On his 2012 full-length LP ‘A Shade of Orange’, Dorset based singer-songwriter Nick Capaldi championed a whole world of sixties pop and rock influences with stunning results. Whether tackling the R&B grit of ‘You Ain’t No Woman To Me’, the hard beating soul of ‘Read Into Me’ or the sun-filled, Hollies-influenced pure pop of ‘You As an Island’, one thing was obvious: he was an artist to watch. His follow up release, the 2013 EP ‘The Golden Summer’ proves that Capaldi is more than just a one-shot deal, its four original songs equally as good as anything on the debut.
Tag Archives: power pop
THE MINORS – Intruders EP
The Minors are a Brooklyn based duo comprising of sometime Swimclub member Greg Adams and his multi-instrumentalist/producer/engineer nephew Tom Jebb. The idea of a homespun family duo brings back unpleasant memories of 2010’s oddball, misguided release by Quakers on Probation and while The Minors, too, could have used a little more of an outside influence from time to time, the core of their material actually shows promise. Their chosen sound – somewhere between a 60s power pop outfit and very light rock ‘n’ roll – is both user friendly and strangely familiar.
GEOFF USELESS – Don’t Stop
After almost a decade churning out music for a cult following, US punks The Guts went on hiatus in 2009. Frontman and founder member Geoff Useless took the opportunity to embark on a solo career, resulting in an EP and this full-length offering, originally released on Livid Records in 2010. Considering Useless had also worked with The Queers and The Nobodys, ‘Don’t Stop’ is pretty far removed from being the punk (or even pop-punk) record each of his prior connections would ever suggest. But then, what’s the point in having an outlet for solo work if it’s just gonna mirror your “day jobs”?
BUTCH WALKER – Peachtree Battle EP
Butch Walker’s 2011 release ‘The Spade’ was a real mixed bag of a record, showcasing a variety of the singer/renowned producer’s many musical styles, from hard rockers through power pop gems and even a foray into quirky new wave-ish material. It was the kind of record that most people were unlikely to enjoy all of; however, the variety within its grooves meant there was something featured that would be of interest to most rock/pop fans. From beginnings likely to incur mixed feelings, it proved somewhat of a grower – a record that improved with each passing year.
EASY TIGER – Easy Tiger EP
Back in the Autumn of 2011, Austin’s Easy Tiger released a two track single featuring well-constructed, Posies influenced alt-pop. Literally weeks later, they returned with a new drummer and this four track EP of songs named after girls. Although this second release has a slightly lighter tone at times, the better songs retain the spark of those prior recordings.