Listening To This Week Playlist

 

The latest Listening To This Week is here, running as usual from Monday to Sunday. The Way the October days have fallen means that this a rare fifth in a month edition. 26 songs for you this time. 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.

Portable Radio - Absentee

No Tears - Electric Eyes

Cult Figures - Mr Producer

Zivi - Faded

Silent Forum - Here's The Email

NATL PARK SRVC - Now You See Me

Dave Cherub - Superstar

The Infinity Chamber - The Opposite Of Everything

TwoMinutesHate - Killing Me Softly With This Job

Nicke Backman - Do You Really Wanna Know

Bobby Wallisch Jr. - The Third Pill

FloodHounds - Quicksand

Reprint - Immersion

Bad Manors - State Of The Art 

Brian Lisik -& Hard Legs - Blood In Their Eyes (Feat The Bizarros) 

Waash - It Goes On

Livingmore - At Ease

EVNTYD - Suffer Me

Tom Costello And The Turnaround - Southbound

Reclining Nude - EZ$

Zoramena With Ben Vogel - Speck Of Dust

Howlin' Circus - Baghdad Blues

Swamp Music Players With Hilary Beckett - Free Conor TV

Ruiz! - Stupid Old Git!

Nolan Trotter - But With Love

Thunderclap - The Littlest Monster

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Trans-Canada Highwaymen - Explosive Hits Vol 1

 

I think the majority of you know my feelings about Tribute albums. I have a real what's the point of hearing artists perform songs that are very familiar to me when I can listen to the originals. There are exceptions, such as when a completely different take on the song is attempted.

However if anyone had asked me if I was interested in a supergroup that featured Moe Berg, Chris Murphy, Craig Northey and Steven Page, the answer, of course, would be where can I hear the album. These are from bands that have been worshipped across Anything Should Happen and here.

Our love of The Pursuit Of Happiness is unmatched and Moe Berg's Production work has featured heavily with the newer bands that we cover. Steven Page is much loved for his time in Bare Naked Ladies and in particularly The Vanity Project album with Stephen Duffy.

Chris Murphy is adored because of our beloved Sloan and we raved about the Anyway Gang album. Craig Northey's band Odds were recently reviewed here and the new album has featured heavily in the most popular reviews and still does.

This album is also different because the songs are Canadian Top 10 songs from 1969 - 1975 and so non Canadians may know some, they probably don't know them all. It was like hearing the song for the first time in some cases.

There is also the gem which is the new song " Theme From Trans-Canada Highwaymen ", the video of which is above. To suit the period, the album is designed as a K-Tel pastiche. The whole album is a joyous affair as you would expect from the people involved.

You can buy the album at the band's website here. It is also available to buy and listen to everywhere.

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Thomas Walsh - The Rest Is History

 

I first caught up with Thomas Walsh in those hazy Anything Should Happen days and it was more as fans of The Move and boy were we obsessive about all things Wood, Lynne and The Move. He introduced me to Pugwash and I was absolutely hooked.

I'm at an age where at times it's easier to stay in than go out, but I always ventured out for Pugwash, a great live band who welcomed all with bonhomie and large amounts of wit. I'd lost touch with Thomas a bit since, all my fault as I Don't Hear A Single became so all encompassing.

So it is wonderful to hear the first album under his own name. As you would expect, The Rest Is History is chocka with melodic Pop Rock, it is what the man is best at, but the mastery here is that Walsh has not lost what he excels at, but added some really interesting diversions.

Hooking up with Brent Rademaker's Curation Records has been a marriage made in heaven. This really does seem to be the year of Curation, quality follows quality. Plus seeing Michael Penn guesting on the fab Jangle Pop of Take Your Time, we really do need another album from Mr Penn.

Everyone Back In The Water is probably the standout, a cracking mix of Psych Pop and Glam Rock, it is a corking listen. On Born Of Kamchatka, you can imagine the song being played on Hawaiian Beach and Walsh manages to mix an Orbison like vocal on the verse to a Beach Boys chorus.

There's a real George Harrison feel to Man Lies Down Again which adds an ace Neil Hannon Guitar solo. Witchcraft and Tribal are words that you could use to describe This Is My Fortress, a real outlier that works wonderfully as a marked departure from all this great Pop.

A Good Day For Me is the biggest reminder of the old Pugwash days and has a chorus that is unreservedly Jeff Lynne And the closing We Knew is a real lighters out Orchestral Abbey Road special, a magnificent close to a really special album.

You can listen to the album and buy it on Vinyl, CD or as a download here.

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Portable Radio - Counting To Three

 

Portable Radio's debut album is a real favourite of ours. So good that it appeared in our Best 100 albums of 2021. It revealed a mastery of West Coast Sunshine Pop that just oozed melody and harmony. You can read the review of that self titled album here.

It is also great to see Robyn Gibson involved. The Junipers were one of the first bands that we covered all those years ago at the start of IDHAS and I loved the Bob Of The Pops adventures. Fans of Portable Radio's debut (and there are many) will not be disappointed with the follow up, quite the reverse.

Counting To Three is awash with wonderful vocal harmonies and singalong choruses with some magnificent arrangements. The vibe is still largely California 60s. Plenty have try to get this period nailed, few succeed and too many albums just wash over you in an air of nothingness. This album doesn't.

I have to direct you first to the song that the album revolves around. Absentee is an absolute crackerjack of a song. More than a little Beach Boys vocally, a killer chorus and most relevant, a baroque arrangement that is outstanding and turns piano pop into something much much more. It is a song that is worth the admission alone.

Counting To Three though enters into different genres. Where There Is Love is Disco Pop with a Philly Soul orchestral arrangement and more than a Rock Your Baby instrumental feel. Not Today is more than a little Gilbert O'Sullivan I Feel Like A Dog is McLagan like Piano Pop, part UK Glam Rock, part 70s Pop Rock.

Fancy Like Champagne is all happy clappy with a great Brass arrangement. Song for Alison & Ted is top notch 80s Indie Pop that you can imagine being an American Sitcom Theme. Live Wire is graced with an unexpected synth line that is particularly 80s.

I felt it would be difficult to better that debut album. The fact that Portable Radio have bettered it is a great credit to all. Counting To Three will certainly appeal to all the yearning Jellyfish fans out there and will be high in this year's Best 100 Albums. Absolutely Excellent!

You can listen to and buy the album on Vinyl or as a download here.

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Blueburst - Significance

 

Craig Douglas Miller reaches his 50s after two decades of battling multiple demons and a music career abandoned for those 20 years and what a debut solo album this is. The hook up with Marty Willson-Piper has resulted in a wonderful Pop Rock affair with the emphasis on Rock.

The Church hasn't been the same for me since Willson-Piper left and when Peter Koppes followed suit that was it for me after being a fan from the very early days. Miller is also congratulated because I haven't heard Marty play like this for ages. Significance is absolutely awesome,

This album is about Miller though and his second coming and although I had loved a couple of the lead up singles and added them to Listening To This Week, but even with the quality of those, I didn't expect the album to be this great. I wrongly felt that the singles would be the centrepieces, they are just part of the joy.

The album is essentially great 80s Indie Rock and Miller's vocal is incredibly close to Michael Stipe, but the material is more in line with mid period R.E.M., not as pensive, but certainly more Guitar led. It is when those solos come in, particularly the Psych Pop ones that the album truly hits the heights.

Vanish is a fantastic opener, very The Church like and therefore there are large dollops of Psych, wonderfully large dollops. The album is in no way a REMathon, but Executioner's Song is very Athens Georgia, however Finito is very Peter Gabriel.

Senseless is the closest that you get to a mainstream ballad and Amplify Me probably the most mainstream. But for a Psych Pop freak like myself, it is Kick My Tires that is the one. The Guitar playing is paint strppingly splendid. I've played it over and over since I first heard the single.

As if the quality on show were not enough, I am greeted by a cover of Rush's Bravado with added guitar histrionics and a restrained, almost not there drum track that doesn't try to emulate Neil Peart's wonder and if anything makes you concentrate more on the excellence of the song without playing air drums. Significance is an outstanding Rock album at a time when there are few about. Well done Mr Miller!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD or as a download. 

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Dot Dash - 16 Again

 

We love Dot Dash. Not through any favouritism, but we do think of them as our band because their output matches exactly what I Don't Hear A Single thinks it is about. The trio may be from Washington DC, but the sound is wonderfully Brit.

Now into their second decade, every album unbelievably improves on the last and their most recent offering, Madman In The Rain was third in our Best Of Year 100, deservedly so. 16 Again marks a pause and a celebration of what they have achieve for a number of reasons.

Here are 15 songs from their career and a Television Personalities cover from their 7 album journey thus far. It is also acknowledgement of their continued history on possible the nicest label around, Canada's The Beautiful Music.

It is also the band's Vinyl debut and a chance to acknowledge the joy that South Wales's Country Miles Records continues to bring to the Indie scene. You have wall to wall excellence across all 16 songs. I could bang on about the individual songs, but I've covered most in previous reviews.

The album provides an opportunity for those who have not yet discovered the sheer magnificence of the band as well as letting us know where you've been. If you are a fan of Guitar Pop (and most of those who visit here are) then you will acknowledge the riff led, big chorus filled selection.

For those who are fans already, it is an opportunity to have a Greatest Hits Of Sort and have Dot Dash on Vinyl which is probably where they deserve to be most. Wall to wall splendidness is here on a 12 Inch Disc. 

The album can be listened to and bought here. It is also available as a download. You can find out more about Country Mile Records here. You can find out more about The Beautiful Music here.

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Curling - No Guitar

 


Firstly, before you all head off, there are plenty of guitars here, so I've no idea why the title is such. Curling are now a trio for their third album and as well the addition of Drummer Kynwyn Sterling adding great cohesion, the Lo Fi of the previous two releases has been resigned to the past.

No Guitar is more of a soundscape, encompassing joyous arrangements but also adding moments of melancholy and sadness. Pop Rock really isn't usually this varied and engaging and these variants add up to one hell of an album.

Take for instance, the ace Slacker Rock that borders Power Pop of Hi-Elexir that adds a paint stripping breakout and compare it to the beauty and aching of Majesty and you are quite a ride. The opener, Shambles is three genres in one, a Mellotron 60s start, then a threatened Psych burst out followed by great Jangle Pop.

URDom is gentle almost long, atmospheric with a wondrous Bassline and added ace harmonies. Yet that song is another example of Curling's habit of changing direction mid song, endearingly so. Pastoral is a song that Jon Ayer would be proud of and adds a splendid orchestral arrangement.

Patience is 90s distorted Alt Rock whilst is Acoustic 70s moody Classic Rock, yet also a little Radiohead. Husk comes over all Tom Petty and that is the beauty of this album. Every song surprises you as does every direction, but it never vacates its Pop Rock sensibility.

One of the delights of running I Don't Hear A Single is writing about albums such as this. Plenty of the following may not have fallen across Curling, now they have a chance to appreciate what a fantastic album this is. An album that you immediately want to put on again and again. Excellent!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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Vast Robot Armies - The What Gallery

 

The What Gallery is a wonderful album, a wonderful Indie Rock album and it made me realise that Indie Rock has suffered with coverage here. This is partly because other genres have welcomed candidates in. Pop Rock, Psych Pop, Prog, Classic Rock and Alt Rock have sucked up albums that would have been Indie Rock and left behind the feeling that the genre is just one paced, one mediocre style and nothing more to shout about.

Vast Robot Armies sound more than a little 90s at times, but that in no way tells their story or style. They can get a little Alt Rock, but also there are bits where they head towards a less bombastic Muse and even hint at Modern Prog. 

I've read other reviews before putting pen to paper and although I agree with all the praise, the majority that I've read have all been overblown. All reinventing the wheel and showing how knowledgeable and clever the writer is. They may know a lot of long words, but they miss the sheer joy of the album.

Firstly, despite all the complex melodic excellence on show, the real take here are the splendid vocal arrangements. A mixture of combined harmonies and cross over vocals that are arranged in a way that this sort of album would never usually contain. These vocals are a revelation.

Instrumentally, the album excels too. There has obviously been so much time and effort been spent with the production and arrangements that it has allowed the mix of styles to underline how all encompassing The What Gallery is.

Songs can be built on riffs or rely on killer solos, but all remain incredibly melodic and versatile. Take a song like Penny Candy which is dying to be Pop Rock, but instrumentally it is sidetracked into Psych and Prog. This is the band's strength, no song is as it seems.

Unusually, I have not picked out the songs especially. This is because I know that IDHAS followers have open minds and will go off and listen to what Vast Robot Armies have delivered. You will have heard a couple of the songs on Listening To This Week playlists. This is an album to be listened to from start to finish and what a great listen it is.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist

The latest Listening To This Week is here, running as usual from Monday to Sunday. A monster 30 songs for you this time and it is an absolutely cracking selection, possibly the best yet. 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.

The Len Price 3 - The Grass Is Always Greener

Blueburst - Kick My Tires

Jonathan Feinberg - Sugar Fight

Dead Phones & Dogs - The Ache

the world famous - Lipstick Trick

MEAN SEA - There's No Time (End Of The World Dance Instructions)

RUFFIANS - Spooky Kinda Night

Hearts - It's Over

TheSistersHigh - Mari

Kilo Bravo - Lucinda

Blind Mirror - Vertigo

The Vaniers - Faces

Marigo Bay - Trippin'

Unit 47 - Rot In Hell

Charles Dillinger - Grease, Poems & Dimes

A Lost Decade - Valley Of Death

Bedhead - Valhalla

Repeat - Out Of Control

Paul Roland - The Great Edwardian Air-Raid

VOLK - Are We Still the Same?

Coast Red - Wasted Days

J Duran - Can't Get High Enough

Pluto Saffron - Don't Fade Away

The Planes - Thrift Store

Dream Phases - Velvet Knife

Nepal Death - Sister Nirvana

Sorry Monks - Stop Look and Listen

Kobanova - KOBANOVA (Fly High)

Summer Of Love - I´m In Love With You

Reclining Nude - EZ$

AWAIT

Black Hat - How I Won the War

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Marvelous 3 - IV

 

I will admit to having some reservations about a new Marvellous 3 album. Like most around at the time, I was a massive fan of those three albums like most of the Power Poppers around the time and I stuck with Butch Walker for a good while longer.

But Avril Lavigne onwards, everything got so over produced and bombastic. I particularly got fed up of those bloody handclaps and the kitchen sink Rawk. However I am happy to report that the return is really good, different to what has gone before, but still really enjoyable. 

Both Walker's production and performance are more restrained, but the album is largely more AOR than Power Pop. IV though has some great Power Pop moments, even if they are more mainstream than those late nineties. 

There is a real zest to the songs with real riff driven joyous flair. The odd time, it all gets a little Bryan Adams, particularly on Jackie And Tina. But If We We're On Fire (Let It Burn) is a crackerjack of a song that fairly rips along.

Kill A Motherfucker That Breaks Your Heart is a top notch rock out, despite that head shaking song title. The riff is simply awesome. She Sheila benefits from a cracking intro and is a 100mph race that wants to be harder rock, but is never allowed.

Time To Let It Go closes the album and is a great slowed down more acoustic involved affair and the chorus demonstrates how good Walker excels at such. There is loads to like here. It is a great melodic rock album and should appeal to such an audience well. I'm not sure that it is Marvellous 3, but it was never intended to be stuck in the 90s.

The album is available to listen to and buy everywhere.

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The Suncharms - Things Lost

 

The Suncharms at times have a reputation as a darker Teenage Fanclub, exemplified here on Satanic Rites, but that is a little unfair and there is much more to them that. They straddle the boundaries of Dream Pop and Guitar Pop with hints of Gaze and Indie Pop.

This album is probably the best example of their variety and a song like Whitby demonstrates that most with a real crunch at times and some wonderful harmony vocals. If ever the term Rock You Gently, had a list, this song would be fairly near the top.

Torrential Rain is splendidly C86 and Things Lost has a gentle Psych like riff that is absolutely hypnotic. Red Wine Kisses bursts out instrumentally with one hell of a twang, it is mesmerising. Daylight Is Here is built around a killer riff and is Indie Rock heading to Pop Rock.

Dark Sails is almost Postcard and Torrential Rain out Jangles the likes of Dropkick. The best may also be saved for last. Last Tram is ace Dream Pop and mesmerising instrumentally, story telling at its very finest. It rounds off an especially soothing listen.

Marcus Palmer is never gonna get shouty vocally, his gentle tone suits the material so well. Nor are The Suncharms ever aiming to be The Sound Of Sheffield. The band know what they are good at and do it so well. Things Lost is an exemplary listen and proof that you don't have to crash chords to get people's attention.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download. Be quick if you want the vinyl as there are not many copies left.

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Cult Figures - Between Us And Heaven

 

I remember Cult Figures from the late 70s. I was 16, in my last year of school, with money in pocket from a part time job and an urge to surround myself in New Wave singles. Cult Figures released a couple of crackers that are in the loft somewhere and to be honest I had heard little since, but remember them fondly.

The band return after a long absence with their third album with an album marked by tragedy with the death of lead singer Gary Jones. The album is dedicated to him and there are some contributions here. The three original members are joined by vocalist Fraser Gillespie and additional guitarist, Steve May.

I'm ashamed to say that I missed 2021's Deritend, but I'm here now and the album is top notch, appearing on the excellent Gare Du Nord label. There are ventures into Pop Rock, but essentially this is great New Wave Guitar Pop.

As with all the best New Wave bands, there has to be a great rhythm section and Lee McFadden and Stuart Hilton are exactly that, locked as one. The songs carry the weight well and combine to offer up one of the stronger albums that you will hear this year.

Sitting Target has a wonderful Jangle inside the New Wave joy and the title track has a real 60s UK Beat Pop vibe. Unburdened is great Mop Pop and Devotion heads more towards 80s C86 Melodic Pop. Voice Of Reason has real pace and the rhythm section come even more into their own.

Rapide 40 Slideout is wonderfully frantic, but there are two outliers that reveal that the band can go in different directions. One False Move is slower and darker and a little more Indie Rock that what else is on show, there is a Richard Hawley feel to the song.

Then there is Never Take The Bus which mixes Post Punk and Psych with a talky almost Richard Jobson like. It is splendidly dark and chaotic and absolutely intriguing. Between Us And Heaven is a cracking listen and will certain make our Best Of Year 100. Well done all!

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on CD, Vinyl and as a download.

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The Len Price 3 - Grass Is Greener (2 Track Single)

 

I rarely review singles in writing. To be honest, I just don't have the time. I tend to leave them for places like Listening To This Week. However when you hear something as great as this, you just have to shout about it and I do love The Len Price 3.

After building a reputation on Mod Pop, the band have developed into this wonderful melodic joyful affair. I can only think off the top of my head of Dot Dash who inhabit such a wonderful area. This two track single on Wicked Cool is awesome.

The Grass Is Always Greener starts as Jam like and develops into a crackerjack Power Pop affair with a killer chorus. A little 60s Beat, a little UK New Wave with a hint of Psych Pop it hits every spot imaginable. 

Man Out Of Time is even more melodic with an awesome riff and a bigger hunt of Psych Pop, but keeping  within the genres of the A Side, but adding a paint stripping psych noise guitar solo. Two songs built on two massive choruses. Jawdroppingly great!

You can listen to both songs here.  The songs are available on all the streaming sites.

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The Great Affairs - Sleepwalker

 

Hard to believe that The Great Affairs started out as an Americana vehicle. Now well into their second decade, they continue their mastery of Pop Rock. They aren't afraid to venture into Melodic Rock, AOR and even Hair Rock, but they are at their best when they are in Classic Pop Rock territory.

They rock off here with the Cheap Trick-ish When Love Is The Drug, but although I am a standard bearer for listening to albums, I always think it helps most to get people's attention when you have a killer single and fortunately The Great Affairs have one.

Fever Breaks is a wonderfully melodic song. A sort of Blue Collar jumping thing that just immediately grabs your attention. Strange Luv builds on a rip-roaring riff, a song that allows the band to demonstrate their harmonies across a Pop Rock cracker.

Run is superb 80s Rock with another top notch riff, a little, but not too much, AOR and a big Cheap Trick chorus. Way Past Sundown is pure Classic Rock and Getting' Outta Sight is a mix of AC DC vibe and instrumentally big touches of UK Glam Rock.

I'm not sure that the two ballads quite work, coming across as a little mawkish, but this is a real romp, a raucous joy. A little more Commercial Rock than we may be used to, but incredibly melodic. A great listen, beautifully performed and produced. Time to let your hair down.

You can listen to the album here.You can buy the album on vinyl here and the CD from Kool Kat here. The download is available from the likes of Amazon here and you can stream the album everywhere.

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Rinehearts - Full Bloom

 

Rinehearts release their second album and it is Power Pop of the highest order. Produced by long time ASH and IDHAS hero, Dom Mariani as producer is a marriage made in heaven. There is a pride in Perth and great Guitar Pop.

The Power Pop isn't as crunchy as Mariani in say DM3, but it gets really close, particularly on the magnificent I Don't Mind which allows the Power Pop to rock up and even touch Psych Pop, it is a wonderful song, one that shows the joy of the Guitar.

Rinehearts cover far more bases though from Merseybeat to 70s Pop Rock, classic Power Pop to some outstanding Jangle Pop. The album crosses the ages without ever losing sight of the importance of melody, riffs and big choruses.

Piling On could be on The Searchers New Wave album and thus offers up reminders of The Records and if anyone thinks they have jangled better than all this year, then I shall play them Could You Would You.Call Me Up mixes great 70s Pop Rock with 60s Beat.

Goodness is wonderful UK New Wave with keyboards that could have been nicked out of Stiff's musical instrument company and there are some cracking female backing vocals. What an album needs is a killer single and this has one in Powerlines.

Powerlines is just wall to wall catchy delivered at pace. A template for all Power Pop songs from now on. Full Bloom is everything you could want from a melodic Guitar Pop album and more. With the genre taking a grittier direction recently, this is an ideal reminder of how it did sound then and does now. 

You can listen to and buy the album here on Vinyl and as a download. The CD is available on the Kool Kat label here.

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Short Fictions - Oblivion Will Own Me and Death Alone Will Love Me (Void Filler)

 

Pittsburgh five piece Short Fictions have released their third album and it is wonderfully chaotic and yet at times incredibly delicate. One thing it certainly is noisy, but compelling so. Without really ever losing site of the barnstorming riffs, at times it can move into ace Noise Rock.

I wouldn't ever try to second guess what is going round songwriter Sam Treber's head, but there does seem a hell of a lot. The long bemusing song titles and the switches from riff driven joy to a much harder shouty thing, at times part song.

Then through all this excitement, the album ends on a Countrified Acoustic Campfire song in Don't Let Me Love You. There are also calmer waters on Max, a sort of mellow low key slacker song. There is also an ability to be comfortable in Indie Guitar Anthem territory. 

Self Betterment In A Time Of Loneliness is a catch all joy that blows up into a Guitar fest close. Radio Nevada, January 2020 is even catchier, a real altogether now affair. Wasting is 90s College Rock with its fuzz and attitude.

To Loved Ones Lost In The Pursuit Of Foolish Passions is incredibly loud and shouty Punk. Oblivion Will Own Me And Death Alone Will Love Me is built around a Rush like riff and then turns into a shouty angsty thing that matches the song title.

And it is those song titles that may put people off and that would be a crying shame. There are big moments of outstanding originality and great melody here. It is a fascinating listen across what is only 25 minutes. It is a fascinating listen and I adore it.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Jagger Holly - Rivoltella

 

Firstly, this is a wonderful album. Secondly, it allows another opportunity for me to bang on about Pop Punk again. There are two types of Pop Punk, the first are the bands that subscribe to the forever template, robotic almost talky robotic vocals with a more shouty chorus and one of a dozen riffs.

Then there are the ones that open out, head into more Guitar Pop directions. These may be new bands or established ones that have matured into a more encompassing sound and direction. Jagger Holly are a trio that are very much in the latter camp, splendidly so.

Rivoltella, with its Revolver like cover, leans much more towards Power Pop both the old and the new. At times they are more traditional, more than a little like The Speedways At other times they are more like the new breed of Uni Boys and The Evening Sons.

They do get shouty on occasions, but then it is more like melodic Punk than Punk Pop. 29 songs is a lot, so much so that the Vinyl release is a double LP. But this such a joyous listen that covers many areas from New York Street to UK Punk, UK New Wave, the 90s Power Pop revival and on to modern day.

The songs are short-ish, very much say what you wanna say and get off and there is little coming up for air. But the best compliment that I can give the album is that I never once got bored on repeated listens even with such an extended amount of content.

The Punkier elements are very fist shaking and all together now. But essentially this is all chorus led, riffs galore and allows you to realise how catchy Guitar Pop can be and how fun oozes out of every pore. This is right up our street, get your air guitar ready and be prepared to sing along.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The vinyl can be bough at all good record shops and direct from the splendid Monster Zero label here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist

The latest Listening To This Week is here, running as usual from Monday to Sunday. 22 songs for you 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. 

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.

Gritter - Goth Night

MODEL CITISIN - Been And Gone

The Breaks Inc. - No Words (It's Just This Thing That I Do)

The Midwich Affair - There's Something In The Beat

Telos Vision - On The Line

Vast Robot Armies - Taking Back The Time (Featuring Allen Epley)

0Stella - Easy To Keep

Magic Machine - Strange Magic

Todd & Karen - Juicy Gossip From The Mothership

Five Stories Falling - 12 Years

GO MAHHH - Melting Bull

KNETX - SOMETHING/NOTHING

Imperial April - Sunlight

The Grand Mals - Building Houses

Jon Mullane - Walking Away

Boss Rush - Catalogue Of Shame

Scenic Brooke West - And I Know Better

Grimm Winter - Falling Up

Wylie Green - The Answer

Movie Night - Haunted

Sam Higham - Tape Deck Mimic

Organicways - Pure Distress

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The Mommyheads - Coney Island Kid

 

I haven't been around a lot recently due to illness and I've sat on The Mommyheads album for much longer than I ever normally would. One of the biggest questions from followers recently has been asking when I am going to review the album. People know how much I love the band and have developed a similar love.

The reason has simply that I hadn't listened to it properly and I have to listen a few times to one of the band's albums to fully appreciate it. You hear different things on every play and I like to spot most before putting pen to paper.

For all my fan boy mentality, I just worried a little if they could follow Genius Killer. To me it is one of the best albums of the past decade. Not only were the band at their simplest, yet most complicated musically, but they were at their finest lyrically and the subject wise. Indeed, the title track may be one of the best things that I have ever.

I shouldn't have been so ridiculous, this is the their fifteenth album, they know what they are doing. No band can switch been Pop Rock, Big Rock and Prog without ever losing their soul or credibility and all whilst providing some of the most inventive music. Radiohead maybe could, Steven Wilson might, but neither hit the mark as often and as well.

Coney Island Kid is wonderful, but is a very different album. All the twists and turns are here, but the album almost feels like a complete piece, certainly a theme. I've read people call it a concept album and I'm not sure it's that, but it is splendidly joined.

Elk's lyrics are particularly themed and as deep meaning and social as they ever were, but here they seem to fit the work incredibly well. Never preaching, never forefront, but sung in a way that you are going to notice and hopefully note them.

However those who are expecting something fun packed about a Fairground are going to be surprised. This is deep stuff, yet incredibly melodic. It is an album that is meant to be listened in full. I really hope you can as the download is Name Your Price and the download sounds much better than the stream. It seems wrong to listen to it as a sub 200 mp3 stream with all the work gone into it.

I have to mention a few songs without spoiling the surprise. Learning To Live is magnificent, an almost centrepiece that in the best way it can sums up the band. Solemn By The Sea is just beautiful and just washes over you. Onset MA is the most poppy that they get with a truly addictive chorus.

On a career level, it has been so delightful to see The Mommyheads raising their marketing game considerably over the this and Genius Killer. They've also been playing live even more and the responses have been fantastic. 

Please try to listen to the whole thing from start to finish, if only to shut me up. It is quite an exciting time for me with The Mommyheads currently soaring and an Ex Norwegian album out soon. Coney Island Kid is top notch. I wouldn't recommend it so highly if it wasn't A1.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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The Evening Sons - Tracks

 

The Evening Sons are another addition to Brent Rademaker's wonderful Curation label. I've followed Brent since his days in The Tyde and I expected his label to be dominant on West Coast sort of affairs. Not a bit of it, Curation is becoming a really burgeoning home for Power Pop and Pop Rock with an emphasis on melody and the guitar.

Even better for us is that the band are from Brighton and here in the UK, we aren't overrun with this sort of Guitar based joy. At its heart, the album is Slacker 90s, but the hooks range across the two earlier decades, riotously so.

It is very American, scuzzy and loose, but essentially amped up Power Pop. You can hear bits of The Ramones, but you also UK New Wave Guitar Pop and The TFC Glasgow crowd. But you also great harmonies that would adorn both 60s West Coast Pop Rock and that Power Pop revival of the 90s that wasn't afraid of melody and slower songs.

Summer Rain gets closest to Teenage Fanclub, yet This Time even manages to encompass three 70s UK genres in Glam, big sounding Big Rock riffs and the New Wave joy of say The Motors. It is the most melodic that The Evening Sons get and you can imagine the song being a great set closer.

Cindy's Sox heads into The Jam territory and Forcefield isn't a million miles from 80s AOR. Then Glenn Fry goes even further, this times towards Hair Metal. Let Her Run is splendid US Plimsoul Power Pop and Hey, Hey (Let's Get Lost) again trails UK Glam 1974, whilst also a little New York Dolls and close to label mates Uni Boys.

Then there is Superspreader, the ace trailing single, that is everything that you could want in a Guitar Pop song. The beauty of Tracks is that the songs are not like any similar new bands around who seem to only manage just over 2 minutes. These are four minute-ish wonders that allow the offering to reveal the full depth of its scope. There is a reason why I love both Pop and the Guitar and The Evening Sons explain why.

You can listen to and buy the album here.You can also delight at the development of Curation Records while you are there.

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Turnstyle - Citizen's Handbook

 

Over to the Australian Perth for the welcome return of Turnstyle and what a great Indie album this is. Their reputation for Casio meets Guitar may proceed them, but their fourth album is a little more Guitar dominated to offer up something that is right up our street.

They may best described as something between Weezer and Teenage Fanclub, but they are much more fuzzy than that and have large dollops of American Slacker Rock and UK Indie Guitar Pop. Deliciously lo-fi, but incredibly melodic and riff driven.

They are not afraid to step out either. Lissa From Benissa is great Superdrag-ish stuff with a chorus that could be Manc early 1990s. but also has massive hints of Psych Pop. Yet Plain & Simple is more Power Pop and Band Shirt is very fuzzed up early Teenage Fanclub.

Ancient Voices is great 80s Indie Pop Rock. mixing keyboard with a hypnotic riff and a wonderful bassline, all of this with a catch all chorus. Imitation Radio Station goes full on Electro Synth Pop. Black Holes is all mood and melancholia.

Then there is the opener and closer. Robots Working edges towards a moody light Grunge mixing it with 90s College Rock. Robots Ending takes a very different course, with a Casio Electro vibe instrumental of the song. 

The beauty of I Don't Hear A Single is that we can cover what we want when we want. This allows a wider palette in a small but wonderful musical world. We do have a big weakness for quirky Indie and Citizen's Handbook is definitely that in spades. Excellent!

You can listen to and buy the album here. The download is Name Your Price. But there is also a splendid recycled Vinyl release and if ever an album should be heard on Vinyl, it is this one.

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Gizmo - Buddy System EP

 

The last of the three EPs that I wanted to tell you about is this corker of an EP from Gizmo. The quartet from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island underline how great the Cannucks are at offering up this type of stuff.

Four songs in 8 minutes is very say what you wanna say and get off, but the quality of the songs is right up our street. Generally, there is a real 90s feel of Slacker College Rock, but in such a short period of time, you realise how much potential is in the band.

Prisoner Functionary is great Power Pop, yet Producer And Virtual is very Fountains Of Wayne and a little Weezer. Luanne is great Slacker Guitar Pop with some affecting harmonies and a killer riff. yet Deepest Skin crosses Jangle Pop with something that would have easily fitted on the Not Lame label.

There is loads to like here, great Guitar Pop in fact. I wish that the songs were a little longer and there were more of them. Hopefully, that will come in the future and I will certainly be keeping my eyes peeled intently. Back to albums for IDHAS for the rest of the week.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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Papernut Cambridge - Cinderella Crazy Golf EP

 

Oh how we love Ian Button at IDHAS Towers. Following his Top 10 appearance in the IDHAS Best Of 2022 as Toni Tubna, he follows the splendid Channel Suite album earlier this year, we have a delightful EP to enjoy.

Button inhabits a world which doesn't appreciate his lo fi joyful pop nearly enough. His gentle voice suits the diversity of his material and he should be applauded regularly, both for his past and the present.

Here, he offers up great 80s Indie Pop with I Can't Take My Eyes Off Your Eyes, something very close to Power Pop with the title track and some great Pastoral Psych Pop, almost Toytown, with Bread. Add in the 60s Strumming Pop of I've Loved You The Longest and you have a crackerjack of an EP.

People rightly fete Martin Newell, but Ian Button is every bit as great. He ploughs similar territory. but with a deeper sense of variety and melody. The EP is available as a 7 Inch EP as well as a download. I'd say it is an absolutely essential purchase.

You can listen to and buy the EP here. 

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Chris Catalyst - Mad In England

 

2021's Kaleidoscope was a corking album that came as a complete surprise to me. It made the IDHAS Top 30 in the Best Albums Of The Year, deservedly so. You can read the review here. Mad In England continues to variety of Kaleidoscope but takes it even further.

I get sent a lot of UK Pop Rock and most of it sounds very Brit Pop. There is no problem with that if bands were aiming at the better edges of the genre. But most of the bands want to be Oasis and it just gets extremely dull. Why not try to be themselves, these bands are obviously talented, so why be a clone.

I would suggest that these bands have a listen to the two Catalyst albums. The songs are influenced by others, but he makes them his own and considering that this is a true solo effort, that is admirable. With such variants, not everything works, but the vast majority does.

As well as Pop Rock, paths are taken into Guitar Pop, Classic Rock, Indie Rock, Modern Prog, 60s Beat, Psych Pop and Brit Pop. You might think that this would get confusing over 11 songs, but the album is so damn melodic with Catalyst's suited vocal and wonderful Guitar playing.

He is not afraid to mix genres either, Stop allows Modern Prog to turn into inventive Brit Pop, yet I'd Rather Be Anywhere has a verse that is pure 80s Indie Pop and a chorus that trails 70s Pop Rock, even a little UK Glam. The latter may be the best thing here, lyrically adept and beautifully arranged and performed.

My Family goes all 90s US Indie Rock, but the title track is great Modern Guitar Melodic Rock with a hint of Muse and a great trumpet blast from Nick Hughes. There is also a real Council House mentality to the magnificent I Got A Gift.

Why Can't We All Just Get Along gets very close to Power Pop and the closer, Dead Man Walking starts moodily, but breaks into a mix of Classic Rock, even Blues Rock. So as you'll note from my words. there is a lot to admire and get your teeth into here.

The title, as you'd expect, suggests a theme and that theme allows Catalyst to explore England as it was and as it is. It is also a chance for him to demonstrate what a splendid lyricist he is. an outlier in this type of Rock. Mad In England is top notch and underlines that Pop Rock doesn't have to be all cliches and ripped off riffs.

You can listen to and buy the album here. 

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