Tag: Beck

Categories
Got Any Singles? Quick Spins

Got Any Singles? Gretchen’s Wheel / Marshall Holland / Katrina

Gretchen’s Wheel/You Should Know 

Gretchen’s Wheel is a well-established favorite here at Pop-A-Looza HQ. On You Should Know, a preview track from the upcoming Lp, Such Open Sky, we get a crunchy bit of pop that would feel at home on a Fountains Of Wayne long-player. While we await the official release, we’re content to spin this track over and over. And over. And over.

Marshall Holland/When The Rain Comes

From one of the best Lp’s of 2020 (Paper Airplane), When The Rain Comes, by Marshall Holland. It’s a nifty, buoyant little number that feels like a dream collab between Tom Petty and Beck. Holland’s always-earnest vocals lushly surround the chorus hook that your ears have been searching for. The rest of Paper Airplane is just as wonderful.

Katrina/Drive

Yes, THAT Katrina! She’s still walking on sunshine, with her swell new single, Drive. Her voice is in great shape, and this rockin’ single is a must-have for your summer (what’s left of it) soundtrack. Our staff loves this tune, and you will, too!

Dan Pavelich

Categories
Got Any Singles? Quick Spins

Got Any Singles? Bill Lloyd / Marshall Holland / honeychain

Bill Lloyd / Don’t Kill The Messenger

https://store5991041.ecwid.com/#!/PRE-ORDER-Dont-Kill-the-Messenger-CD

The American South has no greater ambassador of guitar-driven pop than Bill Lloyd, Tom Petty’s origins notwithstanding. Don’t Kill The Messenger, the title track from Lloyd’s latest long-player, is an anthem for truth tellers everyone, scorned for stating the obvious. Wrapped in layers of guitars that have both power and jangle, it’s irresistible to our ears, here at Pop-A-Looza HQ.

Marshall Holland / Paper Airplane

https://marshallholland.bandcamp.com/album/paper-airplane-2

Columnist Beverly Paterson introduced most of us to Marshall Holland, and, boy, has his track Paper Airplane become our office’s ear- worm of the moment. Holland’s vocals have a floating feel to them, giving this a song a warmth that is equal parts James Taylor and Beck. We will be digging into the rest of his catalog shortly!

honeychain

https://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Full-Good-Luck-Explicit

Honeychain’s Spaceman reminds us a whole lot of the indie scene in Chicago in the early 1990’s. If you would’ve told us that it was a great lost Veruca Salt single from ’92, we’d believe you. Powerhouse guitars and drums propel this top-notch rocker, buoyed by Hillary Burton’s nonchalant vocal. Aces.

Dan Pavelich

Categories
Quick Spins

The Strokes / The New Abnormal

The Strokes

The New Abnormal (Cult/RCA)

http://www.thestrokes.com

The Strokes are back and, yes, they still play their instruments as if they picked them up only a few weeks ago. The good news is, they’ve got a nifty batch of songs that actually find a way to shine, in spite of the lack of chops.

“The Adults Are Talking” sounds like a lost new wave demo from 1979, in a good way, and “Selfless” finds vocalist Julian Casablancas doing his best EMO-Mick Jagger. “Eternal Summer” is prime walkabout soundtrack stuff, like Beck in a rainstorm, sans umbrella.

Lots of nice textures and guitar layers make The New Abnormal much more interesting than past releases. Bueno.

D.P.