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.

THE KOOL KAT 10% OFF SALE is now on and 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.

Bad Moves - Untenable (Don Giovanni Records) 2020       $12

Washington DC has had a rich punk history, documented by the vast array of bands on labels such as Dischord Records and Teen-Beat Records. Although they’re signed to New Jersey’s Don Giovanni Records, Bad Moves are more than capable of kicking as much ass as those that preceded them. They are a wonderfully unpretentious band. They’ve got power, they’ve got pop and they’ve got punk and they use it to great advantage. 

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Comebacks - Under the Banner of Love (Rock Indiana Records Spain) 2020      $16

                                                   

Developed over the last few years in their rehearsal room, The Comebacks' debut album is finally a very happy reality. and it is the best Spanish beat and power pop album that has been released in a long time.  Plenty of class, splendid vocal harmonies and, above all, sthe songs make it a must if you like the Beatles, Flamin´ Groovies, Velvet Crush, 20/20, The Plimsouls, Spongetones  etc. You can spot the references throughout!.

Kool Kat Link

You Tube Link To All 12 Songs

John Dunbar - Oh Wellness  (Kool Kat Musik) 2021      $13

NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL – AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 12 – ACCEPTING ORDERS NOW!!     The John Sally Ride were in the studio finishing up a new album at the time the international pause button was pressed. They record albums in the same room, so when it became apparent that lock-downing was going to become a long time thing, John Dunbar decided to record the album himself. The result, as expected, is a wonderfully melodic Pop Rock joy.

    

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Explorers Club - Rarities Volume 1 (Goldstar Recordings Australia)        $15

Fresh off the heels of not one but TWO critically acclaimed album releases in 2020, retro pop wunderkind Jason Brewer, along with the musical collective he’s dubbed The Explorers Club, are releasing their third collection in less than a year. The result is an 11-song collection of rarities from the band’s vaults. With a brand new full studio album set to follow in 2021, ‘Rarities Volume 1’ is another shimmering slice of retro pop that will thrill and delight their ever-growing fanbase.

                              

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

Trevor Beld Jimenez - I Like It Here (Curation Records) 2021        $15

The fantastic solo debut from a guy who’s been involved in a lot of projects (we only knew of him from GospelbeacH), but you gotta check out his rather impressive discography.  Some of LA’s finest dropped by to lend their talents to the record.  The album is AM radio gold, a fine example of Californian Pop.. We know that Trevor is a hell of a songwriter and musician. He put words and empathy into GospelbeacH’s ‘Another Summer Of Love’ and ‘Let It Burn’and that talent is underlined here.

   

Kool Kat Link 

Bandcamp Link

The Stan Laurels  - There Is No Light Without The Dark (Big Stir Records) 2021       $12

The fourth studio album from John Lathrop under The Stan Laurels name.  It's a watershed follow-up to his acclaimed and award-winning 2018 Kool Kat Musik collection. This is muscular power-pop that slides completely off the end of Teenage Fanclub sweet and into  muscular Pop Rock. It’s a sound that is the final point of Power Pop and one that stays just the right side of Garage Rock.

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

Shindig! Magazine – Issue #112 February 2021 (US Buyers Only)      $13

 

The tres chic ‘n kool Nancy Sinatra graces the cover: The singer, actress and go-go icon reflects on her career.  Other features include The Ventures: How America’s biggest pre-Beatles act changed with the times, and Steve Ellis: The 10 years that followed Love Affair.  Featurettes on: Dana Gillespie, Dave Cousins, and much more are contained within.  Reviews of the best in reissues, new releases, DVDs and books, and other news titbits we all can use!

Kool Kat Link  

Shindig UK Site

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The Explorers Club - Together

We've loved The Explorers Club since 2008's Freedom Wind. Jason Brewer has the harmonic hooks nailed and this continued on to 2012's Grand Hotel. The new album is the best yet.

There's always been Beach Boys comparisons and rightly so, probably more so here. The harmonies are from a by gone era, but one that should be revived. We listen to so much clever clever music, particularly Psych Pop wise and Power Pop bands with hooks and songs about a girl who has left them, it's refreshing to hear such well made pop.

The band has developed from Surf Pop into more complex harmony arrangements. We are always looking out for that great summer album, something that catches the optimism and hope, this is this years.

But don't think it's all Beach Boys, this will appeal to West Coast devotees and those who thought The Feeling only had one album in them.

The opener, Together is really soulful, followed by the lead single, California's Calling Ya, which is more of what they are about. Once In A While is the stand out, great pop and there's also contemplative moments on Quietly and the closer, Before I'm Gone.

It's a short album, but we like that. We've long been advocates of say what you've got to say and no more. CD's demise is regrettable but it has cut down on the all filler no killer format of albums.

You should march down to your record shop, sorry get your mouse fingers clicking and buy this now. The world will look and sound a better place.

It's also great that Wyatt Funderburk is now on board. We've been long term admirers since Pendletones' Forty-Nine Per Cent, an amazing album for a then 17 year old. His Second Saturday stuff is amazing, Here's The Deal being one of our favourite albums from 2011 and his 2013 solo album, Novel And Profane is ace.

He's also a noted producer of the likes of Linus Of Hollywood, Bowling For Soup and Silver Sun.

You can pick up Together at the usual online places, but please support your local record shop / independent mail order guy if you can.

The Explorers Club are on Facebook and Twitter.    They are also on Bandcamp where you can pick up the excellent Freedom Wind album.

You can also visit Wyatt Funderburk's Bandcamp site where he is offering extended versions of both Second Saturday albums at Name Your Price. You can also buy his 8 releases in high quality digital formats for the bargain price of $21.60.