Red Carpet Rats--Red Carpet Rats

Check out these two great new tunes from Nashville's Red Carpet Rats.  This is radio ready rock filled with terrific vocals and harmonies and choruses that absolutely stick in your cerebellum.  There's a Marvelous 3/Butch Walker vibe going on within these songs with the obligatory nods to Cheap Trick.  Here's hoping they have an EP or LP or something coming soon.

Featured Tracks: "Photographic Memory", "Creeping In"

Rose Hill Drive--s/t (Megaforce)

This is hot new rock from a great new trio called Rose Hill Drive.  The sound here is best described as being influenced by Led Zeppelin and Bad Company with a little AC/DC and pinch of Walt Mink to add '90s freshness.  Rose Hill Drive are sure to please everyone that loves tough vocals, growling guitars and classic rock reinterpreted by a talented new group of young musicians.

Featured Tracks: "Cold Enough, "Cool Cody", "Man On Fire"

Ruth Ruth--Right About Now (Flaming Peach)

Ruth Ruth's newest release is packed with smart pop that's a must for any fan of Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson in their prime.  Ruth Ruth has shed itself from the shackles of major-label pressures and have put together a collection of songs with a live sound that we've never heard from the band before. Highlights include the title track, "Electric" and "Jim Baio".

FavoriteTracks: "Electric", "Jim Baio", "Right About Now"

Scamper--Leave Your Glasses On (Punctus Versus Productions)

East-coast popsters Scamper deliver a sweet slice of Power Pop with “Sophie”, a great new tune with a staccato riff that sounds like it’s straight out of the The Cars songbook. That riff leads to giant, sing-along chorus, complete with killer two-part harmonies that land a stone’s throw from the best of Dexter Freebish or Nine Days. “Sophie” is a totally fun three minutes of near perfect pop!

Featured Tracks: "Sophie", "The Proof Is Altogether Too Late"

Scarlet Crush--Hands Of Love (Rochester Records)

Big hooks and harmonies line practically every tune on this release by Scarlet Crush.  This is Power Pop defined, reminiscent of The Tories, PFR and Dibs.  Also, dare I say it, a couple of early-era Bon Jovi moments.  Needless to say, there are many incredibly catchy songs packed into this release.

Featured Tracks: "Something To Say", "Walk Away"

Scissor Sisters--Scissor Sisters (Universal)

Original skepticism has been replaced with belief.  Flamboyant sexual inferences aside, this is an album of '70s AM radio pop and glam rock.  The best songs to our ears are the Pet Shop Boys/Robbie Nevil flavored "Lovers In The Backseat" and the Elton John-meets-George Michael tunes "Laura" and "Take Your Mama".

Featured Tracks: "Lovers In The Backseat", "Laura"

Secret Dakota Ring--Do Not Leave Baggage All The Way (Serious Business Records)

Andy Ross and Secret Dakota Ring turn in a super album here, loaded with creative tunes with hooks and quirks at every turn.  It's another one of those fine releases that offer new things to hear to those wise enough to leave it in their CD player on repeat.  Secret Dakota Ring can be compared to bands like Fountains Of Wayne, The Posies and Hotsocky.  Check out the stripped down sound of "Open Your Mouth" for a strong dose of party-rock and the Beach Boys influenced "Beautiful Girl".

Featured Tracks: "Broken Cars", "Open Your Mouth", "Beautiful Girl"

Seven Ender--Everything Never Said (Alexus Records)

Seven Ender's new release "Everything Never Said" is an engaging, polished and confident effort.  Beautifully produced by The Churchills, this release is loaded with mostly mid-tempo alternative rockers that put the talent of this young band on full display.  This is radio-ready modern rock just waiting to be gobbled up by the masses.

Featured Tracks: "Holding, Waiting", "You Versus Everything"

Skeeter--Possibly The Only... (Boss Tuneage)

As their web site proclaims; "Welcome to the happy world of Skeeter, East coast power-pop phenoms".  Skeeter mixes together many influences, including 70's rock, country and pop.  The result is a fresh and exciting mix of styles that will satisfy the pickiest power-pop and indie-rock fans.

FavoriteTracks: "Crash It Good", "Renew You"

Sloan--Action Pact (Koch Records)

Sloan's "Action Pact" is the guitar-driven party that we've been waiting for them to record.  "Gimme That" fires on all cylinders with sweet harmonies driven by relentless guitars.  "Who Loves Life More" chugs along, pulled by dirty power chords and heavy drums.  And it doesn't stop there.  If you're a fan of the softer side of Sloan, you may want to look elsewhere because "Action Pact" delivers the rock and roll goods.

FavoriteTracks: "Gimme That", "Ready For You", "Who Love Life More?"

Something Corporate--"Leaving Through The Window"  (MCA)

Similar Artists: Ben Folds, Posies, American Hi-Fi

Favorite Tracks: "Drunk Girl", "Punk Rock Princess", "Straw Dog"

Sowatt--In My Life (self-released)

Describing Sowatt as a band with an exciting future ahead of it would be an understatement.  Sowatt's tight melodies and vocals are absolutely radio-ready and the lyrics are often inspirational.  The sound is straight on rocking Power Pop with a lot of twists and turns to keep your ears alert.  Sowatt ultimately reminds us of Switchfoot, with moments of Owsley and Collective Soul.

Featured Tracks: "In My Life", "Move On"

Sparkwood--Jalopy Pop (self-released)

Sparkly, poppy songs abound on Sparkwood's "Jalopy Pop"!  There's just a ton to love here.  Upbeat and swirling, Sparkwood is sure to be a treat for ELO and Jellyfish fans, but comparing them to these two bands is too simple.  Comparisons to Cherry Twister, Sun Sawed In Half, Four O' Clock Balloon and even more recently Jackdaw4 would be pretty accurate.  "Where She Ought To Be" is super fun '60s pop and saying that "D" floats about like a track off of Jellyfish's Spilt Milk would be dead-on.

Featured Tracks: "Where She Ought To Be", "D"

Spiraling--Transmitter (Brizmusik)

Spiraling's "Transmitter" is a cool mix of piano and synth driven rock.  The more we play this CD, the deeper it digs it's way into our heads.  "The Connection" clicks along in what sounds like a Ben Folds/Churchills collaboration.  "The Girl On Top (of the Piano)" is a total treat with an OK GO/Ben Folds/Jellyfish vibe.  The tune "Transmitter" is a classic smack of prog rock and pop that crosses Yes with Genesis.  This isn't to say that Spiraling deserves to have all of it's influences listed here.  Actually, what they deserve is an audience that can use their fantastic music as it's influence.  Excellent!

Featured Tracks: "(I Don't Want To) Grow Up", "The Girl On Top (of the Piano)"

Steadman--Revive (Elektra/Asylum)

The sound of Steadman is a great mix of bands like Ok Go, Radiohead and Eleven.  "Revive" is one of those albums that you pop in the CD player and listen to from beginning to end.  It flows beautifully with mid-tempo rockers and sparkly pop numbers.  The production comes courtesy of Natasha Shneider and Alain Johannes, the duo behind the awesome, strange music of one of our favorite bands, Eleven.  This album is an absolute stunner.

Featured Tracks: "Sun Lotion", "Two Together"

Dave Stephens--Stories For Copper

Dave Stephens' "Stories For Copper" is a melodic and lyrically uplifting release that many Power Pop lovers will absolutely devour.  Jellyfish-inspired moments are plentiful here with piano-based ballads and mid-tempo rockers throughout.  Similar artists to our ears would be Big Kid, David Mead and Sparkwood.

Featured Tracks: "I've Woken Up", "Let Me Be"

Stratocruiser--Revolutions (Just Plain Lucky Records)

Riff-laden rock meets sweet pop on this, the third CD from Stratocruiser.  This release runs wild over the landscape of classic '70s rock, the synth-filled '80s and the grinding '90s.  Stunning guitar crunch is laid down over Power Pop melodies spread thick with confident vocals and harmonies.  The Led Zeppelin and T. Rex influences can be heard readily here as well as some more modern comparisons to Matthew Sweet, Collective Soul and the Smithereens.  With "Revolutions", Stratocruiser brings a tuneful blast of rock to loudspeakers everywhere!

Featured Tracks: "Mercury Mission", "Heavy Heavy Daze", "Starched White Shirt"

Sugarcult--Lights Out

Sugarcult lets loose yet another winner with LIGHTS OUT, their third full-length release.  The songs here are frantically tuneful and intensely melodic, offering more of the great punk/pop found on their first two discs, START STATIC and PALM TREES AND POWER LINES.  The music here is also maturing, though, as Sugarcult has added some flourishes that add moments of The Cure and "Love"-era Cult.  If you like Ok Go, Bowling For Soup and Fall Out Boy, make sure to check out Sugarcult.

Featured Tracks: "Do It Alone", "Shaking", "Majoring In Majors"

Sunday Runners--Sunday Runners (Machine)

The debut from Sunday Runners is smooth, melodic, sometimes haunting alterna-pop.  Songs like "Half My Height" and "Evolver" feel like a melding of bands like The Cure and Radiohead while "Memories Left At Sea" remind us of Human Radio or Michael Penn fronted by U2-like vocals.  This is a very entertaining and engaging new release.

Featured Tracks: "Memories Left At Sea", "Half My Heart"

The Superficials--Superbia

Cool!  Big guitars, big harmonies, big choruses!  THE SUPERFICIALS fire up the big engine o' rock with "Superbia", a crunchy collection of killer tunes primed to accelerate your brain from 0-to-60 in no time flat.  There's no time to waste, so we'll tell you that this is Power Pop in the finest tradition of Fountains Of Wayne, Cheap Trick, and The Cars.  Buckle up!

Featured Tracks: "Gasoline", "Reality TV"

Supermint--"Off To Stupidville" (Insurgence)

Similar Artists: Cheap Trick, Lit

Favorite Tracks: "Going Thru The Motions", "Next Ex-Girlfriend"

Supraluxe--Supraluxe (self released)

Twin Cities-based Supraluxe will wow all within earshot of their killer debut CD, the self-titled Supraluxe.  This is a very inspired collection of stylized Power Pop that sounds fresh and familiar at once.  Beatle-esque and Kinks-inspired '60s pop meld seamlessly here with touches of '70s radio fare like Steely Dan and Todd Rundgren.  This one will be on all pop lovers' list of favorites this year.  Even the CD artwork rocks!

Featured Tracks: "Sugar Chalet", "Tokyo"

Switchfoot--Nothing Is Sound (Columbia)

The two lead off tracks on NOTHING IS SOUND, "Lonely Nation" and "Stars", are as strong of a kickoff to a CD as we've heard in a long time.  They are the best two songs Switchfoot has ever recorded.  Switchfoot are blessed with the ability to pen bombastic riffs surrounded by hopelessly catchy melodies.  "Lonely Nation" balances frantic drums beats with stabbing guitars.  "Stars" twinkles before building into a truly killer rolling riff, reminiscent of Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock", which leads into a bouncy verse with dreamy chorus.  Unfortunately, the remainder of the CD is a bit of a letdown after such a goosebump-inducing start, but NOTHING IS SOUND proves to be another strong effort from one of the better major-label bands out there.

Featured Tracks: "Lonely Nation", "Stars"