Taking a little time off

Longtime readers of PPO will likely recall that I take a vacation every summer. That time is now. No Secret Saturdays, no posts, no music, no nothing for a while. 

Feel free to email me but I will be slow to respond to all of your e-mail questions so please have patience.

As always, thanks to everyone for out there. Without all of you, I wouldn't still be here.

See ya!

THE LAUREATES, SPELLS, OUT TOMORROW, JUNE 28TH 2011:

“Lo-fi, brash and loud as hell, the Chicago band's latest record proves that they can still write slick and sinister rock.”- AOL/ Spinner

“The Laureates stick to their strengths – rough-and-tumble garage rock with a power pop sheen. The songs on Spells are energetic and wild, but the band never lets things get too out of hand.”- Loud Loop Press

“Undeniable!”- Casy Meehan, Chicago Mix Tape

AVAILABLE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD HERE STARTING TOMORROW

http://www.candydinner.com/album/the-laureates-spells/

THE LAUREATES ARE PLAYING TONIGHT AT SCHUBAS

http://www.schubas.com/Shows/06-27-2011+Sleeper+Agent

SPELLS IS STREAMING AT AOL SPINNER THIS WEEK

http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/spinner#/25

The Laureates’ second LP, Spells is drumming up plenty of attention for what Spinner is calling “slick and sinister rock.” The resounding response has been an enthusiastic endorsement of the always punchy and ambitious rock from the Chicago four-piece. Today, the band announced that in addition to 12" vinyl, Spells will also be available for free digital download from Chicago’s hot-spot website for free music, Candy Dinner.
 
Front-man, Chad Preston had this to say about making the album available for free: "We pressed some LPs for this release because we love vinyl and fans like owning the physical artifact, but we also wanted to make sure people could easily find digital copies of the record. Since everyone is stealing music these days, we thought we would just offer a free download at Candydinner.com, for those who buy the LP or just want to check out the songs."
 
The Laureates just returned from a mini-tour from Iowa City to Cincinnati, stopping through the Daytrotter studios to record a session (posting date to be announced soon). The band has also added a show at Schubas to their album release celebrations, playing tonight with Sergio Leone and Sleeper Agent. The band has a music video and more shows to be announced soon.
 

About The Laureates-

The Laureates’ sound came together over a two-year span beginning in late 2005 after Chad Preston (vocals, guitar) had written and recorded a self-produced, lo-fi album throughout that year. Knowing that being in a band is always more fun, he went out to find people to play live and record some songs. He first found Crawfie Ward (bass) and Pete Gray (drums) who had played together previously in other projects. Adam Penly (also in Paul Cary’s band, guitar/organ) joined in early 2007 just in time to help support the release of the band’s first record, a self-titled 7” EP, released on its own label, Funambulist Recording Company.

After a number of local Chicago shows, the band recorded their first full-length album, There Are No More Gentlemen with Tight Phantoms’ Mike Lust at his Phantom Manor studio, and released it at the end of 2008, again on Funambulist. The songs on the record recall traces of childhoods spent listening to the underground rock of the ‘80s and ‘90s, and classic rock and roll heard on the radio in dad’s car, as if the band was pretending that Pixies and Pavement were contemporaries of The Beatles or The Who. The record’s modern approach to vintage rock and roll/pop songs (“equal parts paisley and punk” - Chicagoist) garnered positive reviews from around the blogosphere, with writers comparing the band’s music to Guided by Voices, Spoon, Interpol, The Jam, The Rolling Stones and The Kinks. The album saw some college radio play, charting on the CMJ 200.

Their third record, No Kontrol, was released digitally in February, 2010, via Funambulist Recording Company/Candy Dinner. The EP was recorded by Johnathan Crawford (Paul Cary, The Runnies, Tiger Bones, France Has the Bomb) in Chicago in the summer of 2009 at Leroy Bach’s home studio and at Clown Town. No Kontrol slightly tweaked the sound of There Are No More Gentlemen by adding a touch of lo-fi noise and reverb-ed abandon.

About Candy Dinner- (From http://www.candydinner.com/about/ )

In the ever increasingly digital world (or rather, almost completely and totally digital world?) many record labels are finding it difficult to adapt. Yes of course some savvy labels have a strong following, but a lot of labels that relied on CD sales are gone or struggling to reinvent themselves. After all, it's expensive and time consuming to produce and market music. In response a lot of artists are going totally DIY and selling their music on itunes, MySpace or via other online means, but so can a bazillion other bands. Often times these bands become a needle in a haystack. Candy Dinner is a small community of artists that want to distribute their music without having to rely on record labels and all the Jazz that might go with that. We don't really offer financial or PR support though we do make an effort to promote our roster through various means. Candy Dinner is simply a curated free distributor of music. Our main motive is to encourage people to not worry about getting their music out to listeners.

The Caulfields - Fraud - 2000

The Caulfields unreleased songs could have been A-side material for countless other bands! Nine tracks including the band's cover of Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together" and a 1993 recording of the Alvin & The Chipmunks Christmas song "Hang Up Your Stocking"

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The Boulevard Beat - "8-Track Breakdown

The Boulevard Beat is a 4 piece Power pop band from L.A and O.C California. Kevin Lead Guitar/Vocals, Drew Guitar/Vocals, Johnny Bass/Vocals and Travis Drums. Formed in mid 2009 as The Boulevard Beat despite having played in several previous bands together such as The Clairvoyants and Moving Targets. Recently signed to No Front Teeth Records, The Boulevard Beat plan on releasing their debut 7" "8-Track Breakdown". So keep an eye out for that as well...

The Boulevard Beat - 8 Track Breakdown by theboulevardbeat

"We would love it if you guys all joined us on Facebook and gave our page a "Like"! Visit us on our Facebook fan page and show some love!!! Thanks guys!"

Triggers - 18 FPS

Buy the single on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/18-fps-single/id442034493

Virginia Sisters - Last Pathetic Fool - 2005

Virginia Sisters have a ragged but appealing Southern pop/rock charm about them, with the punchy "Dazzling Blue" setting things off on the right course à la Dan Baird or Georgia Satellites. The trio makes this a guitar rock track that seems perfect for summer driving with the top down. It's short and sweet, but not quite as sweet as the swagger lead singer Roy Anderson uses during the roots rocker "Deranged," which has a few twists and turns. The band slows things down with a tender but pristine ballad titled "Oh the Night Is Fading Fast" that adds drums and more instrumentation after the first chorus. There's an old-school rock & roll feeling to several of these numbers, including the infectious, hook-riddled "Beautiful One," something Bryan Adams could pull off in his sleep. But "Thanks, But No" almost describes the quality of the Elvis Costello-ish song, adequate but not one of the album's better moments. Nor is the pedestrian pace trying to serve as a catalyst to "This One This Time." Virginia Sisters redeem themselves with a simple but engaging five minutes of jangle-tinged ear candy during the mid-tempo "Don't You Cry on Me." Virginia Sisters rarely sound like they're going through the motions on a raucous, toe-tapping "Everyone's Wrong" and the murky Southern soul oozing from "Josephine's." While not quite as strong as it starts, this record should endear Virginia Sisters to fans of melodic roots rock. -AMG

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True Love - I Was Accident - 2003

True Love's sophomore release and debut for No Lame Records, I Was Accident, features more of the band's sparkling power pop that plays like a split 7" between Elvis Costello and Cheap Trick. For fans of those bands this should be a good thing, even if at times the band seems somewhat overly indebted to their idols. It's as if they never got enough of Armed Forces and so set about to write a list of tunes that sound like unreleased Costello tracks circa 1979. That said, I Was Accident still contains some great songs including the beautiful power ballad "Throwing Back the Ring" and the raggedly melodic "The Genius." -AMG

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The Flaming Sideburns - Hallelujah Rock 'N' Rollah - 2001

Released in 2001, Hallelujah Rock 'N' Rollah is the second full-length release by the Flaming Sideburns for Denmark's Bad Afro imprint. As the turn of the millennium revival of garage rock was brewing in Sweden, Finland's Flaming Sideburns were creating a buzz of their own thanks to their raucous, fun, and skintight rock & roll attack that blends the singsongy hip-shaking of the Rolling Stones with the roar of the MC5. The remarkable thing is that the Sideburns manage to avoid sounding overly derivative or stale -- which is clearly no small feat, as evidenced by the current influx of by-the-numbers garage rockers currently boring the jean jackets off of audiences around the world (and that includes Sweden, kids). In 2002, Hallelujah was released Stateside by Jet Set Records under the oh-so-modest title Save Rock 'N' Roll. While that album didn't spark the sort of fever the Hives' did, it certainly kept the flames burning. Although repackaging efforts like this aren't usually worthwhile, Save Rock 'N' Roll proves to be a rare exception as a few of Hallelujah's more lackluster numbers ("Underground Confusion," "Shake In," and "Testify") are traded out for full-on scorchers ("Lonesome Rain," "I'm in the Moon," and "Sweet Sounds of L.U.V.") making it a rock-solid record from start to finish. One of the keys to the Sideburns well-honed attack is that they pile on numbers that rock out, and just when the listener thinks the band is about to peak, they throw in a midtempo Stones/Velvet Underground slow burner like "Stripped Down" or "Flowers" that eases up the pace just long enough for them to regroup before rocking out once more. Brilliant. The Sideburns serve up red-hot guitar lines and slinky bass breaks so effortlessly that it allows frontman Eduardo "Speedo" Martinez to be the star of the show, with his swaggeringly confident vocals that exude the sort of playful cockiness that makes guys like Mick Jagger great. Even the Argentinean howler's occasionally awkward turns of a phrase sound cool with his rolling accent (see "World Domination" for head-scratching lines like "On top of an iceberg/Got no medication/You want medicine?/That's out of the question"). Although they never had a hit in the U.S., they did garner a bit of airplay in the form of a car commercial. A snippet of "Street Survivor" was used in a 2002 Toyota Camry ad campaign. Somewhere, a young marketing intern is probably giggling with self-satisfaction at this unlikely feat. -AMG

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Size 14 - Size 14 - 1997

With punk- inspired guitar- poppin' antics, Hollywood based SIZE 14 put out their debut CD in 1997. Named after the singer's shoe size, SIZE 14 - Linus (lead vocals, guitar), Kevin Danczak (guitar), Robt Ptak (bass, background vocals), Dave Armstrong (drums) - became infamous a few years back for their humorous yet honest account of "Claire Danes Poster

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Daryll-Ann - Renko - 1992

Album debut by a promising band who had already introduced themselves to the Dutch independent music scene in 1991 via a small-scale EP release. Apparently they had a weak spot for the early-'80s police-story meets soap-opera Hill Street Blues, for the band's name was derived from one of the officers' girlfriends. One of Daryll-Ann's first songs was a similarly named homage to her, and for an appropriate title for their first album, they didn't need to look any further: hot-under-the-collar-cop Andy Renko himself was the logical choice. A fragment of dialogue between him and his girlfriend Daryll-Ann was used as an intro to one of the songs. Whereas neither of the personalities of the groundbreaking television series did represent "the perfect cop" -- from time to time their characters would stray and crimes weren't always solved -- likewise Daryll-Ann's Renko doesn't contain prime material all the way through the album. Made out mostly of carefree guitar pop, an underlying touch of melancholy didn't go unnoticed. Indeed, the combination gave rise to growing interest of U.K. record companies and music press. The members of Daryll-Ann knew each other from high school, where they started as a band by playing early Cure-covers. Recorded at an early stage in their career, Renko quite often results in a roller coaster ride of limitless enthusiasm. Contrary to the later comparisons with Buffalo Springfield, the sparkling debut has a more in common with the naïveté of the first albums of the dB's, the Only Ones, and '70s cult heroes Big Star. "Never Say Never" and "Pretty in Everything" perfectly fit this description, while other standout tracks "Mailman's Eyes" and the single "Into the Open" already hint at more accomplished albums that were to follow. What makes Daryll-Ann instantly likeable are their memorable hooks and the combined voices of the Paulusma twins. Compared to a lot of other Dutch guitar-based bands from the late '80s/early '90s, they make a less complicated impression. These are songs to joyously whistle along with, as if they strive to be the soundtrack to the annual spring cleaning. -AMG

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Terry Anderson - I'll Drink to That - 2001

The third album from multi-instrumentalist Anderson (drums, guitar, farfisa), a Nashville ex-patriot frustrated with the music city's commercial songwriting, is a loose and spirited affair, inspired by a memory of a Dave Edmunds concert that knocked him out. A member of the similarly styled Yayhoos along with ex-Satellite Dan Baird, with whom he has written in the past, Anderson whips through 45 minutes of happy-go-lucky American roots rock with nods to Chuck Berry, Edmunds, the Georgia Satellites (who had a hit with his "Battleship Chains" back in the day), and NRBQ, whom he calls the best band in the world, and whose ex-guitarist Al Anderson (no relation) guests on some tracks. With a nasal voice and lyrical style somewhat similar to Joe Walsh, Anderson sings about the "Nastiest House" in the whole wide world, his "Rock and Roll Girlfriend" who'd rather listen to LPs and cassettes from 1973 instead of anything on MTV, and a humorous Bo Diddley-fueled yarn about driving "37 Miles in Reverse." This won't change the world, of course, but it's all good, relatively clean fun (with the possible exception of "Safety First," an upbeat ditty about condoms), featuring snappy word play and a feisty attitude that sounds like he and his equally energetic backing musicians were having a blast recording this no-frills album. Recommended for fans of boozy, down-to-earth guitar rocking and anyone else looking for a rollicking time. -AMG
 
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The Pantookas - Salad - 1997

The Pantookas is a band lead by sometime Phenomenal Cat Chris Richards. This 10 song CD is tight and radiant parade of sunshiny, front-mixed guitars and ooh-ahh harmonies in the Matthew Sweet (Girlfriend era), The Rembrandts-inspired school of deftly hummable Beatles/Spongetones songcraft. I would say there is a strong aura of Crowded House in parts, too. This sprucey stuff that benefits w/ nice embellishments of horns and organ on some songs making a distinctive impression. Very Highly Recommended! -Not Lame
 
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The Supahip - Seize The World - 2005

The Supahip is the side project of noted Australian producer/songwriter Michael Carpenter and fellow tunesmith Mark Moldre. Intrigued by the idea of spontaneously creating music in this day and age of over thought, over wrought, and over produced music, Carpenter and Moldre longed for the 'good old days' of instant creation, and making decisions early in the creative process. They set about the idea of writing, recording and mixing a track... arriving in the morning with nothing except maybe some loose snippets of songs, and leaving with a completed track. The concept worked so well, and so liberated the both of them, that creatively they found themselves pushing each other into unexplored territory (for them.)

This album 'Seize The World', is the culmination of 13 days work over 14 months. It touches on the pop stylings both men revel in in their own projects, but the scope of this album ranges from McCartneyesque ballads, through to indie pop rants, passing through country rock, epic pop and even a few delicious grooves. It also includes a monumental cover of Nik Kershaw's 80's worldwide smash, 'Wouldn't It Be Good'!

In keeping with the somewhat retro spirit of the project, the album includes the full 12 song stereo album, plus as a bonus, 10 of the tracks mixed in mono (they would have loved to have fit the whole mono album, but they just couldn't squeeze it on!) Rather than being just collapsed stereo mixes, the mono versions differ, sometimes quite dramatically, from the stereo mixes. The idea behind this is that the stereo mixes utilised the classic 'wide' stereo technique.. with instruments panned hard to one side or the other, exagerating the sound and impact of each instrument. The mono mixes on the other hand are much leaner, and punchy.. straight down the centre for maximum impact. It gives the listener an opportunity to enjoy 2 very different perspective on this very individual project. -CD Baby

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Pulp - His 'N' Hers - 1994

Pulp had been kicking around since 1981, but for all intents and purposes, their 1994 major-label debut, His 'n' Hers is their de facto debut: the album that established their musical and lyrical obsessions and, in turn, the album where the world at large became acquainted with their glassy, tightly wound synth pop and lead singer Jarvis Cocker's impeccably barbed wit. This was a sound that was carefully thought out, pieced together from old glam and post-punk records, assembled in so it had the immediacy (and hooks) of pop balanced by an artful obsession with moody, dark textures. It was a sound that perfectly fit the subject at hand: it was filled with contradictions -- it was sensual yet intellectual, cheap yet sophisticated, retro yet modern -- with each seeming paradox giving the music weight instead of weighing it down. Given Pulp's predilection for crawling mood pieces -- such effective set pieces as the tense "Acrylic Afternoons," or the closing "David's Last Summer" -- and their studied detachment, it might easy to over-intellectualize the band, particularly in these early days before they reached stardom, but for all of the chilliness of the old analog keyboards and the conscious geek stance of Cocker, this isn't music that aims for the head: its target is the gut and groin, and His 'n' Hers has an immediacy that's apparent as soon as "Joyriders" kicks the album into gear with its crashing guitars. It establishes Pulp not just as a pop band that will rock; it establishes an air of menace that hangs over this album like a talisman. As joyous as certain elements of the music are -- and there isn't just joy but transcendence here, on the fuzz guitars that power the chorus of "Lipgloss," or the dramatic release at the climax of "Babies" -- this isn't light, fizzy music, no matter how the album glistens on its waves of cold synths and echoed guitars, no matter how much sex drives the music here. Cocker doesn't tell tales of conquests: he tells tales of sexual obsession and betrayal, where the seemingly nostalgic question "Do You Remember the First Time?" is answered with the reply, "I can't remember a worst time." On earlier Pulp albums he explored similar stories of alienation, but on His 'n' Hers everything clicks: his lyrics are scalpel sharp, whether he's essaying pathos, passion, or wit, and his band -- driven by the rock-solid drummer Nick Banks and bassist Steve Mackey, along with the arty stylings of keyboardist Candida Doyle and violinist/guitarist Russell Senior -- gives this muscle and blood beneath its stylish exterior. The years etching out Joy Division-inspired goth twaddle in the mid-'80s pay off on the tense, dramatic epics that punctuate the glammy pop of the singles "Lipgloss," "Babies," and "Do You Remember the First Time?" And those years of struggle pay off in other ways too, particularly in Cocker's carefully rendered observations of life on the fringes of Sheffield, where desperation, sex, and crime are always just a kiss away, and Pulp vividly evokes this world with a startling lack of romanticism but an appropriate amount of drama and a surplus of flair. It's that sense of style coupled with their gut-level immediacy that gives His 'n' Hers its lasting power: this was Pulp's shot at the big time and they followed through with a record that so perfectly captured what they were and what they wanted to be, it retains its immediacy years later. -AMG

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Cool Stuff from John Wicks For FREE!

John Wicks, lead singer of The Records and co-writer of the hit songs Starry Eyes and Hearts In Her Eyes, has an idea he'd like to share.
For the entire summer, John will be posting a free, rare demo or outtake every week on the band's Facebook fan page. Starting June 13 go to www.facebook.com/TheRecordsFeaturingJohnWicks, "like" the page, and you'll be treated to that week's feature outtake or demo. Most if not all of these cuts have never seen the light of day and promise to be a real treat, both for those familiar with Wicks' work as well as those who just dig good, melodic pop of the highest order. Eventually some but not all of these tracks will appear on an upcoming CD release, but the only way to make sure you hear them all is to check out John's fanpage. Go to www.facebook.com/TheRecordsFeaturingJohnWicks and click "Like", refresh your browser, and the mp3 will be available to you...FOR FREE. Check out The Records' main website at www.johnwicksandtherecords.com for news, tour, or any other additional information about the band.

Thanks in advance for anything you care to post about this summertime special feature. Please let me know if you have any
questions or if there is anything else I can do for you.


Best,
John and The Records

Travoltas - Travoltas' Party - 2003

Dutch power pop band the Travoltas have long had an admiration for the Beach Boys, and it comes to fruition on this clever homage to the Beach Boys Party! album, right down to the facsimile graphics, which mimic the look of the original. The music here, in keeping with its model, is sunny, breezy, acoustic, and a whole lot of fun, with covers of Beach Boys' hits like "Little Honda," "Barbara Ann," and "California Girls" fitting in well with Travoltas' originals like "Endless Summer." A cover of the title song from the movie That Thing You Do is a particular delight. Although some fans of the group's electric side may be disappointed by this release, the casual feel and undeniable warmth of the project make it a welcome addition to the Travoltas' discography. -AMG

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The Red Button - As Far As Yesterday Goes + bonus disc

YES!!!!! Seth Swirsky and Mike Ruekberg, are back with the eagerly anticipated, jangle-filled, top-notch song filled, second installment of The Red Button! In 2007, Shindig! Magazine hailed Seth and Mike as the new Power Pop Princes. We're happy to report that their reign continues! Once again filled with Beatles-era melodies, harmonies and concise song construction, the new album continues right where they left off on "She's About To Cross My Mind". Swirsky, writer of hits for many recording artists over the years is also a successful solo artist in his own right having just won Pop Song of the Year at the 2010 Hollywood Music Awards with the title track of his latest solo album, "Watercolor Day". Ruekberg is well known as one of the top singer-songwriters on the L.A. scene. Together they make a formidable songwriting duo who haved studied and respect the art of the song. "It would take a spacious Ferry Cross the Mersey to carry all the accolades heaped upon their debut. The record featured 'Cruel Girl', a song that charted #1 in Billboard as the 'Coolest Song in the World' on Little Steven's Underground Garage Radio Show. There's plenty more of that refreshingly retro goodness here Driven by the stirring musical chemistry of Swirsky's romantic optimism offset by Ruekberg's tart sense of realism, it features delightful melodies, harmonies and production textures that sound as if they could have been transported directly from the magical era when AM radio was king." - Marketwire.com Yep, it's that good! Our money's on "Caught In The Middle" as Little Steven's next "Coolest Song In The World" pick. The title track sounds like it could be a lost Zombies song (in fact, we wouldn't mind if the current Zombies lineup covered it). Stylistically, the new collection expands beyond the strictly mid-'60s Beatlesque vibe of their debut to embrace what Mike, the album's producer, calls the "golden age of singer/songwriter-driven pop/rock." Seth loves the rub that comes from having catchy melodies that inspire people to sing immediately, "before they realize that there's a dark and light thing happening." Mission accomplished guys! COMES WITH AN EXCLUSIVE 3-SONG BONUS DISC FEATURING "UNPLUGGED MIXES" OF "AS FAR AS YESTERDAY GOES", "PICTURE", AND "GENEVIEVE"! Seth Swirsky himself declares "These songs are really worthy of being 'bonus material'. I would even buy it with these three extra tracks!" Now that's some kind of an endorsement!

(hear songs @ http://www.theredbutton.net)

To order, click on this link

Timothy Nelson & The Infidels - Debut Album "I Know This Now"

Timothy Nelson and the Infidels are proud to announce the release of their debut album ‘I Know This Now’.

Earning themselves a reputation as “one of Perth’s must-see live acts” (Xpress Magazine), the last eighteen months has seen Nelson and his Infidels support everyone from Birds Of Tokyo, Eskimo Joe, Hoodoo Gurus, Katie Noonan & The Captains, Whitley and Lior through to Clare Bowditch. All of this has been interspersed with consistently selling out their own headline shows, and 500 capacity plus shows at that. Only 21 years old, Nelson himself has taken home the coveted WAMi ‘Song Of The Year’ Award twice (2007 and 2009).

Nelson and his Infidels' debut album “I Know This Now” was recorded with engineer James Newhouse in various studios around Perth over the course of the last 2 years. Blending the jangly, guitar heavy folk rock reminiscent of Big Star and Wilco, with a lush, melodic complexity looking to target The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Nelson's songwriting is unashamedly the product of someone brought up on a heavy diet of The Beatles and Dylan. Fittingly, the album was mastered at none other than Abbey Road Studios in London. The Infidels are: Luke Dux (guitar), Brad Forest (bass), Ellen Oosterbaan - acoustic guitar & vocals and Peter Forgus – drums

The band will be launching the album on Saturday 25 June @ The Rosemount Hotel, Perth.

Here is the high-tech satirical film clip for track ‘Run for Cover’

Looking For a Life - David Myhr from the forthcoming album Soundshine

On June 1 the single "Looking for a Life" from David Myhr's album Soundshine was released on iTunes. Facebook fans get the single for free!

Since the break-up of The Merrymakers, David has written songs by himself. However, on this particular song he brought in co-writersAndreas Mattsson (ex-Popsicle) and American hit maker Ian Eskelin (from Grammy nominated All Star United). The result is an uplifting summery pop anthem not short on memorable hooks and catchy melodies.
The music for the song written two years ago; a result of a songwriting session in Nashville. The basic structure took shape in mere 20 minutes with David, Ian, a guitar and a piano as ingredients. They got stuck on the lyrics though, so the song was put to rest until David started work on the album. Still out of ideas for a good lyrical angle, he called up his colleague from Swedish pop wonder Popsicle to see if he wanted to give it a shot. After some time David got an e-mail that read "Something like this, maybe?" and attached was a beautifully crafted pop lyric full of melancholy, heart ache and longing; the perfect fit for the song.
"Looking for a Life" is the second single to be released from the upcoming solo album Soundshine, which is due for a release in the fall of 2011. The first single "Got You Where He Wanted" came out in March was very well received in the powerpop community and has enjoyed heavy rotation on Swedish radio.



David recently came home from a trip to London where had the album mastered at the legendary Abbey Road studios. He also played a gig at a pop music festival called International Pop Overthrow which for the first time took place in London. This summer he will perform at Swedish festivals with his band in preparation for the upcoming album release.
The single is available on iTunes and all other digital stores now. Fans can download it for free by clicking "Like" on David Myhr's Facebook page!
Check out the new video with sceneries from beautiful Stockholm

For more updates and information please visit David Myhr's official website. 

Official website: http://davidmyhr.com

YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/davidmyhr

Facebook: http://facebook.com/davidmyhr

MySpace: http://myspace.com/davidmyhr

The Untouchables - Wild Child - 1985

In the mid-'80s in Southern California, the Untouchables almost single-handedly spearheaded the ska revival movement. Taking their cue from English bands like the English Beat and the Specials, the eight-piece Untouchables also brought in strains of Desmond Dekker, Bob Marley, the Skatalites and Madness into the mix, eventually landing themselves a deal with British label Stiff Records.  As a modern-day influence on bands like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, No Doubt and Sublime, this '80s artifact is strong testimony to the band's musical worth and true influence and subsequent longevity. -AMG

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The Grifters - Crappin' You Negative - 1994

Among the best albums to come out of the '90s lo-fi D.I.Y. scene, Crappin' You Negative ebbs and flows on oceans of spliced and diced vocal melodies and noisy guitar effects. The band's songs are confessional and psychedelic in equal measure, though the clicks of a four-track recorder still cue changes from verse to chorus to bridge. But songs like "Maps of the Sun," "Holmes," "Bronze Cast," and "Skin Man Palace" are dense with riffs that make sense in a familiar, classic rock sort of way, even if the latter opens with the robust confession, "I am the mambo king!" The album's downer ballads, "Felt-Tipped Over" and "Junkie Blood," are ready-made for radio play on a much darker, stranger planet. Many of these songs first appeared as singles on tiny independent labels; perhaps that's why it's surprising how well this album holds together. It's as if the band translated its recording technique to sequencing, too. The resulting album is a stellar example of a band at its creative peak. -AMG

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Roy Loney & the Phantom Movers - The Scientific Bombs Away!!! - 1988

Interestingly, this record was released in Australia a few months before it was released in America, which gives you an indication of the peculiarities surrounding Loney's career. Nevertheless, this is a fine and funky record, drenched in echo and with a crude, instantly likable rockabilly feel that puts the pedal to the metal and doesn't back down. After all these years, Loney can still crank it out and kick up a fuss. Just listen to "Bip Bop Boom" and "Boy, Man!" and you'll see what I mean. -AMG

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Gathering Field - Reliance - 1999

Roots-rockers the Gathering Field formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1994. Led by singer/guitarist Bill Deasy, the band, which also included guitarist Dave Brown, bassist Eric Riebling and drummer Ray DeFade, released its debut LP Lost in America on their own independent label Mudpuppy. The title track became a smash on local radio, and in 1996 a remastered edition of the album was released on Atlantic Records. Reliance followed in 1999. -AMG

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King Louie's Missing Monuments - Painted White available 6/28

King Louie first made a name for himself in the mid-90s with the seminal lo-fi garage band, the Persuaders. The Reatards, featuring a 17 year old Jay Reatard, opened for the Persuaders on the very first Reatards tour, King Louie even played drums with the Reatards for a short spell. Later on, Louie, Reatard, and Eric Oblivian formed the short-lived garage rock supergroup, the Bad Times. In 2000, Louie and Adam Cox formed the power pop group the Exploding Hearts and co-wrote their only LP, Guitar Romantic (8.8 on Pitchfork) His newest project is The Missing Monuments and their new record Painted White, available 6/28 digitally and on vinyl via Douchemaster Records. This is his return to power pop, filled with jangly hooks, coarse melodies, ballads and rock n roll jams, a record not to be ignored.

On Tour with w/ Paul Collins (The Beats, The Nerves)

7/13 Mobile, AL @ Music Box

7/14 New Orleans, LA  @ Siberia

7/15 Jackson, MI  @ Ole Town

7/16 Memphis, TN  @ Hi-Tone

7/18 Chattanooga, TN @ JJ's Bohemia

7/19 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl

 

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The Paybacks - Harder and Harder - 2004

Harder and Harder, the second album from Detroit's Paybacks, is a blistering collection of dirty, metallic garage rock songs. Fronted by the androgynous, whiskey-voiced Wendy Case -- who is easily the toughest chick in rock since the days when Joan Jett loved rock & roll this much -- the band is equal parts swagger and stagger as it plugs away on melodic anthems like "Bright Side" and the glittery blues of "Jumpy." If scorching rockers like "Superrider" and "Scotch Love" assert how powerful and unrelenting this Motor City quartet can be, the soulfully executed ballad "Can You Drive?" suggests the band can do more than raise hell. But by calling this sonic firecracker Harder and Harder, the Paybacks will never be accused of false advertising. -AMG

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The Reigning Sound - Break Up Break Down - 2001

Former Oblivians and Compulsive Gamblers frontman Greg Cartwright cools his boiling garage leanings to a simmer on the Memphis musician's debut with the Reigning Sound. It's all about the material on Break Up Break Down, and there are only scattered references to the primal blues-rock of Cartwright's notable '90s projects. Heart-tugging vocals and songwriting are the central components that this country-folk collection revolves around. Highlights like the waltz-time lament "Goodbye" have just what it takes to grip the inner Hank Williams in every garage rocker, without tripping any irony-minded alerts that equate anything emotional with overt sentimentality. Perhaps this delicate country-rock balancing act is what impressed the Hives enough to take the Reigning Sound out on tour, or perhaps the decision was tribute to Cartwright's overlooked punk/gospel work with Oblivians. Such thoughts won't concern fans of traditional American music after they've confronted the authenticity and the sweetness of Break Up Break Down. -AMG

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The Forty Fives - High Life High Volume - 2004

High Life High Volume is an early vote-getter for Best Album Title of the Year. But it's also the Forty-Fives' strongest statement yet. Like that old Mono Men stuff, or any of the trashy garage types associated with Memphis' Shangri-La Records, the Forty-Fives carry their influences in a beer cozy holster. But on cuts like "Who Do You Think You Are?," "Bad Reputation," and "Junkfood Heaven," the Atlanta quartet put enough of themselves in there to make it a whole new drink. Bryan Malone's vocals are as gritty as ever, and Trey Tidwell's keys are a constant highlight. The band gets all soulful and broken mannish with the Stones-style "Too Many Miles" (nice horn section!), and tosses out a great, loosey-goosey instrumental with the sax and keys-flavored "Backstage at Juanita's." Recording High Life with Jim Diamond in Detroit gave them access to the city's rockers, with Dirtbomb Mick Collins contributing some harmonica and Siren Deanne Iovan in a brassy duet with Malone on "Daddy Rolling Stone." "C'mon Now Love Me" is your standard bottle-shattering-against-chicken-wire rave-up, and "Bicycle Thief" is a mildly country slide guitar workout. High Life High Volume won't change the world, but it'll get you through the week til the next Saturday night. It's a well-done, sonically varied album in a genre that too often sticks to what's drunk or unimaginative. Recommended. -AMG
 
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