up to here. And for the avoidance of doubt here, live up to it they do; speedy, poppy, bouncy indie-tinged rock in the style of maybe the Killers, with a lot of Lemonheads ‘It’s a Shame About Ray’, Blind Melon, Elastica, and the Candyskins chucked in. It’s that late ‘90s/early ‘00s vibe mildly jangly rock. It’s catchy, sparky, energetic, and it’s got a great hooky little chorus that absolutely sticks in your head.

Five singles and one EP down, ‘Tranquilizing’ is a perfect introduction to Airi’s catchy little rock attack; with a debut full album planned for early next year, things are looking bright for Finland’s Airi’s right now.

Hear ‘Tranquilizing’ on Spotify now; follow Airi’s on Facebook.

Review by Alex Holmes

Kaviani has released his punky power-pop lockdown playlist staple, ‘Gimme Some Sunshine’

Posted on 17 March 2021

There was no forgetting Kaviani after hearing his 2019 single, ‘Don’t Let the Bombs Drop, Daddy’ that found a powerful way to awaken the listener to the insidious nature of the military-industrial complex. With his latest single, ‘Gimme Some Sunshine’, which officially released on March 12th, the insightful UK-residing singer-songwriter gave us the aural euphoria we were crying out for.

By feeding the influence of The Vaselines, Ramones and Sparklehorse into the track that reflects our collectively suffered mood throughout our dystopic lockdown winter, you’re forced to recollect a time when life didn’t feel so cold. If you need any further persuasion to step into the light, Kaviani’s soulfully reassuring vocals will happily assist.

Here’s what Kaviani had to say about his latest single;

“I used to have panic attacks as a teenager, so the song came from a place of pure anxiety and hate of the winter months when the days are short and dark and just wishing it was light. I feel most problems are easier to cope with in the daylight hours, this song reflects that positive, upbeat vibe.”

Profits from the release will be donated to the mental health charity SANE. Kaviani is also hosting an online charity auction for the cause. With all that in mind, you can probably appreciate why the artist made such an impression on our first encounter.

You can check out the official music video to Gimme Some Sunshine via YouTube. Or purchase the single via apple music.

Connect with Kaviani via Facebook.

Review by Amelia Vandergast