Be The Now Price: $12.00 Artist: Cliff Hillis Description: Throughout his career, Cliff Hillis has been consistently delivering top-notch, high-quality levels of songwriting and releases! That streak continues with his latest outing – “Be The Now”. As always, his music evokes the sunny pop of the 70’s. Never shy about teaming up with other songwriters, “Be The Now” includes songs he’s co-written with Kelley Ryan, Dan Bern, Aaron Lee Tasjan, his wife Beth Lennon and Bill DeMain (Swan Dive). When he’s not recording albums for himself and others in his studio, Cliff also tours with artists like Patty Smyth (Scandal) and The Orchestra, a group that features former member of Electric Light Orchestra. “I LOVE ‘Good Morning and Good Night’! Cliff and song co-writer Kelley Ryan sound terrific together – And what a great song.” – Don Dixon “You know who’s really good? Cliff Hillis.” – Rhett Miller (Old 97’s) “Cliff Hillis keeps releasing EPs. Cliff’s EPs are always very, very good.” - John Borack “He is one of the finest contemporary American songwriters. His releases are everything we have come to expect from him: richly detailed slices of life and love set amid instantly compelling hooks and instrumentation. ” – Pop That Goes Crunch! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Patterns Price: $15.00 Artist: Dungeon of Skeletons Description: Dungeon of Skeletons is an Alternative Power pop band from Murfreesboro, TN just a stone’s throw away from Nashville. Singer/songwriter, Justin Kline, leads the crew with his McCartney-esque melodies and guitar - while family members Audrey, Emily, Connor, and Tyler Kline fill out the rest of their 90’s era grit-meets-60’s influence sunshine sound with electric bass, drums, percussion, synths, and intricate harmonies. “They are superior at mastering 60’s Sunshine Pop. Every song could be a single and the hooks are everywhere, aided by some killer multi harmonies. The Sunshine Pop sounds more California than Nashville, but is beautifully done and Justin Kline's vocal suits the material splendidly. When the band do let loose a little. such as on Daggers, New Wave springs to mind, even Glam Rock and that adds to the variety.” – HearASingle.com “It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from Justin Kline. ‘Triangle/Six Songs’ was a favorite of mine back in 2010, but with a new band, Dungeon of Skeletons he’s constructed a pure power pop classic. Opening with the title track, his theme of renewal comes with an earnest optimism, that leads into the masterful ‘Turn The Key’ with its catchy melody and infectious sing-along harmonies. His approach reminds me of fellow Tennessean Wyatt Funderburk, but with more of an alternative rock edge. Every single track here follows the joyous lead from the densely packed ‘Gonna Be Alright,’ to the bouncy retro Carpenters feel of ‘Doom & Gloom.’ Even when they break out with a different approach, like ‘Daggers’ it’s all irresistible and loaded with hooks. Influences here are from sunshine pop to alternative to glam. On my top ten list for sure, and super highly recommended.” – Powerpopaholic.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Floral Portrait Price: $13.00 Artist: Floral Portrait Description: WOW!! Floral Portrait is a pop project of Jason Bronson and collaborator Jacob Chisenhall. Also enlisted are multi-instrumentalist Freeman Leverett along with a cast of orchestral musicians and friends. For over a decade now, much of independent and experimental pop has been sequestered to the safety and seclusion of a bedroom, with hushed vocals and reverb-laden instrumentation forming a protective cocoon around the often times solo songwriter. Floral Portrait is definitely not that. Born from the creative energies of Jason Bronson, Floral Portrait is a highly collaborative, maximalist recording venture in which friends and former classmates alike utilize a legitimate recording studio to bring his stately compositions to life. Inspired by pop auteurs like The Zombies and The Beach Boys, Jason has crafted ten gorgeous songs like the precociously sweet "Clarissa" and the heart-achingly grandiose "Winter Isolation" that wear their apparent refinement with an inviting, peppy pride. Some of the more obtuse harmonies in songs like "Spectacle in Paisley Park" melodically bring to mind the Brian Wilson-ad-futurism of modern avant pop contemporaries like Palm or Red Sea. "Sunset Stroll" evokes Girls and the masterful impressionism of Chet "JR" White's production precision, toeing the line of homage but keeping things more visionary than simply revivalist. And despite the whimsical and fun nature of the songs, Bronson is dead serious about the craft of his pure pop. More of a composer than anything, he sometimes spends years honing in on the specifics of a song he is creating, ever-learning, testing progressions, analyzing works of the past, and totally restarting to craft a product he finds satisfying enough for himself and listeners alike. “A gorgeous opus of grandiose orchestral pop. There are an array of influences and touchpoints on the record from early Bee Gees to Burt Bacharach, Harry Nilsson to The Wondermints and High Llamas, even the theatrical Britpop of Pulp and The Divine Comedy, but most obviously ‘60s psych pop, at its essence a meld of Zombies melodies and Beach Boys instrumentation, although even that might be selling short the ambition and grandness at work here — just like Brian Wilson, inspired by Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound, added and multiplied new concepts, sounds, and layers to that existing template, Bronson takes his Wilson inspirations and runs with them.” – Deadbeatclub.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Fringe Benefit Price: $14.00 Artist: Fringe Benefit Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! When you think of Capricorn Records, what type of music comes to mind? Southern Rock, right - Allman Brothers, Sea Level, Marshall Tucker Band et al? When label head Phil Walden handed the reins over to label co-founder Frank Fenter from the UK (he helped launch the legendary Fleur de Lys career there) to run the label, things changed a bit. In 1976, a record by British poppers Easy Street was released (they later released a second record on the label and both are well worth seeking out), followed in 1977 by another band of Brit poppers – Fringe Benefit! Both band’s releases were licensed from Polydor Records in the UK. The Fringe Benefit LP could eventually be found in every cut-out bin around the US. We remember seeing the record, but never heard or read anything about the band to risk picking it up. Flash forward to 2022, and thanks to a phone conversation with IPO’s David Bash who suggested Kool Kat consider re-issuing the LP on CD. And are we sure glad he did! “I first heard the very catchy ‘All In Vain’ while recording Hot Chocolate at Morgan Studios. By the first eight bars, I thought it deserved to be a big hit.” – Mickie Most “Lovely music John. Will you write one for me?” - Viv Stanshall/Bonzo Dog Band “Fringe Benefit were a groundbreaking band! Combine Joe John Jones’ ‘Rod Stewart with a velvet glove’ vocals with some beautifully intelligent, soft quirky melodies, and you get one of the best heretofore criminally forgotten records of the 70’s! Highlights include the single ‘Darling’, the ‘could have been the ‘Love American Style’-theme, ‘Wanna Be With You’, a wonderful, uptempo version of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Suzanne’, and the gorgeous ‘Let A Light Shine’. You don’t want to miss this one!” – David Bash/IPO The Kool Kat edition features four previously unreleased, original bonus tracks, which were all recorded by the band around the same time as the original LP. Kool Kat Musik – preserving pop’s forgotten past one release at a time! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

When Does Rock 'n' Roll Start To Get Sad? Price: $11.00 Artist: Karma Gambit Description: Karma Gambit is a power pop band based out of Asbury Park, NJ. Drawing inspiration from bands like Fountains of Wayne, Weezer, and Oasis, the foursome pins sharp character studies and wry humor against big guitars, immediate hooks, and layered harmonies. Originally a solo project for singer/guitarist Jack Linden, the first Karma Gambit album “This is Probably a Mistake, but…” was released in 2018. After playing around the local circuit the band became inactive until late 2020 when Linden recruited his brother Jeff (lead guitar), Chris Dubrow (bass), and Dan O’Connor (drums) to begin work on another record. “When Does Rock ’n’ Roll Start to Get Sad?” is Karma Gambit’s first release on Mint 400 Records, a stylistically varied collection of songs united by a commitment to a clever rhyme and catchy chorus. “This is what I imagine a teenage Chris Collingwood would sound like if he was starting Fountains Of Wayne in 2022” – Blood Makes Noise “A forceful forging of signature Jack Linden folk-rock with blasts of Beatlesque/Bowie-like power-pop.” – New Jersey Stage “The first four songs on ‘When Does Rock ‘n’ Roll Start to Get Sad?’ are pop-rock perfection. Each one is as catchy and well-crafted as the one before it, with roots dug deep in the early 00’s. Opener ‘Aphrodite’ immediately sucks you in with an undeniable energy that doesn’t let up for tracks two and three. These are almost guaranteed to be live favorites, with lines like ‘You want your life to be more like what is on your screens…’ tailor-made for hollering right back at the band from the crowd. Even ‘Last Night I Dreamed,’ a somewhat softer output, manages to keep up the momentum thanks to another strong chorus and clever lyricism. It’s their knack for storytelling – along with their expertly crafted hooks – that is their other strength. Sure, the album never quite gets back to the apex that kicks it off, but there’s no denying the expert songwriting present throughout. ‘I’m In Love with The Sun’ may not rock as hard as ‘Aphrodite’ but its chorus is an absolute earworm that you’ll not soon forget. Karma Gambit have gift-wrapped an infectious record. I’m not sure how to answer the question they pose in the album’s title, but if it’s any consolation, Karma Gambit will most certainly put a smile on your face with this one.” – TheRodeoMag.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Now In 3-D Price: $14.00 Artist: Panthervision Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! Bonnie Veronica (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Kirk Larsen (lead guitar, backing vocals) led the power pop/garage band Beyond Veronica for fifteen years, mostly in Portland, OR after they originally formed in Sacramento, CA. After a break, they started writing songs that were more aggressive but still melodic. Ben Asher (drums) had already been asking Kirk about future plans. Ty Gerhardt (bass) was recommended by mutual friends from the Sacramento days. Panthervision debuted in 2019 and soon played the International Pop Overthrow festival and the final show of Portland's long-running “Nuggets Night” festival. Their initial concept was The Muffs meets Sweet, but The Yardbirds are in there somewhere, and some pre-“Walk Like An Egyptian” Bangles…and most of all, their own style and enthusiasm. Their debut album, “Now in 3-D”, was recorded at their own studio and is a collection of twelve high-energy melodic guitar-driven rockers. “Veronica’s vocals and stage presence are electrifying and Larsen’s searing guitar solos cut through any nonsense to simply light the listener up. Gerhardt’s rock solid bass groove coupled with hammering drumming locks it in the pocket to create a strong, solid foundation allowing the guitar solos and vocals to soar. The result is a sound that locks in with every rhythm, beat and tone.” - powmagazine.org “Panthervision definitely carries on that power pop tradition that started with Beyond Veronica, and is tres cool!” - David Bash/IPO Includes a very cool cover of Arthur Lee/Love’s “Can’t Explain”! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Alter Ego Price: $14.00 Artist: Paul McCann Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! “Alter Ego” is the brand new album (and Kool Kat label debut) from Irish songwriter and musician Paul McCann. It’s the followup to his critically acclaimed debut album “Here Comes the Rapture” from 2018. For this album , Paul took a very different approach to both the writing and the recording processes. Lyrically, Paul chronicled his grief, following the sudden death of his father in late 2018. The themes of the songs include love, reflection, confusion, anger and the whirlwind of emotions experienced by McCann during this time. Where previously he had played most of the instrumentation himself, the recording process for “Alter Ego” is somewhat different and features guest appearances from several high-profile musicians including Jason Falkner (St. Vincent, Beck, Paul McCartney), Roger Joseph Manning Jr (Beck, Jellyfish, Air), Charlotte Hatherley (Ash, Bat for Lashes), Gary Lucas (Jeff Buckley, Captain Beefheart), Sylvie Lewis and many others. Regarding these collaborations, he states "It really was a dream to work with a lot of these musicians. I had shared my first album with a lot of them who I’d been listening to for many years. The only positive thing that came out of COVID was that lockdown allowed me the opportunity to collaborate with them". Also featured on the record are Paul’s close friends and regular collaborators Majella O’Reilly, Brendan Scott and Tony Smith, as well as his two daughters Lily and Cassie. “Paul McCann is the most celebrated power pop artist you’ve barely heard of. ‘Alter Ego’ is an enticing hodge-podge of high-end melodic, pop/rock ridiculously infections from end to end. Whether it's swooning, multi harmony ballads, such as ‘All’s Fair In Love And War’ (featuring Manning), or full-on glammy assaults like ‘Call Of The Dogs’, McCann nails it all the way through. A definite highlight is the catchy, ‘Something Has Changed’ which sounds like a lost Jason Falkner pop classic - think ‘Holiday’ - even though he's not on it. He does appear on the sublime ‘Lost In This Moment’, however. Stunning!” – Shindig! Magazine GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Chants Of A Lifetime Price: $14.00 Artist: Stephen Lawrenson Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! After nearly 10 years from the release of his last highly praised record “Obscuriosity” (also released on Kool Kat) comes “Chants Of A Lifetime”, Stephen Lawrenson’s fourth full-length release. The record was written and recorded between 2016 and 2022 during periodic bouts of writer’s block, limited time, the death of his father, a handful of other things and of course…the pandemic! The 10 songs on “Chants Of A Lifetime” unwittingly follow a loose thread conceptually, as pointed out by executive producer Bradley R. Jones, a longtime friend and band mate. Stephen adds “In the end, the thread is about the prevalence of music throughout our lives and its always-redemptive affects. Whether it’s a good song, album or show, somehow music continually has an uplifting quality. And, most certainly when you’re able to create your own in some way”. He’s joined by guest musicians Rybo Lewan from NYC’s Twin Strike on lead guitar for “Really Good” and Rob Perez from NY/PA band, Beard of Bees on lead guitar on “Blue Room”. "What do you think would happen if you threw The Goldbergs, The Beatles, Three Hour Tour, Teenage Fanclub (in their fuzzy period), Big Star, The Posies (circa 'Frosting On The Beater'), 'Pet Sounds' period Brian Wilson, and the Electric Light Orchestra into a giant pop blender? You'd get Stephen Lawrenson, that's what!" - Max Humphries “Lawrenson’s music is intelligent, well written, and completely catchy. Power pop, with loads of great hooks, melodies and harmonies. A masterful melange of 60's, 70's, and 80's guitar rock mixed and matched with no concern for the namecheck. That's how good this is” - MR Gomez “The arrangements are meticulously constructed, and the hooks are imaginative and unique. Strands of Big Star are frequently sensed throughout the proceedings, but Stephen definitely injects his own distinctive personality and perspectives into his fine material. Artistically rewarding and catchy enough to infiltrate the mainstream masses, he makes the kind of albums all serious pop rock musicians aspire to make.” - Beverly Patterson GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Dogs And Cats/Living Together (Special Edition) Price: $14.00 Artist: The Stayawakes Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! In 2022 we introduced The Stayawakes to the pop community via their brilliant “Pop Dreamz” release. “Dogs And Cats/Living Together” was originally a low-key release by the group in 2018, but we found it too great not to remain in obscurity! It’s an upbeat album full of harmonious melodies and punchy riffs. From start to finish, the sweet vocals of lead singer Andrew Ricks bring the poetic and heartfelt lyrics to life. The catchy stylings of Peter Foulk on guitar, Steven Hart on drums, Jimmy Cooper on bass, and David Pryce on synth compliment Ricks’ flawless delivery of the bands signature sound. “They have perfected a delicately sweet blend of Replacements-esque grit and Lemonheads pop-fueled wanderlust that will make your heart swell. Successfully hooky and nostalgic for the early 00’s indie kids, the album is peppered with guitar solos (understated guitar/keyboard harmony solo in ‘Jake’ is glorious, as is the highly-textured freakout/fallout towards the end of ‘High School Weirdness’ and constant noodling in ‘Sophie’) but the real star of the album is the sheer craft of the pop songs and the serious dedication to the church of the pop album.” – Crash Doubt “Stuffed from start to finish with sun-kissed vocal melodies and shimmering guitar tones, ‘Dogs and Cats/Living Together’ is the epitome of the quintessential summer album that finds the band deftly blending 90’s pop rock with a hint of a slacker/college rock vibe, while at the same time incorporating elements of 80’s synth pop and 90’s alt rock. There’s nary a moment of filler thanks to the impeccable consistency and economy of the songwriting displayed throughout. Anyone who likes their melodies sweet and more infectious than the plague in a medieval fish market will certainly get a kick out of this outstanding album!” – UberRock.com The Kool Kat “Special Edition” tacks on 6 additional previously unreleased tracks (including a cover of Guided By Voices’ “Game Of Pricks”), to make a great record even greater! Obscure no more!! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Do It All Next Week Price: $15.00 Artist: Uni Boys Description: The road to creating a classic power pop album isn’t always a straight line. Sprouting from the middle-class suburban wasteland of Aliso Viejo, CA, the journey began in their mid-teens when Noah Nash and Reza Matin discovered punk rock. The two quickly picked up a guitar and bass before enlisting drummer Arthur Fitch to form a no-frills high school trio called Uniform (the band name evolved from there). Early success sent the two songwriters on a six year journey to discover their sound. Punk rock led to explorations of psychedelic music and glam rock before Nash and Matin were lured down a 70’s/80’s YouTube rabbit hole originally inspired by the Beatles, the Beach Boys, the Velvet Underground and Big Star. “Do It All Next Week”, the Uni Boys’ Curation Records debut, follows up two self-released digital LPs "Rock and Roll Music" & "Heavy Hearted". The bands that helped propel the two young songwriters further down the power pop path include Milk ‘N’ Cookies, the Quick and the dB’s. Over time, that list grew to include everybody from Raspberries, Shoes and the Speedies, to Squire, Pointed Sticks and The Scruffs. Deciding to take it up a notch from what it was, they added Michael Cipolletti (bass) to the core trio “That mash up of influences bubbles just under the surface of ‘Do It All Next Week’. The 12-song collection has many die-hard power pop fans buzzing about the band’s timeless songwriting and scrappy rock Nash and Matin split the songwriting duties equally in the band, each singing lead vocals on the tracks they write. In between, listeners are treated to some of the most note-perfect ‘70s/’80s-influenced power pop in recent memory. Standout tracks include the mid-tempo groove and screaming guitars on ‘Downtown,” the sing along choruses and crucial handclaps on ‘One More Night,’ and the jangly New Wave glory of ‘Up To You.’ Side one is a faithful ode to Bomp!-era L.A., while side two veers slightly toward 70’s New York - but it all hangs together under the tattered banner of rock and roll. Whatever you label the 12 songs on this collection, it’s highly recommended for fans of timeless guitar pop driven by hooks and heartache. The road to creating a classic power pop album isn’t always a straight line, but the Uni Boys certainly got there.” - BigTakeover.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none