Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio

By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio

Caper Clowns | “Second to None” b/w “Verboten” (2019)

The hits just keep on coming! The fourth single from Caper Clowns’ fantastic sophomore long-player, A Salty Taste to the Lake (one of our Favorite Records of the Year: Stars of 2018), is a double dose of delight. The album’s catchy, uptempo popper, “Second to None,” is supported by the previously-unavailable “Verboten,” a truly astonishing slice of pop complexity composed of three distinct sections, all circling a decidedly Beatlesque-by-way-of-the-Rembrandts beacon. The first section lays all of the song’s catchy cards on the table; it’s followed by a lovely, wordless, 30-second bridge, and the third piece of the puzzle, similar to the first but, perhaps, a bit sweeter.

Caper Clowns’ b-sides continue to marvel, in much the same way that their a-sides do. Odense, Denmark’s favorite sons continue to prove that they can do no wrong.

Where to Get It: Amazon (Releases February 11)

Sons of Morning | “Cold and Blue” b/w “Evangeline” (Big Stir, 2019)

Sounding as if they were plucked from the set list of a band playing school dances in the late 1950s or early 1960s, Connecticut popsters Sons of Morning’s latest songs are of a piece. “Cold and Blue” is a dreamy ballad about hopeful, forever love, and “Evangeline” is a rather stark statement of amour.

The 11th in the ongoing series of digital singles being released by the fine folks at Big Stir, this is pop balladry like it used to rock the house. Savory, sweet joy.

Where to Get It: Purchase and preview at Big Stir Digital Singles

Alan Haber’s Pure Pop Radio is the premiere website covering the melodic pop scene with in-depth reviews of new and reissued recordings, and a wide variety of features. We’ve been around since the first weekly Pure Pop Radio shows, which began broadcasting in 1995, and the 24-hour Pure Pop Radio station, which ended last August.

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