Apple Records

What's the worst thing about Oasis? Where does one begin? For me, their worst crime was a lack of ambition. There is nothing wrong with being obsessed with another band, particularly when that band are as good as the Beatles. But to focus in on only one aspect of their songwriting and ignore everything else was just lazy and lame-o. The thing that made the Beatles so good was the fact that they pushed themselves, which gave us Tomorrow Never Knows, I Am The Walrus, Glass Onion et al. Oasis couldn't be bothered with all that risky business, they are happy to generate third rate pastiches of Rubber Soul b-sides until they die.

The Beatles influence has taken many varied forms over the last 40 odd years, from Ozzy taking Helter Skelter to it's logical conclusion, to ELO's shiny sky blue pop. The latest album to follow this well trodden path is by Apples In Stereo. Although they have been around since the early 90's I have only just heard them for the first time, and the album, New Magnetic Wonder, is everything I want from Beatles inspired album, with a healthy dose of The Beach Boys, Velvet Underground, Todd Rundgren and yes, ELO, on the way. Its the kind of music that makes me strut around my flat, singing along with all those winning melodies and catchy hooks. In short, it's a great (power) pop record.

Apples In Stereo - Can You Feel It?

Apples In Stereo - Energy

Yacht Rock

I really should have talked about The Blow on here before, as their album Paper Television was one of my favourites of last year. They are a mish mash of electronics, girl groups, hip hop, doo wop, and no wave vocals, colliding to create pop music, pure and simple. Heartfelt, sing along, sincere, fun pop music, which, in case you haven't worked it out yet, is all I want not just from music, but from life. They should be massive, but the world doesn't work that way, does it?

The Blow - Pile Of Gold

The fella from The Blow, Jona Bechtolt (the other member of the band is Khaela Maricich) is a solo artist under the moniker, and appears to be something of a internet renaissance man. Check out his wikipedia page for his impressive resume, and this fascinating and probably fictional account. I am mainly familiar with his remixes, but this solo track sounds promising (and doesn't it sound like Miss You by the Rolling Stones?):

Y.A.C.H.T. - See A Penny, Pick It Up

The Blow - Hock It (Y.A.C.H.T. Remix)