Mark Bacino joined Preston Frazier to discuss his writing process and the long-awaited new studio album, ‘Top of the World.’

There’s been a long road to Mark Bacino’s fourth album – but it was well worth it.

The Strange Encounters have crafted an album that recalls the Beatles, R.E.M., the Byrds, the Posies, the Jayhawks, Badfinger and Robyn Hitchcock.

If record execs and promoters had any idea what to do with Dragon, this fun, accessible New Zealand power pop band could have been big in America.

Issued 50 years ago this week, ‘Fresh’ lived up to its title as Eric Carmen and the Raspberries balanced radio-ready pop with muscled rock reflexes.

This self-titled LP from Gothenburg, Sweden-based Kyte was a solid debut by a very promising group. In fact, I called them the best new band of 2008.

Terry Carolan has been an unstoppable force on the alternative-music scene since the early ’70s.

‘Enemies With Benefits’ projects a great sound and feel, with a trio of Thift Store Halo tunes primed to make your day.

Lisa Mychols & Super 8’s “A Very Merry Christmas” unites glittery Phil Spector/Brian Wilson-informed production values with a power-popping presence.

Thrift Store Halo’s long-awaited ‘Pop-Rocket’ EP pinned the passionate angst of vintage Graham Parker to a wall of hard-fisted power-pop arrangements.