Tag Archives: The Parlophonics

Poprock Record’s 25 must-have LPs for 2023

05 Friday Jan 2024

Posted by in Poprock Themepark

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The traditional rock and roll album ain’t dead, not by a long shot. Usurped for sure by new commercial formats and changing consumer listening patterns but the album – as a distinct collection of songs (sometimes forming a coherent whole) – remains the default mode of delivery for a wide swathe of guitar-based popular music. Proof? There was simply no shortage of fabulous, super-charged, pop-rocking long-players and extended plays to spend time with throughout 2023. From this embarrassment of musical riches we’ve whittled down a few different lists of LPs and EPs we feel rank as having ‘must have’ status. There’s something for every taste that falls somewhere across the broad, rather idiosyncratic category of ‘poprock’ we employ here. So dive in, see what you think, and do let us know about whatever egregious oversight you think we’ve undoubtedly committed. The hotlinks take you to the original reviews.

Cue drumroll – here we have it, Poprock Record’s 25 must-have LPs from 2023:

1. The Decibels When the Red Lights Flash
2. The McCharmlys The McCharmlys
3. The Parlophonics Dying of the Light
4. Miss Chain and the Broken Heels Storms
5. Buddie Agitator
6. Taking Meds Dial M for Meds
7. Good Shade Think Spring
8. Talking Kind It Did Bring Me Down
9. Caleb Nichols Let’s Look Back
10. Thomas Walsh The Rest is History
11. Steve Marino Too Late to Start Again
12. The Summertimes The Summertimes
13. Nite Sobs Fade Out
14. Bory Who’s a Good Boy
15. Richard Turgeon Life of the Party
16. The Small Square Ours and Others
17. Dave Kuchler Love and Glory
18. Classic Traffic You Want It? We Got It!
19. The Blusterfields The Blusterfields II
20. The Tubs Meat Factory
21. The Roves Needle Factory
22. Best Bets On an Unhistoric Night
23. The Blips Again
24. Erik Voeks and The Ghosters It Means Nothing Now
25. Rachel Angel Midnite Heart Attack

This year’s list tipped more toward some classic genre distinctions. The Decibels are beat group heaven for me and When the Red Lights Flash just proves their mastery of this form and seemingly bottomless creativity with it. By contrast, The McCharmlys conjure the ghost of 1950s west Texas rock and roll (even though they’re from California), effectively reinventing it for today. For a different slice, we’ve got the highly sophistico-pop of The Parlophonics. Such great songs, delivered so smoothly. And so on. Our list has got jangle (Buddie, Bory), new wave revival (The Blips, The Blusterfields), country tinges (The Tubs, Rachel Angel), and straight up melodic rock (Richard Turgeon, Dave Kuchler). Long may the LP reign in what’s left of the rock and roll universe.

But there’s more. The ongoing revival of the extended play record format has led to this list, Poprock Record’s must-have EPs from 2023:

1. Strange Neighbors Party of None
2. Joe Dillilo Superhero Star
3. Super 8 The Plus 4 EP #1
4. Dolour Sun on my Brain
5. Hearts Apart Bang! Wrong Again
6. Jose’s Bad Day Hi! Let’s Eat
7. Cal Rifkin Better Luck Next Year

The Strange Neighbors EP was hands down my favourite thing about 2023. It brought back a familiar teenage rush of excitement that used to accompany the discovery of something so cool and earworm addictive it just had to be played over and over. Also cool was Joe Dillilo’s oh-so smooth collection of songs, which saw him transitioning from behind the mixing board to the spotlight with ease. And what about Super 8’s alter ego project The Plus 4? An absolute jangle blast. EPs can be such a concentrated blast of melodic goodness, leaving you wanting more.

Before you go there’s one more album we’ve got to highlight. It’s a record so good we had to give it the special award of awesome poprock merit for 2023:

The Flashcubes Pop Masters

As I wrote in the original review, Pop Masters gives you “12 new wave era should-have-been hits, stylishly re-energized” and “celebrates what might-have-been with selections from bands that should have broken big but didn’t.” But the band don’t just celebrate the great songs of bands like The Pezband, The Spongetones, The Paley Brothers and The Shoes, they share the spotlight with them in what amounts to a series of power pop band duets. Let’s face it, this project could have gone very wrong. But again, from the original review, the “results are a pumped up, adrenaline-fueled romp through a host of power pop classics … where every cut is a highlight …” Believe the hype. The Flashcubes are, indeed, pop[rock] masters.

Spend some time with these LPs and EPs and I think you’ll agree, melodic rock and roll is in good health if not wealth. But you can help change that for the price of triple shot latte from your favourite beverage store. Go on, skip the coffee queue and click the links to these artists.

Photo courtesy Chris Friese Flikr collection.

Breaking news: The Parlophonics, Diners, The Goods, and The Foreign Films

15 Saturday Jul 2023

Posted by in Breaking News

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My news team takes a creative approach in defining just what is ‘breaking’ or not. Some of our acts have just come out with their new release while others hit the racks a while back. Needless to say, they are all ‘breaking’ to somebody somewhere. We’re going with that.

Words like ‘lush’ and ‘exquisite’ come to mind as you play through The Parlophonics dynamic second long-player Dying of the Light. This is sophisticated poppy rock of the highest order. Opening cut “Fill My Sky” sets the stage, mixing strings and sitars to create an eastern-influenced tapestry of sounds, punctuated by a few David Gilmour-worthy lead guitar solos. The ambience reminds me of Lord Huron’s Long Lost sound. That vibe is also definitely present on “Heaven Can Wait,” this album’s obvious should-be hit single. But this record defies easy categorization. Tracks like “Reading Kerouac” change things up, exuding a Style Council peppiness. So too “These Days” is light sunny pop. Contrast that to the sombre folk pop feel on “Believe in Something,” “The Dying of the Light” and “Paper Smile.” Then again I can’t help but hear a strong 1970s pop tradition here too, falling somewhere between Fleetwood Mac and Abba on cuts like “Underneath the Blue Sky” and “Song for a Lost Friend,” the former riding a seductive, hooky lead guitar lick and glossy vocals while the latter hits the chord changes hard, accompanied by a wall of vocals sing-along style.  More rocky pop gets a look in on the album closer “Staring at the Sun,” the slight Oasis vibe unmistakeable. Despite all this variety Dying of the Light has a coherent sonic stamp to it. It’s a record-of-the-year list no brainer.

Diners new album Domino has an edgier, rockier feel to it compared to 2020’s Leisure World. I really liked Leisure World but I’m loving this new sound. You can definitely hear the influence of producer Mo Troper pushing the treble to the edge, both on guitar and vocals. Opening cut “Working on My Dreams” clearly signals this shift, slinging guitar chords with a real rock and roll swing. From there this new intensity takes different forms, like a rockier Apples in Stereo sound on “Domino,” a bit of Latin hustle in “So What,” or some straight-up Velvets strut on “Someday I’ll Go Surfing.” Half way through the record “The Power” lands with a thump. This is slicker, poppier bit of business, definitely the should-be hit single. The rocky impact here can be subtle. “I Don’t Think About You” is a more stripped-down affair but still the guitar rings out with emphasis, effectively framing the more lofi vocals. The album does include examples of Diners more classic curio, low-key pop material with songs like “Wisdom” and “Painted Pictures.” Personal fave – “From My Pillow.” This track bubbles with a rocky pop energy akin to bands like The Friends of Cesar Romero. With Domino Diners have definitely come out swinging and they don’t miss.

Oakland’s The Goods are the power pop shot in the arm you’ve been longing for. Their new self-titled EP The Goods is a 4 song blast of poppy rock goodness clearly drawing from indie stars like The Jam and Matthew Sweet and in step with more recent acts like The Rubs and Uni Boys. “David Jones is Dead” leans in with some Cheap Trick heavy guitar but quickly the song’s hooks overpower everything. By contrast, the lead guitar carrying “Dear Angeline” is light and poppy and delightful. “I’m Not the Only One” has a more Replacements rocky pop vibe. “Hear Me” sounds like it falls somewhere between Matthew Sweet and Marshall Crenshaw. Trust me, you need to get The Goods. My only complaint is, just four songs? Really? A full of album with this power pop template is a sure-fire winner.

Hamilton’s The Foreign Films celebrate the many flavours of 1970s AM pop on their recent record Magic Shadows. The whole affairs feels like a celebration, sponsored by Jeff Lynne. Seriously, kick off track “Cinema Girl” has a very ELO stamp, with a hint of early Springsteen stream-of-consciousness vocals. The ELO vibes carry though the album on a host of songs like “Rain Clouds (Sunshine in Your Heart),” “Midnight Movies,” and “Time Machine.” There are departures, of course. I agree with Sweet Sweet Music’s take on “Perfect Future” as a song that sounds like a marriage of Sparks and Roy Orbison. Or there’s the Hollies stamp on “Sparks in The Dark (Merry-Go-Round)” right down to the hooky lead guitar line and harmony vocals. Then “Cosmic Lover” cranks up the glam machine, vibing very “Spirit in the Sky” big guitar hooks. “Into the Light” could easily be a Tom Petty deep cut. “Daydream in the Sun (UFO Radio)” is an updated 1950s style vamp. Magic Shadows is an eminently playable slab of poppy rock – turn it on and let your cares drift away.

In terms of killer melodic rock, you’re sort of all caught up. Well, actually, no. There’s tons more to discover. You’ll just have to wait for film at 11.

Photo courtesy James Vaughn Flikr page.