Pop Aid - A Power Pop Compilation To Benefit The Citizens Of Ukraine

The highly ambitious Pop Aid - A Power Pop Compilation To Benefit The Citizens Of Ukraine 3-CD set is finished and will go on sale exactly a month from today. It can be pre-ordered for $24 on the Kool Kat Musik website, with 100% of all profits going to help World Central Kitchen feed people in the Ukraine. An international cast of power pop bands came together on this project; each donating a new or previously unreleased song. Listening to the promotional version, it’s clear these musicians were determined to contribute their best work.

Coming from the power pop genre, it’s no surprise several tracks seem inspired by the Revolver and Rubber Soul era of The Beatles. Jangling guitars and harmony vocals set to infectious arrangements are spread across this trio of CDs. It would be impossible to describe all the top-notch material here, so the next few paragraphs will touch on a few examples.

Jeremy with Ken Stringfellow; Rich Arithmetic; The Walkdown; Arvidson And Butterflies; Goldstoned; and The Overtures succeed with an original British Invasion approach. Chuck Yoakum’s “Love Revolution,” on the other hand, has more of a Beatles White Album vibe. Deadlights; Thrift Store Halo; Jamie Hoover with Michael Ruiz and Elena Rogers; and Lolas bring a harder edge to the party, while The Embryos create a tropical mood on “Rain Snow Sunshine.” The Stayawakes unleash a revved-up arrangement on “Song For Milhouse,” while the coed vocals and twanging guitars The Red Sticks employ on “Shake Your Money Tree” evoke The Cramps.

Joey Molland’s “Hero” deals with finding strength when confronted with an increasingly threatening world. Ian M. Bailey sets satirical observations to a galloping cowpunk beat on “TV Land,” while on “Town Clock Caller,” Iain Mutch and Thee Absurdist Monks provide the off-kilter fun you’d expect from an outfit with that moniker. There are also the well-crafted cover versions of “When You Walk In The Room” by The Flashcubes and “Alfie” by Nick Frater. Super 8 has the final word on Pop Aid - A Power Pop Compilation To Benefit The Citizens Of Ukraine with “Tanks And Guns,” a rallying call for the courageous people of Ukraine. It sums up this compilation's mission beautifully.