The Tripwires: “S. Charlston Blow-By” (2009)
The power-pop magic of the Tripwire’s 2007 debut (spotlighted here) is no less potent on its follow-up.
It was difficult to select which of John Ramberg’s sticky melodic delicacies to pull from the House to House LP, but Johnny Sangster’s Keith Richards-style rhythm guitar stabs in the chorus of this smash-up of a car song put it over the top.
And that’s the thing about good power-pop. It owes more to the Stones, Badfinger, Nick Lowe and the Raspberries than the innocuous decaf version that sounds like the musical equivalent of an inflatable life raft lowered from the side of yacht rock.
The Tripwires are survivors of the 90’s Seattle rock explosion who continue doing it their way, making irresistible tunes that call back more riff-centric eras of rock and pop.
Every one of their releases is highly recommended–it’s just a shame we have to try to narrow it down here.
See also: https://edcyphers.com/2020/07/04/recommended-albums-80/
Every Moment Has A Song 