ryan allen and his extra arms | Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio

Spins and Reviews | 8.31.16 | by Alan Haber

We’re playing these, and many thousands more, in rotation…

Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms | Basement Punk For his third album as the multi-instrumentalist with more upper limbs than a normal person would know what to do with, Ryan Allen rolls through eleven supercharged sides, plucking at guitar and bass strings, covering the circumference of keyboards, and bashing the bejeezus out of drum parts. In other words, it’s another exciting showcase for the amazing Mr. Allen, who is featured prominently on Nick Piunti’s new album. This album, out September 30, takes charge with strong melodies and ace playing and never lets up. “Gimmie Some More” kicks out a popped-up jam with lots of guitars and a sweet riff; “People Factory” is equally strong, and “Everything (In Moderation)” is a mid-tempo, melodic gem that closes out the proceedings. Mixed and mastered by Pure Pop Radio favorite Andy Reed, this one’s what we used to, and still do, call a keeper.
Now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio: “Chasing a Song,” “Mal n’ Ange,” “Gimme Sum More,” “People Factory,” “Gorgeous with Guitars,” and “Everything (In Moderation).”
When and Where to Get It: September 30 at Kool Kat Musik and Bandcamp.

Vegas With Randolph | “Free Your Soul” Our favorite Washington, D.C.-area popsters ramp up the electric guitars for a balls-to-the-wall rocker driven by runaway drums, plucking bass and the usual catchy melody. This tale of giving into the positive side of the eternal equation (“Sometimes it’s best to just let go/So free your soul”) will most certainly get you out of bed in the morning. Another VWR winner.
Now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio.
When and Where to Get It: Bandcamp.

Kenny Herbert | “3 Bridges Queensferry Crossing” This typically lovely song from Kenny Herbert, about the three Forth bridges in Scotland, is a hearty tale and well worth reading about (click here for the full story). “3 Bridges Queensferry Crossing” celebrates the bridges, and as Kenny says, “the people who built it and the new Queensferry Crossing which is opening May 2017.” The song’s cover illustration depicts Kenny’s wife’s grandfather David Rendall who, Kenny points out, “worked on the Forth Rail Bridge for 30 years as the bridge carpenter until 1969. Davie’s father Thomas Rendall also worked on the bridge from 1903; he was a painter and lamplighter.” A little history and a lot of melody make for a heartwarming experience.
Now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio.
Where to Get It: iTunes.

Poppermost | “Kelly Green Sunday” The first new song from Alex Oliver, Roy Rendahl and Debbie Sanchez in two years is a welcome treat, an acoustic melding of southern California and uptempo folk influences emanating a kind of warm hootenanny atmosphere and sending out a message of old-fashioned love (“Oh Kelly Green, every time you think of me/Please keep Sunday just for you and me”). Joyous.
Now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio.
Where to Get It: Bandcamp.

Orbis Max | “Lonely,” “I Call Your Name,” “All of Me,” and songs from Orbis Max and Friends Beginning their shared trek playing covers back in 1973 in Poway, California, the group’s various members have connected in the here and now via the Internet to record their own songs. New members Dennis George, Rod Bennett and Bruce Walker have joined original Maxers such as Craig Carlstrom and Don Baake to release Orbix Max and Friends, a vibrant collection of catchy numbers like the upbeat, poppy “You May be the One” and “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over.” The group’s latest song, not on the album, is “Lonely,” a horn-infused Stax-meets-Motown soul-pop slice of joy. Two other songs, also not on Orbix Max and Friends, are choice covers of the Beatles’ “I Call Your Name,” and the old jazz standard “All of Me.” Fun stuff.
Now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio: From Orbis Max and Friends: “Standing Next to You,” “You May be the One,” “Glad She Found Me,” “Without You,” “Don’t Tell Me It’s Over,” and “Start All Over Again.” Tracks not on the album: “I Call Your Name” and “All of Me.”
Where to Get It: CD Baby and iTunes.

For your wonderful Wednesday, we’ve got a short and sweet, but no less wild and wooly stack of wax–a triumphant trio of platters that matter!–to roll out to your ears. Without any further ado, let’s get to it!

New and currently spinning in rotation on Pure Pop Radio (more coming tomorrow):

Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms | Heart String Soul With this exhilarating followup to 2011’s Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms, Ryan and his arms prove that they’re no longer the best kept secret in power pop. Heart String Soul has enough oomph and pomp and confidence to blow the doors off your grandma’s shack in the woods. It’s a heck of a record and a heck of an achievement and, heck, we’ll just have to add six great tracks to the Pure Pop Radio playlist, including the pure pop confection “Keep Me Around,” the blistering power pop anthem “Looking Forward to Looking Back,” and the made-for radio, straight-ahead pop of “Should Be Me.” Also now playing in rotation: “Born Radical,” “Not Hanging Out,” and the sensitive ballad that closes the album, “Bonded by Blood.” Destined to be a favorite with many a pop fan, Heart String Soul drops March 25. It’s pretty great.

Jonathan Rundman | Jonathan Rundman Just last Wednesday, we added tracks from Jonathan Rundman’s new album, Look Up. Here we are again with tracks from Jonathan’s 2011 self-titled release, a compilation of various tracks recorded between 2000 and 2010. A few are remixed from earlier album appearances and a few are previously unreleased, but most will be familiar to Rundmaniacs (to coin a phrase). All told, the 20 songs included here kind of sum up the various forms of pop out there in the world today. Rundman’s a master craftsman, for sure. We’ve added 10 tunes: “Smart Girls,” “Librarian,” “Surgical Precision,” “581,” “I Thought You Were Mine,” the sorta-kinda absurdity-meets-tenderness vibe of “Dialysis Carpool,” “Kuortane,” “The Serious Kind,” “You Never Last Where You Land,” and “If You Have a Question.” Fine work from a mighty fine pop purveyor. Dig this now.

Gretchen’s Wheel | Fragile State Lindsay Murray combines facility in both pop and rock music on this captivating album stacked tall with great, powerful songs that really resonate. Aided by Posie Ken Stringfellow, who plays various instruments and sings backing vocals, and drummer Ira Elliot, Fragile State is represented on Pure Pop Radio by two standout tracks: “Second to Last” and “My Lullaby.”