Can You See the Sunset? » power pop

Failures’ Union – In What Way

Eric — Sat, 22 May 2010 02:08:21 +0000

Here’s another example of a band and album that I (obviously) failed to take notice of early enough. In What Way, from Buffalo, NY’s Failures’ Union, is another record that falls under the broad banner of what I perceive to be some sort of mid 1990’s alternative/indie rock revival. You know, bands that with sounds that draw from the catalogs of Superchunk, Buffalo Tom, Lemonheads, Archers Of Loaf, Guided By Voices, etc… First (it seems) there was the emo revival and now college rock. I’m not about to complain. The songs on In What Way are built on simple melodies and moderate tempos and feel almost instantly familiar without ever becoming just a facsimile of their influences. The vocals are sunny but disinterested and the guitars are fuzzy but jangly. Failures’ Union has seemingly perfected navigating the confluence of retro alt-rock and toned down pop punk. Heck, I hear shades of so many other bands on In What Way but the minute I stop thinking and analyzing the music and just listen, I only hear Failures’ Union. This falls into my highly recommended category and is available now from the always great Paper + Plastick label. And if that wasn’t enough, RIYL: Cheap Girls, Lemuria, The Sidekicks, etc…

MP3:
Failures' Union - Hidden Song
Failures' Union - The Fall Man

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Away We Go – Lights! Camera! Attraction! EP

Eric — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:14:57 +0000

If you’ve got/know/are teenagers that like Paramore and/or Fall Out Boy, you should check out Las Vegas’ Away We Go. Their horribly titled EP Lights! Camera! Attraction!, features everything from acoustic songs to radio-ready pop rock and is some of the most derivative stuff I’ve heard in a long time. Sure, it’s power pop that’s decently played and undeniably catchy, but that isn’t hard when you are just tracing melodies. You could say they that the guys and gal in Away We Go wear their collective influences on their Hot Topic bought sleeves, but, unfortunately, their influences do this sort of thing way better than they do. Perhaps that’s why the band broke up less than a week after their EP was released. Better luck next time kids.

MP3:
Away We Go - The City Of Sin With A Twist Of Tulips

Cheap Girls – My Roaring 20′s

Eric — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:15 +0000

Hot on the heels of last year’s awesome Find Me A Drink Home, the Lansing, Michigan trio Cheap Girls is back with another great full-length full of straightforward punkish power-pop, My Roaring 20′s. There really aren’t any huge changes to be found when comparing My Roaring 20′s to their debut, but (again) it seems as if Cheap Girls know exactly what it is they do well and just stick with it. The production is (however) a bit better but still retains enough of the lo-fi charm that no one will accuse this record of being overproduced. It’s honest, earnest, and raw; like having to scrape the frost from your windshield on a cold late-autumn morning.

Reminiscent of all your mid-90′s indie favorites (think early Lemonheads, Dinosaur Jr., Superdrag, Sugar, Gin Blossoms, Smoking Popes, etc…) this is music that can seem loud and energetic but still relaxed and a prefect soundtrack for throwing down a few cans of Special Export. The songs are catchy, the melodies are familiar, and it’s put together loosely in a way that feels genuine and comes across as imperfect but charming and better because of it. My Roaring 20′s has that fuzzy rough-around-the-edges feel that makes is seem worn in and not really of the present. Find Me A Drink Home was #14 on my list of last year’s best records, and My Roaring 20′s will undoubtedly make my 2009 list. The album is out now on the ridiculously good Paper + Plastick label.

MP3:
Cheap Girls - Ft. Lauderdale
Cheap Girls - One & Four

Freshman 15 – Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands

Eric — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:28:55 +0000

OMGZ! For whatever reason I really love this album. I mean, like, despite my better judgment I like this a whole fucking lot! First, the album is ridiculously titled Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands courtesy of Atlanta, Georgia’s Freshman 15. They are one of those nu-pop-punk (or just call it pop-core) bands with overly-cheesy and cliched lyrics about loving and missing girls, broken hearts, and all those things. Yes, some (if not all) of the lyrics are cringe-worthy, but these guys seem sincere and I can certainly remember being in their shoes when I was younger (see Allister’s Dead Ends And Girlfriends as an example) even if their promo photos make ‘em look like complete douchebags. Wasn’t it all about the music once? Am I showing my age? Fuck.

Anyhow, the vocals sound a lot like the singer from Coheed & Cambria while the music isn’t complicated but sounds like a cross between New Found Glory and old Fall Out Boy (did I just say that?) It’s well-produced but not crazy slick. It really doesn’t sound terribly different from most of the pop-core being played today (like Hit The Lights, Bangarang, etc…) but something intangible just “feels” different; more like the pop-punk I loved in the mid 90’s. Well, not really, but I’m going to give Freshman 15 the benefit of the doubt here and (possibly) pretend that they aren’t just in it for the scene. I dunno. I really REALLY shouldn’t like this as much as I do but Throw Up Your Hands For One Night Stands speaks to my inner fifteen year old. The album is out now on Standby Records

MP3:
Freshman 15 - Phoenix Can Keep You
Freshman 15 - Our California Song

Listen to these songs

You Know What You Doin’ Lyrics Kevin Cossom	Zoo Lyrics Nicole Scherzinger
Crazy Girl Lyrics Timbaland	Stupid In Love Lyrics Ne-Yo
The Owl And The Pussycat Lyrics Katy Perry	Girlfriend Lyrics Chris Brown
Animal Lyrics Kesha	Freefall Lyrics Lil Eddie
Pictures Lyrics Ne-Yo	Ultraviolet Lyrics Kid Sister

Get your own here.

My Daughter Hailey vs. Scott Murphy

Eric — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:10:08 +0000

Out of the blue a few months ago I got a call from my former Allister band mate Scott Murphy about the possibility of having our oldest daughter Hailey model for the cover of his upcoming CD Guilty Pleasures Love. Scott is (for those of you who don’t know) somewhat of a pop star in Japan, where this CD was just released. Since the breakup of Allister in 2007, Scott has released a bunch of EP’s featuring Japanese language cover songs (Guilty Pleasures II, Guilty Pleasures III, Battleground, and now Guilty Pleasures Love) along with an English language full-length featuring all original material called Balance.

Anyhow, the photo shoot was a ton of fun and it was nice to sorta catch up with Scott over a few Old Speckled Hen’s. Hailey had a blast getting her makeup outlandishly done and posing for the camera as if she was the rock star. This leads me to the package that arrived on our doorstep last week. It contained a poster of the cover, a store display, and a copy of the CD. Have a listen to some of Scott’s stuff below. It’s still hard for me to believe that he’s got this successful solo career in Japan but is virtually unknown here in the United States. Really, a few of the songs below could (or should) be radio hits here. All Scott’s CD’s are available through Universal Records Japan.

MP3:
Scott Murphy - What If from Balance
Scott Murphy - 未来予想図 from Guilty Pleasures Love
Scott Murphy - 1５の夜 from Battleground
Scott Murphy - Falling Apart from Guilty Pleasures III
Scott Murphy - 僕のあやまち (Falling Apart) from Balance

The Maine – Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Eric — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:08:11 +0000

I think I’ve hated on The Maine before (right here) because of their glossy and juvenile ultra-predictable mainstream power-pop lite but I’d be lying if I said that I totally hated their latest album Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop. The songs are catchy even if they are uninspiring. Honestly, this wouldn’t make terrible beach music for teenage girls (or anyone for that matter). It only makes sense since this is the musical equivalent of fruity beach drinks; sugary and sweet, but you’ll ultimately have too many and find yourself regretting it the following morning even though you had a good time. If you like All Time Low, The Starting Line, or any other post-NFG Drive-Thru Records band, chances are you’ll like this. It’s like Midtown vs. The Jonas Brothers.

MP3 | The Maine – We All Rock Along Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop
MP3 | The Maine – I Must Be Dreaming Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Bomb The Music Industry! – Scrambles

Eric — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:57:28 +0000

This new album from Jeff Rosenstock and Bomb The Music Industry! is called Scrambles and is full of more the crazy, spazzy goodness I’d expect from them. BTMI! combines elements of folk-punk, piano-based power-pop, ska, and noisy hardcore with crazy synthy electronic flourishes that make it sound like Rosenstock is forever on the verge of a breakdown as the ringmaster of a three-ring punk rock circus. Or maybe he just needs a beer and a turkey sandwich. Whatever it is, Scrambles is a fun and entertaining (even if a little exhausting) listen. It is clear that Rosenstock has an understanding of pop songwriting but chooses to turn it on its head and do whatever he feels like instead as he blends every crazy element together into something more awesome. But don’t take my word for it. You should (however) make your own conclusions about Scrambles and get a copy from the BTMI! website or Quote Unquote Records and don’t forget to make a donation.

MP3 | Bomb The Music Industry! – Saddr Weirdr Scrambles
MP3 | Bomb The Music Industry! – Fresh Attitude, Young Body Scrambles