Review - Tony Cox, "Unpublished"

When I listen to music like this, I feel like I've discovered time travel. Tony Cox is like a musical Dr. Frankenstein. He got his masters degree in 60's Sunshine Pop, with a minor in modern stylings. On his debut album "Unpublished", the harmonies are vintage, the hooks are aplenty, and the performances are spot on.

Hailing from the UK, the sound represented here is inspired by both sides of the pond. You would almost swear this were a collaboration between Brian Wilson and John Lennon. But where others have failed in recreating that glorious sound, Tony Cox succeeds in updating it for the kids of today. I'm certain that "Fallen" is a lost Beatles recording. Tony has raided the Lennon family vaults and stolen an undiscovered demo. Although the previous statement in completely false, it's hard to imagine another explanation. It's soaring melody and jangly guitars are unmistakably "fab". "Sacred Woman" is similarly steeped in British Invasion territory. The harmonies and lyrical content displayed on this track would bring The Zombies back from the dead. The same can be said for the majority of the tunes found on this sparkly disc. It is refreshing to be able to listen to an album made in 2009 that marries itself so lovingly with 60's Power Pop.

It is worth mentioning the band's genetic makeup. Tony Cox wrote the lyrics and music in it's entirety, but he does not sing on the record. Lead vocal duties were instead given to Nigel Clark, who's voice at times reflects fellow Power Pop fetish artist Brendan Benson. Truly though, this is the work of a team that above all enjoys creating well written pop songs. The Shins may have got the ball rolling, but if god is willing and the sea don't rise, Tony Cox will find his place in the Power Pop spotlight. They don't make 'em like they used to, but he certainly does.

MODERN POWER POP RATING : 4/5

Beatles' Catalog Remasters Coming September 9th

From Billboard - Beatles' catalog has been digitally re-mastered for the first time for worldwide CD release on Sept. 9, according to a joint statement from Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music. But there has still been no announcement about the Beatles' music becoming available to purchase via download stores, despite constant speculation about a digital licensing agreement for the legendary British band's repertoire. "Discussions regarding the digital distribution of the catalog will continue," according to the statement. The 12 Beatles albums and the "Magical Mystery Tour" soundtrack (originally released as an EP in the U.K.) will be re-issued to coincide with the release of "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game. Each of the CDs includes expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos, and for a limited period each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. Two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released on Sept. 9. The albums have been re-mastered at EMI's Abbey Road Studios in London over a four-year period, utilizing state of the art recording technology alongside vintage studio equipment, "carefully maintaining the authenticity and integrity of the original analog recordings," according to the statement. It will be the first time that the first four Beatles albums will be available in stereo in their entirety on CD. The "Past Masters Vol. I" and "Past Masters Vol. II" compilations have also been combined as one CD title. All 14 Beatles titles, along with a DVD collection of the documentaries, will also be available in a stereo box set. The documentaries contain archive footage, rare photographs and never-before-heard studio conversations from the Beatles. A second boxed set, "The Beatles in Mono," gathers together all of the Beatles recordings that were mixed for a mono release. It will contain 10 of the albums with their original mono mixes, plus two further discs of mono masters, featuring a similar track listing to the "Past Masters" compilation.

Review - Fastball, "Little White Lies"

Has it really been over ten years? In 1998, Fastball was riding high on a wave of adult alternative popularity with their hit single "The Way". If The Wallflowers and Matchbox Twenty were like Paul McCartney and Wings, Fastball was more akin to The Beatles. They somehow managed to cut through the crap, producing unapologetic melodic rock that was both vintage and modern sounding. How they never managed to hold onto a large fan base or retain a steady flow of hits is unknown, but one thing is for sure... this trio can still write a damn good song, or twelve.

In 2009, popular music has said goodbye to quality and hello to mediocrity. If one wishes to find good music today, one must dig deep. That said, if the rock and roll Gods are kind to Fastball, the public won't get too dirty. "Little White Lies", the bands fifth studio album, is perhaps the groups most focused and hit worthy release thus far. Taking a page from every great power pop band that's come before them, lead singer/songwriters Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo provide harmonies to die for. On the opening number, "All I Was Looking For Was You", the duo has written the best song of their careers. It's a breezy number that recalls all the reasons why we listen to music in our car, with the windows down. From there the band morphs into something altogether different, yet amazingly the same. "Always Never" is just another step forward in the ever evolving sound of the band. It's here where the studio trickery of both Miles Zuniga and C.J. Eiriksson comes into full effect. Midway through the album, Tony Scalzo provides his signature song "How Did I Get Here?", a recollection of lost love and the obsession that it can become. "Angelie" features Miles on lead vocal duties. If music could provide an aroma, this song would smell like the sweat in a sauna. It's oh so hot, and oh so captivating, both lyrically and musically. In true Elvis Costello fashion, "Rampart Street" glimmers. Clocking in at only two minutes, its over before you know it, but it feels just right.

The same can be said about the whole album. After only 40 minutes of music, you're quite willing and ready for another listen. This is Power Pop in it's purest form and should not be overlooked by those weary of the band's "90's" label. Fastball is in top form here, and in a perfect world, they'd get the recognition they deserve. But as history has already proved, that won't stop these Austin TX rockers from making great music.

MODERN POWER POP RATING : 4.5/5

MP3 DOWNLOAD - "Little White Lies"

Pixies Confirm European Tour Dates

From Billboard - The Pixies return to action this summer with a series of European concert dates, including a June 14 appearance at the Isle of Wight festival with Neil Young, Billboard has confirmed. The gigs will be the first for the alternative rock standard-bearers since 2007, dispelling doubts that the group's most recent hiatus was permanent. Further details about the additional European shows will be released soon. No North American gigs are planned, according to Billboard's sources.

The Pixies reunited in 2004 after an 11-year break. From 2004-2007, the group toured throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia, including appearances at the Coachella, Lollapalooza, and Sasquatch festivals. The reunion was the subject of the 2006 documentary, "loudQuietloud: A Film About the Pixies."

In 2006, the group's Frank Black told Billboard that he had written new songs for the band and tried to convince reticent bassist Kim Diehl to consider making a new Pixies record, to no avail. But, he said, his own heart wasn't in it either. "I tried to find my Pixies muse and write a so-called Pixies number," he said, "but they just weren't any good. They sounded a little contrived or something. That's the problem with trying to repeat something you did a long time ago; if you go 'Okay, I'm gonna try to recreate something, tap into some mood I used years ago,' even if it's the same songwriter, it's kind of fakey."

Carlos, Hanson, Iha, and Schlesinger are Tinted Windows

Taylor Hanson is best known as a member of Hanson, the multi-million-selling trio of brothers from Tulsa who have been recording and touring since 1992. James Iha was one of the original members of the Smashing Pumpkins, and has also been a member of A Perfect Circle and a solo artist. Adam Schlesinger is in the bands Fountains Of Wayne and Ivy. Bun E. Carlos is the drummer of the legendary Cheap Trick, with whom he has played since the group's inception in 1974.

The band will be making several appearances at the upcoming South By Southwest Festival in March. They will also perform select club shows starting this spring, and will appear at the Bamboozle festival at New Jersey's Meadowlands. A performance on The Late Show With David Letterman is scheduled for April 20th. More dates will be announced shortly.

Taylor and Adam first crossed paths in the mid-Nineties and stayed friends ever since. "Taylor and I had always talked about trying to do something together," says Schlesinger, "maybe write some songs, or play some shows - something." Meanwhile, James' and Adam's respective bands had toured together, and the two have been collaborating on various projects for years, including guesting on each others' records, producing other groups together, running indie label Scratchie Records and co-owning a recording studio in Manhattan.

James, Adam and Taylor started kicking around the idea of writing and recording some songs that would set Taylor's unmistakable voice against some loud guitars. They also talked about fusing the sounds of power-pop, rock and New Wave of the late 70's and early 80's, which they all loved, with the more modern rock and pop sounds of their own groups. "We talked about everything from from The Buzzcocks to The Knack," says Iha. "And, of course, Cheap Trick."

When discussing possible drummers to round out the group, they thought, according to Taylor, "Who do we know that can play drums like Bun E. Carlos?" They ran through a list of names, before realizing the obvious. Both the Pumpkins and Fountains Of Wayne had shared stages with Cheap Trick over the years. Figuring it was a long shot, but worth a try, they got in touch with Bun E. and asked if they could send him a few song demos. Much to their delight and surprise, he was into it, and agreed to come to New York to work with them. Explains Bun E., "The songs are great and I'm honored to be a part of Tinted Windows."

The result is a stripped-down, high-energy record that combines the strengths and identifiable styles of all four members, and yet doesn't really sound like anything else any of the four has done elsewhere. And with three of the four band members contributing songs, there is a real band vibe in the diversity of the material. They have shot videos for two songs on the album already, with plans to do more in the coming weeks.

S-Curve Founder/CEO Steve Greenberg noted: "When we first heard about Tinted Windows, we were intrigued by the lineup, since we've done projects with most members of the band in the past. But when we heard the music, we were absolutely blown away. This album is going to make a lot of music lovers very happy and we're honored to help bring it to the world."

The debut album by Tinted Windows will be released April 21st on S-Curve Records.

For more info, go to myspace.com/tintedwindows or tintedwindowsmusic.com

Review - Badfinger, "Wish You Were Here"

The bizarre tragedies that surround the Badfinger story are prerequisites for this release. Steadfast and loyal to a manipulative manager (Stan Polley); Pete Hamm, Tom Evans, Joey Molland, and Mike Gibbins recorded Wish You Were Here, arguably the greatest album of the band's short lived career. Pulled from store shelves almost as fast as it arrived, this masterpiece has become somewhat of a lost treasure. Fans know that had it been given a leg to stand on, the boys in Badfinger might have had a happy ending. As it turned out, Stand Polley had stolen $100,000 from a Warner Bros. escrow account, leaving Badfinger in litigation and desperation. In 1975, after months of growing mental illness brought on by depression, Pete Hamm hung himself in his garage studio. He left behind a pregnant wife and a musical legacy that still inspires people to this day.

Badfinger disbanded. In 1983, after numerous unsuccessful reunion attempts, Tom Evans took the same route and hung himself in his wife's garden. Thus, the most tragic story in rock and roll history came to a close.

"The only thing that can't be sold is love."

If power pop was forged from the muse of Badfinger, despite the relative "happy" nature of the genre, it's foundation is steeped in sadness. Listening to Wish You Were Here is bittersweet, but mostly sweet. It is an album that can be mentioned in the same breath as Sgt. Pepper, Pet Sounds, or Who's Next, but it never will achieve such status. For now, it will always remain a gift to those willing to listen and love.

MODERN POWER POP RATING: 5/5

Know One Knows - Badfinger

Review - Everybody Else, "Everybody Else"

When I think of power pop as a genre in the year 2009, there is one band that immediately comes to mind. Everybody Else are a trio of rock and roll alumni. The two chief songwriters in this California rock outfit both strengthened their pop chops in previous bands. In the 90's, lead singer Carrick Moore Gerety was playing to screaming Japanese teenagers in The Push Kings, while drummer Mikey McCormack was mastering 3-part harmonies with The Waking Hours. How either of these brilliant groups never achieved US notoriety is beyond me, but an artists musical journey is a long one, and these guys have what it takes.

Ditching their old bands and staring anew, Everybody Else combines the best of what both bands had to offer. On their 2007 debut self-titled album, the band provides the soundtrack to any 20-something's life. The bitter taste of love lost in a vacuum is how I would describe these tunes. So much hopefulness, with so much hope, yet so much disappointment. The first single and opening track, "Meat Market", sets the tone for the next 42 minutes.

"So don't go falling in love with me.
You should be digging the scenery.
You should be reading the sign overhead
Says that this is a meat market."

So as it turns out, Carrick Moore Gerety has had his fill. The irony in all this scorn is that most of it ends up sounding extremely happy in it's execution. A better sing along chorus would be hard to find these days, but Everybody Else seems to have them in high supply. Towards the end of the record, Gerety admits that his heartache and pain are directly related to his own actions. The song "Button For Punishment" contains one of my favorite lyrics.

"You really are a torturess, my girl.
An audience that isn't impressed.
You are my button for punishment,
That I push until i'm satisfied."

The bottom line here is that while the rest of the nation listens to the latest sleaze rock from Nickelback and Theory Of A Deadman, talented bands like Everybody Else remain unnoticed. Do yourself a favor and listen to these guys.

MODERN POWER POP RATING: 4/5

Best Friend - Everybody Else