The In Part Of The Out Crowd Price: $11.00 Artist: Acid Description: The third record from Asbury Park, NJ’s Acid is by far their most cohesive, catchiest, and all around best sounding batch of songs to date; this is due to the wonderful songwriting of leader/singer/guitarist Bobby Kennedy, the solid production work of Phil Caivano of Monster Magnet, and the insane mixing and drum work of Joe Demaio of Shorefire Studios. Bobby Kennedy’s rich rock credentials vary from guitarist for both New York Doll David Johansen and The Dictator’s Handsome Dick Manitoba to studio work with The Damned and Captain Sensible. Those influences and more can be heard all over this record. “The retrospective concentrate of the tracks lifts the listener immediately to south coast summer beaches of England in the 60’s with scooters, parkas and dark sunglasses spoiling for a rumble with rockers. Taught drumskin allows percussion to ping across the room like a dart, the bubbling bass gives the countenance of an ill-temper brewing just under the surface while compacted guitar occasionally stretches the strings as though a snarling dog looking to slip the leash with the laid-back vocal which reverberates in to an elongated sneer gives the music an unexpected, though goes some way in identifying the source of the name of the band, beatnik tincture. It’s an album that contains numerous highlights, with ‘Never On My Mind’, being a song which pulls to memory something else, which I can’t quite bring to the forefront of my mind to name, though you may well recall immediately.” – EmergingIndieBands.com “A glance at the album cover or looking at their stage outfits, would expect this to be Mod Pop. Well, they have fashioned up far more than that. What is probably the band's most accessible album yet rests, handily, somewhere between New Wave Power Pop and Psych Pop. There is still the odd hint of Mod, although the Sleezy Nooooo Yawwwwwwk feel rings true more. Bobby Kennedy's writing suits his vocal sneer perfectly, it's Gallagher-esque, but the backbeat is full of hooks and some wonderful psych guitar riffs accompany the big choruses. There are hints of Psychedelic Furs, even The Cult, but those wonderful riffs keep the album on the melodic sign of wonderful. The likes of ‘What's Going On’, ‘Get Down’ and ‘Control’ will get those feet tapping.” – IDontHearASingle.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Footnotes 1992-1994 Price: $16.00 Artist: Adorable Description: Re-release of an 18-track compilation from (in our opinion) the very under-rated, former Creation Records Britpop act, Adorable. ¡°Inspired by The Smiths, and by our own insatiable appetite for buying 7¡ås on a Saturday morning, we were eager to release lots of singles, and we set about releasing tracks as quickly as we could. ¡®I¡¯ll Be Your Saint¡¯ was perhaps a mistake as a second single, and helped to seal our fate in the eyes of the music press as ¡®arrogant bastards¡¯ (coupled with attempts in interviews at distancing ourselves from the anti-image, shoegazing movement). Creation¡¯s Alan McGee, who saw us as a punky Echo & the Bunnymen loved the idea of it (¡®It¡¯s rock n¡¯ roll Pete, it¡¯s rock n¡¯ roll ¨C pure Iggy¡¯). We could never understand why our third release ¡®Homeboy¡¯ (probably my favourite Adorable song) was overlooked, but ¡®Sistine Chapel Ceiling¡¯ got us on the road back with another NME single of the week and a high Indie chart placing, in turn helping our debut LP ¡®Against Perfection¡¯ to a Top 75 spot in April 1993. Creation needed the figures to add up, and Adorable¡¯s didn¡¯t. Quite simply we didn¡¯t sell enough records for them, and the fact that there wasn¡¯t exactly a warm glow inside them when they thought about us as people made the decision easier. After being dropped by the label, and feeling as if we had taken a battering in the boxing ring, we called it a day after completing our European dates in late 1994 culminating in a glorious drunken night out in Brussels.¡± ¨C Adorable frontman Pete Fijalkowski The CD contains tracks lifted from both their albums on Creation released in the early '90s, along with non-album singles and hard-to-find B-sides. Also included is a new edit of 'Glorious' from ¡°Against Perfection¡±, which is exclusive to this release. All the tracks on this collection included have been deleted and unavailable for several years. Includes a 20-page booklet with new extensive liner notes from all four band members - especially written for this release - along with photos, classic sleeve images and items from their personal archives. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Blue Gold Price: $16.00 Artist: Al Manfredi Description: “Blue Gold” is a little-known West Coast rock masterpiece from 1973. Al Manfredi’s dreams of securing a record deal with this album faded, but he spent the rest of his life recording music. Born into a musical family Al started writing songs when he was child. As a teenager in 1965, he formed the Nuts & Bolts in the small beach town of San Clemente, CA. Inspired by the Kinks, the Beatles and the Byrds, the group separated themselves from the pack by also performing original material written by Manfredi and band mate Mike Ingram. In late 1966 they changed their name to the Lost & Found and relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where they cut a rare single, “Don’t Move Girl” b/w “To Catch the Sun,” which now commands high coin from ‘60s garage collectors. When they returned to San Clemente in early 1967 their music had taken a more psychedelic direction. The Lost & Found were riding high that year, until tragedy struck. Ingram was found hanged under suspicious circumstances and soon after Lost & Found drummer Mike Ryer died of cancer at the age of 19. Heartbroken, Manfredi gave up on the band scene completely and moved to Garden Grove to teach at his family’s music store. Alone, behind closed doors, he kept writing songs and working on his music, recording hours of tapes, often tracking all the instruments himself. In 1973 he chose six of his best songs, some of them written back in the Lost & Found days, and had them custom-pressed as an LP. Only a handful of copies were pressed, and most of these were sent out to various record companies in the hope of landing a deal. Despite the outstanding quality of the music, there were no takers. Decades later, collectors discovered the album and hailed it a West Coast rock masterpiece. In his “Acid Archives” book, Patrick Lundborg called its discovery a “deus ex machine” (unexpected pleasure), comparing it to David Crosby’s first solo album and Hawaii-era Merrell Fankhauser, “not just because of the acutely captured mellowness, but the self-confidence and the talent.” Al Manfredi died in 1995. This 2CD version of the album, with Manfredi’s story told by Ugly Things’ founder Mike Stax, presents the complete package of an incredible lost and found artist. EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

No Love Lost Price: $15.00 Artist: Andy Kentler Description: Kudos to Steve at Absolutepowerpop for hipping us to this 2014 effort from this Aussie roots rocker! The former guitarist for Aussie rockers Glide (and previously bassist for The Gammarays), "No Love Lost" is Andy's sophomore release - ten years after his debut! "The biggest influences I hear are Tom Petty, Lou Reed and Bruce Springsteen. 'Getting’ On Home' is in Petty mode, with slide guitar in the chorus and the smokey blues style of 'Invisible' has a touch of Pink Floyd in its DNA. Not exactly power pop, but this changes with the sing along chorus of 'Big Hits & Misses.' He goes off in another direction with the hard guitar punk of 'Lillian Roxon.' While the variety is appreciated, he excels with story-styled melodies like 'Marnie & Stan,' 'Walk Out On Me' and the memorable 'Nobody’s Fool.' There is plenty here to recommend, so I would add this to your list of artists to keep your eye on." - Powerpopaholic.com "He isn't exactly a household name in the power pop community. But after coming across this album, maybe he should be. His music is a fusion of Tom Petty, The Kinks and Big Star and there are plenty of standout tracks here. 'Gettin' On Home' opens the album in Petty style, tough and melodic. 'Big Hits & Misses' is brash, radio-ready power pop with a big hooky chorus, and 'Marnie & Stan' tells the story of a couple of the run in rocking fashion (with 'ooh-la-la-la' backing vocals). Kentler saves the best for the latter part of the album, with 'Walk Out On Me' pure power pop in the vein of Chris Richards and the catchy 'Nobody's Fool' closing things out." - Absolutepowerpop.com GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Love In The Time Of Shark Attacks Price: $19.00 Artist: Attic Lights Description: Scotland's Attic Lights grabbed some indie rock spotlight in 2008 after signing to Island Records and issuing their hooky, '70s power pop-influenced debut “Friday Night Lights”. An equally infectious follow-up, “Super De Luxe”, arrived on Spain's Elefant Records in 2013, after which they issued a few singles and toured before falling relatively silent. What were they up to? Lead singer/songwriter Kev Sherry was preoccupied with several of his other projects including launching his comic book “Warpaint”, writing his debut novel, and recording his own solo album. This, in addition to the notoriously long time the band takes to write their songs, seems like a reasonable explanation for a six year hiatus. During the interim, guitarist Jamie Houston returned to the fold, reconstituting the group's original line-up from “Friday Night Lights”. All of which brings us to the band's third full-length, 2019's effusively amiable “Love in the Time of Shark Attacks”. “Aggressively silly title aside, the album finds the Glasgow quartet once again dreaming up thoughtfully melodic songs rife with '70s and '90s rock guitar hooks that do nothing to dissuade the group's well-earned comparisons to Teenage Fanclub and Weezer. Like their debut, ‘Shark Attacks’ nicely showcases the singer/songwriter talents of Sherry, whose nasally brogue, while perhaps an acquired taste, is nonetheless one of the more charmingly distinctive aspects of the band’s sound. Opener ‘Never Be Myself’ sparkles with piano and 12-string guitar, making the most of the band's knack for carefully layered vocal harmonies. Similarly engaging, ‘Kings of Whatever’ is a chuggy slacker anthem, memorable for its fuzztone guitars and catchy chorus. Elsewhere, they sidle up to the rock & roll bar with ‘Ruby's Song,’ mixing equal parts Rolling Stones swagger and Bay City Rollers bubblegum. Despite the long wait between releases, the record never sounds belabored. Just the opposite: it feels like four good friends who can still evoke the sense of fun and enthusiasm they no doubt felt in their earliest moments together.” – AllMusic.com The band prove that even though time passes for everyone else, they maintain the same pop inspiration, killer melodies and heavenly harmonies that have seen them compared to The Lemonheads, and Teenage Fanclub. With the rest of the world turning upside down and getting crazier with each passing day, they still hold tightly to their core values of love and imagination. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Into The Ether Price: $6.00 Artist: Blank Pages Description: After breaking a 7-year hiatus with the terrific “Before Your Summer Fades”, Blank Pages are back with a fresh new EP. Led by guitarist/vocalist Greg Potter, the band, has been performing their unique brand of power pop and rock and roll for more than 25 years. Songwriter Potter leads the band through their ongoing exploration of melodic, guitar-driven indie pop by pairing finely crafted melodies with thought-provoking themes. This time around, their journey examines the cosmic forces that pull us together and tear us apart. “The title track is quintessential Blank Pages: an irresistible power pop song featuring tuneful guitars, swirling synths, and harmony. It is an ode to friends with the invisible ability to bring us together - and how those ties can explode when they have gone.” – NewJerseyStage.com “As a big fan of bands such as The Records, The Romantics, and The Knack, the EP contains many great influential components of those icons. The title track is a relatively perfect pop-flavored rock song and flows from start to finish. Top-shelf songwriting blends with addictive choruses, harmonious vocals, and smooth backing harmonies. Guitars go from melodic, jangly pop rock chord progressions to hooky riffs, and Mike Campbell-styled leads. ‘Let it Flow,’ is a peppered piece that pairs jangling guitars with a stream of consciousness lyrics that celebrate the inspiration that comes from peacefulness and our connection to others. In the acoustic-driven ‘Snapshots,’ Potter recounts a recurring vision of a long-lost connection that spans so many years, he can no longer remember if it was a dream or reality. Closer ‘Welcome to the Unknown’ is a tuneful rock track punctuated by vintage synths, pianos, and guitars. It brings the listener full circle: back into life’s ether where the only certainty is uncertainty.” – TheAquarian.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Stay Out Late Price: $15.00 Artist: Buxton Description: On their latest effort, Buxton delivers another set of emotionally engaging songcraft, with an organic warmth that affirms the subtle musical chemistry that’s been honed over the years of the band’s existence. Their spaciou sound is ideally suited to the vivid lyrical insights of singer/guitarist Sergio Trevino, whose restless romanticism is reflected in such indelible new tunes as “This Place Reminds Me of You,” “Jan,” “Haunt You” and “Hanging On the Coast.” “They have fashioned up an excellent laid back affair. A clever use of some old fashioned instruments and centering around an almost Lloyd Cole-like vocal, ‘Stay Out Late’ is wonderfully mellow. All 11 songs breeze by, but a special mention should be given to the splendid ‘Jan’.” – IDontHearASingle.com “Their dusty psych-Americana underwent something of a sea change on 2015's ‘Half a Native’, streamlining the rougher edges into a more pastoral indie pop approach and downplaying their country roots. While the progression of their previous albums saw them gradually trending in this direction, their partnership with producer Thom Monahan helped push them toward a more dramatic refresh. ‘Stay Out Late’ rolls on down that same highway, albeit with even more emphasis on vintage synth sounds and textural electronic adornments. They’ve resumed their collaboration with Monahan, who spins Trevino's peculiar missives into dreamy golden-hued pop with soft hints of Texan spirit here and there. Prior to writing these 11 tracks, Trevino cites the discovery of Talk Talk's 1991 post-rock masterstroke, ‘Laughing Stock’, as a significant source of inspiration. It's an interesting influence to apply to their music, but with that in mind, it can certainly be heard in the introspective writing and overall experimental tone. There are a number of standouts here including the lush synth-led opener, ‘This Place Reminds Me of You,’ the lovely and ethereal ‘Haunt You,’ and exploratory closer, ‘Green of Endless Pines.’ Occasional guitar-based rockers like ‘Inside Out’ and ‘Hole Heart’ find their rightful place in the album sequence, but for this outing at least, Buxton are at the strongest working in the textural, reflective pop mode of Talk Talk, the Blue Nile, and other acts of similar elegance.” – AllMusic.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

The Whole Shebang Price: $13.00 Artist: Charlie Faye & The Fayettes Description: Charlie Faye and her backing group the Fayettes (consisting of individually accredited vocalists Bettysoo and Akina Adderly) with emulating a vintage style circa the ‘60s and ‘70s. As their handle implies, the trio mines the sound and substance of various girl groups of that era - Ronnie Spector and her Ronettes, the Shangri-Las, the Shirelles, and of course, the Supremes - with story songs and harmonies that pay tribute to the timeless ideals of romance, devotion and teenage innocence. Her sophomore outing was produced by Eric Holden (who also plays bass, organ, and baritone guitar throughout the record). She’s also recruited Attractions’ drummer Pete Thomas into the fold, along with other guest musicians including Marcus Watkins on guitar, and Chris Joyner on keys making for a terrific band. “Her terrific debut was equal parts bubblegum and Motown (to be clear, we mean bubblegum in the best sense of the word – all hook, no crap). Charlie Faye & The Fayettes pick up right where they left off with ‘The Whole Shebang’. The melodies are strong and the performances even stronger, influenced by some very noteworthy additions to the band. As it turns out, Charlie is a big fan of Rockpile. Having heard their cover of the Otis Redding classic ‘Let’s Talk About Us’, she covered it in her live sets. Eventually, she felt she needed to write a song with that kind of feel to it. The resulting tune is ‘Stone Cold Fox’, and it’s just one of several memorable tracks here. My personal favorite here is ‘I Don’t Need No Baby’. With lyrics such as ‘How could a girl not want a man like you? Get a clue!’, one might describe it as 60’s with attitude. Interestingly enough, it was originally written as a prompt for a TV show. Other highlights include ‘The Cream Rises to the Top’, ‘Night People’, and ‘Baby, We’ll Be Okay’, the latter of which definitely has an Edmunds/Lowe strain running through it.” – Rich Rossi/PowerPopNews.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

So Far So Good So Cool Price: $12.00 Artist: Death By Unga Bunga Description: The Norwegian indie rock outfit's fifth studio effort sees them delivering a taut, 11-track set of snappy power pop confections that flirt with punk and classic rock without feeling beholden to either. Pairing the cheekiness of the Vaccines with the arena-filling hooks of Cheap Trick, the band, whose name was derived from an album by California garage rock revivalists the Mummies, are clearly having it both ways. “The overall sonic vibe kind of sounds like the Ramones if they were produced by Mutt Lange. Generously stocked with melody rich gems like ‘Soldier’ and ‘Cynical,’ the former a meaty slab of vintage punk-pop with a terrific earworm chorus, and the latter a midtempo retro-rocker festooned with copious amounts of guitarmonies and shimmery synths, the record is highly palatable and often predictable, but it still manages to scratch that power pop itch via the occasional architectural detour or clever turn of phrase.” - AllMusic.com “The album opens with the Cheap Trick-meets-early-Strokes sound of ‘Haunt Me’. With fuzzy guitars and a big chorus, it’s a statement of intent and finds the band’s bravado of sound at odds with the tender lyrics. ‘Soldier’ is a surf pop-infused tale of obsession from the stalker’s side. ‘So Cool’ has a Ramones punk rock feel as the band write a love letter to someone who is just effortlessly chill. ‘Turn My Brain Off’ is a mixture of Japandroids-esque punk and Britpop’s more melodic moments that finds time for a guitar solo you’ll be throwing devil’s horns at (you’ll get odd looks if you do this at your desk on lunchtime, trust us) and the classic rock-infused ‘Boys’ has the incredible refrain of ‘cracking open a cold one with the boys’ repeated over and over again. Despite the dark nature of some of the lyrics, this is a fun album full of rock and roll good times and stomping songs that will make you want to crack open a cold one…” – SpectralNights.com GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Pineapple Pizza Price: $12.00 Artist: Death By Unga Bunga Description: Ludicrously named and delightfully retro, Norway’s Death By Unga Bunga take thirty years of guitar pop and cram them into half an hour of familiar sounding rock ‘n’ roll that lifts ideas from The Tornadoes to Blondie and from The Doors to The Ramones, with elements of hair metal guitar solos and prog references thrown in for good measure. “It sounds like it should be horrible but it really isn’t because it oozes so much fun that it doesn’t have time to get annoying, with enough big hooky choruses to get stuck in your head and quite possibly stay there.” – NarcMagazine.com “A fine introduction to the band’s retro-rock loving style - a storm of garage rock, psychedelia, and power pop. Overall, this pie will make you feel happy as the band deals out good vibes via squiggly guitar riffs on the charming ‘Best Friends’, where frontman Sebastian Ulstad Olsen sings, ‘Do you wanna share a Pepsi/ We’re gonna be best friends!’ How’d they know I prefer Pepsi over Coke? Elsewhere, the band’s idol worship of bands from the ‘60s and ‘70s eras of rock can be heard via the stadium rock assault contained within ‘Make Up Your Mind’. Slacker rock anthem ‘Waste Of Time’ kicks every inch of ass in front of it. Our first taste of Death By Unga Bunga leaves us craving future slices.” – EarBuddy.net “Personal favourites include ‘I Can’t Hide’ and ‘Strangers From The Sky’, the former in particular embodying one of my favourite qualities of the album (lyrics that are edgy, thought-provoking and often relatable while still being set to upbeat music that I doubt I will get tired of playing any time soon). Now that I can happily call myself a fan, I will wait eagerly for anything they release in the future. I am listening to my favourite track ‘I Can’t Believe That We’re Together’ on repeat as I write this and no doubt I will return to it throughout the upcoming summer months and beyond.” – CuckooWriters.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none