power pop – Queen City Sounds and Art

Queen City Sounds Podcast S6E18: Hypnolovewheel

Hypnolovewheel, photo courtesy the artists

Hypnolovewheel formed in 1986 in Long Island, New York. The group sound threaded together elements of psych, garage rock and power pop but essential a post-punk band in the left field mode that emerged in New York in the 80s. By the time the group split in around the mid-90s it left behind a body of work that was difficult to narrowly categorize but which made an impression on anyone that heard that music. A staple of college radio if you heard them you might think they were in the same realm of music as Flaming Lips, Archers of Loaf and Alice Donut though distinctly different from all of them. Pick out any of the band’s seven releases and you’ll find a record that should have been more well loved by the alternative music audience for its expert songcraft and willingness to experiment with lyrics not short on irony and humor. The classic lineup of the band included guitarists Dave Ramirez and Stephen Hunking with bassist Dan Cuddy and drummer Peter Walsh. All had been veterans of the local underground scene and the first three members of garage rock outfit Plastic Device.

In 2026 Hypnolovewheel is beginning to reissue all of its records since getting rights to their music back and beginning with the reissue of its career spanning compilation Parallel Universe. The tracks were selected by no other than James McNew of Yo La Tengo and remastered by Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks, Young Fresh Fellows). Originally released in a limited edition vinyl the record is now more widely available as of June 19. 2026. A quick listen to the compilation reveals that Hypnolovewheel was making the kind of noise pop music that would in the 21st century be called indie rock and precursors to that music.

Listen to our interview with bassist Dan Cuddy and follow Hypnolovewheel at the links below.

Hypnolovewheel on Instagram

Young Allies Debut Single “Fingers Entwined” is an Infectious New Wave Power Pop Song About the Joys and Pitfalls of Human Relationships

Young Allies, photo courtesy the artists

Young Allies has a debut EP coming out in the near future and the lead single “Fingers Entwined” sounds like the kind of 1980s power pop that has given that music a longer shelf life than expected. The music video with its colorful characters and fantastical settings has an aesthetic like something from the 90s before too many modern digital effects became a normal thing so there is a really analog effect of the visuals that match the song’s essential appeal like a fusion of The Cars and Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians with an immediately catchy hook and lyrics that deftly depict the joys and pitfalls of relationships. And like those bands its obvious that Young Allies, the new project from Fritz Michel, are able to write upbeat and hopeful songs about emotionally complex subjects with seeming ease. Watch the video for “Fingers Entwined” on YouTube and follow Young Allies at the links provided.

Young Allies Website

Young Allies on Facebook

Young Allies on Instagram

Young Allies Distrokid

The Dead Century Offers a Refreshing Take on the Breakup Song on Impassioned Power Pop Single “Hey Chicago”

The Dead Century, photo courtesy the artists

The Dead Century on “Hey Chicago” sound like a classic power pop band in the 80s vein. Fortunately that also means crisp guitar sound, great clarity of tone, sonically and emotionally. The song uses the conceit of referring to someone by the city they’re from rather than have to denigrate a specific name or even assign gender. It’s a different take on the breakup song in which our narrator seems to have come to the conclusion that it’s over but doesn’t want to make an assumption that things are finished even if in it’s not officially so. The seemingly endless moments when everything threatened to collapse but didn’t as embodied so well by the lines “And for a minute we can both pretend/We’ve been counting down the seconds to a second chance/To sift through the requisite waiting/For something more stable.” Sometimes something so combustible can seem exciting but in the end can be so exhausting. But our narrator seems to want the decision to draw the relationship to a conclusion to be a mutual thing. The song has great momentum and an sweeping melody until the last minute six when things go quiet for tranquil moments of contemplation before ramping back up and back down to a quick outro of ghostly feedback. The songcraft is impressive and the sentiments don’t demonize anyone which can be rare in this subgenre of pop music. Listen to “Hey Chicago” on Spotify and follow Minneapolis, Minnesota’s The Dead Century at the links provided.