Kool Kat Musik Label

		A Kool Kat Kristmas When was the last time a great pop Holiday record! With contributions from both artists currently or soon to be on Kool Kat, this quite possibly be just what the pop masses ordered! This 12-song Holiday Pop Fest features contributions from Maple Mars, The Smith Brothers, The Goldbergs, Parallax Project, William Duke, Keith LuBrant, Frank Royster, The Britannicas, The Strand, John Wicks, and The Sun Kings! $5 FROM EVERY CD SOLD WILL BE DONATED TO THE SUSAN GIBLIN FOUNDATION: The late wife of Mike Giblin of Parallax Project, Susan Kroah Giblin held degrees both as a Paralegal and as a Certified Veterinary Technician, a degree that she obtained after going back to school at the age of 35. As one of Central PA's greatest friends to cast-off and wayward animals, she was a 17 year volunteer at the Helen O. Krause Animal Foundation, and served as its medical coordinator for nearly a decade. She also maintained a fostering room in her home which was rarely empty, and was well-known for her compassion, empathy, and personal connection with both patients and their owners. The Susan Giblin Foundation for Animal Wellness and Welfare was formed to honor the memory and continue the work of Susan Giblin, a Certified Veterinary Technician and noted animal advocate, who passed away from leukemia at the age of 46. The Foundation's mission is to raise and dispense funds to support animal caregiving organizations, to foster awareness and education of complementary therapies, and to support the continued education of those in the animal medical field. We sincerely hope this this goes well, we're already planning "Volume 2"! GREAT MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE!!!!!
		Blank Pages - Absolute Uncertainty The latest release (and Kool Kat debut) from these New Jersey’s power pop veterans. Their fourth collection continues their tradition of irresistible hooks and memorable melodies. Their sound blends and wide variety of pop references ranging from the old school (Big Star, Beatles and Raspberries) to the modern power pop purveyors like Jason Falkner, Mike Viola and Sloan. Lead singer, guitarist and songwriter Greg Potter turns in another batch of songs full of earnest lyrics and memorable hooks. More than your average pop tunesmith, Potter’s tunes have depth and inventive changes that keep you coming back for more. From the straightforward pop-rock of the album opener “Let it All Out” to the acoustic introspection of “I’ve Said All I Can Say,” the record moves seamlessly from the sounds of fuzzy tweed amps to jangling acoustics. Their unique style of power pop is inspired by such bands as Badfinger, Beach Boys, Beatles, Big Star, Byrds, Joe Jackson (Potter's vocal delivery resembles him a lot), Cheap Trick, Elvis Costello, Electric Light Orchestra, Jason Falkner, Jellyfish, Kinks, Knack, Paul McCartney and Wings, Matthew Sweet, Monkees, Pearlfishers, Police, Raspberries, Sloan, Superdrag, Velvet Crush, XTC, and the Who. "They write catchy pop songs circa 1983, with touches of present day pop that make it fresh and delightful. Tons of melody, personal lyrical content, and well-crafted songs keep your toes a-tappin'. Lots of influences, from Beatles to Costello, without ever hanging on any particular style" - SpaceCityRock.com Very very catchy! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC "THE EARLY YEARS" CONTAINING FIVE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS RECORDED IN 1996.
		The Sterling Loons - March To The Tune For their Kool Kat debut, we bet that prior to creating this record, Eamon Nordquist and mates raided someone's very kool record collection ("Pebbles", "Nuggets", "Rubble", and "Boulders" volumes had to have been in there) to have come up with a gem that's very heavily steeped in the tradition of late-60's influenced garage pop rock/Psych/Freakbeat! Eamon explains: "My favorite period in music has always been the late 60's, as the mod era melded into the psychedelic era. Most of my favorite records were made then, by artists such as the Kinks, Small Faces, the Move, the Beatles, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Who, the Pretty Things, Donovan etc. We set out to make a record that had that same type of scope, blending catchy pop, vocal harmonies, hard rock, and psychedelia. As new the songs were being developed and tested out live, a friend described them as the Hendrix Experience playing Kinks songs, which seemed rather fitting. A joke working title for the album was 'Electric Loon Land'. It soon became apparent as well that the songs were about the same characters, and a story began to develop for the whole album which tied all of the songs together, which seemed fitting considering its influences." After the intentionally lo-fi sound of their debut ('What to do in Trouble') they decided that the next album would be more hi-fi and three-dimensional sounding. They wanted the listener to be able to here something different in the songs every time they listened. And they've succeeded! They like to think of it as a double vinyl LP, to the extent they even designed the CD packaging to feel like a miniature version of a gatefold LP sleeve. Nice one lads! "Morning Sunshine" is the Move with an "Over Under Sideways Down"-like guitar riff and trippy psych groove! "She's Happy" sounds like Ray Davies fronting the Who circa "Happy Jack"! The title track features some tasty "Axis"-era Hendrix guitar fills and some locked groove instrumental passages. COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC CONTAINING 7 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS: "SOMEDAY SHE'LL GET AWAY PT 2" (alternate version), "GOODTIMESONG", "MORNING SUNSHINE" (demo), "KEEPS ME OCCUPIED", "SMILE AND WAVE", "WINE AND ALL THINGS FINE" (alternate version), "THE CASTAWAYS CODA".
		The Britannicas - The Britannicas The words "classic" and "timeless" are often used when it comes to guitar-based pop music, but that is exactly what you get with the jangle-filled debut album from The Britannicas! The only surprises are the ones worth having, spread over 40 minutes of spectacular hooks and harmonies! This should come as no surprise, given the band's musical pedigree. The Britannicas consists of three seasoned songwriters, multi-instrumentalists, and vocalists, all of whom are no strangers to long-time pop fans. Joe Algeri (Jack & The Beanstalk - Australia), Magnus Karlsson (Happydeadmen, The Charade - Sweden), and Herb Eimerman (Nerk Twins - USA) have delivered an effort that can truly be termed "International Pop"! Each musician recorded their parts in their respective home studios and shared the tracks across the oceans. Clearly, the tyranny of distance was no impediment to producing great music! The record seamlessly covers the entire palette of classic-era pop music - from the jingle jangle of "Those Good Vibrations", "Don't Go Back", and "Stars"; to the garage rock of "The Girl From Malasana"; to the power pop of "Baby Said Yeah Yeah" and "One Of These Nights"; to the more sombre folkiness of "Blue Sky Grey" and "Love Trap", to the outer-worldly psychedelia of "The Other Side"! For those whose tastes don't stray far from the three holy B's - The Beatles, The Byrds, and the Beach Boys, these 12 tracks will certainly "ring" true!
		Maple Mars - Galaxyland Rick Hromadka, who more or less is Maple Mars, writes sway-inducing tunes and he's not afraid to let rip with some heavy duty guitar sounds - which is where his approach differs from most of the L.A. pack. And don't forget the sweet harmonies! A dash of Pink Floyd, a sprinkle of Cheap Trick, some Jellyfish on the side, and a big dollop of the Beatles best describes them. Hromadka (formally of LA pop icons Double Naught Spies) fronts this psychedelic rock outfit with drummer Ron Pak, producer/guitarist Steve Berns, and bassist Trevor Zimmerman. The record was co-produced by Rick and Steve, and adds another big pop notch to Rick's ever-expanding pop belt! "His layered bright power pop sounds are married to strong songwriting. For all of the gloss and flash and pristine harmonies, many of Hromadka's songs have real emotional weight. So it's not just about catchy hooks as there are real feelings coming from almost every track. They make the studio a gigantic canvas, layering on guitars, backing vocals and keyboards in equal measure with the numerous catchy bits. This is retro-futuristic guitar rock!" - Mike Bennett/Hablo Ennui "Their sound is all wrapped up in productional sophistication, and rocking little tunes full of Jellyfishin' Beatle references!" - David Snyder "Fantastic! Love the melodies, the hooks, the arrangements, and the overall production. I listened to a lot of Beatles, Badfinger, Todd Rundgren, Klaatu, Procol Harum, The Boomers YYZ, and XTC (and still do). Maple Mars fits into my music rotation extremely well!" - Jason Lyle Includes a cover of "New Day", written in 1971 by the legendary child prodigy Mark Radice (who plays piano, arranged the strings, and co-produced the track)! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS CD CONTAINING FIVE PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED SONGS - "START OF SOMETHING BIG", "WHEN BRIDGES FALL", "WHY WON'T YOU SLEEP IN OUR BED", "DESTROYER", AND "WELCOMED HERE"! Awfully hard not to gush about this one 'cause it's ours!
		Frank Royster - Innocence Is Bliss Brandishing lots of jangly guitars, and an unabashed fetish for British Invasion pop, this is Frank's sophomore effort for Kool Kat! The former Fire Apes guitarist is aided here by former bandmates Tommy Hamer (drums) and Julian Volpe (bass). The record was brilliantly produced by The Spongetones Jamie Hoover (who also contributes lead/rhythm guitars, lap steele, dulcimer, bass, and vocals to the proceedings), who, like Frank, makes no secret of his love for the Fab Four - and it shows throughout the record in the magic production and instrumental touches and embellishments he tastefully adds! The results are a match made in pop heaven! Includes a very cool cover of The Beatles' "Every Little Thing" and closes with Frank and his son McCartney (no surprise in his choice of his son's name) doing a very touching version of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" (we've got dibs on McCartney's first solo record)! "Frank has exhibited amazing growth since his Kool Kat debut! Similar to groups like The Smithereens, he has stayed in touch with his British Invasion roots. The record is full of killer melodies, tons of guitars, terrific musicianship and great songwriting. The songs are so amazingly upbeat, catchy and beautiful to the ears you have to listen to it on repeat ten-thousand times over. 'Brena, You' could've been a Paul McCartney/Wings track from 'Band On The Run'! There's not one dull moment on here. Play this record loud and sing your heart out! - M.R. Gomez COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 7-SONG BONUS DISC ENTITLED "ALTERNATE BLISS"! TRACK LISTING: "BRENA, YOU" (acapella), "LONGING FOR BLISS" (instrumental without "Twinkle"), "I NEED YOU" (acapella), "I NEED YOU" (telephone mix), "CAN'T YOU MAKE ME SMILE? (acapella), "MR. WONDERFUL" (acapella), AND "BRENA, YOU"
		The Beat Rats - A Cellar Full Of Rats! In 1964 it was Beatlemania, in 2009 it's time for Beat Rat mania! This New York City-based quartet whisks you back to the days of The Star Club in Hamburg, Germany - but with only a slight modern touch! Their no-frills brand of Mersey-inspired garage pop is a hook and guitar-filled delight! "New York: birthplace of the Velvet Underground, The Ramones, Sonic Youth, The Strokes, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and home to all things cool and trendy since the late 60’s. The Beat Rats are the latest sons of the Big Apple to pick the torch for rock’n’roll and run with it. These boys aren’t, however, running down the more obvious paths the city is known for (I.E. Punk, Hardcore and Noise Rock). They are reaching back to the halcyon days of The Beatles, Mod Pop and Garage Rock. If these guys were bigger anglophiles they’d be living in a flat in Shoreditch. ‘The Beat Rats Theme’ is a statement of intent, all surf guitar, hip shaking rhythm and petulant, catchy vocals, and it doesn’t outstay it’s welcome. Each track on the album is a short, sharp blast of classy retro rock. Not that they repeat themselves. 'I Can’t Wait' has a slower, more bar room blues feel that could either be about a woman or a drug dealer. ‘Rat Fink' hints at the Banana Splits as much as any real band. While also bringing to mind Link Wray and the soundtrack to 'Pulp Fiction'. the production on the album is pretty basic, but it fits the overall mood of the record, making it sound as if the band recorded on an 8-track with analog equipment, in a Greenwich Village loft. For all I know they did. I’m guessing the real way to experience the band at it's best is live (we've done that folks with the bonus 5 song live EP!), with sweat pouring out of the walls and everybody in the room shaking ass and taking names." - Bubblegum Slut Fanzine COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE FIVE-SONG BONUS LIVE EP! TRACK LISTING: "RATFINK", "MARYANN", "GUITAR BOOGIE", "THE BEAT RATS THEME", AND "MINE ALL MINE"! YEAH YEAH YEAH BABY!!!! GREAT!!!
		Parallax Project - I Hate Girls Parallax Project Parallax Project was supposed to be a loosely organized, shifting collection of musicians. That's what founding member Michael Giblin envisioned when he set out to create his first solo album, 2002's "Oblivious". But like Rocky and Post-It notes, where you're headed and where you end up are often two different things. In assembling a band to promote the album, he ended up with a crack live unit that drew upon a collective love of 60s Mod, 70's new wave, and Elvis (the skinny, mousy British one - see "Half" and "You & Me" on the new one for proof). Over the course of the next few years, the band honed its edge and flaunted its love of the Ray Davies songbook, the result of which was "Perpetual Limbo". Produced by Don Dixon, their third full length release (and Kool Kat debut) "I Hate Girls", now flaunts the fruits of Michael's time spent touring, hanging, and recording with The Plimsouls and Magic Christian! And Plimsouls-inspired it certainly is throughout - see songs like "All The Same" and "Coming Around" for proof! But there's also much more going on here. Imagine if Difford and Tillbrook of Squeeze got together with Ronnie Lane of the Faces to write a song - you'd probably wind up with "The Day After Tomorrow"! The crunchy guitar-lead "Waiting To Pull The Trigger" features some very cool Difford/Tillbrook-like dual lead vocals. In fact, one fan was overheard to say "It sounds like Difford and Tillbrook fronting the Smithereens!" The title track has some Faces swagger with some tasty Ian McLagan-like electric piano during the outro. All capped off with a very cool cover of Martha and The Vandella's "Needle In A Haystack"! Solid from start to finish! COMES WITH AN EXTREMELY KOOL, EXCLUSIVE 11-TRACK BONUS DISC - "SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY: COVERS FROM THE VAULT"! TRACK LISTING: "WATCH YOUR STEP" (FEATURING MAGIC CHRISTIAN) (Bobby Parker et al), "NEWS AT TEN" (The Vapors), "TELEPHONE LINE" (Electric Light Orchestra), "A WELL RESPECTED MAN" (The Kinks), "LIFE BEGINS AT THE HOP" (XTC), "ANNIE" (Pete Townshend/Ronnie Lane), "IT'S NOT TRUE" (FEATURING MAGIC CHRISTIAN) (The Who), "CINDY INCIDENTALLY" (The Faces), "CANDY SAYS" (Velvet Underground), "I'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE AGAIN" (Burt Bacharach et al), AND "LIZA RADLEY" (The Jam)! GREAT!!!!
		The Tomorrows - Jupiter Optimus Maximus The Tommorows The Tomorrows are Marc Stewart, Scott Fletcher, Tony Kerr and Adrian Buckley. Using tools and techniques from past ages and marrying this with their skills, invention, and souls, these four gentlemen have created a sound that is of this moment. Glorious flights of melody and space travel whimsy are welded to a pumping steam engine core as The Tomorrows create a soundtrack for the now. The result, "Jupiter Optimus Maximus", is their recorded debut! "The Tomorrows carry on the psychedelic pop tradition, but streamline things a bit so that the songs are tighter and even more melodic. Fans of Chewy Marble will eat up those great bent notes and striking chord changes! Definitely a force to be reckoned with!" - David Bash/IPO "Imagine if you will, a dark and stormy night high in the mountains of 'PowerPopSylvania' where a mad Power Pop scientist dedicates his entire life to creating his very own Power Pop Monster. Working late into the stormy night, he ever-so-carefully combines ingredients from the distant past (The Beatles, Badfinger), elements of the not-so-distant-past (The Records), and a dash or two of the present (The Roswells, Higgins) - then, to be absolutely certain that these exotic ingredients all blend perfectly, fuses them together with a million volts of a loud, heady mix of electric guitars, keyboards, hooks, and harmonies! 'It's alive', he screams. 'It's alive!' 'All of my years of endless research and dedication to the betterment of music have enabled me to create this living, breathing Pop Monster - The Tomorrows!' OK, well maybe it didn't happen exactly that way, but it very well could have. The results are definitely still there! Brilliant!" - Max Humphries COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC FEATURING A STUDIO COVER VERSION OF THE BEATLES' "AND YOUR BIRD CAN SING" ALONG WITH THREE LIVE TRACKS RECORDED IN AUGUST 2008 - "CANNONBALL", "BALLAD OF A LESSER MAN", AND "GOODBYE"! GREAT!!!!
		Andy Reed - Fast Forward Andy Reed We're darned proud to be able to host Andy's debut full-length that's essentially a one-man produced effort (only drums and flute are the guest appearances). It's very hard not to gush over this, but we can't help it! Another stellar example of "Sunday Morning Pop", this acoustic guitar/piano-led effort is a pleasure from start to finish. Contained within are ten slices of top-notch, well-written, gorgeous, hook and harmony-filled, pure pop that'll stick with you on first listen! In a nutshell, the musical references that are in play here are The Beatles, Jellyfish, Todd Rundgren, Elliott Smith, and Brendan Benson - all very good things for sure! The samba-tempo'd "The Criminal" is as brilliant piece of 60's-inspired "Sunshine Pop" as you'll ever hear! The vocal harmonies are heavenly throughout! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE, BONUS CD FEATURING "GLUTTON OF SYMPATHY" (JELLYFISH COVER), "TOO MUCH TO HANG ON" ("GREAT COMPRESSION" EP OUTTAKE), "A PICTURE" (2003 DEMO), AND TWO SONGS FROM THE NOW RARE, BRENDAN BENSON-PRODUCED, "REWIND" CD BY THE HASKELS - "SONG OF HOPE" AND "COMIC BOOK HERO" (FEATURING BRENDAN ON BACKING VOCALS)! GREAT!!!!!
		The Jellybricks - Goodnight To Everyone www.thejellybricks.com OK - let's see now....Crunchy and jangly guitars: check. Top notch, sugar-sweet, hook-filled songs: check. Tighter than Joan Rivers face execution: check. Tons of harmonies: check. The 'Bricks are back baby! We're both honored and thrilled to be a part of the release of their fourth full-length album which was produced in part by Saul Zonana! The Jellybricks show that their brand of pop hasn’t lost its fizz after more than a decade. Continuing where their 2004 Kool Kat debut "Power This" left off, "Goodnight to Everyone" showcases their maturing songwriting skills and studio savvy, while capturing the vigor of their acclaimed live shows. They're also expanding their musical pallet with the addition of things like more audible keyboard flourishes - which is fine with us! Of course we love it - we could go on - but just don't take our word for it! The rave reviews are already rolling in! "Bringing us power pop with a capital 'P', they bring to mind statemates Ike (former Ike Cliff Hillis produced 'Power This'), as well as Matthew Sweet and The Tories. Saul Zonana co-produced, played on and mixed several of the tracks, and his fans should enjoy this one as well. 'Eyes Wide' is a great, fast-paced opener that draws the Ike comparisons, and it's followed by the title track, a classic power pop number with an indelible chorus. 'Ruin Us' and 'More to Lose' are a bit more on the janglier (yet still rocking) side, reminiscent of fellow Northeasterners Smash Palace, while 'Nobody Else' might be the best track on the disc, a wonderfully catchy tune with Jellyfish/ELO-like backing vocals. And in a nice touch, the disc closes with 'Heartache Begins', the kind of lush, anthemic ballad you just don't see enough power pop bands save for the end. This is classic power pop at its finest" - AbsolutePowerPop.blogspot.com Right on! Stone cold solid from start to finish (just like their previous three releases)! GREAT!!!!!
		Doug Derek & The Hoax - Who The Hell Is Doug Derek? Doug Dreke & The Hoax An unheard power pop gem - until now! Fans of Paul Collins' Beat and The Plimsouls, this is for you as there are lots of similarities throughout! This little-known garage power pop band from New Haven, CT existed from 1980 to 1981. The songs and music presented here reflect the energy, spirit and overall sound of a lot of American bands at the time, and provide another entry into the long list of garage pop bands that existed during this period! It all began with vocalist/bassist Doug Riccio (a.k.a. "Doug Derek") (who's got a little Peter Case in him) and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Michael Brochin, who reunited with two additional former band mates in drummer Rich D'Albis and guitarist Bob Cedro to form the initial lineup. Accurately self-described as "pop with a lot of balls", they were able to create more than 30 original songs together during that short, yet very productive period. All previously unreleased until now, ultra-catchy songs such as "Bobby's Gotta Get Back To Boston," (could've been a college radio hit in the day), "I Don't Really Like It Here" (both presented here in two versions), "I Need Your Love (Let Me Take You Into The Night)" and the anthemic "Airwaves" (a tale about a fictional band making it to the top of the charts with an unusually dark, ironic twist at the end) reflect the obvious Power Pop influences of Brochin and a darker, more mysterious side in Riccio that culminated in a songwriting duo that could be considered to be a somewhat unusual pairing of minds for the time. Kool Kat is pleased to present debut album that never was - finally released 27 years after the songs were originally recorded. COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS DISC - THE 11-SONG "LIVE IN THE BASEMENT" CD! Originally dubbed "The John Tapes" this is a last-minute session of songs not even found on their studio release, recorded live on a 4-track recorder in Riccio's parents' basement. They are the last actual recorded performances of the band, capturing their unmistakable raw energy! GREAT!!!
		The Goldbergs - Under The Radar The Goldbergs The follow-up to "Hooks, Lines & Sinkers" is here! And we're quite chuffed to be able to proclaim it a Kool Kat release! It could very easily be titled "Hooks Vol. 2" as this Beatles-inspired gem's got everything that the previous one had and more! Solid songs, solid playing, lots of guitars, hooks, and harmonies - from start to finish! Oozing with total "Brit-ness", it sounds a lot like a more modern-sounding Red Button! "Goldberg sounds like he sprang from the halcyon power pop days of 1998 with tunes that are snappy, crisp, and clean, evoking the chirpier side of the style!" - fufkin.com Andy explains - "The Goldbergs is essentially a solo effort. It's my vehicle, my creation, my vision, my aesthetic, though there are certain key individuals who have contributed to "Radar" that deserve mention. An immense amount of credit goes to long time confidante and secret weapon, Paul Umbach. He is indispensable in translating the sounds in my head into a first-class finished product. From producing and engineering, to mixing the entire record, he ensures that it turns out exactly as envisioned. New York session greats Rich Pagano (Fab Faux) on drums and John Conte (bass) appear on 8 of the 11 tracks." COMES AUTOGRAPHED AND WITH A BONUS DISC FEATURING FIVE EXCLUSIVE, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE + STUDIO TRACKS!
		The Strand - Another Season Passes The Strand Who says you can't go back home again? This is a brand new release on the Kool Kat label from the re-formed band! And we're quite happy to report that they sound as if they never missed a beat! Led by founding members James Garner and Bill Lasley, they deliver nine new songs written between the early 80's and 2007! It's fun to try and guess which ones were written when! It reads like a New Wave/Brit Pop "how to" guide! From the opener, the Plimsouls/Paul Collins' Beat-inspired "Rising Tide", to the jangle-filled, "Stepping Stone"-inspired "Not As A Stranger", to the East Coast/Gary Valentine-inspired pop of "Along For The Ride", to the Paisley Underground-inspired "The Center", to the 80's Brit-Pop inspired (think the verse melody of The Jam's "Start") "Scared Streets" (presented here in two versions - the version that appears later on the disc is VERY Jam-like in its aggressive delivery), and the closing, bedroom acoustic pop of "Hand In Hand", you're swept away with good old fashioned, well-written, well-played, well-produced, jangly and crunchy guitar-filled, tastefully keyboard laced, New Wave Pop that we're absolute total suckers for! COMES WITH EXCLUSIVE FIVE SONG BONUS DISC FEATURING A STUDIO COVER VERSION OF THE ZOMBIES' "IS THIS THE DREAM" ALONG WITH FOUR TRACKS RECORDED LIVE & RAW IN 1984 AT THE 9:30 CLUB IN WASHINGTON, DC - "SECONDS WAITING", "I CAN'T EXPLAIN" (WHO COVER), "POPULAR GIRL", AND "KIDS TODAY"! Of course we're just a wee bit biased! GREAT!!!
		JOHN WICKS AND THE RECORDS - ROTATE Their first release in nearly 10 years! "The Records have always been 'Top of the Pops' in my pantheon of powerpop purveyors. After hearing the four minutes and twenty-three seconds of "Starry Eyes" that seamlessly melded the amphetamine rush of punk with the crystalline jangle of vintage Brit-invasion the song singlehandedly reunited me with my rock and roll roots the Beatles, the Raspberries and Blue Ash! This one reworks 4 stellar tracks from 'Rock'ola' and adds eight new recordings. It could just have easily been called 'Revolve(er)' as John's musical palette continues to mirror the Records' classic sound, one that is heavily influenced by middle-period Beatles songcraft, and his penchant for crafting gorgeous melodies remains undiminished. Stellar tracks include the opener 'Oh Yeah!' with its infectious chorus and 'That Girl Is Emily' which utilizes a sweet, slightly lysergic circular guitar motif that immediately places the song high on the list of great rock tunes written about girls named Emily. 'Different Shades Of Green' and 'So Close to Home' are instant powerpop classics which would have fit comfortably on 'Crashes' with their shimmering guitar work and anthemic choruses. This is a must-have for Records fans and true powerpop aficionados! Without question, John remains at the top of his game and continues to make great music!" - Kid Charlemagne/PowerPopblogspot.com COMES AUTOGRAPHED AND WITH A BONUS DISC FEATURING FIVE EXCLUSIVE, PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE + STUDIO TRACKS!
		FOOLING APRIL - IN THE NOW Our best-selling, and one of our hardest working bands are back with a stellar second effort! Their single, "Firefly", from their debut album found a home at #1 on the Clear Channel unsigned charts for almost 4 months and was featured on over 450 Clear Channel station websitesm, all coming shortly after being selected the flagship band for a new online venture, "American Idol Underground", that lead to appearances on FOX and NBC television as well as a full feature in "American Idol The Magazine". They're poised for wider-reaching success! And, like their brilliant debut, this one also features top-notch, hook-filled songs and crisp, tight execution! Not ones to fool with a successful formula, their well-produced, keyboard-led brand of pure, radio-friendly pop will immediately appeal to fans of The Argument, The 88, Ben Folds, Crowded House, and even Steely Dan! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE, 4-SONG BONUS DISC OF THEIR PREVIOUSLY DOWNLOAD-ONLY "WHITE PINE SESSIONS EP" CONTAINING SONGS NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE - "PRETENDING" (early version), "BACK TO NEW", "C-4" (early version), AND "FIREFLY" (early version)!
		MAPLE MARS - BEAUTIFUL MESS Their third release is a pure pop delight and sees the band stretching out a bit musically! Rick Hromadka explains - "'The new album picks up where 'Circular Haze', our second album, leaves off. Musically, it recalls the 'beautiful' blend of our psychedelic power pop and lush acoustic orchestrations. Lyrically, it deals with adult relationships, including bittersweet breakup, and the celebration of new love. Saying goodbye while saying hello, and everything in between." All expertly delivered with the usual "Maple" formula that never fails to feature plenty of guitars (lots this time around), amazing hooks and gorgeous harmonies! Features a beautiful cover of 10CC's "I'm Not In Love"! "Paralyzed" sounds almost like a latter day Replacements song! "Fell Off The Cloud" sounds like a cross between Martin Newell and Cloud Eleven! Other songs also have a strong Cloud Eleven feel as well! "Between Two Worlds" and "Apology" are a terrific ballads! The crunch-filled power chords of "Face In The Crowd" are an air-guitar lovers dream! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE, BONUS DISC CONTAINING 6 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED TRACKS - "WELCOME TO MAPLE MARS" (demo), "GOLDEN PEOPLE" (demo), "THE BEGINING" (acoustic), "FACE IN THE CROWD" (demo), "SOFT CAROUSEL" (demo), AND A "MARS REMAKE" OF THE THEME FROM "DARK SHADOWS"!
		KEITH LUBRANT - SEARCHING FOR SIGNAL www.keithlubrant.com He's back with his brilliant sophomore effort - and what a crunchy and jangly corker of first-rate power pop it is! Features guest appearances/vocal support from Jim Boggia and Mike Viola (Candy Butchers!) Like his terrific debut, all the hooks are still present, but some songs have taken a new musical direction. States Keith - "I knew I wanted to experiment with different styles and instrumentation very early in the songwriting stage for this project. I needed to explore a little more, dig a little deeper. I did not feel the need to recreate 'Face In The Crowd', my debut." Throughout the record, his vocal style recalls both Robin Wilson (Gin Blossoms) and Neil Finn! And that's a good thing! "Whether you're dialing up the spirited, power pop-styled numbers or the more reflective, introspective tunes, everything on this goes down smooth and easy. Nicely done!" - John Borack Solid from start to finish, all 13 of the well-written, hook-filled, songs feature top-notch playing and vocals! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 6-SONG (STUDIO/DEMOS/LIVE) BONUS CD OF POPPIN' RECORDINGS BY DIM, KEITH'S PRIOR BAND THAT INCLUDED ALL OF THE MUSICIANS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE RECORDING OF THE NEW CD! GREAT!!!!
		CLOUD ELEVEN - SWEET HAPPY LIFE www.cloudeleven.com We're pleased as punch to be associated with Rick Gallego's latest masterpiece! He recorded most of it himself, with valuable assistance from Nelson Bragg on percussion and vocals, and Zane Drake on various stringed instruments. The sound this time is a more laid back, acoustic vibe than shown on previous releases, with Rick playing the pedal steel guitar for an added dimension - without losing the melodic/harmonic textures of past recordings. A full drum kit is being replaced this time with the looser percussive sounds of tabla, bongos, shakers, etc. Full of breezy, West Coast-influenced pop and lite psych! The Beach Boy-ish harmonies are a joy! The instrumentation is gorgeous! The songs are top-notch! We could go on and on.... If you like your pop luscious and harmony-filled than this is for you! Another late contender (IOHO) for "Best Of 2006" honors! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 4-SONG EP FEATURING PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED DEMO RECORDINGS OF "LEARN TO FLY", "BLUE MORNING" (both writtten in 1997 for the first Cloud Eleven album), "FAR TO FALL" & "CARRY ME" (both written for the "Orange And Green And Yellow And Near" album)!
		FRANK ROYSTER - THRU THE YEARS You may not know who Frank Royster is, but many of you have heard him before. He added guitars to the first (most excellent) Fire Apes CD - "A Pefect Day For Bananafish" and was a member of the band from 1996-1998! He's been a vet of the Charleston, SC music scene for close to 20 years. The songs contained here were recorded and written over a period of about 12 years. The album was co-produced by Frank and Paolo Liccairdi, who has played drums on all of the Fire Apes releases to date. He also co-produced The Apes' "Central Park Carousel". Very influenced by the Beatles, Elvis Costello, Beach Boys, Marshall Crenshaw, and The Smithereens. In other words, a group of pop hook-meisters that we all love! In fact Jim Babjak of the Smithereens plays guitar on the track "Pressure". Vocally, Frank's a cross between Elvis Costello (witness "Say Goodbye" that sounds like it came off "My Aim Is True"!) and Pat DiNizio! As soon as you here his powerful wall-of-guitars sound, it just screams Smithereens. The production has sort of a DIY charm that recalls the first Van Duren, Marshall Crenshaw, and Smithereens records! Very, very catchy! COMES WITH A BONUS, EXCLUSIVE, FOUR-SONG EP OF UNRELEASED DEMOS! You might say we're a bit biased, but we still think it's GREAT!!!
		SOMERDALE - FRIDAY NITE IN AMERICA www.somerdalemusic.com Debut full-length by this New Jersey 3-piece formerly known as The Shags! "Old school power pop done with new school spirit and verve. Definitely a band to watch out for!" - David Bash They’ve toughened up their sound and have maintained their sweet vocal harmonies! They take you on their personally guided “musical history tour” of guitar pop (that exhibits a plethora of influences – The Beatles, Elliott Smith, The Rubinoos, The Who, The Rolling Stones, The Raspberries, Free, and Artful Dodger immediately come to mind) that begins with “FM Liberation” delivered with “Street Fighting Man”-like power chords, Keith Moon-like drumming, and John Entwhistle-like bass lines! “She Reminds Me” combines “All Right Now” riff crunch with sugar sweet “ooh and aah harmonies! “Oh Nicole” could be an Artful Dodger outtake! “Gravity” is Raspberries-like! You get the idea!
		JEFFREY SIMMONS - FAREWELL, MY SWEET ALIBI www.jeffreysimmons.com Jeffrey Simmons creates classic Pop music in the tradition of Harry Nilsson, Emitt Rhodes, Wilco and Van Duren complete with rich instrumental (mostly piano-led, strummy acoustic guitar-laced) accompaniments that include some tasteful string arrangements! “Has crafted a solo album that is daring, ambitious and utterly user-friendly melding the songs into a wholly original construction!” – CMJ His earthy, Pat DiNizio-like-at-times vocals, and sweet harmonies provide the adornment for his mostly Baroque-pop treatments! A grower!
		THE SPEEDS - SING IT LOUD www.myspace.com/thespeeds After two promising EPs, this Steel City trio finally deliver their solid, big-time poppin', 10-song full length debut! This is top-notch Brit-inspired Power Pop that's chock full of crunchy guitars, hooks and terrific (Beatle-like at times) harmonies! Think Supergrass, The Shazam, The Jellybricks, Cheap Trick, and early Rich Creamy Paint and you get a real good idea of what's happening here! Delivered crisply, tightly, and with a no-frills approach! "Sunset Drive" is a great Beatles/Marmalade-inspired ballad! We're pleased as punch to be associated with this! GREAT!!!
		THE FIRE APES - THE FIRE APES www.thefireapes.com Surprise surprise! Five brand new top-notch, Brit-inspired, crunchy pop gems from the ‘Apes! This is Power Pop of the highest order by one of the best in the Power Pop biz right now that features lots of guitars and hooks on top of hooks! If you liked their previous two releases you’re gonna love this one! Of course we love it!
		FOOLING APRIL - EVERY GOOD BOY DOES FINE www.foolingapril.com Fans of Ben Folds, The Argument Gabe Dixon Band and Steely Dan – this one’s for you. Hook-filled, piano-led, radio-ready pop that is catchy as heck! "These guys show you inside of nine seconds that they know how to write melodic, hooky pop music with a hint of jam-band riffage. They showcase excellent musicianship, strong vocals and superb songwriting!" – Foundrymusic.com. We have a lot of trouble removing this one from the CD player – it’s that catchy!
		THE QUEUE - FALLOUT www.thequeueband.com Re-release of their debut effort that had Bucketful of Brains gushing "It's a very pop record - articulate and playful - with guitars and keyboards sharing prominence...has bags of confidence, an obscene amount of musical (and technical) skill, and a very pop sound that mixes a large measure of Crowded House with some Jellyfish and a dash of Brit Pop!"
		THE JELLYBRICKS - POWER THIS www.thejellybricks.com Five years in the making (and well worth the wait), Kool Kat is thrilled to release the latest and greatest from Harrisburg, PA’s favorite sons – The Jellybricks!! This is what power pop is all about folks! Lotsa guitars, lotsa harmonies, lotsa hooks = lotsa fun! Produced by Cliff Hillis! Already being hailed as a potential 2004 Top-Tenner! Stop us if we’re gushing…………!
		THE FIRE APES - CENTRAL PARK CAROUSEL www.thefireapes.com The Apes return with a killer sophomore effort and we’re thrilled to be involved! Fulfilling the promise of their excellent debut - "Perfect Day For Bananafish", John Seymour and mates deliver 12 slices of classic, guitar-driven hook-n-harmony-filled Power Pop destined to be a 2005 Top Tenner for sure! Includes a great cover of "I’m Into Something Good" (Herman’s Hermits)! Can’t say enough about this one!!
		LORD CARRETT - UNSWEETENED www.lordoflaughs.com Stepping out of the "pop ocean" and dipping our toes in the "comedy pool" for this one! And face it, we can all use a few laughs these days! Unlike most comedy records, "Unsweetened" was recorded live in one take with no edits! A regular on the syndicated Bob & Tom radio show, Carrett’s style harkens back to the days of George Carlin, Robert Klein, Jan Murray and Shelly Berman, in other words, the masters! C’mon laugh a little! NOTE: PARENTAL ADVISORY HILARIOUS!!
		MAPLE MARS - CIRCULAR HAZE Kool Kat is proud to present the long-awaited followup to “Welcome To Maple Mars”! The LA times described their music as “a dash of Cheap Trick, a sprinkle of ELO, some Jellyfish on the side and a big dollop of The Beatles”! Their new CD, while still embracing these influences, is a giant musical leap forward as they continue to finely hone their craft of top-notch pop (power + otherwise)! GREAT!!
		PIPITONE - MUSIC FOR MINIVANS Nick Pipitone (ex-Sugarsmack) leads this power pop band from Milwaukee! Hooks guitars (+ keyboards) are in more than ample supply on their totally terrific, fun and very catchy debut! Great singing throughout! Vocally, Nick’s got a little Tilbrook/Folds thing goin’ on too! Of course we love it!
		THE SPORTSMEN - SPIRITED Chris von Sneidern's 1999 side-project featuring songs centered in the traditions of soul, blues and rock ‘n’ roll. Originally released in Japan and limited to 500 copies, we’re thrilled to make this terrific CD available again with the addition of a previously unreleased bonus track!
		THE IDLE WILDS - UNHEARD Collection of 15 rare and previously unreleased tracks. From “Tender Distance”, their first recorded demo, to “Used By Permission”, the CD chronicles their musical development from 1992-1996. Led by songwriter/vocalist David Gray, the band were signed to Ardent Records by former Big Star drummer and A&R executive Jody Stephens and released the “Dumb, Gifted and Beautiful” CD in 1996. Critics on both sides of the Atlantic praised the group’s “power pop” leanings often drawing comparisons to Big Star, Teenage Fan Club, The Posies, Velvet Crush and the Gigolo Aunts – all touchstones of the genre – prompting David Gray to proclaim “I don’t mind the comparisons. If I read a review of a band being compared to Big Star I’d go buy the record”. Despite the critical acclaim, the group split in 1996.
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