1. Paul Steel - April & I: Carousel Kites
An end-of-year masterpiece by Paul Steel slips in under the wire. Paul has been working on this epic during a difficult year for him, but you wouldn't know it. Those who have followed Paul's past efforts won't be surprised by the Beach Boys and Jellyfish influences. The surprise hre is the trio of Steely Dan influenced tracks in the middle. Wonderful melodies. Sterling production. The best Power Pop album of the year IMO.
2. Seth Swirsky - Circles & Squares
Seth is here with another cycle of new sunshine pop. Though we've heard a few of these as demos on his web site, Seth has woven new versions together into a tuneful tapestry. It's all puppy dogs and summer love. Great album.
3. Cotton Mather - Death of the Cool
Robert Harrison releases the first set of songs from his 64 track "Songs from the I Ching" project and the album kicks like Cotton Mather album of old. I played the hell out of this one. It skyrockets right up with Cotton Mather albums of old.
4. The Dowling Poole - One Hyde Park
The second full length collaboration by Willie Dowling and Jon Poole. This one check all the boxes. Beautiful Jellyfish influenced ballads along snotty punk poppy rockers that sound like they could slot into a bid 90s Blur record. Another great effort by the dynamic duo.
5. Starling Electric - Starling Electric Company
This Michigan band has two releases in my top 25 this year. This one is the rocker of the two. Channeling some of the cues from the shoegazers along side hooks influenced by the Beach Boys. A great album though out.
6. David Brookings and the Average Lookings - S/T
David Brookings produces his best effort in years and it rocks hard. No other album invokes the rocking DNA of early Elvis Costello or early Candy Butchers like this. I love David's new band.
7. Erik Voeks - So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away
After years of leaking out singles Erik finally puts out an entire album and it is a fabulous effort throughout. Channeling a more careful take on the mid-west pop made famous by Tommy Keene. This album takes up right where Erik's 1993 epic "Sandbox" leaves off. Keep these coming please Erik!
8. The Legal Matters - Conrad
Another great album by the Michigan Power Pop "supergroup" of Andy Reed, Chris Richards and Keith Klingensmith. I think that this one is actually even stronger than the first.
9. Look Park - S/T
OK, so there aren't quite as many power hooks as Fountains of Wayne, but when Chris Collingwood sings highly tuneful songs, it sounds like FOW to me. Some great tracks here on Chris's solo debut.
10. Nick Piunti - Trust Your Instincts
This power pop album may have the most "power" of any album in my top 25 this year. It also includes the strongest set of tunes that Nick Piunti has produced to date. Lots of fun to listen to in the car.
11. Bob Evans - Car Boot Sale
Yet another tuneful solo effort by Kevin Mitchel, the lead singer of Australian alternative band Jebediah. This Bob Evans has more variety than efforts past and contains some absolutely sweet Power Pop songs. Recalls his prior epic "Suburban Songbook", a good thing indeed.
12. Peter Bruntnell - Nos Da Comrade
The English folk pop artist returns with his third effort that straddles folk, alternative and power pop. As always its tuneful and worth listening throughout. Peter Bruntnell is a criminally underrated and a favorite of mine.
13. Honeydogs - Love & Cannibalism
I'll never miss an album by Adam Levy and his band-mates. Though this one feels like a somewhat arbitrary collection of tunes, it still contains some of my favorite songs of the year. Obviously this is a band effort not just another solo project by Adam.
14. Starling Electric - Castlevania
Perhaps the most personal effort on this list. Starling Electric lead singer Caleb Dillon has been sharing this masterpiece within a select inner circle. He decided to release it for free on Bandcamp this fall so it's available to all of us. Strong shades of Elliot Smith and the introspective side of Robert Pollard. Not to be missed.
15. The Explorer's Club - Together
Beach boys scholars The Explorer's Club release their latest. It's their best. Full of songs that invoke the blissful days of summer.
16. Bent Van Looy - Pyjama Days
I'm a big Jason Falkner fan and every time I listen to Belgian rocker Ben Van Looy, I have to double check to see if I am actually listening to the great unreleased album by Jason. It makes sense since this is the second album that Jason has produced for Bent. Though, it doesn't say it, I would not be surprised if Jason had a hand in writing some of these songs.
17. Teenage Fanclub - Here
I always will celebrate a new album by Teenage Fanclub. "Here" is not their best its still a solid efforts with a stripped down take on the trademark Teenage Fanclub sound.
18. John Cunningham - Fell
Don't know why I didn't hear more about this return-to-form from British chamber pop artist John Cunningham. This one ranks with anything he's done before. Beautiful tunes. Big Beach Boys influence. Beautiful album.
19. Arvidson & Butterflies - S/T
The most "Swedish" of Power Pop albums comes from Gothenburg Sweden (as it should) this year and its very good indeed. Roger Arvidson delivers an album that sounds like it could have been released in Sweden in the 90s. Rockin' songs with hooks galore. So sweet it made my teeth hurt!
20. Sheloom - The Baron Of The Fjord
The second cross-continent collaboration by Blinker the Star singer Jordon Zadorozny, and Italian prog rocker Filippo Gaetani includes an important new member, chamber pop star Erik Matthews. This a beautiful dense album that you should check out if you haven't heard it. Spectacular.
21. Radio Days - Back in the Day
Italian rockers Radio Days alternate between mid period Beatles tributes and more updated punky Power Pop tunes. Lots of great songs here.
22. Greg Pope - Guiding Star
The latest album by prolific artist Greg Pope cast a darker more alternative cast than albums past. The hooks are here if you listen and stand up to repeated listening..
23. Cupid's Carnival - Everything is Love
I loved this John Lennon-esque collection of pop songs from the band formerly known as "Cherrystone". Perhaps the most unabashedly late Beatles of anything on this last.
24. Cheap Trick - Bang Zoom Crazy…Hello
Another album by Power Pop dinosaurs Cheap Trick. Does it matter? YES is matters. Some of the best three minute Power Pop songs of the year were on this album. Great that these guys are still bringing it.
25. The Nines - Alejandro's Visions
This is a retro soundtrack concept by the Nines and it sometimes is a bit too fey for my tastes. However, Steve Eggers is a force to be reckoned with and always brings us great songs.
