From The Outside Looking In Price: $16.00 Artist: Andrew Taylor Description: DROPKICK ALERT! There is a new Dropkick album nearing completion, but in the meantime Andrew Taylor steps out into the solo spotlight on a collection of songs that haven't made Dropkick albums over the past 15 years – not to worry, just because they didn’t make the albums doesn’t mean there’s a drop-off in quality! “One of the great mysteries of my musical sphere is why Dropkick don't get more attention. Their brand of Jayhawks go Power Pop is always an excellent listen, yet album after album seems to go unappreciated by the great unwashed. The Scots seem to have a larger following in the likes of Spain than what you would think is the more fertile ground of the UK and America. They are very much in the Teenage Fanclub and Daniel Wylie field, but despite every album being highly listenable, name checks are few. Last year's ‘Balance The Light’ was a cracking offering. On ‘From The Outside Looking In’ Andrew plays everything and it's a cracking listen. The record jingles and jangles to great effect, in fact it reminds me a lot of ‘Grand Prix’-era Teenage Fanclub. I think followers get used to my criticism of front loaded albums. This is an album that gets better and better as it progresses, rocking a bit more track by track, but gently of course. The last three songs are probably the strongest on the album. ‘I Saw You’ has a great TFC jangle, ‘In Their Shoes’ sounds like something off ‘Tomorrow The Green Grass’. ‘Someone’ moves along at a swift pace, stressing the melody of these songs. ‘Stories’ is wonderfully brooding and features some lovely mandolin, an instrument not used enough on songs. It's those last three songs that make the album though. It's at its best when the songs are faster. ‘Couldn't You Call?’ is a bit Matthew Sweet, ‘Standing Still’ is a real windows up, long drive joy and ‘Can't Clear My Head’ ends in almost Eagles mode. I've decided that Andrew Taylor can join my North Of The Border Supergroup with Daniel Wylie and Norman Blake.” – IDontHearASingle.com Now that would be something! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Arrow Beach Price: $12.00 Artist: Arrow Beach Description: From the fertile musical landscape of central North Carolina comes Arrow Beach. Stacked with veterans of the North Carolina rock scene, the band is plowing new musical territory that is a departure from those involved. Their music is expertly laden with glammy pop hooks, deep grooves, clanging and/or jangly guitars and classic atmospheric keyboards. Sitting on top of it all are the mesmerizing vocals of John Ensslin (What Peggy Wants, Marat, The Breaks). Handling the guitars, keyboards and recording duties is Mike Nicholson (Stratocruiser). Tray Batson (Baron von Rumblebus, The Breaks) is on bass, and Amy Hall (Multiples, Heart Brigade) is on drums. The record was created with the sole purpose of collecting a group of rocking tunes that display their collective skills in songcraft and attention to sonic and musical detail. “Deliciously corrosive Glam Rock teeming with super catchy melodies and edgy lyrics that refuse to leave your cranium. This is Grade A sonic fruit ripe for the pickin’.” – Ken Sharp “Over the years, John Ensslin and Mike Nicholson have separately produced some of North Carolina’s coolest and quirkiest rock and roll. Mike was born to rock with his delightfully unpredictable stage antics and arena-sized guitar sound, splitting the difference between Rick Nielsen and Brian May. John was born to art rock with a vocal arsenal and quirky persona that cobbles together pieces of Bowie, Peter Murphy, and Hedwig to create something you’ve never quite heard before. Arrow Beach create a glorious hybrid of glam rock, power pop, shoegaze, jangle pop and blistering hard rock.” – Greensboro News & Record EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Just Like Medicine Price: $15.00 Artist: A.J. Croce Description: A.J. Croce and his producer, soul music legend, Dan Penn explore the healing power of music with “Just Like Medicine”. An all-star cast including Steve Cropper, David Hood, Vince Gill, Colin Linden and the McCrary Sisters come together on Croce's ninth studio album, which includes his first recording of "The Name of the Game," an unreleased song by his father, Jim Croce. As A.J. explains, "I wanted to make a real soul album, but not a throwback Stax album or a Motown album or anything like that-even though Dan was producing and there are great players from that world and Muscle Shoals on these tracks." Sonically and in every other way, the intention on “Just Like Medicine” seems to keep things real. "We recorded this album in mono, to analog tape, primarily to two tracks and we never used more than sixteen tracks," he adds. "Dan explained that when he worked with the Box Tops, they only had three tracks - one for the band, one for the vocals, one for string and horns. So that became our starting point." “By many measures, his most ambitious effort to date, crafting a diverse collection of honky-tonk blues, horn-infused funk and piano-bar ballads. Starting out on the darker side with ‘Gotta Get Outta My Head,’ he lets listeners know all is not well: ‘Gotta get outta my head, ‘cause I can’t stand the company.’ Things pick up considerably from there, with R&B piano and horns on ‘The Heart That Makes Me Whole.’ Shifting gears yet again, he sounds most like his father on ‘Name of the Game’ - not surprising since the song was the last one written by Jim Croce, existing until now only on unreleased demos. It’s immediately identifiable, a guitar-driven tune on which Gill appears, but A.J. remains clearly out front. The title track touches all the bases, a bluesy journey through pain and heartache, with love the only redemption: ‘Sure as she’s heaven sent, cures just like medicine.’ ‘Full Up’ is pure Randy Newman, and there are overtones of Leon Russell, Allen Toussaint and Boz Scaggs scattered throughout the remaining tracks, but he manages to make it all his own. The greatest tribute is his ability to find his own voice while honoring his father’s spirit. Imitation is not always the sincerest form of flattery.” – ElmoreMagazine.com We’re just suckers for that Dan Penn/Memphis sound! It may be a bit R&B, but in the end, it’s still POP! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

The Future Ain't What It Used To Be Price: $11.00 Artist: Biters Description: Like their British counterparts The Struts, Biters mine the past to preserve its future. ¡°They are a great rock band. They look the part, they act the part, Tuk is a proper star, and they can toss off tunes as easily as Gordon Ramsay plates crab cakes: ¡®Back To Georgia¡¯ and ¡®Hollywood¡¯ are both masterful ballads. Marc Bolan comes off the subs¡¯ bench for ¡®Stone Cold Love¡¯ and ¡®Gypsy Rose¡¯ ¨C both benefitting from a liberal sprinkling of T.Rex glitter ¨C while Cheap Trick are much in evidence throughout. Elsewhere there are hat-tips to Queen, AC/DC, ELO, the Glitter Band and ¡®Eliminator¡¯-era ZZ Top.¡± ¨C TeamRock.com ¡°They have really tapped into their love of 70¡äs rock music on the massive stomping beast that is ¡®Stone Cold Love¡¯. The song has a T.Rex sound from the backbeat through to the vocals of Tuk, making for a song you want to keep playing over and over. They have other ear candy in their arsenal with the more modern sounding rock of ¡®Let It Roll¡¯, again a radio hit is ever there was one. Interesting musical diversion on ¡®Goin¡¯ Back To Georgia¡¯ where the band adopt a country rock feel, not unlike something Blackberry Smoke would d0. Some great power pop on display too like ¡®Gypsy Rise¡¯, which gives fellow 70¡äs power pop worshippers Smash Fashion a run for their money. Biters bite back with an album full of glorious 70¡äs flavoured glam/hard rock.¡° ¨C GetReadyToRock.me.uk ¡°Laden with swagger and attitude, the band channels T.Rex with ¡®Gypsy Rose¡¯ with vocalist Tuk Smith replicating Marc Bolan¡¯s similar drawl. It¡¯s bouncy with a pop flavour to it and whilst the punk sound may be stripped back, this is easily one of the highlights on an album full of gems. The complete left turn comes at the end of the album with the Southern-fried and aptly named ¡®Goin¡¯ Back to Georgia¡¯. More acoustic with hints of slide guitar, it may not be what you¡¯d expect a band like Biters to put out with its plonking rhythm and twangs. It¡¯s an obvious nod to their home and their experiences of becoming an international touring band. Between the vocal harmonies which are just begging to be sung along to and the largely upbeat radio-friendly riffs which contain nods to Thin Lizzy and Status Quo. Biters may not bring anything new to the world but instead they combine some of the greatest sounds of the 70¡¯s to create their own sound. Its length from start to finish, purposeful production and sound harks back to when rock ruled the radio to pull in the older generations of fans and its subtle pop hooks to hopefully pull in a younger audience.¡± ¨C Moshville.co.uk GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

On The Waterfront Price: $13.00 Artist: Captain Storm Description: On their sophomore outing, Captain Storm takes you for a sea cruise between the sweet shores of pop and the wild coast of Americana. Welcome aboard! Their debut attracted attention with a few good songs, some of them flirting with pop anthem. Their pop rock spiced with a country touch had seduced listeners on both sides of the pond. With their new album, they raise their music to a higher level. Songs answer one to another forming a coherent whole. Tunes are catchy as possible. Vocals and guitars shimmer and glimmer. Connoisseurs will appreciate hints and references to 60’s pop and the richness of the orchestrations served by a bunch of brilliant guests. “Labels, big or small, don't have a monopoly on good music. We know that for sure. This band has been making its own way for a few years already. One can often enjoy their gigs in the best clubs of the French capital. Jean-Marc Storm who is in some sort of way the ‘captain’ of Captain Storm (guitars, songwriting and hat) steers the ship with no more authority than necessary. Laurence Storm (a woman) is the lead vocalist, instilling that sweet color to the pop manifestos the band has recorded here. The album’s title track, a potential hit sets the scene, judiciously opening the CD. The refrain immediately takes us to those lands where a casual pop is reigning. The song, ‘Super Fun’, deserves its title and pursues the same festive vein. Guitars (electric and acoustic) are close to perfection and a few tricks of production brighten up the whole. The party ends with ‘Let’s Pretend (We Can Fly)’, concluding in a profusion of guitars and a Stone-ish finale with those ‘ooh ooh’s reviving good memories… Immediate boarding!” - Tony Grieco “They are at ease in different styles : country, pub-rock, power pop… They’ve mastered a wide range of musical styles with their versatility. This album focuses on their pop side. But it ain’t too soft. For instance, guitar licks are snarling on ‘Pavements Burning’. Laurence’s voice sets perfectly into the backing. Listening to ‘Sound Of Thunder’ reminds you of their rendition of Nancy Sinatra’s ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin'’ with the vocals reminiscient of Frankie’s daughter voice. Laurence can as well shout more rocking stuff, like on ‘Why We Cannot Do It’. Jean-Marc sings two songs – ‘The Meaning Of This Life’ and ‘Albert’, which allows to widen the musical scope. The pedal steel guitar of José Schmitt enlightens four songs (especially ‘Albert’). On ‘Let’s Pretend (We Can Fly)’ three guests, Eric Blakely (The Bottle Kids), Tony Grieco, Sacha Crine join in and compete in a flood of wild guitar soloing. All written by Jean-Marc Storm, the songs fit the abilities of the band and the singer. Michaal Benjelloun (the brilliant guitarist of Gaëlle Buswel) rushes in for an appearance. As a bonus track, the album ends with a long version of the title rrack, the kind of song that should be a summer hit if the radios round here stopped broadcasting the usual stuff. Even if this album is more on the pop side than their previous recordings, you’ll find rocking numbers and country traces on it. In fact what matters is not the musical style but the high quality of the whole. With this CD, the Captain can face any storm!” – Mick.Over-blog.com EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Too Much Fun Price: $12.00 Artist: Captain Storm Description: Their 2010 debut. This Parisian ship has been rocking through hurricanes and winds that help you find your personality. Jean-Marc writes the songs and leads his band, mixing with taste all the ingredients we appreciate in our music. The opening number, “Swing Time”, gets right into the purpose with binary drums beat on which the members of the band appear one by one with a classy effect. Things get one step higher with the following song: “I Did It (In The Name Of Rock ‘n’ Roll)”, which states the motto clearly. Further than the incisive guitar playing of the band leader, the voice of the female singer, Laurence, is giving credibility to each song. The rhythm section of all trade is efficient. And a guitar virtuoso, Michaal Benjelloun adds his licks and soloing outstanding abilities. One more thing to motivate your purchase of this CD? The last song is soberly named “Soldier Of Pop”. Two manifestos on one record, would that be enough for you? “The title track comes complete with police sirens, bells and an energetic guitar riffs. Super sound and catchy melodies, ‘Swing Time’, and some more poppish stuff like ‘Soldier of Pop’, ‘Mr. DJ’ and its easy to sing-along chorus, ‘I’ve Got Cheers’ short but superb… 12 songs which are a real cool achievement.” – Chester Netcong “A Parisian band who have recently added country colours to their lend of rock, pop and rhythm n blues. What comes out of this is unique power pop full of roots...” – David Bash/IPO “This international class band excels in different styles (rock, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, country), and their debut album shows it. The variety of the rhythms and the melodies is an invitation to listen to it over and over.” – Est Éclair EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Looking Forward: The Roots Of Big Star Price: $15.00 Artist: Chris Bell Description: While Chris Bell is best known for his posthumous classic "I Am The Cosmos," and as a founding member of the legendary Big Star, his story did not begin there. “Looking Forward: The Roots Of Big Star” delivers the origins of his incredible, influential and far too short career. This 22-track collection is the first of its kind to chronicle music made by and with Bell before Big Star's iconic “#1 Record” - from bands with imaginative names like Rock City, Christmas Future, Icewater, The Wallabys, and more. It examines his progress as a writer, performer, and engineer leading up to Big Star in which the sounds and roots of Big Star are completely evident. Coupled with the previously issued Alex Chilton compilation, “Free Again: The "1970" Sessions”, these two releases provide a look back into the evolution of Big Star. Featuring 6 previously unissued tracks, the package also contains photos and liners from Grammy®-nominated writer (and set producer) Alec Palao, as well as quotes from Bell's bandmates (Jody Stephens, Terry Manning, Tom Eubanks, Steve Rhea) and collaborators (Alan Palmore, Ardent Studio's John Fry), telling the story of how this true talent came to be, who he was, and what he means to us all. A talent we continue to celebrate to this day. “Bell appears throughout these tracks as a trusted collaborator and guiding force. Only two of the cuts are credited solely to him, while he shares composition duties on another seven. He sings lead vocals on only four of the tracks and doesn’t even appear on ‘The Wind Will Cry for Me’. It is his defining guitar work and support vocals that form the most consistent thread throughout the collection and point the way to what will become the Big Star sound. In the group of musicians hanging around Ardent, he found a collection of kindred spirits, fellow pop-rebels who looked to England for inspiration while finding themselves growing up at ground-zero of Southern soul. They found joy not in grooving smoothly but rather lurching spastically. The influence of the British mod and psychedelic music flows through these cuts in a way that distinguishes them from the sounds that he would develop with Chilton in Big Star, but the twisted pop sheen is already forming. Palmore’s ‘Feeling High’ shows a clear Beatles influence, Bell’s own ‘Psychedelic Stuff’ evokes the Pretty Things, and ‘A Chance to Live’ could be a lost track by the Move. His singing on the version of ‘My Life Is Right’ first recorded with Rock City sounds more confident here than on the version he recorded with Big Star. And the guitar tone on ‘Think It’s Time to Say Goodbye’ evokes ‘In the Street’ from ‘#1 Record’. His collaborators demonstrate themselves a talented bunch. There was something in the water or amidst the smoke floating in the air at Ardent Studios during the decade’s turn into the ‘70s. Eubanks, in particular, proves himself a versatile vocalist equally comfortable with a hard rocker’s rasp or a lazy psychedelic croon. Manning’s keyboards and synthesizers color the songs in a way that differentiates them from Big Star, offering more psychedelic flourishes, as in the backward masking on Bell’s ‘Looking Forward’ or the pseudo-mandolin in ‘The Wind Will Cry For Me’, and his ‘Sunday Organ’ is a standout instrumental contribution.” – PopMatters.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Many Happy Returns Price: $8.00 Artist: Cliff Hillis Description: A brand new 6-song EP from Cliff of all new originals including co-writes with Dan Bern, Bill DeMain, and Robbie Rist! “Truth be told, Cliff Hillis just keeps continuing to impress me every time he comes out with new music. A Beatle fan himself, you can easily hear the influence the Fab Four has had on him, especially in the title track.” – Beatle-Freak.com “He’s one of the finest contemporary American songwriters who consistantly delivers what we’ve all come to expect from him: richly detailed slices of life and love set amid instantly compelling hooks and instrumentation.” – PopThatGoesCrunch.com “Death, taxes, and a wonderfully melodic new release from Cliff Hillis are life's three certainties. After his last full-length a few years back he has been going the EP route, with ‘Many Happy Returns’ marking his third straight which is just fine by me, getting 5-6 new tracks every year rather than waiting 2-3 years for 10-12. The highlights this time are the straight-ahead power pop of ‘Time an Evangelist’, the whimsical title track which could have come off a Seth Swirsky/Red Button album, and ‘With All the World’, a fine midtempo number that sounds like music made by a real adult. But really, all six tracks are great; even the one titled ‘Superfluous’ is anything but.” – AbsolutePowerPop.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Scenery For Dreamers Price: $16.00 Artist: Daniel Wylie's Cosmic Rough Riders Description: WOW!! Brand new release from Daniel, who is quick to proudly point out that this one’s got a Crazy Horse vibe to it – and that ain’t far from the truth folks! Daniel provides some further insight regarding what he was listening to/influenced by when writing/recording the new record – “early R.E.M. the Turtles pop...and just trying to keep the quality control high as I always do...keeping it ultra melodic and reversing the ‘older band gets blander’ thing that usually happens...by cranking up the guitars and adding an edge to the music.” You’ve succeeded Daniel! Lending him a helping hand on the record are Neil Sturgeon (ex-Goldenhour) on electric and acoustic guitars on all songs, and mandolin on "(Won't You) Just Smile." Johnny Smillie (of Thrum) co-produced the record with Daniel and plays guitar on "Cold Alaska", "Full Moon On the River", "Jingle Jangle Morning", "Lucky Find" and "Rope (Everybody Lies)." He also contributed the string arrangements on "A Gravestone Without A Name" and "(Won't You) Just Smile.” Stuart Kidd (BMX Bandits/Dr. Cosmos Tape Lab/The Wellgreen) is on drums and Percussion. Steph McKellar –is on bass. Jim McCulloch(Soup Drangonms/BMX Bandits) contributes additional electric guitars on "Rope (Everybody Lies)", "Full Moon On The River" and "I Hear You Call My Name." GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Crybaby Price: $12.00 Artist: Danny de la Matyr Description: Long-awaited first solo album from Danny De La Matyr, former member of The Days and The Sheers that will immediately appeal to anyone who loves The Byrds and The Beatles (and who doesn’t?). “You can be forgiven if Danny de la Matyr's name doesn't sound familiar, but if you're a long-time reader of this site you might recall his band called The Sheers, who put out the fine ‘Goodbye World’ back in 2006/2007. We haven't heard much from him since, although he's worked with Rhett Miller, Jesse Malin and more recently Luther Russell, both solo and with Those Pretty Wrongs, Russell's project with Big Star's Jody Stephens. During all that time he was putting together his solo debut, and it was worth the time. After a couple of lovely, Elliott Smith-style tracks to open the album, things perk up with the slinky melody and staccato guitars of the title track, the power balladry of ‘How Can it Be?’ and the chiming power pop of ‘Lines’. Other standouts include the Beatle-esque Skeleton Key’, the rocking ‘Misfire’, and the anthemic piano pop of ‘Fade to Grey’. A solid disc from start to finish.” – AbsolutePowerPop.com Agreed! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none