Guitar Pop For Now People—Part 2

20 Recent Tracks + Music Reviewers/Publications

Give the people what they want.

Last month I posted an article featuring 20 recent guitar pop tracks along with review quotes and links from a few music writers and publications that I think everybody should know about. It was one of my most opened and shared posts since launching this newsletter in January, thankyouverymuch.

Turns out music-lovers want more new music. And who can blame them?

Lucky for all of us there’s no shortage of fantastic power pop, indie rock, alternative, punk, and rock and roll being released around the world these days.

This was part of my previous post, but bears repeating:

Any good scene is a thriving eco-system where talented artists deliver the songs, and dedicated music lovers help spread the word. Let’s support all of them to make this current guitar pop golden age glow even brighter.

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20 Recent Tracks and Music Reviewers/Publications

Do you have artists, songs, publications or newsletters to recommend? Join the conversation in the comments.

“Rarely does a song so easily intertwine diametrically opposed genres—’Lauren’ goes from a pop confection one second to a punk anthem the next. It features a pristine combo of guitar and vocals, screaming harmonies, blistering drums, and enough dynamic shifts to make your head spin with delight.” —Josh Terzino, Music-Defined

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“Influences are numerous on this one. ‘Not Good Enough For Me’ is propelled by a Buddy Holly beat while ‘Come On Jaan’ channels the reckless abandon of The Fleshtones. One can hear The Who in parts of ‘No Love Lost.’ —Richard Rossi, Power Pop News 

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“‘For You To Sing’ is a jangly slow-roller that sounds like something the Byrds might have recorded in Bob Pollard’s basement. The guitar action on this one is insane.” —Chris DeVille, Stereogum

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“(T)he new album refines the band's signature sound, moving towards the world of glam-stompin' garage rock and hopeless romantic power pop.”—Joe Massaro, Paperface Zine

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“If you don’t know the band yet and you are into pop punk or punky power pop, you’ll be in for a treat. And what better way to start than with the band’s latest release called ‘Coming Out Swinging’—just in time for the start of the Baseball season.” —Niek, Add To Wantlist

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“If Little Steven’s Underground Garage is your jam, The Cynz are definitely in your wheelhouse. A New York band riding that electric wire of ’70s glam and punk based on sharp guitars and distinct melodic hooks, but with a powerhouse front woman.” —Zane Ewton, Rock At Night

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“If you can’t wait ‘till summer either, cue up this track and dance like no one’s looking, even if you’re at work (wait ‘till you’re clocked out for break, though)!” —Klemen Breznikar, It’s Psychedelic Baby

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“For all 14 minutes, this EP radiates an essential mix of forward momentum and intangible excitement. To some extent it’s the production quality—appropriately lo-fi without sacrificing quality, something steeped earnestly in ‘80s post-punk. It’s also their inherent style: “Grid Stress’ blurs some essential motifs (rock ‘n’ roll excess, tight structures, and extra hip cynicism). This thing rides like a turbo-charged ‘88 DeVille covered in graffiti.” —Chris Coplan, Merry-Go-Round Magazine

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“At his most traditionally jangly, psyche-laden tracks such as As The Crow Flies, Wander On, and Sunset, revel in the musicianship and ideas of tracks that juxtapose jangle-pop, folk-pop, psyche, and the most brilliantly subtle twanging riffs to take his music in the cleanest direction ever.” —Darrin Lee, JanglePopHub

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“As bright and shiny as the band has ever been, ‘In My Head’ is pure power pop the likes of which I haven’t heard since the original wave of the genre in the mid-1970s. With chiming guitar lines and a gentle push-and-pull between simple rhythms and complex chord changes, ‘In My Head’ has quite a bit of intrigue stuffed into just three minutes.” —Tyler Golsen, Far Out Magazine

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“Mike conjures up a sonic film strip against a framework of music that creates tension, pushes emotional buttons. The incredible guitar shapes pushed along by gentle dissonance sounds so artful within the context of this genre hybrid with dramatic build ups and striking down beats.” —Zak Casaar, American Pancake

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“‘Kiss and Tell’ is two-and-a-half minutes of absolutely perfect pop. This song sounds like '70s power pop by way of the later '60s, and it's an ear-pleaser in every respect. The melody running throughout the song is so exquisitely tuneful that I still find it running through my head long after the music stops.” —Lord Rutledge, Faster Louder

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“The rawer production also encourages ‘The Neverland of Spoken Things’ and ‘Off You Go Redux!’ to become the loudest and grungiest rock and roll the band has produced yet. It’s hardly a radical shift in musical philosophy, but it’s enough to give Future Strangers an extra punch that puts a new spin on the standard twirl..” —Michael Toland, Big Takeover

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“Where are the screeching amps, fists-in-the-air chorus bellows or power pop hooks—immovable objects once entrenched into your brain? Rock music hit all these tropes on the airwaves at the turn of the century, and it needs that joy again. Kentucky’s White Reaper seek to replenish it while living up to their name: a bright facade for a rip roaring, flame-fueled brand of garage rock.” —Elliot Burr, Treble

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“Curio pop songster Gregory Pepper has declared his brand new seventh album will be his last. No Thanks is dubbed a funeral march full of ‘brooding resentment and alienation bubbling below the sprightly melodies.’ …‘I Just Called to Say I Hate You’ opens with a riff that sounds like a variation on Nik Kershaw’s ‘Wouldn’t It Be Good’ but with added menace.” —Dennis Pilon, Poprock Record

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“Looking for a little punk pop in your life? France’s Les Lullies new single ‘Zero Ambition’ is an advance of their new album Mauvaise Foi out May 19th. The band plays it hard with nods to rock and punk influences both new and old (Ramones, D4, The Saints, The Real Kids, The Records, MC5).” —Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic

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“‘Weird Sisters’ is a swirling, melodic mess in the best way possible. It’s got gobs of whitewater washing over you and you can’t seem to wipe that grin off your face.  I hear keyboards and I think violin in there and I really like Rubenstein’s yearning vocals. This one is a Grade-A winner.” —Tim Hinely, Daggerzine

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“Amsterdam bluff and rambunctious indie pop have often proved to be a winning combination, but rarely have you heard so much fun as here. Big Love Blanket is new, refreshing, cheeky and wild.” —Patrick Donders, Sweet Sweet Music Blog

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“How do you define a quartet that are equally at home with Americana, Noise Rock, Power Pop, New Wave, 70's Pop Rock, Country and even Pop Punk? The answer is you don't try. But that still doesn't help listeners who hear their first song and the second is nothing like it. Thankfully, digital and FM Stations have picked up on them at last.” —Don Valentine, I Don’t Hear A Single

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“Listen to the compelling riff on ‘No Shame.’ The success of power pop depends on compelling riffs, but after sixty years, what’s left to discover? Plenty, as The Stayawakes confirm.” —Mike Baron, Bloody Red Baron/Pop Geek Heaven

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Remember The Lightning—A Guitar Pop Journal

A new semi-annual music journal featuring some of today's best music writers on modern guitar pop, and talented modern artists on the music/genres that inspire them.

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Exclusive contributions:

James Goodson (of Dazy) on Being Power Pop-Adjacent

Annie Zaleski on the Beths

Mo Troper on Chris Bell's "I Am The Cosmos"

Rob Nesbitt (of the Suitesixteen) on the Exploding Hearts

S.W. Lauden on the Whiffs (Our debut cover models!)

Mary E. Donnelly on Sloan

John M. Borack on Juniper

Paul Myers on Tinted Windows

Mike Randle on Popsicko's Off to a Bad Start

David Laing on Power Pop's Country Roots

PLUS: Custom Cover Art By Brian Walsby

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