Idle Chatter Price: $14.00 Artist: Brian Jay Cline Description: NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! Brian Jay Cline went from a guy who was gonna “hang it up” 18 or so months ago, to a guy who’s released three records during that time! “Idle Chatter”, the third, marks his Kool Kat label debut. How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? At last count, it was an average of 364. Luckily, here it's only 12 and we’re supplying you more than your minimum daily sweet roots-pop requirement on his newest offering. How many albums of high quality, rootsy power pop does it take Brian Jay Cline to make before he releases what he considers his quintessential masterpiece? Yes, things really can get better with age! Ever the student of the retro sounds that put the likes of Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Marshall Crenshaw and Nick Lowe on the map, Brian has spent the last 17+ years releasing album after album chock full of catchy, well crafted gems. Hot on the heels of his critically acclaimed 2017 releases "Writer's Block" and "Hang Ups", he has once again enlisted LA wunderkind producer Fernando Perdomo to fully realize his vision of the perfect power pop platter. With songs like "Would You Stay?", "Rock Steady" and "Last of The Great Atomic Heartbreakers" adhering to his fail-safe formula for high octaine, toe tapping bliss, songs such as "Sic Transit Gloria" and the Perdomo-penned "Half Dead" find him taking stylistic risks that all seem to blend perfectly into the records colorful, sonic tapestry. “If artists like Marshall Crenshaw, Walter Clevenger, Bill Lloyd and The Melroys are your bag, you'll wonder how you got by without Brian Jay Cline for all these years.”- AbsolutePowerPop.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Limitations of Source Tape Price: $13.00 Artist: Chris Church Description: It’s certainly been a while since we last heard from Mr. Church, but he’s back, and in fine form, on this, his Spyderpop Records debut! As evidenced by his continuing pursuit of individual and group forays into diverse musical territories, Chris is a musician and writer who doesn’t shun any of his varying influences. Here, he make a bold return to his power pop origins with a record that features loud, crunchy guitars and catchy, lilting melodies that yield a natural sonic canvas for his blend of thoughtful lyrics and attention to song-craft. “Veteran North Carolina pop dude Chris Church is back with the impressive, 14-track ‘Limitations of Source Tape’. Not many limitations to be found here, honestly, as the album brims with nicely sung, sharply written tunes that reveal new layers with each successive listen. Church’s vocal doppelganger is Matthew Sweet, although the liveliness of tracks such as ‘Worse Things Happen at Sea’ muster up an energy that Sweet hasn’t displayed in years. Most all of the tunes here are immediately engaging, literate and passionate pop-rock numbers that deftly glide along on cushions of acoustic and electric guitars sitting pretty underneath Church’s urgent vocals. Faves include the sureshot rocker ‘Fall Into Me,’ the sweetly mysterious ‘Pollyanna’s Going Dark,’ the crunchier ‘Something Completely’ (nice interplay between the lead and backing vocals on the chorus here) and ‘Understudy Blues’ (love the distorted freakout guitar solo) and the hypnotically catchy and speedy ‘Bell the Cat,’ which features another nice little guitar solo courtesy of Charlie Shoemake. This record is yet another grand example of highly involved (and evolved) guitar-pop that sadly flies under the radar all too often.” – John Borack/Goldmine Magazine GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Scarlet Fever Price: $14.00 Artist: Green Seagull Description: If you like harmony-laden baroque/freakbeat pop sounds that draws upon influences like The Left Banke, The Kinks, and The Association you're in for a treat. Taking their name from a mis-heard Rolling Stones lyric, Green Seagull are the latest band to burst out of London's burgeoning neo-psych scene. The band formed in 2016 when Paul Nelson (New Electric Ride) approached Paul Milne (Hidden Masters/Magnetic Mind) to work on some songs together. A shared enthusiasm for late-60’s baroque psychedelia and 12-string jangle soon blossomed into a prolific songwriting team, and before long the duo had more songs than they knew what to do with. They were joined shortly after by Sarah Gonputh on keys and Elian Dalmasso on drums, and the newly-minted quartet set about recording a demo in their rehearsal room on an old cassette 4-track. These lo-fi recordings pricked up the ears of Mega Dodo Records, who immediately signed the band for an album deal. “The songs are watered with amazing psych/pop melodies, magical rhythms and incomparable 60’s aesthetics. Green Seagull know how to use their influences perfectly, and sound unique! After all, songs like ‘Remember The Time’, ‘What Happened To The Girls’, ‘They Just Do Not Know’, ‘Scarlet”, ‘Unseen Eyes’, etc are not easy to write today!” –GewGawFanzine.com “’Scarlet’ is a dreamy psych song with trippy organ that has a Pink Floyd ‘Lucifer Sam’ vibe. And ‘They Just Don’t Know’ is a high energy take on The Byrds’ jangling guitar psych recalling ‘I See You’ from ‘Fifth Dimension’. These two refreshing songs alone leave you hungering for more and their album couldn’t have come soon enough!”- Expose.org “I’m hearing some Twice As Much here, some Searchers jangle, but the vocals are straight from the Moody Blues on ‘I Used To Dream In Black and White’. It’s gently gutsy, folky and non-cliched in this day and age’s psych landscape, though I can’t helping think what a production team of Bob Crewe and Herb Bernstein would have done with it. ‘Not Like You’ is well-executed retro garage-psych with the requisite reedy organ.” – Record Collector GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Miles & An Ocean Price: $13.00 Artist: Kyle Vincent Description: The man Goldmine Magazine dubbed the "Crown Prince of Soft Pop" returns with a stunning new album (his 15th!) of original captivating contemporary pop songs drenched in soulful melodies, rich orchestration, heartfelt lyrics, and sparkling vocals reminiscent of the great radio songs of the 60’s and 70’s. If you find yourself going back to the sweet catchy songs of your youth, thinking nobody makes quality songs like that anymore, think again. Kyle Vincent has carved out a multi-decades long career wearing his influences, and his heart, on his musical sleeve, and his latest album will not only satiate his current legion of worldwide fans, but should certainly attract and hook a new audience longing for his style of super melodic, crystal clear produced pop songs. Kyle started out as the lead singer of iconic teen L.A. power-pop foursome, Candy. After Candy, he was signed to several major labels, releasing many high quality albums, enjoying a near-miss hit with the infectious summer of '97 pop ditty, "Wake Me Up (When The World's Worth Waking Up For)", but suffering the fate far too many talented artists do - failure of label support to break through to the masses. Nevertheless, he’s soldiered on, seemingly getting better with age. "Miles & An Ocean" could arguably be his best album to date, well-rounded in a mix of genres, breathtaking vocals, adventurous arrangements, and lyrics crafted by, well, a master craftsman. It features guest appearances by fellow poppers Tommy Dunbar (Rubinoos), Parthenon Huxley, and Lisa Mychols! If this were 1972, any one of these eleven songs could be a hit single, and Kyle Vincent would be a household name. But ironically, in today's auto-tuned over-produced sameness that is pop radio, "Miles & An Ocean" still manages to sound fresher than most. “Shines with soulful melodic arrangements and crystalline production, and features one of pop's finest voices in fine shape. A fresh-sounding throwback and a nod to the classic 3-minute pop songwriting craft of the late 60’s/early 70’s.” – Amazon.com “He proves that he has no intention of abdicating his throne anytime soon, delivering eleven tracks brimming with everything his fans have come to expect from him: smooth, velvety vocals, cushy melodies, and sincere lyrics coming straight from the heart. Vincent’s trademark piano-based numbers dominate the disc. There are also a few ‘power pop lite’ moments that are more than pleasant: ‘Narita (Tokyo Girl)’ and the nostalgic Tommy Dunbar co-write ‘Hillside Daze.’ Another cool thing about this record is the number of aural ‘Easter eggs’ that can be unearthed if the record is experienced with headphones: sounds that aren’t necessarily in the forefront – congas and handclaps here, a little guitar figure or a Beach Boys-like background vocal there – definitely enhance the overall listening experience.” – John Borack/Goldmine Magazine GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Picasso On A Log Price: $6.00 Artist: Magpie Description: BRAND NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! WOW!! Previously a download-only release, this one was just too darn great not to be on CD! Magpie are made up of members of two excellent bands. Andy Morton and Mike Poulson are in Bronco Bullfrog, Paul Tozer and Chris Woodland are from The Bad Detectives. Neither of these bands give you an advance warning of what to expect from Magpie. The Bad Detectives are very much in shake rattle and roll territory and Bronco Bullfrog are one of the better examples of more recent UK Psych Pop. “I'm absolutely loving this EP from this foursome who most certainly have all the melodic chops and hooks. What you get is some classic Summer harmonic pop, very much in the mould of a band like The Legal Matters, but with far more in common with the 60’s. This is like a cross between mid 60's UK Beat and late 60's California Pop and it is a fine listen. ‘She Knows Where I Live’ is Brit Pop at it's best (two and a half decades before the Gallaghers), it has a lot in common with The Move's debut album. ‘Don't Turn Your Back On The Sun’ is all ‘Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying’. ‘Wrote Me A Letter’ is all west coast jangle. ‘Daisy Paints Her Fingers’ is when it gets a bit more Psychy, it reminds me of something that would be on The Orgone Box's debut. A very English social commentary, like ‘Judy Over The Rainbow’. – IDontHearASingle.com High praise indeed! We tried to coax more tracks from them, but this is all there was – shame! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Pack Of Lies Price: $15.00 Artist: Pseudonym Description: BRAND NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! Pseudonym is a band consisting of Paul Desjarlais and other band members who pretty much live in his head. OK, it's a solo project, but Paul finds pretending to be a band more fun than trying to explain the multi-track recording process. Back in Boston a long time ago Paul used to play bass for obscure punk band The Uncalled Four, and later for obscure post-punk-psycho-pop band Haberland. After that Paul turned his attention to recording, and released a cassette album called “Pabz”, and then a CD entitled “Pig Tail World.” After moving west to San Francisco, Pseudonym's “Stupid Star” (2013) and “Revolving Door” (2015) were download-only releases. So was “Pack Of Lies”, until now! “While Paul Dejarlais covers many genres here, (Brit Pop, Psych, Garage, Power Pop) almost half of the tracks on this release are powerful pop, and every track is a gem! One of the best things about Pseudonym is you don’t have to think about whether you like the material or not, you immediately know it is awesome. The material is well produced, has great music, vocals, lyrics and an array of sounds and styles…a welcome change from some kid in his mother’s basement with a new drum machine. Creatively tackling a kaleidoscope of genres and sounds that result in full and rich pop music, and smooth ballads.” – IndieNation.fm “Its a slow build from the first isolated vocal track of ‘I’m Fine’ to the jangling guitar on ‘All The Little Things.’ The combo of fuzz bass and harmonies work great on ‘I Don’t Care About Love,’ plus the easy going melody on ‘Victimless Crime’ is super catchy. Then a trio of slow tempo ballads starting with ‘Don’t Leave Me This Way’ show the isolation of the songwriter, but things go back to rocking mode on ‘Lorraine’ and ‘Round and Round.’ On ‘Foreign Talk’ the beat quickens even more, reminding me of The Cure. Overall an excellent album, and Highly Recommended.” – Powerpopaholic.com “Just want to say how much I'm really diggin’ ‘Pack Of Lies’. It’s really solid mix of mood and texture, and one of the most engaging records I've heard in a long time...seriously! Songs like ‘All The Little Things’ and ‘Lorraine’ are power pop gold, too. Congrats on a truly awesome record! - Jeff Shelton/The Power Pop Show GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Janglewaves + bonus EP Price: $13.00 Artist: Skytone Description: It’s still winter, so what is The Beautiful Music doing releasing the perfect summer album, one that you can play on the beach or blasting with your windows rolled down on the way to the best surfing grounds - the kind of music you need in the winter, to warm your heart and then by the time summer comes, they will be instant classics. This is Skytone’s third album for TBM label, and it just might be their best yet. Skytone are Rodney and Darius Doddridge, brothers with a keen ear for melodies that pack more sunshine and warmth per decibel than you would have thought possible. At times, they’ll remind you of (and are possibly inspired by) bands such as Lloyd Cole, Edwyn Collins, Trash Can Sinatras, Teenage Fanclub, The Cherry Boys, Superstar, Allen Clapp, The Incredible Vickers Brothers as well as Simon & Garfunkel, ELO, XTC, and the Everly Brothers. “They don’t really fit into a neat little package for consumers, but that’s precisely why I love the group. Sure, ‘Jangle Waves’ has the aforementioned jangling, but there are also moments that lean towards swinging croons like in ‘Second Hand Shops.’ They almost adopt a beach vibe with ‘Missing You’ only to move into dreamy pop territory with ‘Lonely Holiday.’ Throughout, you’ll likely find yourself enveloped in warm harmonies reminiscent of the sun you’re trying to avoid outside your window; it’s the power of pure pop at its best!” – AustinTownHall.com “Evoking sun-dappled drives to the lake on a summer day or wine-on-the lawn evening with good friends, and leavened with jangle and hints of ’70s soft rock, this is a welcome addition to the summer playlist. While they do, indeed, pack a lot of jangle in their compositions, dream pop, power pop and a liberal dose of beach pop all live harmoniously, melodically, and pleasingly. Great pop, wonderfully laid back, done with a croon and the jangle is in a 80’s sort of way, although the harmonies are very much mid 70’s Pop Rock. The guitar riffs are very C86, but there’s plenty more thrown into the mix.” - WhenYouMotorAway.blogspot.ca “Another brilliant jangle-pop outfit in the same sort of melodic mold as their label mates The Yellow Melodies and Armstrong” - Janglepophub.com COMES WITH A MIMITED EDITION BONUS REMIX EP WHICH BOASTS SEVERAL VERSIONS OF SONGS FROM THE ALBUM AS RE-IMAGINED BY THE LEGENDARY HOUSE CATS’ JOHN GIRGUS. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Sail Me Home St. Clair Price: $14.00 Artist: The Carousels Description: NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! Previously a 2017 vinyl-only release, this is the CD debut for this Scottish band's second long player. Their debut was highly praised, receiving excellent reviews. With songs that are poignant and beautiful, they are a band of such heart and soul and invoke the spirit of Teenage Fanclub at their most mellow, Gene Clark, Gram Parsons and “Sweetheart Of The Rodeo”-era Byrds. They have built a firm worldwide following with tours of Europe in their back (denim and patchwork) pockets. “Proving that you don’t have to use a lot of studio effects and overload eardrums to be psych, their latest follows their highly praised debut with eleven more upbeat acoustic guitar, slide guitar, and pedal steel guitar laced songs with charming vocal harmonies invoking the Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and The Byrds circa ‘Sweetheart of the Rodeo’. By and large, the album is full of fun psych-folk love ballads - happy time music - some making you want to bob and weave along with the band, even when the song is about breaking up and moving on. In addition to the standard lead, rhythm, and bass guitars, and percussion, the band throw in violin on a couple of songs, plus harmonium, harmonica, banjo, and organ. And along with the love ballads there is the waltz ‘Here in Time’ and the closing track ‘Man Out Of Me’ that finds them getting a bit experimental with reversed loops and processed voices. If you enjoy music that evokes Gene Clark, Gram Parsons, or The Byrds at their country best, this album is for you.” – Expose.org “The moment Josephine opens the album you realize where this music is taking you. If you ever thought what it would sound like if Gene Clark and/or Gram Parsons joined in harmony with the American Beauty/Workingman’s Dead era Grateful Dead, this is the direction The Carousels pursue on this album. And they do it well. Damn well. Take any track here—Silvio or Little Darlin’ for example—you get these great picking guitars, pedal steels and other country rock paraphernalia and some quite gorgeous harmonies that dominate practically every number on the album.” – Beat.Media.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Ready Set A Go-Go Price: $12.00 Artist: Tommy Sistak Description: Tommy’s latest (third) effort strongly adheres to the “don’t fix it if it ain’t broken” philosophy, and closely follows in the tradition of his “Short Songs” and “A Good Hat Indeed”. Contained here are his signature short, sharp, melodic power pop and a good measure of British Invasion Merseybeat with a 60's AM radio vibe that’s always on the money. A total of 28:30 minutes of melodic fun that’s “comfort food” for the pop music-loving part of your brain! “Melodic songs that take a page from music from the 1960's when AM Radio filled the airwaves. Drawing from artists as diverse as The Beatles, The Monkees, Harry Nilsson to Cheap Trick.” – Alan Haber/Pure Pop Radio “Sistak’s syle is most decidedly early Beatles, with its rich Rickenbacker jangle and three-part vocal harmonies that’s all about the short, punchy pop, when mid 60’s pop ruled the radio. This is guilt-free goodness, and Sistak keeps the hits coming.” – Powerpopaholic.com “Amiable, easy-to-digest pop nuggets are informed by the early Beatles and Searchers.” – John Borack/Goldmine Magazine What else can we say? If you don’t get the gist after reading the description and praise, then you don’t know Sistak! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Altered Sweet: A Tribute To Matthew Sweet (2CD) Price: $15.00 Artist: Various Artists Description: WOW! “Futureman Records' Keith Klingensmith knows his way around a tribute album, and 2016's Sloan tribute was one of the best of the genre. So to say this project covering another power pop luminary with a long track record of quality music was widely anticipated in the power pop community is a bit of an understatement, and unsurprisingly he comes through here again. Like the Sloan tribute, ‘Altered Sweet’ has a lineup dominated by artists I've featured on these pages, so the winning tribute formula of "songs you like covered by artists you like" is clearly present here. Futureman has hit another home run here, and I can only look forward to whatever artist Klingensmith turns his attention to next.“ – Absolutepowerpop.com “Matthew Sweet, himself, may have been in indifferent form lately, but here you get an inkling of how strong a songwriter he is. Although not always looked at as power pop, he's a bit noisier at times, these songs naturally lend themselves to the field. Great guitar breaks and he's one of the best chorus writers around. I used to say that the ideal match would be Jason Falkner and Sweet, the former writing the verses, the latter the choruses. You do realise here that Sweet's body of work easily allows 27 songs without any boredom creeping in. There's a lot to be said for a third disc opportunity for the missing songs. There are some surprises in who does what. I expected Greg Pope to launch into something like ‘Come To California’, instead he goes for an inspired version of the understated ‘Not When I Need It’. Likewise, Andy Reed is usually understated, here he rocks into a superb, ‘Where You Get Love’. Then there are the different takes on songs. Simple Friend do a great acoustic jangly ‘Sick Of Myself’, very different to the caustic original. Elvyn's ‘Time Capsule’ is ‘Losing My Religion’-like. Popdudes do a wonderful Country West Coast sounding ‘I Almost Forgot’. There are the female artists who never fail to connect. Lisa Mychols a great bass guitar driven Susanna Hoffs-like, ‘Looking At The Sun’. Gretchen's Wheel cover ‘Walk Out’, showcasing that Lindsay voice which sounds Chrissie McVie-like here. Also here are the more faithful versions. The Well Wishers riff out on ‘All Over My Head’, ditto Nick Bertling on a splendidly noisy, ‘Falling’. My favourite Matthew Sweet song is ‘Someone To Pull The Trigger’ and Chris Richards And The Subtractions offer up a storming cover, an absolute joy. If I could mention everyone I would, these are all artists beloved to IDHAS. I feel guilty for not, but every one of these 27 songs is worth hearing. ‘Altered Sweet’ is a cracking listen. It reminds me of why power pop is so good. It's the quality of the artists, the songs and the pure feel good factor. Here's hoping that people go further and delve into the songs from these artists and discover the joy that I get. Hopefully, people will also discover Matthew Sweet's back catalogue. It isn't just about ‘Girlfriend’. Artists don't always like the power pop tag and outsiders don't get what it is. Concerning the latter, each should be given this album and they will realise what they are missing.” – IDontHearASingle.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none