2023 is nearly done but my album review pile remains stacked with must-be-heard-now LPs. Some of these records only just came out while others arrived a while back but never quite fit into whatever posts I had on the go at that given moment. Whatever the reason, to get things sorted by year’s end it’s time for another seemingly annual record round-up. Or two. Brace yourself for an onslaught of quality tune-age.

Sam Roberts sounds so much like … Sam Roberts. What I mean is the guy has got a distinctive, immediately recognizable sound. Take his participation on last year’s Still Anyways LP from Canadian super-group Anyway Gang – his contribution “Out of Nowhere” couldn’t be mistaken as coming from any other group member. Album number 8 from the Sam Roberts Band is The Adventures of Ben Blank and the title track opens this affair in familiar Roberts territory: with a tune that is easygoing yet driving, pleasant and ear-wormy. “I Dream of You” and “Picture of Love” have been released as video singles and both are grin-inducing good time songs. Roberts’ tunes work as polished rocked-up affairs but you can tell they’d sound just as good solo on a battered acoustic guitar. “Everybody Needs Some Love” is a keeper too. I totally dug the punky ferocity of the Teenage Tom Petties self-titled debut album but one year later Tom Brown’s one man band has morphed into a total band experience. One result is that the songs on the new LP Hotbox Daydreams sounds more together, more focused. Or, as the band, say ‘supercharged, super melodic and super short.’ Case in point – “I Got It From Here.” I love the melodic twists here, one minute sweet, the next a bit sad. “Stoner” motors along with a rocking energy fueled by solid rhythm guitars and an ominous keyboard wash. “Find Me” sounds like a rough-hewn hit single. And there’s still plenty of rocked out fuzz on tracks like “Greenhorn” and “Trigger’s Broom.” “Deathtrap” even vibes some pop psychedelia.

Currently hanging in North Wales doing a PhD in Creative Writing, queer working class poet and musician Caleb Nichols has still managed to pump it out in 2023, releasing 3 EPs and this recent fantastic full length LP Let’s Look Back. The 11 songs here are a like a selection of chocolates, boxed in the same factory but all different flavours. “Demon Twink” comes on like a rush of Elliot Smith with a dash of Rogue Wave in the mix whereas “The Absolute Boy” gives off a bit Bryan Ferry meets Sparks. I hear some strong Shins influences all over “J’ai Vu La Lune” while “Blue Sky Blue” has a Tim Finn flavour to its melodic arc and vocal performance. Then there’s “Albatross” which stands out for its dark pop edge and  generally ominous aura. This record is clearly a winning collection. In 2022 LA’s The Uni Boys were universally lauded in the power pop press for their major label debut Do It All Next Week which somehow managed to melt down 1979 and compress it into 12 magic tunes. Now they’re back with Buy This Now! and I can heartedly endorse that sentiment. This outing has more of that winning guitar pop sound on tracks like “Two Years” and “Intentions,” with the latter’s twin lead guitar opening marking it as radio hit friendly. The split in the vocal duties pushes the band in a Rockpile/The Connection direction on “Don’t Want To Be Like You” and “I Want It Too” while “I Don’t Believe in Love” and “Say You’ll Make It Real” is more uber-cool Colin Blunstone smoothness. Lots to love here, with able production from The Lemon Twigs.

With Again Birmingham Alabama’s The Blips once again channel that 1970s new wave re-invention of classic rock and roll motifs. “Stay Up” serves notice that this record is going to be party time central, vibing a strong 1977 Nick Lowe energy. From there the record alternates between a garage rock stomp on tracks like “Slow Lane” and a more Stonesy saunter on “Good Lookin’ Liars.” Then “She Still Shouts” unleashes a bevy of hooky lead guitar licks in a dance floor crasher while “Laika” adds some jangle and fuzz to the mix. You’re gonna want to get your tickets pronto when The Blips come to your town because they are surely a rock and roll dance event. Now for a change of pace you could turn to Chicago’s Matt Tiegler. His recent release Hands Free Down Hill is all jaunty acoustic guitar and piano-based sunny pop songs. His early release single “Dream (reason for living)” set the tone, in a light and soft rock endearing sort of way. But quickly the album opens up in multiple and very pleasing directions. Like “I Didn’t Get You,” a rollicking pop ear worm, or the jangle-coated Beatlesque “I Want to Start a Religion With You.” Teigler rocks things up a bit more on the title track and there’s even a hint of XTC on “Murphy’s Hope.” And check out those seductive jazz guitar licks on “Summer Love Song.” Very Lane Steinberg.

Everybody is talking about Portland Oregon powerpop wunderkind Bory and his new album Who’s a Good Boy. With a talent like Mo Troper in the producer’s chair there was little doubt that this would be a quality pop product. Opening cut “The Flake” delivers with a bit of jangle and overall droney pop haze that is both distinctive and pleasantly familiar. Then “Feel the Burn” boosts the melodic hooks while “North Douglas” adds more fuzzy guitar to the overall pop goodness. Possible influences abound. “End of the World” showcases some delicate guitar work draping a Jon Brion bit of musical ennui, “We Both Won” has just a hint of Wings-era McCartney lurking in the song structure somewhere, and “Wreck” sounds so Elliott Smith to me. Then again, the stripped-down acoustic guitar ballad “Take It From Me” really shows the strength of Bory’s songwriting. Heading down the I-5 in Oregon we end up in Eugene, home of poprock oddballs Poppy Robbie. Their new LP Neighborhood Beautification Commission is almost a concept album, its disparate elements all contributing to a critique of modern living. “Heartbreak Scenario” gets things going with pop sneer vocal-phrasing reminiscent of a 1978 Joe Jackson, Elvis Costello or Graham Parker. From there “Homesteader” offers has a more Britpop jangle, “Robert Pollard Trading Card Collection” conjures a bit of Guided By Voices not surprisingly, and “(Still Bored) On the Weekend” nails that early Velvet Underground guitar sound. I also love the punky reinvention of Byrds influences in “Quite Alright” and the way that the vocal really carries the tune on “Distracted.” Poppy Robbie definitely has something to say and he’s going to say it now.

His day job playing guitar and keyboards for the Drive By Truckers clearly prepared Gonzalez Smith to hit the recording studio to Roll Up A Song for this solo effort. But the results are not what you might expect. The range of styles here are broader, rather exquisite and carefully curated. Take “Lexington Line,” a finely calibrated bit of baroque pop. Or “She’s My Girl,” a perfect example of undistilled power pop in the Greg Kihn tradition. “Margaret” is a lovely acoustic guitar led slice of early 1970s folk pop. And a song named for “Lindsay Buckingham” is naturally going to contain nice guitar lines for sure. I can’t decide if “I Stole Your Girlfriend” is more funny or sad. “Silhouette” is just gorgeous.  With 17 songs the LP is value for money too. Erik Voeks is one of those artists I keep trying to get to. His reputation for legendary melodic poprock crops up regularly on obscure music lists. So I’m digging in with his new Erik Voeks and The Ghosters release It Means Nothing Now. Wow, what was I waiting for? This record is maximum delight from the word go. Opening cut “It Means Nothing Now” vibes some Beach Boys and Beach Boys-influenced acts like Richard X. Heyman. “Hazy Mazes” has some addictive jangle pop hooks while “Everything Dissolves” add some XTC fuzz guitar. Some songs like “The Most Confusing Part” remind me of contemporary acts like Odds and others reinvent the past like “The One Before It” where I hear a new wave shimmering version of the Bryds. So many great songs here, though I’d single out the Marshall Crenshaw-ish “It Breaks You” and “Love You Anyway” which chugs along with good old fashioned rock and roll swing. No hesitation – this album goes directly to the ‘must have’ pile.

Round up one down, one round up to go.

Photo courtesy Megan Westerby Flikr collection.