Southern Pop and English Soul

Tony Peyser
Mirror contributing writer
  
   Paparazzi is a power pop summit with two of the genre's top statesmen: Jamie Hoover from The Spongetones and solo artist Bill Lloyd. The latter lives in Nashville and the former comes from North Carolina, sort of the Mississippi Delta for power pop. This auditory buffet is a melodic mix of Beatles and Big Star seasoned with a little Elvis Costello and Tom Petty. The warm harmonies and jangling guitars also recall the best-known new power pop practitioner, Fountains Of Wayne. The sweet smile Hoover and Lloyd's album will slap on your face will make you want to show and tell the world. (Those last five words, by the way, are the title of Paparazzi's soaring first track.)
   Months ago, I went to a funky North Hollywood joint called Kulak's Woodshed. As the lead singer for an opening act was warming up, he seemed relaxed, poised and sure of himself. As soon as Eugene Edwards started to sing, I knew why: he's got it. On My Favorite Revolution, the L.A.-based singer-songwriter delivers the power pop goods. I especially liked the touch in "It Doesn't Get Better Than This" when Edwards gives a shout-out to Elvis Costello's "Watching The Detectives." This is one sure-footed album, even more so because it's a debut.
   On Pontiac Trail, Randy Wayne Sitzler reveals himself to be an alt-country fellow with a wised up look at the world. The sizzling "Loretta" is about a grown-up tomcat with four kids and more than a few regrets. Britt Savage's sexy harmony vocal has plenty of moans and hormones. Sitzler's "One Of These Days" sure seems like a signature song to me with its weary but sly look at promises not kept but not forgotten. A minute and a half in, the full band joins in and it's like they're cheering him on to make good on what he's singing about.
   I first heard Joan Armatrading over 20 years ago. She's about as far from a shrinking violet as is humanly possible on any continent. Born in the West Indies and raised in England, Armatrading's a soul singer with the kind of vocal power many rock and rollers lack. And her strength comes from passion rather than volume. Joan Armatrading Live: All The Way From America boasts it has "no overdubs whatsoever." Any artist who's been performing for over two decades would love to sound this good this far down the road, let alone in front of an audience. An early hit --- "Me Myself I" --- begins with hard guitar chords and a hint of dissonance which then give way to an inviting melody line in this anthem of girl power independence. The wallop of this track is undiminished and proves Armatrading's skills are still in full bloom.
   Miles Of Music has Paparazzi for $13.49, My Favorite Revolution for $11.99 and Pontiac Trail for $11.49. Amazon has All The Way From America for $14.99.
   The Goofy Band Name Of The Week is … Nixon's Head.
  
   E-mail:
   tonypeyser@yahoo.com.