Mom - Fun 'N Games EP

 

Another band that has previously appeared in an IDHAS Best Of Year are Sweden's Mom. That was in 2020 with their splendid Debut Album, Pleasure Island. You can read the I Don't Hear A Single Review here. Since then there's been an interesting Covers EP and the Two The Beat single.

Now we have an EP and it carries on from where the album left off. Mom specialise in Power Pop that compares with the turn of the 70s US output. They are a little like a lower Fi Rubinoos with songs that are as catchy as catchy can be.

Songs are built on riffs and big hook choruses. To The Beat is included and that is a cross between The Beat and The Knack with a nice twang included. Dreaming is another fine example of the Genre led by a chiming Guitar lead, as mentioned previously very Rubinoos.

Now Until Forever takes the pace down, but works just as well and even edges towards Glam Rock and has a Cars like solo. There's a hell of a lot contained in Cindy's Pool, Stiff Records like in its earlier part, particularly the first Guitar Break Out. The second solo is extended with a much bigger sound and adds a false ending.

The Bandcamp page shows just 4 Tracks, but my copy has 5 with Scary Mary, which was the B Side of the To The Beat Single, included. You won't miss out on that as the two track single is available at Name Your Price. You wouldn't want to miss this as a crackerjack of a song.

The production seems a little bigger on Scary Mary. Yet again the song is all hook, chorus and riff but the solo is positively Rawk out. It reminds me a lot of The Speedways and that is no bad thing. If you like Power Pop, you'll love this and if you don't you'll love it too. 

You can listen to and buy the EP here. You can listen to and download the 2 Track To The Beat Single here. The EP will also be available on 7 Inch Vinyl in October via Snap!! Records in Spain.

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Kool Kat Musik Weekly New Release Update

Welcome to the Kool Kat Weekly New Release Update. Kool Kat are distributed in the UK and Europe by I Don't Hear A Single as part of our aim to keep CDs available and affordable. The Kool Kat Links with each album take you to further details on each release.

This is the last week of THE KOOL KAT 10% OFF SALE which runs until Sunday, February 28!  Over the years the sale has been held traditionally in January, but due to delayed delivery issues within the US Postal system, Kool Kat decided to hold off until the system was running a little smoother.  If paying by credit card, the discount will be applied to your order at checkout.  If paying by PayPal, you will be refunded the difference upon receipt of the order.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SALE APPLIES TO NEW CDs, AND USED CDs.  ALL MULTI-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS (2-FERS, ETC) AND ALL NEW RELEASES ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.  YOU MAY WANT TO ACT QUICKLY – WHEN KOOL KAT RUN THESE TYPES OF SALES, A LOT OF TITLES SELL OUT AND ARE NOT RE-STOCKED.  IF THEY ARE OUT OF A SPECIFIC TITLE OR TITLES, THE DISCOUNT WILL STILL BE APPLIED TO ANY THAT CAN STILL OBTAINED IF YOU WISH TO HAVE THEM KEPT ON BACKORDER.

Please place all UK and European orders by following the details here. Links to Kool Kat's Entire Stock can be found here. Without further ado, here are seven new additions to Kool Kat Musik this Week.

Brian Bringelson - Burning Backwards (Kool Kat Musik) 2021      $13

NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT MUSIK LABEL – AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 26 – ACCEPTING ORDERS NOW!!  Brian’s brilliant 2020 release “Desperate Days” has garnered rave reviews, such as – “Smart pop with big harmonies and bigger choruses”,   and certainly caught our attention.  In the past we’ve sold Brian’s releases as Paul Starling, but had no idea it was him that was the one producing such fine, melodic music.  Brian recorded most of the tracks for “Burning Backwards” in 2019 while his band Anchor & Bear was recording their second album “Raincoats and Gold”.  Having the good fortune to record tracks with the band and then head home and work on solo material was truly a luxury for him.  At the time he didn’t really have the idea of releasing a solo album and mainly had his sights set on the new Anchor & Bear release.  But after that was said and done he found himself with a batch of solo songs that seemed like they might make up a cool little album – which they most certainly do. Instead of putting out another Paul Starling album he decided to just release it under his own name. If you liked “Desperate Days”, you’re gonna like “Burning Backwards“ just as much! 

Kool Kat Link

Apple Music Link

Dolph Chaney - This Is Dolph Chaney (Big Stir Records) 2021      $12

                                                   

“This Is Dolph Chaney” is the follow up to last year's watershed release “Rebuilding Permit” and features 13 tracks produced by Nick Bertling.  The album is hot on the heels of the many honours and breakthroughs of 2020 which culminated in his coronation as Woody Radio's “Artist Of The Year”.  The title reflects the game plan that organically drove the collaboration: an album featuring new arrangements of what had been solo lo-fi songs from Dolph's back catalogue that begged for something more.  Bertling introduces a clear, direct approach to the songs written between 1991 and 2008, sourced from five of Dolph's albums. Resulting in all receive empathetic reworkings – some drastic, some subtle, all emblematic of the “next level” production mastery that Bertling brings to the table.

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

Rob Fetters - Ship Shake (Baby Ranch Records) 2020      $15

Singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Rob Fetters (The Bears, Psychodots, The Raisins) is here to remind us that intelligent pop music is still possible in the modern music era.  Introspective, a little spiritual, and quite snarky at times, Fetters fires through a set of mostly up-tempo rockers that bring a smile while displaying the maturity of a man living his life with his heart on his sleeve and dealing with the consequences of doing just that. The record is, in most respects, a textbook example of Fetters' artful craft.  Sonically, the songs range from bracing and engaging Pop Rock to lilting balladry. 

    

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Gold Needles - What’s Tomorrow Ever Done For You? (JEM Records) 2021      $15

Hull's The Gold Needles’ third album, following their critically acclaimed sophomore effort “Through A Window. The band seemed to get compared to many influences, but the sound and performances are distinctly their own. Superb Psych Pop with the emphasis on Pop. The Grip Weeds’ Kurt Reil guests on background vocals, drums, and mixing and mastering.  "What's Tomorrow Ever Done For You?" is a little more commercial than the previous two albums, but lacks none of the band's trademark depth.

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

MOM - Pleasure Island (Self Released Sweden) 2020     $11

MOM offer up a debut album of great guitar pop.  For a band so young to be so 1979 and yet so refreshing and endearing is no mean feat. The feel is definitely turn of the 70's US New Wave and it is done incredibly well.  The hooks are everywhere. The choruses are big. The songs are one long sing along. There's nothing complicated here, just well written songs from a trio who are obviously enjoying themselves..  

Kool Kat Link 

Bandcamp Link

The Scruffs - Teenage Tragedies 1974-1979 (Mono-Tone Records France) 2020      $15

Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, The Scruffs are best known for their classic power pop LP “Wanna Meet The Scruffs?” issued in 1977 on Power Play Records.  One of the great lost Power Pop bands are anthologised. We should all be grateful. 

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Shambles - Live At The Casbah (Snap!! Records Spain) 2020      $16

Originally released in 2013, and unavailable for some time, Spain’s Snap!! Records re-issues “Live At The Casbah”, adding two tracks to the original 12 track release!  The songs were recorded at the San Diego, CA club in 2004.  Essentially. The Shambles are a San Diego Mod revival combo that missed the local 80’s Mod revival by a good half-decade.  They were at their best Live.

Kool Kat Link  

Bandcamp Link

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 61-70

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the last few years I have compiled annual Best Of 's  because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

I would also add that the Top 100 includes albums available as Download Only. To suggest that they are anything less than equal to a Physical release is grossly unfair, even more so in 2020 with all that has happened during the year. To qualify, an album has to be available for sale in any format.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album. 

No 61 : The Vapors - Together     Review

No 62 : Coupons - Up & Up        IDHAS Review




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No 63 : Marveline - Savoury-Toothed Tiger        IDHAS Review









No 64 : Mom - Pleasure Island          IDHAS Review

No 65 : The Lees Of Memory - Moon Shot       Review

No 66 : The Well Wishers - Shelf Life      Review









No 67 : Beans - All Together Now     IDHAS Review

No 68 :  Lady Legs - Off Days    IDHAS Review




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No 69 : Dead Stars - Never Not Here     IDHAS Review

  




No 70 : Dizzy Mizz Lizzy - Alter Echo     IDHAS Review

 

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Mom - Pleasure Island

 

Swedish trio, Mom offer up a debut album of great Guitar Pop. For a band so young to be so 1979 and yet so refreshing and endearing is no mean feat. The feel is definitely turn of the 70's US New Wave and it is done incredibly well.

The hooks are everywhere. The choruses are big. The songs are one long sing along. There's nothing complicated here, just well written songs from a trio who are obviously enjoying themselves.. Off the top of my head, I can only think of The Speedways currently in the same territory.

All those Power Pop Facebook Groups now have something to listen to and all members should give this album a whirl. True, it may sound like someone else that they know, but what doesn't these days? Is there really any new sound to invent?

To say this is an album of 11 singles is no overstatement. From the Glitter Stomp of Waste My Time to  High Demand, which could be The Plimsouls or The Beat, this is a joyous affair. Ordinary Girl is all Pop Attitude with it's Noo Yawk feel. 

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My personal favourite is Don't Leave With My Heart when the band sound looser without ever losing the hooks of the accompanying songs. The closer, Talk To Me, is a jangling joy and a rare moment that Mom come up for air.

 Pleasure Island is superb at what it does. It may not be hi fi, but it's not meant to be. It is admirable and wonderful to hear such a refreshingly acconplished debut. I love any opportunity to have a sing along and there's plenty here that provides that.

 

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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