Astroemeria - A Journey On Earth & Beyond Price: $14.00 Artist: Bhopal's Flowers Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL!! Hindu deities dancing in the sky of the American desert, psychedelic cosmic pop hanging by a thread to the star of the shepherd, the music of Bhopal's Flowers seems to point to an unknown but familiar direction: A world where John Wayne and the Virgin Mary drive a convertible Lincoln, John Fitzgerald Kennedy on the backseat, greeting the crowd of angels. “Astroemeris…” is the second full-length release (and Kool Kat label debut) from Lione Pezzano-led Bhopal’s Flowers. Two years after ‘’Lovesongs & Psychedelic Tones’’, Bhopal’s Flowers presents a new conceptual psychedelic record: ‘’Alstroemeria: A Journey On Earth & Beyond’’. Lionel explains “The record maps a 24 hour cycle, in which each song is linked with a specific time of the day/night, slicing its journey in two distinct parts: a bright and vintage Sunshine Pop on Side 1, facing a deep and modern Moonlight Pop on Side 2. Exploring the deepest mysteries of life and drawing an esoteric vision of the soul’s materialization from upper skies to down bellow, ''Alstroemeria'' tales the cosmic and earthly adventures of the human soul, surrounded by numerous guides, divinities and historical characters: Galilee, the three Magi, Ettore Majorana, Lord Krishna, Archangel Uriel, Nikola Tesla, Zarathustra, Virgin Mary, Adam, Christopher Columbus, Jesus Christ, Paul Dirac, Napoleon Bonaparte, Yahveh, angels Seraph & Metatron, Rudolf Steiner, St John The Evangelist, Charles Darwin and Swami Vivakananda.” “Pezzano’s music combines the free flowing instrumental layers of the past with the crisp finish of today's indie rock present. There is some truly incredible guitar work here and overall a very good taste of instrument and sample selection. While the freedom and love movement is there, it's been hosed off and given a brighter neon glow with carefully placed modern updates. It's not all la la land in these songs; sometimes it can be a little haunting or just downright out there. One of the staples for music like this that I believe to be essential is that the listener is taken on a legitimate journey, and this album nails that. Expert tonal shifts that are so subtle you don't know what's happening until you're neck deep in it are all over these songs.” – DivideandConquerMusic.com So, what about the music? The record oozes shades of 60’s trippy psych/West Coast -influenced sounds with dreamy vocals, liberal sprinklings of 12-string guitars and sitar, singing the gospel life, from its very first sunrays, to its late moonbeams. Includes a cover of Cream’s “I Feel Free”! Very kool!! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Corporation Pop! Price: $15.00 Artist: Emperor Penguin Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! Since early 2020’s “Soak Up The Gravy”, the boys have kept busy, releasing three digital EPs (“Taken For A Ride”, “Palaces and Slums”, and “Barbed Wire and Brass”). Here’s what people said about the EPs: “’Taken For A Ride’ is a timeless mix of rock ‘n’ roll and swirling sounds that remind you of The Beatles circa ‘Sgt Pepper’” - Indie Crush “With their unique dream-pop sound… Emperor Penguin are back and better than ever, proving themselves as one to watch in 2020, continuing to develop their sound by being unafraid to explore new avenues, giving in to psych pop/rock and never failing to deliver addictive earworms.” - New Music Platform “'Taken For A Ride’ offers a bit of ‘Revolver’ flavour on ‘Maserati’ and ‘Hangar 9’ or ‘Rubber Soul’ on ‘Belgravia Affair,’ while ‘Tuesday’s World’, the duet with Lisa Mychols, is a psych pop delight!” - PopRockRecord.com “’Palaces and Slums’ contains hooky, Fountains of Wayne story songs like ‘Stay Out of the Sun’ and ‘Blink.’ There’s the pop lushness of ‘Hell In A Handcart’ and, for contrast, ‘The Way the Cookie Crumbles’ with its ska groove and break-out Squeeze-like chorus.” – PopRockRecord.com "’Barbed Wire and Brass’ is full of slick sounds underwritten with humorous and intelligent lyrics, alongside occasional left field moves as catchy hooks, rooted in post-punk, power pop and psych-infused art-rock abound. The influence of XTC, Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Nick Lowe can be heard throughout." - Shindig! Magazine So, for those of you like us who prefer to live in the physical world, “Corporation Pop!” contains all 12 tracks from the three aforementioned EPs PLUS FOUR MORE NEW SONGS (INCLUDING A SECOND DUET WITH LISA MYCHOLS) FOR A TOTAL OF 16 SONGS! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Better From Here Price: $14.00 Artist: Joe Giddings Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL!! Over two years in the making (not the record, but Joe’s decision to finally release it after remixing and tweaking it) after we first spoke, ”Better From Here” - here comes the cliché – is a power pop gem that truly was worth waiting for! “This is top notch power pop rock from one of the genre’s best exponents over the past two decades. His vocals are enhanced in a wall of sound. Brimming with melodic from start to finish, it’s an outstanding album from not only a major talent, but a real unheralded gem.” – IDontHearASingle.com "Power pop with real power. Well-crafted tunes delivered with panache and drenched in melody, sounding like a less ornate, harder rocking Jellyfish. Meaty guitar licks flying all over the place. A year-end top 10 contender, for sure!" - John Borack “While there’s a Beatles influence evident throughout, it is amazingly diverse. The melding of a variety of pop influences and brilliant, radio friendly production sensibilities make it really shine. Maybe it’s the guitar crunch of ‘Amity Horror’ that’ll grab you, or the spot-on harmonies of ‘Gone So Far’, or the FOW/Cars approach to ‘Tin Foil Crush’ that’ll hook you. Could it be the muscular guitar of ‘Rock and Roll’? For me, it was ‘Irrelevant’, with guitar muscle out front, production and arrangement reminiscent of The Sweet or T-Rex, where everything is boiled down to its most impactful ingredients. It’s all hook, swagger and smarts. Did I mention that he can really, really sing? Every once in a while I hear someone say ‘they just don’t make ‘em like they used to’. Next time you hear that, hand them a copy of ‘Better From Here’!” – Rich Rossi/PowerPopNews.com “Joe tells us right away ‘I don’t want to sing like the Beatles again, but I’m gonna do it anyway’ on the title track. His songwriting skills are in top form, evidenced by ‘Always Raining Somewhere”. His guitar can shred with anyone, as he plays with a post-punk sprightliness and a less overtly British Invasion-inspired melodic sense that's closer to the power pop greats of the 90’s. Fans of Velvet Crush and Fountains of Wayne will enjoy ‘Amity Horror’ and ‘Rock and Roll.’ The high harmonies just burst in on ‘If I Don’t Have Love.’ This is looking to be in my top 10 of 2020!” – Powerpopaholic.com “Joe Giddings’ pop world is a place where fans of Jellyfish and Redd Kross gather in animated huddles to discuss late-era Beatles. It is also a place where the go-to guitarist is Brian May. Lyrically, Giddings tries to eschew thoughts of stardom but simply comes across as self-effacing, he tells us it’s ‘always raining somewhere’ but also why we should still be all smiles. Musically, he is full-throttle but always inventive, he can deliver a heavy crunch when needed but then rounds things off by creating a slow burning, bright full glow.” – John Bottomley/BucketfullofBrains.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Citrus Price: $14.00 Artist: Jon Flynn Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL!! While Jon Flynn’s group Diamond Hands prepare their fourth record that’s due for release later this year, “Citrus”, John’s solo debut, has arrived (Joel Wall, Jon’s bandmate, also has a solo outing coming soon on Kool Kat)! By 2019 Jon had amassed enough material for a solo album and in November of that year began recording “Citrus”. Working with longtime collaborator Jake Smith, the pair recorded basic rhythm tracks for half the album the first day in the studio. Jon would spend the next six months finishing the LP mostly from his bedroom. The album was written, recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Jon. While Diamond Hands records have a decidedly 60’s bent to them, the twelve songs on “Citrus” have an 80’s/90’s laid-back Brit Pop vibe that, despite relatively sparse instrumental backing (keyboards, bass and shimmering guitars), still sounds remarkably lush. At times T. Rex-like (in Marc B.’s more tender moments – complete with Howard Kaylan/Mark Volman-like backing vocals), at the same time it reminds us of some of Brendon Benson’s solo outings. Not bad company to be in! “Flynn flaunts his love of Brit Pop from the first notes of opener ‘Somewhere To Run’ on a record that, without a doubt, is chock-full of potential radio-friendly songs. What separates his work as one half of Diamond Hands is that ‘Citrus’ presents the opportunity to allow him to stretch his figurative legs to create a record that reflects his own musical personality while remaining true to his pop-leaning tendencies. It's these kinds of memorable tunes that make the record another step in the right direction for Jon, not to mention another classic example of rock ‘n’ roll mixing with the best kind of pop sensibilities!” – Max Humphries GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Better Days Price: $13.00 Artist: Rick Hromadka Description: The solo album Rick Hromadka (Double Naught Spies/Maple Mars/Ruby Free) has been toiling with for well over a year has been done since before the pandemic, but there was no way he was gonna release it while the world stopped turning. But…Rick states “I finally realized that waiting for the world to get better is like chasing your tail. So here's to ‘Better Days’! Unlike my last solo record, which was very ‘solo’, this time 'round I wanted to include a bunch of my musical friends, many of whom I've admired for years and finally got up the nerve to ask to play on this record. I can't tell you how unbelievable it was to work with so many talents. Receiving recorded tracks from these people was like opening gifts at Christmas!” "Hromadka and a batch of his musical pals have created an album that is one of the best power pop releases in memory, a surging and artful effort that is bolstered by excellent song craft, experimental flourishes aplenty and nuanced musicianship. It’s the perfect find for those in search of music that is melodic, memorable and expertly crafted. "- Robert Kinsler/Rock 'n Roll Truth "A top-flight collection of wonderfully-realized pop ‘n’ roll songs!" - Alan Haber/Pure Pop Radio "A powerhouse of an album!" - Pseu Braun/WFMU “This is one of the best albums of Rick's career. It’s up there with the magnificent 2010 Maple Mars album, ‘Galaxyland’. Yes, that good.” - Mike Lidskin/Woody Radio GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

What A Rip Price: $12.00 Artist: Ryan Allen Description: Forgoing his “Extra Arms” this time around, “What A Rip” is a brand new “solo” record from popper Ryan Allen who’s known for writing crunchy rock songs in the vein of Superchunk, Sugar and Teenage Fanclub. “With ‘What A Rip’, Allen gives us a 2020-themed record that doesn't try too hard to be a 2020-themed record. Like so many other musicians and artists, he made the best of a bad situation last year and used his pandemic downtime to focus on creative pursuits. While not super-intentionally a concept album, it clearly explores ideas that were running through his mind as the year progressed. In terms of musical inspirations, the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, and The Who are all over this record. And seriously: if you're gonna steal from other bands, those are the ones to steal from! The record brings together various elements of that classic mid-to-late '60s era of popular music - from garage rock to melodic guitar pop to psychedelic rock to baroque pop to early glam rock. While it's fun to joke about who he might be ripping off from track to track, he does a wonderful job of stealing creatively. And isn't that what all of the best rock and roll of the last 40 years has basically done? ‘On My Mind’ sounds like what would happen if ‘Paperback Writer’ and ‘Last Train To Clarksville’ made a baby. ‘Look In My Eyes’ is probably meant to bring to mind The Nazz's ‘Open My Eyes’, yet it's not a straight rip. ‘Already Gone’ steals a riff from T. Rex that was already stolen from Howlin' Wolf and incorporates it into a very Ryan Allen sounding song. While very obvious in its inspirations, the material on this album is well-crafted and consistently strong. In my book, songs like the simple, sweet ‘Glad That I Have You’ and the gorgeous, Lennon-esque ballad ‘Only Son’ are two of the all-time high points in his songbook. Featuring an appealing mix of rockers, pop songs, and wonderful ballads, ‘What A Rip’ is the sort of great all-around rock record that you just don't hear often enough these days. It doesn't try to be profound or deeply insightful. It merely tells the tale of one man trying to navigate his way through a year full of hardships, gloom, and chaos. This is an album about loss and uncertainty and despair - but also an album full of hope and gratitude for the loved ones who make this life so worthwhile.” – FasterandLouder.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Songs From Another Life Price: $14.00 Artist: The Boys With The Perpetual Nervousness Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL! TBWTPN are an atypical music group on the frontiers between indie pop, jangle pop and power pop. “Songs From Another Life”, their second effort was initially going to be a Bobo Integrel Records vinyl-only release – but that was until the Kool Kat mafia stepped in and made an offer Madrid’s Gonzalo Marcos (El Palacio de Linares), and Edinburgh’s Andrew Taylor (Dropkick) couldn’t refuse to make a CD available on Kool Kat! Here, the boys open the range of influences, more American, more exuberant and present a powerful sound with arrangements that make us dream of better days. In addition to Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Byrds, there are sonic references to Fountains Of Wayne, Matthew Sweet, Weezer, R.E.M., The Lemonheads, The Beach Boys and there are even distorted breaks à la Dinosaur Jr. or Sugar. Recorded separately, in two parts, applying social distance before it was an obligation. These songs so beautiful, so bright, so stimulating, this gorgeous guitar and harmony-filled music of heavenly guitars, can only come from another life, from a life that might never return. “You could line up a whole host of driven, melodic, harmonious power-pop bands, blindfold yourself and stick a pin in one of them and the chances are that the very best of the chosen p(r)icked act, will sound much like this. Following precisely on from the sheer and absolute jangled beauty seen in 2019’s ‘Dead Calm’ album and dares to tread just that little bit further into the more gregarious, dynamic power-pop territory that is frequented by the most well known of today’s power-pop acts…and even has the temerity to do it better. As ‘Waking Up In Sunshine’, ‘How I Really Feel’ and ‘I Don’t Mind’ slide over the edge of ‘just genuine pretty’, by increasing the tempo and adding a subtle sense of ‘more’. More noise, more tempo, more percussion, just more. When the tempo decreases and the harmonies usurp dynamism, we see the band return to the sheer laconic grace of their debut, with ‘Can’t You See’, ‘Falling Through’, ‘Lethargy’ and ‘In Between’, providing the perfect vehicle for Taylor’s voice to smoothly reverse into. Never hurried, never wavering, without the quirky inflections that much musical modernity insists upon in their frontmen, Taylor’s is possibly the most perfect voice in jangle/power-pop at present (sorry Teenage Fanclub fans!). A genuinely stunning album…as if there was ever any doubt it would be!!?” – JanglePophub.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

BANG!: The Best Of The Sails 2006 to 2020 Price: $14.00 Artist: The Sails Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL!! As The Sails (all the work of multi-instrumentalist/producer Michael Gagliano) prepare a brand new full-length in the not-too-distant future, we though it a good time to introduce/re-introduce the music of The Sails to power pop fans everywhere. For any newcomers The Sails, from the outskirts of London, deliver intensely rich power pop. It's an all-original blend of groovy 60’s influences with a uniquely modern edge. Highly active with The Sails from 2006 to 2010, Michael has spent the past decade touring worldwide as a performing member of the “Let It Be” musical theater production, playing in many of the same theatres as The Beatles themselves, growing his profile for The Sails in the process. The digital-only releases of "One Hot Mess" in 2019 and "Dr. Michael's Medicine Bag" in early 2020 demonstrated a new wave of original creativity. With pandemic-forced temporary stop of live shows, Michael has doubled-down on writing and releasing new singles, igniting a spark of renewed interest in the UK. This new activity has led to a demand for past releases that have been hard to find anywhere. This includes the critically acclaimed eponymous Rainbow Quartz Records debut from 2006, 2007's "Drum Roll Please" which was available as an import from Japan, and 2010's "A Headful of Stars" on Rainbow Quartz. A major highlight from this time is "I’m Only Bleeding” ranked the #1 “Coolest Song of The Year” on Little Steven’s influential “Underground Garage” for 2010, and “Liar” ranking #2 in 2011 - both are included here. The CD delivers the best fifteen songs from The Sails to date, including selections from the three aforementioned releases along with previously download-only tracks “The Slow Down”, “Lovebonds”, “Sitting In The Corners” and the title track making their C D debut. With a wide range of influences within the genre of power pop, it includes harmonies that channel the Everly Brothers. Fans of Small Faces will appreciate the intensity of “In My Head.” You’ll be forgiven for thinking “Best Day” is an unreleased single from the vaults of Neil Diamond! Elements of The Beatles (of course), Oasis, The Who, The Jam, and other classic influences come together for a distinctly fresh sound that is simultaneously familiar yet modern. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Teenage Tragedies 1974-1979 Price: $15.00 Artist: The Scruffs Description: Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, The Scruffs are best known for their classic power pop LP “Wanna Meet The Scruffs?” issued in 1977 on Power Play Records. Although Robert Christgau, rock critic in Village Voice wrote “A middle-period Beatles extrapolation in the manner of Big Star, it bursts with off harmonies, left hooks, and jolts of random energy Only a sucker for R’n’R could love this record, and I am that sucker”, they received only local airplay and little more. The Scruffs started to record a follow-up album with John Fry at Ardent Studios, supposedly entitled “Teenage Gurls”. In 1978, due to interest from Warner Bros in New York City, the band moved to The Big Apple, playing at CBGB and Max's Kansas City. Same old story, they didn’t land any major label deal out there. One year later, leader Stephen Burns returned to Memphis to finish the recordings which survived for years in his archives. They eventually resurfaced only on CD, in 1998 on Burns' private label Northern Heights and in 2003 on Rev’Ola. Die-hard popsters regard some of these songs as their strongest material with the best ones being compiled here. In 1974, the same year of Big Star’s “Radio City” LP release and Chris Bell solo recording sessions, producer Jim Dickinson heard the Scruffs’ early stages and their pre-”Wanna Meet...” material and expected the band to be the next big thing. Only heard on CD on Northern Heights in 1998, the best tracks from this stunning collection, recorded in the same Shoe Studio where Chris Bell immortalized the track “I Am The Cosmos” basically at the same time, are compiled here as well. “The late great Alex Chilton once put "Break The Ice" and "Bedtime Stories" on a compilation tape for me. What a great introduction to The Scruffs.” - Francis Macdonald/Teenage Fanclub “Some tracks may sound like Chris Bell outtakes except they were probably recorded before or at the same time” - Stephen Burns “Are The Scruffs over the top? At times. Heartbroken? I think so. Cool? Ooh yeah.” - Judith Beerman/Back Of A Car Magazine GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Handful Of Hits Price: $14.00 Artist: Tommy Ray Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL!! Tommy Ray came into his own between 2011 and 2018 as the primary songwriter and front man for power-pop heroes The CRY! With the band on indefinite hiatus, he released “First Hits Free” (his 2020 Kool Kat label debut) and now, with the band STILL on hiatus, “Handful of Hits”! The record continues his flair for merging 50's melodies, the jangle of 60's pop hooks, 70's glam-rock, and honest gritty street-level lyrics. Think a poppier Replacements, Tommy Stinson/Bash & Pop and you’re on the right track! Tommy’s influences? If you don’t already know, here’s the 411 right from him “Ramones. Exploding Hearts. Ramones. Paul Collins. Ramones. Beach Boys – (get the idea?)! I really like a 3 minute pop song that moves. You know, ‘Don’t bore us. Get to the chorus.’ I’ve been playing tons of music and busking in downtown Portland during the recent protests. Where there are people, I will play music. I play mostly standards from the past 50 years. Never gets old. It’s my favorite thing to do. My dad plays a little guitar and slams through the old hits like a savage for hours. I learned from him…” “He’s back again with 11 new powerpop hits. “In Love Again” opens on a melancholic teenage note before hand claps and Jerry Lee Lewis piano take over in the catchy “No No No”. Third song “On My Wall” slow things down and brings a romantic touch to the album before it quickly fades and let “One Step Closer” brings more sun and fun while “Closer/School Daze” keeps us pogoing and partying (“I don’t care what they say, every day is saturday!”) with its ’77 punk chorus. The Johnny Thunders influence can especially be heard in “Beer, Wine & Whisky” while “Feel The Pain” will take you to the 60s and “Loser’s Anthem” and its slight new wave touch will make you dance for less than 3 minutes. “If You Need Anything” and “Runnin'” will probably bring The CRY to your mind if you were into them, check them out if you haven’t yet! The last song “I Didn’t Do It” has a bit of this early Hanoï Rocks thing to it that will leave you wanting more.” – Veglam.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none