Power Pop

New album: Beachheads || Beachheads II

By / / Indie Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Solid release week if you like your indie rock upbeat, energetic and European. We already posted about the excellent new Eades (UK) record, and here is another solid release, this time from Norway. Beachheads are 2/4 Kvelertak, but Beachheads sounds more like Teenage Fanclub with a record collection full of ’80s underground pop and punk. Side note: another Kvelertak member released a sonically similar record last year as part of the Needs. That one was a pleasant surprise, but also raises the question: should Kvelertak become a powerpop band?

The second Beachheads record builds on the band’s first, but in addition to the color change in album covers (the band went from yellow to pink), Beachheads II is more laid-back and even more pop-oriented than the band’s debut, which I felt had a more punchy vibe overall. I haven’t made my mind up which version of Beachheads I prefer, but clearly these four dudes know how to write catchy tunes.

Beachheads II is out now on Fysisk Format. The pink and black splatter LP looks particularly appealing.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Jimmy Doyle || Going Gray

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“Pub Rock, Power Pop, New Wave, whatever you want to call it was my inspiration for the sound of this record. Artists like Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Ted Leo, Squeeze & Blondie are huge influences of mine & I hope that even a shred of that comes through.”

After reading Jimmy Doyle (The Fad) describing these influences for his first solo record at Brooklynvegan, I was already halfway in. Then I heard the real thing and it doesn’t disappoint at all. If anything, Going Gray sounds more modern than I’d expected, but it’s full of heartfelt uptempo guitar pop hits, none of which hit the three minute mark.

Apparently, the record has been on the shelf for a long time, and we still have to wait until September for the vinyl to arrive. Going Gray was recorded right before the pandemic hit with a strong supporting cast consisting of Tim Hildebrand, Brittany Luna (both of Catbite, who we covered before), Ian Farmer (Modern Baseball/Slaughter Beach, Dog), and Eric Osman (Cherry, Lame-O Records). Let’s hope Doyle and friends wrote more songs in the meantime, because I’d like more of this, please!



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Bad Spring || Tape 1

By / / Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Jangle Pop, Power Pop / 2 Comments

Awesome new band alert! From Fresno, California straight to our hearts comes Bad Spring. If you like angsty college rock, dreamy powerpop, or rockin’ ’90s altpop, this should be on the top of your listening pile right now.

The biggest appeal of the two songs on Bad Spring’s debut single? The contrast between the heavy yet strummy and jangly guitars (so good!) and the dreamy Teenage Fanclubesque vocals and harmonies.

Bad Spring has arrived and I’m all in! Tape 1 is out now (on tape of course) on Forever Never Ends Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp || Forever Never Ends

New EP: Swerves || Pity Party

By / / Indie Pop, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

As soon as you put on Pity Party by Philly four-piece Swerves, you get why the band is often compared to Modern Baseball and Soccer Mommy. Although the title track is a drumless introspected acoustic track, the four remaining tunes are in a battle of indiepunk catchiness and pop sensibilities. The winner at any given moment may be Every Weekend, Imposter Syndrome, or noooo don’t peak in high school you’re so sexy aha.

What it comes down to with Swerves is that as soon as Karolina Ross starts singing, you are hooked. Pity Party is out now through Sockhead Records.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New album: Dennis Augustsson || Under

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / Leave a Comment

Let’s start this week off right with Swedish singer songwriter Dennis Augustsson. And with singer songwriter I’m not referring to the folky kind. His new record Under is very much an electric project, and I have to assume Augustsson prefers Thunders & Westerberg over Simon & Garfunkel.

Under feels like a punk record. It’s full of attitude, energy and emotion and a lot of that comes from the voice of Augustsson. Sonically, it’s all over the place and some of the slower songs won’t be for everyone. But, Augustsson knows how to write a hook, and the best songs on Under are something special. Listen to Flottigt Hårs Historia for example, which sounds like a classic punk track from the late ’70s. Allting kvar, Så länge vi är vi, Blanka blad, and Det brinner en eld also standout.

Under is available for streaming now. Want to get in touch with Dennis Augustsson? Find him on FB or Instagram.


Add to wantlist: Ehm…streaming only for now I guess

New single: Cyanide Pills || The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock ‘N’ Roll

By / / Garage Rock, Glam Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 3 Comments

Yes! New Cyanide Pills! And the band from Leeds provides exactly what you expect on their new two song single: late ’70s poppy punkrock like the past four decades haven’t happened.

A-side The Kids Can’t Be Trusted With Rock ‘N’ Roll is an instant classic. On the song, Cyanide Pills proof that Joey Ramone’s OH NO! OOOH NOOHOO! will never sound redundant when you write a kickass song. Flipside Do You Wanna Know is another winner. The bridge, that follows some sweet guitar work, is my favorite part. Singer Phil Privilige doing a fade out of Do you wanna know-know-know gets me everytime.

Single out now through Damaged Goods. Limited to 500 copies, so grab one quick. This one’s gonna fly out of record stores worldwide.


Add to wantlist: Discogs || Damaged Goods

New single: Nerf Herder || Born Weird

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Fact #1: Of all the shows I’ve visited, Nerf Herder probably is the band that made me laugh the hardest.
Fact #2: Nowadays, thanx (but no thanx) to my kids, I play Parry Gripp’s kids songs more often than his Nerf Herder records. Did you know there is a ten hour Youtube loop of It’s Raining Taco’s?

Nerf Herder, who need no further introduction I think, return with a new single called Born Weird, which naturally features an accordeon solo by Weird Al Yankovic. The song is classic Nerf Herder. Both sonically and lyrically (“I ate my lunch in the computer lab, even the teachers thought it was sad”) the song would have fit perfectly on the early Nerf Herder records. There is even a nod to Vivian. The video (and artwork) by Luke & Joe McGarry (aka the Fantastic Heat Brothers) looks pretty sweet as well.

The flipside of the single has Nerf Herder covering Weir Al’s reworked version of The Knack’s My Sharona (My Bologna). If you need more proof that this is Nerf Herder being Nerf Herder: The single is available in a limited edition of bologna-colored 12″ vinyl, and includes a bologna-scented sticker.


Add to wantlist: Tempo Merch

New album: Eytan Mirsky || Lord, Have Mirsky!

By / / Indie Pop, Power Pop / 1 Comment

Sometimes you need a little push to fully appreciate an artist’s talent. When Brad Marino picked Eytan Mirsky for his Gimme 5 feature on our site, I had never heard of Mirsky. But these five words by Brad stuck with me: “Eytan can write a tune.” And so, when the Bandcamp notification arrived of Eytan’s new record (his eight!), I decided to give it a try.

Alarm bells definitely went off in the opening seconds of Lord, Have Mirsky! But, the endorsement by Brad Marino made me counter my tendency to quickly dismiss records that are out of my comfort zone.   This time, I let the music speak for itself rather than my gut do the talking, and boy, can Eytan Mirsky write a tune indeed! Powerpop tunes that is… but more poprock-oriented or in the vein of Nick Lowe than the faster, punk influenced kind that I love most. I don’t know how he does it, but there is an abundance of hooks and strong vocal melodies on Lord, Have Mirsky! Mirsky wrote all the songs, but he has a strong support cast that rounds out these songs with tasteful pedal steel, tambourine, trumpet, dobro and sax tones and licks.

You’re Getting It On Me is probably the song closest to my usual musical diet. It’s a great late ’70’s powerpop tune that provides a gateway to the rest of the record that is decidedly more laidback and poprock oriented. But most of Mirsky’s songs are constructed in such a way that somehow you keep listening. The 1-2-3 punch of Halfhearted, The Waiting Is the Easiest Part and Don’t Be Afraid in the first half of the record is particularly effective.

Ultimately, Mirsky delivers ten soulful and tasteful poprock tracks Lord, Have Mirsky! . Eighteen year old me would probably have skipped this one within seconds, but growing up has its advantages. Thanks for the tunes Eytan, and thanks for broadening my horizons. (And thanks Brad!)



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New EP: The Steady Beats || The Steady Beats

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop / Leave a Comment

Canadian multi-instrumentalist Matt Groopie (The Groopies, King Beez, The Mutaneers, Green Jelly, Blackdog Ballroom, The Phoenix Complex) is back with a new project and new music. Please meet The Steady Beats and listen to the six tracks on their self-titled debut EP. With song titles like Key To Your Heart, Wrapped Around Your Finger and So Far Away you would expect that these are covers, but they are definitely originals. Matt did not only wrote the songs, but he also produced, engineered, mixed and mastered them, and took care of lead vocals (at least, on 3 tracks), guitars, drums, bass, piano, harmonica, glockenspiel, and percussion. You will also hear John Loree (lead vocals and co-songwriting on 2 tracks, and bass), and Steve David (lead vocals on 1 track, and guitars). This is a welcome release at the crossing of garage rock and power pop, from skilled musicians who know how to write catchy tunes and when to use vocal harmonies and more cowbell to unlock the door to your heart.

The Steady Beats is out now digitally. Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

New single: Ingrates || Kickin’ Down The Doors! b/w Learn To Love It

By / / Garage Rock, Power Pop, Punk / 1 Comment

Late last year, Ingrates katapulted themselves on my Singles of the year list with their debut single. The single had the marks of the Good Vibrations label all over it, with equal parts energy, catchiness and loudness. Today, Ingrates release their second single, with which they have about secured a spot on my 2022 single list.

The single opens with Kickin’ Down The Door which has the build-up of an Exploding Hearts song with some massive and very effective hooks. It’s a song I’ll be playing a lot this year. On the flip side, there’s Learn To Love It, a ’70s glammy stomper of a song that sees the band broadening their horizons. What’s not to like?

Recorded as a duo, the Southern Californians are putting a full band together to get their show on the road. More good news: Ingrates will be releasing their third single in a couple of months, slowly working themselves to have enough songs for a singles collection on LP.

Oh, and about that killer single from last year? No Norms Records (Watertown, MA) is currently putting the band’s first single on a 7″. WANT! Hopefully a label will put this sophomore single out as well.



Add to wantlist: Bandcamp

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