Guitar Pop For Now People—Part 24
10 Recent Tracks + Music Reviewers/Publications (+ Playlist)
Below are 10 tracks to get your late January juices flowing.
As always, we’ve included a song by each featured artist and a link to a review about a recent release from a trusted publication. Give these tracks a listen, click through to support the music writers, and share it far and wide.
PLUS: The comprehensive Guitar Pop For Now People Spotify and YouTube playlists are at the bottom of the page.
⚡️ What Are Your Favorite Tracks Below? 💥
10 Recent Tracks and Music Reviewers/Publications
“Soaked in sun-dappled, chiming 12-string Rickenbacker guitar, and swooning, but haunted harmonies, with lyrics that showcase a poet’s bruised romanticism, Luther Russell’s seventh solo album, Happiness for Beginners, is a stunning slice of soaring power pop.”—Stephen Canavan, Louder Than War
“The early, more rough-house pop sound of Burgess Meredith sounds like it has been put through a Beatles filter and what has come out on their latest LP Person Hat is very Abbey Road with a dash of seventies solo Paul McCartney. I mean, LP opener ‘Nowhere’ is so Macca it hurts. In a good way.”—Dennis Pilon, Poprock Record
“I have skipped every release from these early aughts trailblazers since 2005’s You Could Have It So Much Better, but I remain cautiously optimistic despite (because of?) some of the singles tipping precariously close to the Electric Light Orchestra line.”—Gabbie, New Bands for Old Heads
“Former Joanna Gruesome members Lan McArdle and Owen Williams (also of The Tubs) are back with another Ex-Vöid album, which proves their chemistry is still intact. In Love Again explores an astounding range of styles very effectively, even shoehorning in a Lucinda Williams cover (‘Lonely Girls’) for good effect.”—David Coleman, The Perfect Prescription
“With their debut LP Just Fine, Altersense have perfected guitar pop. Every song on here feels like it could be a hit, and in a better world they all would be.”—Zac Djamoos, The Alternative
“If the song sounds familiar, it is because it was initially by pop-folk sixties sensation The Seekers but if their rendition is one of clean-limbed guitar lines, understated beats, and gorgeous vocal textures, Partners in Crime turns it into a sort of proto-punk/garage rock take on the original.”—Dave Franklin, Big Takeover
“Come On In compiles standout tracks from the band's back catalog along with three brand-new songs to create a true representation of the very best of The On and Ons. Needless to say, the album is stacked with hits.”—Lord Rutledge, Faster and Louder
“Even though there’s a pessimistic streak to Prism Shores’ lyrics, it hardly shows itself in the music of opening track ‘Overplayed My Hand,’ an all-hands-on-deck, surging jangle pop beginning.”—Rosy Overdrive
“It's the original lineup…who really deliver a rousing cut here in ‘Out Of My Head.’ Alexander and Cola's guitars tangle perfectly while the rhythm section does its thing (and very well I might add).”—Tim Hinely, Daggerzine
“These guys are great. Melbourne musicians Van Walker (Swedish Magazines/Livingstone Daisies) and Mic Hubbard (Spencer P. Jones/Ella Hooper/Downhills Home) created Hexham Heads out of a love of loud guitars and hooky pop melodies.”—Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic
About halfway through the “guitar pop for now people” playlist. I like putting on unfamiliar playlists and see what jumps out to me.
Only one song so far stuck out - turns out it was Dilemma Green Day. Was never a huge Green Day fan. Bought Dookie when it came out, but that was it.
Dilemma stuck out (just my opinion) because the production is far superior to almost all of the other tunes. Which would be expected I guess.
I think much of the trouble with the smaller artists is that while the songs are ok the production kinda sucks. Flat and lifeless.
I don’t know. Just a thought.
I really dug the Burgess Meredith track. I also had Luther Russell on my radar and I guess I need to bump that up the queue. I wasn't sure about the new Franz Ferdinand, but that track has inspired me to check that album out too. Already onto Ex-Void and Prism Shores. Oh, the Hexham Heads track was cool too.