Mike Elgert--Days Gone By (Longynis Records)

A knock-out effort packed with 16 songs of supremely solid Power Pop.  This debut twists and turns, with flat-out rockers and well done pop ballads, most of which promise velvety pop pleasure to fans of the genre.  Much of the time, Mike Elgert sounds like Robin Zander, and while its tough to nail down influences, we can hear Cheap Trick, Foo Fighters, Jason Falkner and Starclock.

Featured Tracks: "Someone Took My Part", "Run Further"

Fall Out Boy--Infinity On High

The Pop/Punk genre has evolved to the point where it's mass-market acceptance has loaded it with a lot of bands that frankly don't deserve the airplay (or sales, for that matter) that they receive.  However, to our ears, Fall Out Boy is not one of these bands.  Listening to Infinity On High has made us aware that they deserve to be elevated to the elite class of bands within the Pop/Punk genre.  In our opinion, it's time to mention Fall Out Boy in the same breath as the genre's respected acts like My Chemical Romance, Green Day and All-American Rejects.  Infinity On High signals an evolution in their music.  They're often experimenting here and it's a welcome step toward maturity and well-deserved respect.

Featured Tracks: "The Take Over, The Break's Over", "Hum Hallelujah", "I'm Like A Lawyer...(Me & You)"

The Feeling--Twelve Stops And Home

This one should be quite the big deal!  It just doesn't seem possible that music this attractive can avoid a collision with the mainstream, no matter how dense the mainstream may be.  The Feeling is a smooth pop band out of UK that writes smart, hook-filled rock in the spirit of '70s AM radio.  Listening to this, you can hear Supertramp, Jellyfish, ELO and a host of other influences.  We are going to predict that "Love It When You Call" will hit with major-market radio.  If it doesn't then as we've been told before, we are hopelessly out of touch...thankfully.

Featured Tracks: "Love It When You Call", "Fill My Little World", "Helicopter"

Fighter Pilot--Atomic Anthem (Bankroll Records)

The music of Fighter Pilot smokes with emotion, hooks and energy.  "Atomic Anthem" is a blistering hot release with chugging melodies and tough vocals.  This also features some very cool guitar sounds and nice soloing that is missing from so much of today's rock.  To describe the music, think Social Distortion, Foo Fighters and early Collective Soul.  This is a straight-on, fun blast of rock and roll.

Featured Tracks: "Coming Home", "Run For The Border"

Finch--Say Hello To Sunshine (Drive-Thru Records)

One thing is for certain, this is definitely not Power Pop.  But hey!  We play rock, too.  Finch's new release "Say Hello To Sunshine" is a challenging CD filled with complicated passages, hammering highs and gut-wrenching screams.  We have to admit, we respect bands that reinvent themselves and take chances.  Finch really shakes things up this time, as this CD is not a whole lot like their previous effort "What It Is To Burn".  This CD requires repeat listens which soon rewards the listener with a real hyper-sonic treat.  Throughout this CD, you can hear the influences of bands like Faith No More, Shiner, Failure and King's X.

Featured Tracks: "Ink", "Fireflies"

The Fire Apes--The Fire Apes EP

The Fire Apes absolutely kill on their new EP.  "Hey Kate!" and "It's Over" are nothing less than Power Pop classics with super catchy choruses and slamming power chords.  What's really different about "Hey Kate!" is the way The Fire Apes contrast a reggae-flavored bridge between the chugging verse and a chorus that would make Rivers Cuomo blush.  "It's Over" is an outstanding track with emotion-heavy lead vocals with just the right backing harmonies to keep it sweet in the ears.  Watch these guys...they've got what it takes to be massive. 

Featured Tracks: "Hey Kate!", "It's Over"

First Wave Hello--The Lord and It's Penguin

Featured Tracks: "Suitable", "Falling Apart"

The Fold--This Too Shall Pass

We had never heard of this band but thanks to the wonders of the Internet and search engines we discovered a mega-talented band named "The Fold".  There are some truly knockout tracks here including "The Title Track", "New City" and "Backseat Driver".  Honestly, we have been humming these songs for quite some time now.  The Fold rocks readily, similar in style to Switchfoot, All-American Rejects and other Pop/Punk/Emo front runners.  If there were any justice in the business of music, The Fold would have garnered equal exposure to the aforementioned bands.

Featured Tracks: "The Title Track", "New City"

Fountains Of Wayne--Out Of State Plates (Virgin)

Out-of-State Plates is a ragged collection of hits and misses that will satisfy FOW completists, while being of intermittent interest to recent converts or general power pop fans.--AllMusic.com

Featured Tracks: "Maureen", "Comedienne", "You're Just Never Satisfied"

Full Out Freak--Loser Anyway EP

Coming on the heels of their out-of-nowhere Power Pop debut, Full Out Freak offers up two new tunes and a stunner of a rework to one of their best tunes.  "Loser Anyway" is reintroduced here with a bigger, punchier sound with some synth fills and extra backing vocals that we think make the already pleasing rocker even better.  "Photograph" is the heaviest song we've heard from FOF and "This Time" is a fine power ballad molded in a rather Bon Jovi-esque fashion.  These new tunes really setup their next full length CD as a much anticipated event.

Featured Tracks: "Loser Anyway (new radio edit)", "Photograph", "This Time"

The Hard Left--The Avant-Garde Sounds of The Hard Left

Driving rock is what you're going to hear when you take a listen to The Avant-Garde Sounds of The Hard Left.  This Minneapolis band's debut release was produced by Ed Ackerson (Polara, Pete Yorn, etc.).  The tunes here are straight-ahead garage guitar rockers with strong choruses and great vocal work.  For comparisons sake, their sound reminds us of fellow city-mates Hindurodeo and The Replacements and a couple of other not-so-local bands like Ruth Ruth and The Kinks.

Featured Tracks: "Who She's Gonna Turn To", "Take It Out On Me"

Head Automatica--Decadence (Warner Bros)

Daryl Palumbo of Glassjaw mixes things up with this, the first release from his new band Head Automatica.  It's a great combination of modern rock and dance club styles with touches of New Wave flair.  The sound is not unlike a mix of Imperial Drag, Soup Dragons, Ok Go and Happy Mondays.  You've got to respect Palumbo's desire to stretch out here and frankly, the results are often times stunning.

Featured Tracks: "King Caesar", "The Razor"

Head Automatica--Pop Rocks

"Pop Rocks" is a short, 4-song EP released on the heels of the mostly satisfying previous release "Decadence".  "Pop Rocks" is exactly what it advertises, and we are happy to report, a fine step towards moving HEAD AUTOMATICA to Power Pop hero status.  Daryl Palumbo can write downright infectious songs and they are on full display on this quick shot of tuneful rock.

Featured Tracks: "Laughing At You", "Graduation Day", "God"

Hello Nurse--Chorusaurus

Fun, energetic rock is stuffed into this 7-song EP by HELLO NURSE.  Listen for the good time, complete with handclaps, during "Target Practice".  "Beds" leads off with squeaking box springs coupled with a tiny guitar line that erupts into an insanely catchy chorus which if you listen closely enough, will bring to mind The Knack's debut album.  "Last One To Know" could have been the featured track on any album by All or The Descendants.  The more we listen, the more we like.  Smart and again...fun!

Featured Tracks: "Last One To Know", "Beds"

Holmes--Stop Go

Singer/Songwriter/Producer Roy Shakked is Holmes and his latest release Stop Go is a refreshing cross-section of musical genres.  Holmes serves up punchy Rock, tuneful Power Pop and even smooth R&B with the help of top-notch musicians the likes of Lyle Workman and Brett Simons.  It doesn't get much more fun than the title track, which delivers exactly what it's title promises.  The whistle-along melodic treat that is "Another Week" recalls other tune-masters like Bleu and The Argument.  "Five Days A Week" is a smooth Power Pop ride right out of the Joe Jackson songbook.  You've probably heard Holmes already as his music has been featured on many television shows and album compilations.  Chances are you'll be hearing a lot more of him everywhere else very soon.

Featured Tracks: "Stop Go", "Another Week", "Five Days A Week"

Hot Hot Heat--Elevator

Featured Tracks: "Ladies and Gentlemen"

Humbert--Plant The Trees Closer Together (Sportatorium Records)

"Plant The Trees Closer Together" is collection of swirling guitars and keyboards. It's different and sometimes goofy, and it's a blast to listen to.  Influences to our ears would be bands like High Llamas, XTC, Arlo and Magical Mystery Tour-period Beatles.

Featured Tracks: "You're The One", "Hugo (The Elephant)"