Guitar Pop For Now People—Part 25
10 Recent Tracks + Music Reviewers/Publications (+ Playlist)
No way around it: My year got off to a truly terrible start.
But discovering new music—like the ten fantastic tracks below—always gives me a momentary escape from the day-to-day realities of our current situation.
This installment in the GPFNP series includes recent tracks from a few longtime favorites (The Speedways, Kurt Baker), some new-to-me acts (The Tubs, zzzahara, Duane Hoover), and a great mix of guitar pop variations including power, indie, and punk. There’s even a dash of guitar heroism courtesy of Joe Giddings.
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 songs 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
“The band, now a trio, hits that power pop sweet spot just right. And of course that chorus is absolute perfection. Given the long wait for new Speedways material, my expectations were sky-high. But ‘Visiting Hours’ is everything I wanted a new Speedways song to be and then some.”—Lord Rutledge, Fast and Louder
“Putting power pop maestro Kurt Baker together with Wyatt Funderburk was always going to make for an ear-catching experience. Baker’s new release ‘Warm in the Winter’ is hooks at every turn, all sleek and shiny pop laced with plenty of rock edge.”—Dennis Pilon, Poprock Record
“(Y)ou are guaranteed to find more than a few gems here. In fact, the batting average is very high. While some songs are interesting, like ‘S1 E1’ with its Russian klezmer style, I tended to stick with more traditional power pop oriented tracks like ‘Situation Change,’ ‘Fine Line,’ and ‘Shuttlecock.’”—Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic
“Ultraviolet knows how to kick things off with the ‘hits’; the opening title track is as catchy as can be, imagining a lost Beach Boys track being played through enthusiastically by a lo-fi basement power pop band.”—Rosy Overdrive
“They are a Scottish power pop band, in the mode of Teenage Fanclub, and I was a fan of their 2023 album, The Wireless Revolution. This one is even better. It starts with ‘Left Behind,’ which is brimming with ringing guitars, wonderful harmonies, and a melody to sing along with.”—Justin Steiner, Shooflypie
“‘Chain Reaction’ jumps out of the gate and the most distinct thing about the song is Owen ‘O’ Williams's vocals (some folks have compared him to a younger Richard Thompson) while the rest of the band blitzes forth...”—Tim Hinely, Dagger Zine
“Enduring prolonged inauthenticity is exhausting, and it shows on the record. While there’s no shortage of jangly tunes, a haunting sadness clouds them as if zzzahara’s anger has lost its heat from being angry for so long.”—Dom Lepore, Merry Go Round
“With ‘Love Letters’ the Columbia, SC, emos have crafted one of their catchiest and biggest songs yet, a four-minute rumination on failed relationships and lost futures.”—Zac Djamoos, The Alternative
“‘All Over Again’ might sound more like late-‘60s West London rather than modern-day Atlanta, but that is the whole point. Such music doesn’t have to stay stuck in its moment, and, given a neat reimagining and a smart polish, it can have another bite of the cherry, as the saying goes”—Dave Franklin, Big Takeover
“If you’re a fanatic about the monster hooks, harmonies and unforgettable guitars that gave power pop bands their 15 minutes of fame, you don’t want to miss this one.”—Richard Rossi, Power Pop News
"Visiting Hours" had me immediately smiling. I hear a little bit of "That Thing You Do" by the Oneders which means I'm hearing some Wayne Schlesinger. Awesome.
Another great list! Thanks for including me.