Look Into It Price: $16.00 Artist: Bill Lloyd Description: “Look Into It” is Bill Lloyd’s first release since 2018’s “Working The Long Game”! “‘Working The Long Game’ was evidence that Bill Lloyd hasn’t lost a thing. In fact, he’s gotten better with time. That brings us to his new one entitled ‘Look Into It’. In Bill’s words’ ‘On this new record I let myself kinda explore…..there’s actually a reggae song on this new record. I love that reggae, trance – what do they call it, rub-a-dub style.’ The track ‘Don’t Watch Me (Watch Yourself)’ is one of several diversions from the norm on the record. ‘Game Show Stars of the 70’s’ is a spoken word recollection of the genre’s TV characters. ‘In The Wind’ is a piece Lloyd wrote with The Cars’ Elliot Easton during covid. ‘Aroma Dollarhead’ can best be described as (using Lloyd’s own words) ‘a Shel Silverstein on acid kinda thing…it’s a big rock sound on it’. Not many excel at hanging clever, memorable lyrical content on truly engaging, sing along melodies. With ‘Keep The Place Clean’, ‘Half Mast’ and “The After Party Party”, he reminds us that he’s one of those few who can. Written years ago with Pete and Maura Kennedy, it’s a song about a stalker who isn’t looking for a victim but rather someone to clean house for him. As for ‘Half Mast’, “That song was written this past spring….I had some time in the hotel room. That’s what that came out of. John Prine had passed at that point. He’s always been a big influence. That was a nod to John’. Highly recommended” - Power Pop News EXCELLENT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Exhibit B Price: $14.00 Artist: Brent Seavers Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! Brent Seavers writes music - music that you can dance to. Or sit very very still to. Or eat to. Basically, Brent writes music for any “everyday” occasion. Did you fall in love in second period, but then fall back out of love by lunchtime? He's got you covered. Metaphorically, anyway. Your clothes probably have you covered literally. On his second solo outing “Exhibit B”, Brent of the Sacramento, CA power pop band The Decibels has once again given us an action-packed hook-driven selection of pop tunes. You'll definitely hear some very Decibels-esque tunes (natch) capturing the same high-energy & and mod-stylings that you've grown accustomed to, but you'll also get a light sprinkling of mod, indie, psych, and garage rock that make it clear why Brent cites The Monkees, The Plimsouls, The Jam, The Primitives, and The Beatles as some of his favorite influences. The album as a whole has a very cohesive sound yet no two tracks sound alike - letting the listener take a fast-paced musical journey through the colorful power pop cosmos on a 1964 VBB, rather than 13 spins around the same block on a rusty roller skate. And impressively, just like with his first solo release “BS Stands For”, everything you hear on "Exhibit B" really is Brent flying solo - playing, singing, and producing every sound you hear. As he states with feigned humility, "If you hear it on the album, it's all my fault." “Brent Seavers channels his own brand of Modish guitar, the pop sensibility of early dB’s, the Mod-era Who with a pinch of The Jam but squeezed through his own filter that give them his own sound.” - Ratboy69 With inspired hooks, catchy harmonies, and a beat that makes you want to get up and do the Watusi, "Exhibit B" is an album worth your time! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Gentlemen Thieves Price: $14.00 Artist: Emperor Penguin Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! “He’s got a reputation as a gentlemen thief, smashing up the kitchen with a rose between his teeth…” Just as following the Julian, as opposed to the Gregorian Calendar might lead to a difference of opinion on when Christmas Day falls (currently two weeks earlier), you may not know or even agree whether what you will shortly be able to hear is the sixth, or the seventh album release from Emperor Penguin ‘Gentlemen Thieves’. With its four members comprising two representatives of the Yorkshire Irish diaspora, a West Country peasant and the distant scion of a Scottish clan Chieftain, they’ve spent the last six years building on their founding mandate to provide the missing link between The Ramones and XTC. Their records and accompanying gigs have cultivated their reputations as musical and lyrical smart-arses and a searing live band. Their newest release on the Kool Kat Musik label finds them casting themselves in the role of Gentlemen Thieves, a literary and folkloric tradition of “bad boys with charm, and a veneer of manners masking their misdeeds” which runs from the legendary posh and thuggish Elizabethan “Cursed Crew” through the Mohocks and Nickers of Georgian London, via the 20th Century tales of Raffles, to the alleged delusions of grandeur of more recent criminal masterminds. Like all their albums, “Gentlemen Thieves” is an event. It’s wrapped in stunning artwork by their in-house designer, crafted with the assistance of producer Jamie McAvoy, studded with twelve new self-penned jewels, and hallmarked with their meticulous attention to detail, great tunes, rock & roll power, mischief, fun and mayhem. “Driving Blind” targets the menace of spliff-addled delivery drivers clogging the streets of the capital, “Pipistrelle” has Wednesday Addams and other weird kids creeping into your subconscious, “Silver Apples” muses on the fickleness of devotion and the poetry of W B Yeats, “Ladybird” rants against the annoying things in life and “Sonnez Les Matines” leads you through a nightmare dreamscape from a Rice Paper Tea House to the bottom of a freezing harbour. Once again, the genteel felons are abetted by their regular accomplice Lisa Mychols, who sings lead on “You Are My Atmosphere” and duets with Nigel "Stiletto" Winfield on “I Wouldn't Put it Like That”. GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

And I, You Price: $12.00 Artist: Jordan Jones Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! Jordan Jones is a Los Angeles raised singer/songwriter, orchestral composer, multi-instrumentalist and walking encyclopedia of abstract and off the beaten path music knowledge. A pop stylist with the melodic chops to rival Brian Wilson, Gilbert O’Sullivan, the swagger and panache of Tom Jones and the graceful tone of some as of yet unidentified species of song bird. His nonchalant and lush pop recordings draw heavily from the popular music of the 60’s–90’s. “And I, You” is his second release on the Kool Kat label, following his acclaimed 2019 self-titled release. “Unlike some artists who prefer to maintain a consistent sound throughout their careers, Jordan Jones is not bound by such constraints. Here, he presents a richly orchestrated pop sound, drawing clear influences from the meticulous songwriting styles of Brian Wilson and Burt Bacharach. He transforms these influences into a contemporary sound, creating a modern album that can be readily likened to the acclaimed works of artists such as Michael Rault or Jonathan Rado.” - Sweet Sweet Music When asked about seeking opinions on his new songs, and if external perspectives contribute to his creative process, he responded - “The only competitive bone in my body comes out when writing music. Mike Collins (Drugdealer) and I lived together through the pandemic and while we were both writing our new records, we would go back and forth sometimes until 6 or 7 A.M. discussing ideas and notes and chords and changes to make each other’s songs come together. When he would bring me his latest idea, it was usually really f*cking good so I couldn’t wait to leave the room or pull his iPhone speaker away from my ear and run to my piano to write something as good if not better. Only his, opinions were and still are important to me.” “Marks a significant transition for Jones. It’s piano driven rather than powered by guitars, leaning more towards easy listening. There’s still a heavy 70’s influence, but draws more from ELO, Hall & Oates, and Todd Rundgren. You have to admire his talent and class, as he’s delivered a highly ambitious record with orchestral arrangements, pretty harmonies and timeless classic songwrting.” - Add To Want List “This is stellar sophisti-pop!” - Chip Saam GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Live At Sala Z Price: $10.00 Artist: Kurt Baker Description: LIMITED EDITION RELEASE! Recorded March 4, 2023 at Sala Z in Zaragaza, Spain, “Live At Zara Z” presents Kurt Baker and ultra-tight band (the lineup includes Kris Rodgers, Geoff Palmer and Wyatt Funderburk) in rip-roaring form as they literally blast their way through a fast-paced set of 13 songs in what seems like a blink of the eye! Track listing: “Send Me To Mars”, “Don’t Steal My Heart Away”, “New Direction”, “Weekend Girls”, “Why You Gotta Lie”, “Over You”, “Wandering Eyes”, “Electric Fire”, “Can’t Wait”, “Qualified”, “Yeah! Yeah!”, Paried Out” and “Don’t Go Falling In Love”! Having seen Kurt live several times, he never fails to deliver, always exuding passion and enthusiasm, and this recording is a perfect example! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Not For Sale 1965-1975 Price: $17.00 Artist: Peach and Lee Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! You demanded it - you got it! Thanks to a persistent, collaborative effort with Tom Sorrells of Titan Records, we’re proud and thrilled to offer the CD debut of “Not For Sale 1965-1975” a 27 song collection previously only available on vinyl that was released in 2023. But not everyone still buys vinyl, right? That’s why we’re here! “Not For Sale” is the sum and story of a decade of work by two lifelong, childhood best friends, Arlis Peach and Larry Lee, who, growing up together in Iowa, got bitten hard by the rock-n-roll bug of the 50’s and by the mid 60’s were writing and recording their own music. They got signed to RCA Records in 1972, a single was released, but things never took off and the label dropped them. ‘Not For Sale’ is a genuine lost chapter in the history of pop music. Pure Pop with echoes of everything from the Everly brothers and The Beatles to The Byrds and Badfinger, with hints of The Hollies, The Turtles, The Zombies and The Kinks to name a few. It is a one of a kind 58 year old anomaly that was slated to NEVER happen...until now! “This is truly a lost power pop treasure. They follow in the footsteps of The Beatles and The Hollies, evident in the opener, ‘Long Way to Go,’ with churning guitars and solid harmonies. The comparisons to Badfinger are stunning here, especially on the title track, ‘It’s Up To You,’ ‘No Way Baby’ and ‘Do It Again,’ including handclaps and its infectious lead guitar. A more basic, echoing early Beatles sound is clear on ‘Never Made the Grade’ and ‘Down.’ The catchy, simple lead in ‘Paradise’ recalls the Hollies. ‘Help Yourself’ and ‘Don’t Be Looking My Way’ are very much in the Emmit Rhodes mold. The band rocks harder (bordering on glam) on ‘You Ain’t Got Me Running’ and ‘The Other Night.’ The dramatic ballads ‘Can’t Let Go’ and ‘Love Is On Our Side’ are solid standouts. You wonder why these guys never made it big, but we finally have them 50 years later.” - Powerpopaholic The result is a treasure trove of unreleased pop perfection, restored and mastered from the original tapes and available for the first time! Other points of reference not mentioned above? Dwight Twilley(with Phil Seymour) and Big Star!!! Another piece of power pop history has been uncovered and preserved! GREAT!!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Pushbutton Romance Price: $12.00 Artist: Rich Arithmetic Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL! It’s not always been easy to categorize Rich’s music. Yet, some things have remained the same about his unique approach: no matter the genre-hopping, his music consistently emphasizes melody-centric, harmonically-inventive songs inspired by classic influences and supported with creatively textured arrangements and brightly-hued guitars and production values. When his debut album “Sleep in A Wigwam” was released in the mid-‘90s, it was initially seen as a unique amalgam of the kind of quirky alt-pop of earlier bands like XTC, The dB’s, R.E.M., and even 10cc, which Rich mixed in a blender filled with 60’s influences. And while “SlAW” wasn’t a power pop album, it contained enough crunchy guitar chords, hooky melodies and harmonies to find a home in the emerging 90’s Power Pop community. Despite the record’s success, Rich disappeared for two-and-a-half decades – a period in which indie-pop music found itself fragmenting into a variety of sub-genres: Power Pop, Jangle Pop, Retro Pop, Baroque, Power Folk, Art Pop, Sunshine Pop - none of which really defines his music of even though he certainly borrows from all of them – a fact amply demonstrated in 2021 with “Shiftingears” (also on Kool Kat) which Pop Rock Record described as “effortless quality in shifts between styles and influences.” John Borack expressed surprise by the new album after so many years, calling it ”an unexpected treat for fans of well-crafted, intelligent pop.” And now comes “Pushbutton Romance”, a 15-song collection that begins with a short, unexpected baroque pop string quartet before bouncing into the catchy new wave-meets-power pop of “When You Want Somebody (To Make Love To)”, which sounds like something The Knack might have recorded. Several other songs, notably, “Carry You (Redux)” and “You Are Always Right”, join the power pop parade. Elsewhere, his trademark 12-string guitar, largely missing from his last album, shows up time and time again throughout the album, as do his criss-crossing harmonies and surprising chord progressions. It’s heady, singable, sometimes thought-provoking and definitely full of irresistible hooks. “Rich has added another album to his already amazing portfolio, songs falling into a number of different styles and genres – Power Pop, Alt-Pop, Baroque, Quirky Pop, Power Folk, Retro Pop, Art Pop, Sunshine & Surf and Jangle Pop. There are no minuses, only pluses.” - Darrell Draeger GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

Life Of The Party Price: $14.00 Artist: Richard Turgeon Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! “Life of the Party”, Richard Turgeon’s seventh(!) release on the Kool Kat label. contains 11 tracks that showcase his unique spin on everything from relationships (“You’ve Moved On,” “I’ve Got You Now,” “Friend Zone,” “Parasite”) to urban decay (“Our Fair City”) and mortality (“Don’t Forget Me When You’re Gone”). All of these sonic stories soar with Turgeon’s seasoned, light-and-dark take on melodic alternative rock that’s been called “new vintage rock,” “California rock,” and a unique West Coast blend of power pop, indie and classic rock. Since 2017’s “In Between the Spaces”, he’s garnered a steady following in alternative rock and power pop circles. His music has found regular airplay on SiriusXM and other well known podcasts and FM radio stations throughout the world. His sound has been compared to Matthew Sweet, Sloan, Teenage Fanclub, Bob Mould, R.E.M., and Tom Petty, to name a few. The new record has been hailed as his finest to date. “Richard Turgeon has found his niche, and he’s sticking with it. He’s a one-man band that writes, composes, and plays almost everything himself, and these new songs stand out right away. Starting with ‘All Alone’ and ‘You’ve Moved On,’ they are a one-two punch about a final separation. ‘I’ve Got You Now’ is the guitar crunch rooted in mid-90’s power pop (The Gin Blossoms, The Lemonheads, The Posies), and he falls into the category of modern West Coast power poppers like Jeff Shelton (The Well Wishers) and James Hall (Shake Some Action). ‘Our Fair City’ is a commentary on the homeless problem (‘It’s better when you turn a blind eye’). Additional highlights include the solid ‘Friend Zone,’ and ‘Don’t Forget Me When You’re Gone,’ is a well-done ballad in the Billy Joel tradition. Highly Recommended.” - Powerpopaholic.com GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

The Secrets* Price: $12.00 Artist: The Secrets* Description: From 1978-81, the Titan label based in Kansas City, MO issued just eight records, but over the years their “catalog” has crawled to the top of power-pop want lists worldwide building a legacy to rival L.A.’s Bomp! or New York’s Ork. Titan fostered a scene of its own, imported its own skinny ties, and scoured the Missouri valley for its own talent. The label’s Midwest AM bubblegum roots are apparent in the likes of Gary Charlson, The Secrets*, Arlis!, Gems, Millionaire At Midnight, The Boys, J.P. McClain & The Intruders, Bobby Sky and Scott McCarl. “Lots of serious music fans have gotten the bright idea of starting a record company so they can spread the word about their favorite bands, but unlike most of them, Mark Prellberg and Tom Sorrells actually put their money where their mouths were, and in 1978 they launched Titan Records. From a business standpoint, the venture proved to be a noble folly. Prellberg and Sorrells knew next to nothing about promotion, distribution, or marketing, and being based in a town that's never been regarded as a major media center did nothing to help their learning curve. And though power pop is a music that attracts a passionate and endlessly loyal fan base, it doesn't often move a whole lot of units, and since straightforward, energetic pop/rock was Titan's stock in trade, the duo’s lack of know-how became even more of an issue. But let no one say that the guys behind Titan didn't know a great song when they heard it; the label's output sounded like chart-topping hits from an alternate universe where the Raspberries were bigger than the Beatles, Emitt Rhodes ruled the airwaves, and the Scruffs and Dwight Twilley were the hottest new acts on the scene.” - AllMusic.com The Secrets* limited edtion CD was produced in 2019 to celebrate their enshrinement into the Kansas Music Hall Of Fame. Six of the seven tracks here were included in the “Titan: It’s All Pop!” CD/vinyl retrospective (though spread among the discs). The track “Love For The Money” only appeared on the vinyl edition of the retrospective. So, here’s your readymade mixtape of the complete recorded output by The Secrets*! GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none

All Fuller, No Filler Price: $14.00 Artist: Wesley Fuller Description: RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL!! Wesley Fuller, originally “discovered” in 2015 by legendary UK A&R man James Endeacott (The Strokes, Libertines) and signed to his 1965 Records label. “All Fuller, No Filler” is Wesley Fuller’s Kool Kat label debut and his first full-length release since 2017’s terrific “Inner City Dream”, which contained twelve tracks of swirling psych, jangly pop and punchy, crunchy glam! Clash Magazine (UK) called it “gloriously imaginative psych pop”. He first made a name for himself early in the second decade of the millennium, up front of Perth power pop outfit Hurricane Fighter Plane (who took their name from a wigged-out song by late '60s Texan combo the Red Krayola). The band made a handful of singles, including the brilliant Byrds-indebted "I Can't Win.” He moved to Melbourne where he met and worked with like-minded folk like You Am I's Davey Lane. Soon he was making waves internationally with 2016’s EP “Melvista” and “Inner City Dream.” Armed with his trusty white Gibson Flying V and his ain't-no-square corkscrew hair, Perth-born, Melbourne-based power pop boy wonder Wesley Fuller is a pop classicist who is not afraid to mess with the classics. Mixing stunning Beatles-style pop melodies with thumping disco beats like no one since Jeff Lynne in the late 70s, and chucking in a crunchy big glam whomp and the boldest bubblegum colors heard this century, Fuller is the latest in a line of artists that goes back to Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney; artists with a singular pop vision. Add the likes of Todd Rundgren and Emmit Rhodes - as well as lesser known geniuses R. Stevie Moore and Tommy Marolda of The Toms, all of whom would more often than not lay that vision to tape in the studio by themselves - and you get an idea of where Wesley’s head is at. You could maybe add the D'Addario brothers of The Lemon Twigs to that list; in the Twigs you'll find a handy contemporary comparison point to what Wesley does. “The trippy ‘The Velvet Affair’ is a psychedelic inspired pop number that’s bound to make you nostalgic for the late 60’s, whether you were there or not! Wesley might not be a household name yet, but he’s making some serious waves around the planet.” - Sounds Of Oz GREAT!! ... read more » Quantity in Basket: none