Listening To This Week Playlist

 

Listening To This Week has hit its second year. How time flies! Initially set up for this Album Review site to pay attention to the great singles around, it has become surprisingly popular and is probably the most work we do here with all the listening and compiling.

We are still an Album review site, but what LTTW has done is bring a whole new audience to I Don't Hear A Single and this audience is as equally engaged as our regular followers and they listen to the archive here. So we win all around. IDHAS is as popular as ever and new artists get the chance to bring their music to a very interested audience.

27 songs this week. There is no song preference in track order, just what we think flows.  I do hope that you can listen to all the songs across this week. The last listed is as great as the first and you have all week to listen.

This weekly playlist is solely for submissions, not the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here.

Steven Wright-Mark - Change

Perry Moon Band - Sounds Of The City

The Sonic Redemption - Johnny23

M'Grasker - She’s Drugs

Fresh Art - Come In Waves

Transistors - High Hopes

The Violet Parade - Soldier

The Regulars - Wastin' Away

War & Peace Party - Maggie Knows

Papa Satch - I'll Be There

Tonight's Hero - Nothing New Under the Sun

The Pierce Kingans - Procrastination

Makeshift Stopgap - After the Storm

Megayacht - Caviar Eyes

The Avelons - Blondie

Dream On - Flashing Blade

Stanmore - Waiting

Camping Lagon - Slotche

Joe Nacco - Who You Once Were

Zach Madden - Patience

Juppe - Andy, I Have Your Lighter

The Fourth Wall - Never A Part

Mortigi Tempo - Full Sail Vertigo

Shoulder Season - Why Would I?

Carl Dolphin - Head Gasket

Psychic Shakes - Little One

Sherbet Tone - Late Summer's Eve (Rustling Leaves)

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The World Famous - Totally Famous

 

Imagine that Not Lame still produced a newsletter and list of new releases. If so then this debut album would certainly feature heavily. The Los Angeles five piece nail the 90s Pop Rock that we know and love. If I tell you that three of the five are guitarists, you will know that you are in for a treat.

There used to be a cascade of this type of sound, but year by year, that market seems to have dried up into a trickle. Think prime time Fountains Of Wayne, mid period Teenage Fanclub and many that drifted at the edges of the 90s Power Pop Revival.

There is also a West Coast mellow rock vibe on more than one occasion and nods towards the great UK 70s Pop Rock albums. There is also a tendency to change genres part way through a song which is fascinating and splendid.

For instance, Delinquents starts all Weezer and then unexpectedly turns into something more 70s Country Rock. This sort of thing just adds to the enjoyment and variety and there is plenty of variety. Hollywood Pawn has massive hints of prime time UK Glam Rock. 

Lipstick Trick is 70s Melodic Pop to a tee, Heartburst is even a little Lemonheads with dashes of modern day TFC and Love Song For A Lost Friend mixes 90s Slacker Rock with big heaps of Classic Rock and reminds me a lot of a rocked up Dropkick.

There's also a real wit in many of the lyrics when they could easily use the throwaway I Love You type in other hands. There's also a real Jangle Pop joy about Danvers Opening. In future years, this will be looked upon as one of the great debut Pop Rock albums. I'm a bit confused about the album cover though, seems more Metal than Guitar Pop. 

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is also available on Cassette which is a format that I don't intend to return to as I haven't got enough pencils at IDHAS House.

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Odd Robot - Deathmates

 

I've reviewed the last two Odd Robot albums and still absolutely love both. You can read my words on 2017's A Late Night Panic here and 2018's Amnesiastic here. The latter appeared high up in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year.

After the rapid turnaround of those two albums, it has been five years since for the latest. There are still some who refer to them as a Pop Punk when there has been little inkling of that for a while. Amnesiastic was really a New Wave Power Pop album.

2023 sees a much wider remit. The Power Pop is still alive and well, but there are additional journeys at times into 80s Guitar Pop with killer keyboard riffs and American Rock and Roll in an American Grafiti (or if you prefer Porky's!) soundtrack sort of way.

Songs are largely on the short side, not in a run out of ideas way, but in a say what you want to say and move on to the next song. What is key is that every song glistens with melody and sheer catchiness. I can't pick out any dud amongst the 17 songs. 

This makes it hard to pick out individual gems as you can miss out equal joy, I know I bang on about the liberal use of the word fuck in songs for no apparent reason, but You're A Fucking Nightmare is a gem of a song, all riff and charm in a poppier Green Day way.

Second Hand Noose is great singalong twanging affair whilst Let's Start This Over has that late 50s vibe that I mentioned earlier. Anti Revolution is a great 80s Pop duet with The Bombpops Poli van Dam which has a rapid pace and a great keyboard interlude.

Fake Warm Fuzzies Are Still Warm Fuzzies is great New Wave with a real early Costello vibe and California Emptiness is a big nod to the band's roots and shorter pants days. Take A Look At Yourself, Sinner is a crackerjack Pop Rock song.

There is even room for a Big Ballad, yes I did say Big Ballad, in Alone Together In The Sand and they nail that. Lost Inside Yr Ocean is one of the best things that you will hear this year and instrumentally as a little Jeff Lynne feel.

It is really difficult to pick out individual songs as any of there will grace your record player, Santa Ana  most be very proud of this lot. No doubt at all that this will be high up in our End Of Year. It is a terrific album, Go Buy It Now!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl on the excellent Wiretap Records label here,

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The Pozers - Something Pop (Name Your Price)

 

The Pozers return for Album Number 8 and Jim Richey's scuzzed up Power Pop vehicle is in rude health.

For an album such as this, you can't get through it without a reference to Cheap Trick and Alison With An Edge is Da Trick to a tee with a false ending that completely fooled me. From the opening on the opener you know you are in for a treat.

And You Love begins all Baroque and 70s Easy Listening then bursts into a killer riff that absolutely hooks you and the quality goes on and on from that point. Make Up lands somewhere between Classic Rock and UK Glam Rock, splendidly so.

It's All About You bursts out the blocks at a rapid pace with added Thin Lizzy light riffs and adds a George Harrison 80s style. If I Asked You Once Again is a Ballad, but that doesn't tell the whole story as the Vocal is very Zappa like.

Ease Off My Heart mixes Jangle Pop with 60s UK Beat and Missing You (Missing Me) is all 60s Happy Clappy, let's do the show right here. What You Do To Me even flirts with 80s Film Soundtrack Rock. Her Facade even flirts with Doo Wop and has a real 70s UK slurred vocal.

There's even the bonus of four additional Acoustic versions from the ten songs which showcases the songs in a very different unexpected light. Something Pop isn't as in your face as previous Pozers albums and this allows Richey to show that he is far more than up and at 'em.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Diners - DOMINO

 

Diners' sixth album fully enters Power Pop after heading in that direction on the previous two with a wonderful blend of mellow 70s Pop Rock. Assisted by Power Pop maestro Mo Troper and Guitarist, Brenden Ramirez. Blue Broderick nails the genre.

There was a time that I was really noted for Power Pop, but the days are a little behind me. However this doesn't mean that I can't appreciate the genre and I can honestly still say that I know great Power Pop and this is really great Power Pop.

It has everything you need. Big choruses, killer riffs and wall to wall melody. Foot tapping singalong joy. So What veers towards the 60s and you sense a little Surf Rock trying to get out. Yet Someday I'll Go Surfing is not a bit Surf, more 70s UK Wave Pop, a song that prime time Blondie would not be ashamed of.

From My Pillow is great West Coast Bubblegum and Wisdom is almost a show song, you can even imagine Laurel And Hardy singing it. More than a little yes haw campfire. But it is the Power Pop that you hear for. 

And I don't think that you'll hear a better PP song this year than The Power. Working On My Dreams follows suit, very first half of the 80s US in feel. I Don't Think About You The Way I Used To is even bottled up Teenage Heartbreak and adds a great fuzzed up Guitar Solo.

There's even time for a big Easy Listening Pop Rock Ballad with Your Eyes Look Like Christmas. There is not a bum note in sight across the whole album. DOMINO is the sort of album that appeared regularly. Why they don't now, I know not. Splendid Stuff!

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist

 

A monster 28 songs for your listening delight. There is no song preference in track order, just what we think flows.  I do hope that you can listen to all the songs across this week. The last listed is as great as the first and you have all week to listen.

This weekly playlist is solely for submissions, not the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here.

Demob Happy – Run Baby Run

The Gold Needles - Hit The Main Drag

No Tears - Echo In My Head

Ex Norwegian - Short On The Wire

DDE's - Fracture

Steve Creep And The Wildcards - Wind Me Up

Han - Astray

Jack O' The Clock - Division Blues

Sheer Calm - Stagnant

The Artist Formally Known as Vince Band - Expiration Date

Richard E - To The Moon

Scenic Brooke West -Willow Tree Daydream 

Stephen Selski - Ames

The American Hotel System - Can You Hear It?

Penny Mob - Addicted

Conor Clements - All Good Things

Niccokick - Crazy

Jus Rus - Northeastern

Springworks - We Are Not Amused

Late Night Lies - (I Think I Love) Taylor Swift

Slut Magic - NY Trash

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The Grain Hoppers - I'm Not In My Right Mind

Gabe Chiarello - Rise, Set

The Forest Effect - Nicotine

Skye Matlock - Reminisce

Ava Della Pietra - Talk It Out

Frog - Goes w/o Saying

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Jumbo Chords - Saturday Night, Sunday Morning

 

Although emanating from bands in the second half of the 90s, there is not a hint of Brit Pop on this splendid debut album from the Leeds quartet Jumbo Chords. In fact, there is something very 60s about the band. The base camp is maybe somewhere between UK Guitar Pop and Psych Pop from that decade.

The arrangements are wonderful and complement the various genres they visit. Whether acoustic or electric, there is a real gentleness that allows you to fully appreciate the quality of the songs. The stripped down Angela is great Acoustic Folk embellished by fine harmonies.

Half As Good is outstanding Beatles Pop whilst Tipping Point is enthralling gentle Psych Pop of the highest quality. There is a seemingly deliberate lo-fi quality to proceedings and a real first take feel to the recordings, even though this may not necessarily be the case.

There is also a West Coast harmonic feel to what's on show and the understated quality just grips you. A real demonstration that you don't need bells and whistles to make a great album, just the bottle to allow the songs speak for themselves.

You can buy and listen to the album everywhere. The full 12 songs can also be listened to here.

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