Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio is the archive for the premiere website that covered the melodic pop scene with in-depth reviews of new and reissued recordings, and a wide variety of features. We are now closed for new activity.
Let’s kick off a new week with some new music just added to the Pure Pop Radio playlist. What have we got? How about a hot, new album from one of your (and our) favorite groups? How about a new song from the spectacular Corner Laughers? How about…more?
Let’s get the new music adds spinning!
The Grip Weeds | How I Won the War Destined to slot in the upper reaches of this year’s best-of lists, How I Won the War is a commanding, powerful song cycle that fuses echoes of the Who and other prime sixties bands with the Grip Weeds’ trademark wit, song and performance prowess. We’re playing 10 tracks in rotation: “Life Saver,” “Other Side of Your Heart,” “See Yourself,” “Vanish,” “Force of Nature,” “Heaven and Earth,” “Over and Over,” “Rainbow Quartz,” “Lead Me to It,” and a pulsating, psychedelic cover of the Beatles’ “The Inner Light.” A great album and without a doubt the band’s best.
The Corner Laughers | “Fairytale Tourist” As charming and delightful as anything the band has released, “Fairytale Tourist” mixes a quasi-Motown beat with the Corner Laughers’ usual brand of fanciful, musical mirth. Another delightful vocal from Karla Kane, and another wonderful track to savor. From the forthcoming album, Matilda Effect, coming soon.
Matt Keating | This Perfect Crime New to Pure Pop Radio is the 11th album from a master of gorgeous melodies. We were totally taken with the songs on offer; we’ve added five to the playlist, including “When They’ve Thrown You Away,” “Nothing to Figure Out,” the title track, “This Must Be Love,” and “Before the War.” We hope to be spinning more music from Matt Keating in the near future.
The Galileo 7 – False Memory Lane and Staring at the Sound This is our second time adding tracks from this fantastic band that echoes the sound of the Who, Small Faces and other sixties pop and rock bands. We’ve now added songs from the 7’s 2014 album, False Memory Lane, and the 2012 long player, Staring at the Sound. From the former, we’re spinning the title track, “You’re Not Dreaming,” “Nobody Told You,” “I’m Still Here,” “Tide’s Rising,” “Fools,” and “Don’t Want to Know.” From the latter, we’re playing “Anne Hedonia,” “The Only One You’re Hurting (Is You),” “More Time,” “Hiding from the Sun,” “Not Gonna Miss You,” “Leave Me Alone,” and “Ella.” Very British and very, very good.
Tim Anthony | “Day Into Night” This new track from Tim Anthony is a typically catchy song with a nifty middle-eight and a gorgeous chorus. Now playing in rotation. We look forward to a new album from Tim.
Matt Tyson | Pure Pop Radio Jingle Matt Tyson’s albums are a big part of the sound of Pure Pop Radio these days. Matt has recorded a lovely, atmospheric jingle for us in the style of the Beach Boys’ SMiLE. To say that we SMiLE every time we hear this would be an understatement.
Adam Walsh | Three Tracks We added three great tracks from Adam this past January 27th. We now have three more–two originals slated for an EP that will hopefully be released later this year, and a smashing cover of Neil Young’s classic, “Long May You Run.” The nephew of Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh, Adam is a talented artist you will be hearing more from as time marches on.
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Good Monday to you! Thanks for checking out the latest in our ongoing series of adds to our ever-growing playlist. And don’t forget to listen to Pure Pop Radio, broadcasting the greatest melodic pop music in the universe from the ’60s to today, 24-hours a day (listen links below)!
It was inevitable, of course; we couldn’t possibly go too long without another round of adds to our playlist! Herewith, then, are some of the latest new songs and artists now playing in rotation on Pure Pop Radio.
Nick Piunti | Beyond the Static Nick Piunti’s smashing followup to last year’s 13 in My Head is another outstanding collection of melodic pop classics sporting great, catchy and hooky choruses and top-notch playing from, among others, Nick, the Legal Matters’ Andy Reed, and music pal Ryan Allen, from Ryan Allen and His Extra Arms. Melodic winners abound, from the oh-so-luscious “Heart Stops Beating” and the gorgeous “Quicksand,” which sports one of this album’s most delectable choruses, to the amazing “Six Bands,” about a gal who’s in “six bands, none of them good.” Hopefully, she realizes that she’s spinning wheels that won’t take her anywhere. Nick’s lead vocals are strong and assured and quite musical. One of the finest albums of this young year, and a surefire candidate for top honors in the best of 2015 sweepstakes. Outstanding stuff.
Smith and Hayes | People All Over the World Clay Smith and William Hayes’ third album continues along the sweet, melodic path set by Changed by a Song and Volume II. The duo’s latest musical missive is another mid-to-late period, Beatles-inspired trip down melody lane. We’re playing nine songs from People All Over the World, each one echoing the sound and spirit of John, Paul, George and Ringo and Smith and Hayes: “Slow Down,” “Know It All,” “Didn’t Want to Fall,” “Celebrate My Broken Heart,” “No War Man,” “Don’t Let Your Heart Break,” “Holding On to Love,” “Man in the Moon,” and “Something About Her.” Save a spot in your 2015 best-of list: This one’s a keeper.
Joe Sullivan | “Cheerleader” Fancy a clever, sweet, power poppy love song? Look no further than this newly-minted charmer from the man behind the glorious Schlock Star, one of our Favorite Albums of 2014. Joe marries a creative approach to lyrics with the ability to almost effortlessly craft a hooky melody and intricate harmonies that sing. Folks, make no mistake: It’s Sullivanmania all over again.
Baby Scream | fan, fan, fan and The Worst of… Juan Pablo Mazzola is so full of music that his latest release is a two-for-one, two-album package bursting with melody and harmony-drenched, classic pop songs. To our ears, Juan sounds a bit like Marc Bolan fronting Badfinger, whether he’s playing an original song or a treasured cover; his version of the Scooby Doo theme song is aces. We’re also playing, in rotation, “A Human Being on Mars,” “Everybody Sucks,” “Captain Hook,” “The Girl Next Door,” “Unicorns,” “In a Picture,” “20th Century Baby,” “Cruella De Vil,” and “The Concept.” Rock and pop on with Juan!
Willie Wisely | Parador On the occasion of this album’s 10th anniversary, Pure Pop Radio favorite Willie Wisely has released an expanded collection featuring the original song lineup and 12 additional tracks: two unreleased and 10 alternates. The result is a stereoscopic look at a great record in all of its forms. We’ve added nine tracks, including “Too Quick to Love,” “Stayin’ Home Again,” “Altitudes,” “Through Any Window,” “Freestyle,” “Too Quick to Love (Alternate Take),” “Erase Me (Alternate Take),” “Through Any Window (Live),” and an alternate take of the title track. Willie is one of melodic pop music’s biggest talents, and here is the proof.
The Galileo 7 | Are We Having Fun Yet? and Two New Tracks | Armed with a rock and roll attitude and keen pop smarts, the Galileo 7 deliver an enticing vibe that harkens back to the early sound of the Who. Witness songs such as the rocking and popping “Are We Having Fun Yet” and the garage stomper “Mine! Mine! Mine!” With melody and harmony always in hand, the band can take it slow as well as fast, as with the tuneful mid-tempo, cleverly-named ballad “Some Big Boys Did It (and then Ran Away).” In addition to the aforementioned songs, we’re playing three more present and future classics from 2010’s Are We Having Fun Yet?: “The Sandman Turns Away,” “Run Baby Run,” and the pumping “Can’t Resist.” We’re also playing, in rotation, the band’s new single which pairs the Who-like charger “One Lie at a Time” and the rocking “The God of Gaps.” The Galileo 7 has released two albums since Are We Having Fun Yet?; tracks from them are coming soon to our playlist.
The New Trocaderos | Frenzy in the Hips We’ve been playing four of the six songs on this newly-released EP for awhile. Our thirst for this pop ‘n’ roll super group remains at a fever pitch. Kurt Baker, and Brad Marino and Geoff Palmer from the Connection, create a musical fireball that produces fast and furious, punchy and take-no-prisoners tunes, two of which have been knighted as Coolest Songs in the World by Little Steven’s Underground Garage. Nice! So, exactly which power popping, rock and rolling songs are we spinning in rotation? How about “Money Talks,” “Real Gone Kitty,” “Dream Girl,” “The Kids,” and a hard-hitting power popper, exclusive to this EP, “Luckiest Man in the World.” Breathless fun!
The Explorers Club | All Aboard This five-song EP, recorded live on July 4, 2014 aboard the USS Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina, shows one of pop music’s best bands in top form, with a punchy horn section in tow. Lovely versions of “Anticipatin’,” “Go for You,” and “Run Run Run,” all from 2012’s Grand Hotel; and delicious, note-perfect versions of the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” and the Zombies’ “Tell Her No” round out the track list. Now recording a new album, this band proves what so many fans already know: the Explorers Club can do no wrong.
Caddy | “Wherever You Go” Here is the second new song in less than a month from Caddy’s much anticipated, forthcoming album, The Better End. Caddy, aka Oslo, Norway’s Tomas Dahl, delivers an upbeat pop number with a mega-catchy chorus and a nifty saxophone break. It’s got all of the melodic pop food groups, kids! Sounds so good!
The Earthmen | College Heart Direct from Australia, this 1990s band gets its due with a lovingly-curated collection of classic cuts and four previously-unreleased, newly-recorded tracks. On the release docket for April 1, we’re spinning five terrific numbers from this album, including the beautiful, building ballad “The Reprise” and the catchy, upbeat “Whoever’s Been Using this Bed.” Also playing: “First Single,” “Personal History,” and “Blue Sky.” A great release from Popboomerang Records.
R. Stevie Moore and Jason Falkner | Make It Be The perhaps unlikely pairing of indie legend R. Stevie Moore and popster Jason Falkner delivers a quirky collection of songs, from which we’ve chosen two to feature on Pure Pop Radio: the Godley and Creme-era 10cc-esque “Sincero Amore” and “Play Myself Some Music.”
Colman | Play to Lose Produced by the legendary Mitch Easter and mastered by the equally legendary Greg Calbi, this collection mixes pop and elements of Americana to deliver a pleasing set full of melody and a whole lot of warmth. Three songs are spinning in rotation on our air: the single-worthy “Straight Face,” “Swing Low,” and the alluring “Three Chords.”
Mothboxer | “Hope the Light is On” A tasty bonus track appended to the just-released collection of three Mothboxer EPs, “Hope the Light is On” is a re-recorded version of a song originally recorded by Kid Galahad in 2004 (Mothboxer main man Dave Ody was a member). It’s the usual Ody opus: a top-notch melody and gorgeous vocal harmonies married to a catchy melody. It’s true, you know: Dave Ody can do no wrong, and here’s the proof.
That’s the skinny for today. More new adds to our playlist coming next week. Thank you for listening to Pure Pop Radio!
Let’s kick off a new week with some new music just added to the Pure Pop Radio playlist. What have we got? How about a hot, new album from one of your (and our) favorite groups? How about a new song from the spectacular Corner Laughers? How about…more?
The Grip Weeds | How I Won the War Destined to slot in the upper reaches of this year’s best-of lists, How I Won the War is a commanding, powerful song cycle that fuses echoes of the Who and other prime sixties bands with the Grip Weeds’ trademark wit, song and performance prowess. We’re playing 10 tracks in rotation: “Life Saver,” “Other Side of Your Heart,” “See Yourself,” “Vanish,” “Force of Nature,” “Heaven and Earth,” “Over and Over,” “Rainbow Quartz,” “Lead Me to It,” and a pulsating, psychedelic cover of the Beatles’ “The Inner Light.” A great album and without a doubt the band’s best.
The Corner Laughers | “Fairytale Tourist” As charming and delightful as anything the band has released, “Fairytale Tourist” mixes a quasi-Motown beat with the Corner Laughers’ usual brand of fanciful, musical mirth. Another delightful vocal from Karla Kane, and another wonderful track to savor. From the forthcoming album, Matilda Effect, coming soon.
Matt Keating | This Perfect Crime New to Pure Pop Radio is the 11th album from a master of gorgeous melodies. We were totally taken with the songs on offer; we’ve added five to the playlist, including “When They’ve Thrown You Away,” “Nothing to Figure Out,” the title track, “This Must Be Love,” and “Before the War.” We hope to be spinning more music from Matt Keating in the near future.
The Galileo 7 – False Memory Lane and Staring at the Sound This is our second time adding tracks from this fantastic band that echoes the sound of the Who, Small Faces and other sixties pop and rock bands. We’ve now added songs from the 7’s 2014 album, False Memory Lane, and the 2012 long player, Staring at the Sound. From the former, we’re spinning the title track, “You’re Not Dreaming,” “Nobody Told You,” “I’m Still Here,” “Tide’s Rising,” “Fools,” and “Don’t Want to Know.” From the latter, we’re playing “Anne Hedonia,” “The Only One You’re Hurting (Is You),” “More Time,” “Hiding from the Sun,” “Not Gonna Miss You,” “Leave Me Alone,” and “Ella.” Very British and very, very good.
Tim Anthony | “Day Into Night” This new track from Tim Anthony is a typically catchy song with a nifty middle-eight and a gorgeous chorus. Now playing in rotation. We look forward to a new album from Tim.
Matt Tyson | Pure Pop Radio Jingle Matt Tyson’s albums are a big part of the sound of Pure Pop Radio these days. Matt has recorded a lovely, atmospheric jingle for us in the style of the Beach Boys’ SMiLE. To say that we SMiLE every time we hear this would be an understatement.
Adam Walsh | Three Tracks We added three great tracks from Adam this past January 27th. We now have three more–two originals slated for an EP that will hopefully be released later this year, and a smashing cover of Neil Young’s classic, “Long May You Run.” The nephew of Pugwash’s Thomas Walsh, Adam is a talented artist you will be hearing more from as time marches on.
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