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The Jellybricks - Soapopera - 1999

The Jellybricks gained a good deal of exposure through "International Pop Overthrow" appearances and friendships with other well-known power pop acts, and Soap Opera is a convincing portrait of the band's qualities. Fairly crisp arrangements and catchy songs -- such as "Speechless," "Fingernails," and the title track -- distinguish this album as a move forward into radio-ready territory. While occasionally Soap Opera suffers from muddy production or indistinguishable material, there is more than enough here to satisfy the average pop fan. And the Jellybricks' lyrics and general outlook -- symbolized best by the disclaimer on the back of the CD ("The music found here is an appropriate accompaniment for dancing, staring at the walls, light snacking, and many other activities") are refreshingly upbeat and jubilant. While not perfect, Soap Opera solidifies the Jellybricks' deserved place in the late-1990s power pop revival.-AMG

The Jellybricks - Soapopera - 1999/rs
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The Jellybricks - Soapopera - 1999/sb

Doors

Ever since Graffiti went from the trains to the streets, doors have become a popular surface for writers in the city. For the most part doors offer a smooth surface conducive to markers and paint and are areas of high traffic offering the writer guaranteed visibility. Many doors attract tags from passing writers and end up swathed in marker, shoe polish, paint, and inks. Back alleys or street fronts, in Montreal you'll always find some bombed out doors. Here are some local doors that I have found over the last few years.

The Chesterfield Kings - The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings - 2003

The 1966 Album of the Year has finally been made, and leave it to those champions of all things fuzztone and paisley, the Chesterfield Kings, to achieve this feat a mere 37 years after the fact. Only a fool would try to argue that the Chesterfield Kings aren't one of the more derivative bands currently walking the Earth, but after mining the rich vein of garage rock raunch and freakbeat wailing since 1979, Greg Prevost and Andy Babiuk have been able to synthesize their influences into songs that sound like lost relics of the pre-hippie era, and they can re-create the sound and fury of the Epoch of Teenage Sneer with an truly uncanny accuracy. Depending on what song you cue up, the Chesterfield Kings could be conjuring up the shade of the Electric Prunes, the Chocolate Watchband, the Seeds, Love, the Troggs, or any number of other mid-'60s guitar bashers on The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings, while Prevost's vocals sound more like Mick Jagger than Jagger himself has since Emotional Rescue. While it would be easy for this stuff to sound like a parody after a while, the Chesterfield Kings are committed enough to their time tunnel vision of rock & roll that they manage to ape the passion and swagger of their influences as well as their choices of guitars, amplifiers, effects boxes, and wardrobe, and no one gets the details of this period quite as right as this band. With the passage of time, Prevost and Babiuk have matured into capable songwriters as well, and if you groove on classic garage sounds, it's hard not to be impressed by the Kings' obsessive accuracy. Of course, they're just close enough to their influences that it's hard to say if you wouldn't be better off with a copy of the Nuggets box set, and unlike the similarly obsessive Flamin' Groovies, they've never written a song that's become a classic in its own right like "Slow Death" or "Shake Some Action." But if you're frustrated in your search for the great lost Litter album, The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings will tide you over in the meantime.

The Chesterfield Kings - The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings - 2003/rs
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The Chesterfield Kings - The Mindbending Sounds of the Chesterfield Kings - 2003/sb

Jeff Larson - Swimming in the Make Believe - 2006

Jeff Larson is the sound of California pop, conjuring the wisp of a summer's eve, the light breeze of an affecting melody, the warmth of the sun sliding across a clear, cloudless day. Larson continues to be a marvel, raising the bar with each new release. With the heartfelt Swimming in the Make Believe, he has surpassed even himself, waxing a dozen gorgeous songs unmatched in their beauty... The players, from producer Hank Lindeman, who contributes various guitar parts, to Beckley's America partner Dewey Bunnell and Chicago's Robert Lamm help bring these songs to glorious life, but it is Larson who makes them shine in the warm California sun. -Alan Haber, Pure Pop)

Jeff Larson - Swimming in the Make Believe - 2006/rs
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Jeff Larson - Swimming in the Make Believe - 2006/sb

Keith LuBrant - Face In The Crowd - 2001

The overal pop catchiness is quite the feat. Guitars and lyrics so hook-line-and-sinker leaving or ignoring is out of the question. I have never heard anything so consistent. EVERY track has the ability to hold it's own alone or with others. I can see this going farther than the average album. -Dustin Landrum , Shut Eye Record



Keith LuBrant - Face In The Crowd - 2001/rs
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Keith LuBrant - Face In The Crowd - 2001/sb

Pipitone - Music For Minivans - 2002

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! -Kool Kat



Pipitone - Music For Minivans - 2002/rs
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Pipitone - Music For Minivans - 2002/sb

From the Vault: 2003 Montreal Stylz

I first started taking notice of graffiti in 2003 when I moved downtown. I was living on the Ottawa Street at the bottom of Peel in Griffin Town. Besides a general interest I needed a focus for my academic work and decided that graffiti would be it. I took to the streets as often as I could and whenever I could tracking through the city, alleyways, rooftops, highway system, anywhere and everywhere I saw a hint of paint.

Most of these pics were taken at night with a pocket digital camera as it was the only time I was able to roam about aside from work and class. For the most part the pics came out ok. Some good stuff here from a few local hard hittin' bombers and crews, and some stuff from outta towners. In any case enjoy.

Stay posted. I got lots more in the vault.

Richard X. Heyman - Hey Man! - 1991

In the early '90s, Richard X. Heyman exemplified the type of artist who enjoys rave reviews from rock critics but doesn't break through commercially. The fact that the New York-based singer/composer's second album, Hey Man!, wasn't a big hit commercially certainly wasn't due to a lack of first-class writing. Drawing on influences ranging from Tom Petty and Elvis Costello to the Byrds, Hey Man! is a gem-laden CD that, sadly, got lost in the corporate shuffle. Melodic power pop treasures like "In the Scheme of Things," "Falling Away," and "Bad Business in Town" show just how prolific and thoughtful a songwriter this guy is, and should have made him well known. For power pop enthusiasts, Hey Man! is well worth searching for.-AMG



Richard X. Heyman - Hey Man! - 1991/rs
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Richard X. Heyman - Hey Man! - 1991/sb

Help The Tattle Tales record a new album!

The Tattle Tales have been waiting a long time to record their second album. But enoughs enough, and now it's finally time! BUT they desperately need your help!! Please contribute any and all that you can. The Tattle Tales will be eternally grateful!!!

To donate to the project, please click here :

To show you how much we love and appreciate you, we're giving you our last album for FREE! 12 songs for nothing! This way you can listen to us before you decide if you want to help us out!


Click and enjoy!


- The Tattle Tales!!!