Wyatt Funderburk - Fleeting And Finite

Bank Holiday weekends in the UK are usually tumbleweed music news wise. This one wasn't, largely due to the announcement of a new Wyatt Funderburk album. It's released on 29 November. I know that's three months away, but as we are on the Christmas countdown now, it'll soon come around.

Anyway in the meantime, there's some other news to keep you occupied. More on that in a bit.

When we think of the major influences on Power Pop over the past two decades, we go to the continued presence of Tommy Keene and Dom Mariani or the strength of Mike Viola and Fountains Of Wayne. Alternatively, we do like to compare everyone to Teenage Fanclub these days. Jellyfish also cast a large, perhaps too large, shadow. Wyatt Funderburk's influence is vast.

Before you mention the music that he has released himself. There's the work he's done as producer, mixer etc. Linus Of Hollywood, Bowling For Soup, The Wellingtons, Kurt Baker, The Connection and my beloved Silver Sun.

He's also a member of the highly influential Explorers Club, so this list is already noting the services to Power Pop. But it doesn't end there. As a recording artist, he has been responsible for some of the best Power Pop for nigh on two decades.

Initially with that wonderful debut album from The Pendletones. I always wanted another Silver Sun and we got the US version with Second Saturday. Two fantastic albums with top notch Power Pop. Here's The Deal was probably the best album of 2002.

In 2013, Wyatt's first solo album, Novel And Profane, was in many of the end of year Best Of Lists.

I'd normally break up the text with some music, but there's great news to tell you. For those who are not familiar with any or some of his work, three albums have been made available on Bandcamp as "Name Your Price" The Special Editions of the two Second Saturday albums and that splendid debut solo album are ready and waiting for you.

You can find Here's The Deal (With 10 Bonus Tracks) here.





You can find Greetings From Mount Rockmore (With 4 Bonus Tracks) here.




You can find Novel And Profane here,




I know you are going to hear more from me about Fleeting And Finite before it's release. I'm also hoping that Wyatt will agree to an interview with Mick for here.

In the meantime, enjoy some of the best Power Pop you will ever hear.

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.