Marvelous 3--"Ready Sex Go"  (Hi-Fi/Elektra)

Similar Artists: Cheap Trick, Fountains Of Wayne, Lit

Favorite Tracks: "Little Head", "Supernatural Blonde", "Cigarette Lighter Love Song"

Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.--Solid State Warrior (Cordless Recordings)

Cordless Recordings has just signed Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. and will release his first EP for Cordless titled "Too Late For Us Now" in April.  Of course, he is one of the founders of the great Jellyfish, Imperial Drag and the Moog Cookbook.  Until then, you can hear some brand new tunes from this future release right here!

Featured Tracks: "Too Late For Us Now", "Sandman"

Miggs--Insomnia

Featured Tracks: "St. Rita"

Millicent Friendly--Downtime (Purple Pear)

Dallas, Texas pop-rockers MILLICENT FRIENDLY produce big hooks and bigger goose bumps on "Downtime".  Super melodic songs with shiny vocals are the order of fare available to anyone who happens upon this extremely smart, extremely addicting release.  Think Sugarbomb, Jellyfish, The Tories, Evelyn Forever, Star Collector, etc.

Featured Tracks: "Willow", "Happy Ever After", "Poison Ivy", "You"

Simon Morel--Record #2

British-born turned Australian singer-songwriter Simon Morel has just released his second record, appropriately titled Record #2.  It features two indie-pop gems, "As Time Goes By" which falls very close to the Jason Falkner pop tree and "Tomorrow's Maybe", a power chorded rocker that sounds like a lead track from a Sloan or perhaps a Teenage Fanclub album.  Record #2 is sure to be appreciated by fans of jangle pop and smart indie-rock.

Featured Tracks: "As Time Goes By", "Tomorrow's Maybe"

Nine Men's Morris--It's A Wonderful Life (Segue Records)

Nine Men's Morris is an exciting trio with a beautiful new release that features some of the catchiest choruses we have heard in a long time.  Songs like "Again and Again" and "Time To Think" soar and the backing vocals on "Asteroids" are positively inspired.  This CD also features a cool retro tune called "Don't Say You're Sorry" and a remake of Andrew Gold's "Lonely Boy" which adds a few guitars that his original lacked.  This CD is a fresh, rewarding listen with a few funs dips into the past.

Featured Tracks: "Lonely Boy", "Again and Again", "Don't Say You're Sorry"

Barry O'Brien--Spark (self-released)

"Spark" is a bright flash of Power Pop brilliance.  From the bouncy, horn-riddled pop of "Under The Waves" to the lushly perfect harmonies and guitar of "Sisters in the Sky", Barry O'Brien delivers a classic 4-song EP.  "The Strangest Game" is a driving rocker that sounds much like something that could have been recorded by Jason Falkner or Brendan Benson while "Cut Me Out" is a breezy mellow blend of Morrissey and The Churchills.  Let's home this EP "sparks" a flaming long-playing release very soon!

Featured Tracks: "Under The Waves", "The Strangest Game"

John Oszajca--First Sign of Anything

Check out John Oszajca's solo release "First Sign of Anything" and you'll hear an exciting new artist that has created a collection of some really tuneful, urgent songs.  "Runaway" features Oszajca's baritone, at times near the breaking point, fronting a driving, sing-along chorus.  "Broken" bounces along with sparse instrumentation and a vocal that you'd swear was Mick Jagger belting out a tune that the Rolling Stones could only dream of writing at this point in their career.  Oszajca's the real deal.

Featured Tracks: "Runaway", "Broken"

Owsley--Psycho/Upside Down (iTunes Music Store)

Owsley returns with 2 brand new tunes!  "Psycho" is a chugging rocker with a Todd Rundgren/Utopia flavored chorus.  "Upside Down" is a dreamy classic with an ELO feel.  There's no question that these two songs will satisfy your pop-tooth whether you're a long-time fan or new to his music.

Featured Tracks: "Psycho", "Upside Down"

P. Hux--Mile High Fan - L.A. Recordings 1988-1993 (Not Lame)

Thanks to Bruce at Not Lame for turning us on to P. Hux.  Feeling a bit ashamed for letting something this tuneful slip past us, it's better late than never to this party.  The songs that we are featuring are from P. Hux's days as a staff writer for MCA.  Contrary to the CD artwork, the music is definitely not mired in the '80s.  It could just as easily have been released today.  There are some wonderful songs here and I would say that calling him an "American Andy Partridge" is pretty much spot-on.

Featured Tracks: "R.E.D.", "Pages of Love"

The Panic Channel--ONe

ONe comes as a surprise because we didn't expect this to be filled with so many melodic moments.  Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins past association with band like Red Hot Chili Peppers and Porno For Pyros don't exactly scream melody.  We'd say The Panic Channel flirts with the sound of current bands like Foo Fighters and Stone Temple Pilots.  The Panic Channel plays it loud but it's the kind of noise we like, big guitars and equally big harmonies.

Featured Tracks: "Teahouse of the Spirits", "Why Cry"

The Perms--Better Days (Hugtight Records)

The third album from The Perms is a bright mix of powerful rock, tight enough to keep out any trace of the dreariest of days.  The music on "Better Days" is endlessly entertaining.  Each song features solid arrangements of guitars, saxophones, trumpets, even new-wave synths.  This is energetic, bouncy rock-and-roll reminiscent of Sloan and Weezer with even the occasional touch of ska-flavored brass.

Featured Tracks: "Let's Not Fight", "Bring You Down", "Saturday Night"

PFR--"Disappear"  (Squint)

Similar Artists: Jellyfish, Jars Of Clay, Beatles

Favorite Tracks: "Gone", "Amsterdam"

Plunge--Hometown Hero (Atenzia)

Another fine release from hard Power Pop label Atenzia.  Plunge rocks like label mates 40 Ft. Ringo and bangs out hard, melodic rock like Lit and The Ataris.  "Hometown Hero" sounds great, it's smooth production emphasizes the punchy, punk-pop of Plunge.

Featured Tracks: "Ordinary Girl", "Part-Time Girlfriend"

Plunkett--14 Days

Italian duo Plunkett have created a pretty and often times stunning release called "14 Days".  Ian and Lara Plunkett have shed themselves of music biz expectations and have put forth a collection of tuneful, mostly acoustic Alternative pop songs.  Ian's strong vocals often remind us of Peter Gabriel or perhaps John Wozniak (Marcy Playground) while the songs resonate with an urgency to create something fresh and different.  Highlights include the country flavored "Picture" and the handclap, harmonica-laced stagger of "Up A Hill".

Featured Tracks: "Up A Hill", "Picture"

Pop Star Kids--The Revenge of Pop Star Kids (Playground)

New York City's Pop Star Kids rock with a vengeance.  PSK mixes 80's influenced rock and pop with techno dance sounds and outstanding tight harmonies.  This is loud, brash pop/rock that is relentlessly fun.  Its clear that Pop Star Kids are a rock band with a unique sound that dares to be different while delivering hook after hook of tight, colorful Power Pop.

Featured Tracks: "Fan Club", "Black Days, Techno Nights"

Power Of The Pen--Rock The Line (self-released)

With grooves as deep as a canyon, Power Of The Pen mixes dirty ZZTop meets AC/DC guitars with bark-'em-out vocals circa Joe Walsh and Ace Frehley to create an original group of Rock/Funk songs. 

Featured Tracks: "I Can Feel The Love", "Earth Shake"

Pyrojet--Living Funeral

Pyrojet is a tight, exciting quartet that has blasted out of Miami, FL to scorch the unsuspecting masses with their energetic, raucous rock.   Drums roll and smack the tunes to life while ear-charmingly sweet guitars alternate with those that rattle with the intensity of a Thompson submachine gun.  Part relentless punk, part riff-rippled Power Pop, LIVING FUNERAL is a bound to be a treat for fans of early Green Day, All and Anti-Flag. 

Featured Tracks: "Falling Stars", "Arlene's Demise"