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In
the Face 35th Anniversary Deluxe
2023
expanded reissue from the CARUSO Band |
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Favorite
EPs, Reissued & Redis-covered Albums & Singles of
2023
Power Pop Overdose
"What a fantastic piece of 80s pop! Highly
recommended! Grab a copy at Bandcamp.
I don't think
they will be around long."
Curt Vance / Power Pop Overdose |
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"Three and a
half decades since the world missed a great opportunity to have
the songs of the CARUSO brothers - Dave, Rob, Joe and
Mike - invading their homes through the airwaves, making
everyone sing together and have a better day.
The EP released by the band Caruso in 1987, In The Face
brought four radio friendly songs of the first magnitude,
perfectly tailored to climb the charts, notably "London" and
"Young And Tender".
The commemorative CD edition, In The Face: 35th Anniversary
Deluxe brings, in addition to the EP 2023 stereo re-masters,
live tracks, remixes and bonus tracks, making the sound more
crystal clear and forceful.
The CARUSOs could have achieved pop stardom in the
1980's. And if you're a fan of melodic pop, make In The Face
(35th Anniversary Deluxe) #1 on your home charts."
Paolo Milea / Power Pop Station
"Dave Caruso
has had a pretty darn good solo career specializing in
intelligent, catchy pop. His past three LPs, 2020’s
Radiophonic Supersonic, 2017’s Buddha Pesto Manifesto
and 2014’s Cardboard Vegas Roundabout all wound up on
year-end best of lists. And yet, I knew little about Dave’s
beginnings. That is, until In the Face.
Celebrating the record’s 35th anniversary, Dave and his brothers
Rob, Joe and Mike have chosen to reissue In the Face, giving
longtime fans a chance to relive memories – and others the
opportunity to discover what they inexplicably missed the first
go ‘round. Remastered and with bonus tracks, In the Face
(35th Anniversary Deluxe) consists of 17 tracks of 80’s
style guitar pop delivered with a smooth, irrepressible cool.
She’s a Sensation features the brothers’ vocal deftness
and a Cars-like underpinning. The punchy Going Places
is vintage 80’s powerpop and a great deal of fun. If it’s
a musical confection you crave – a sonic burst of harmony
wrapped in a chocolaty pop-punk shell, the live recording of
Another Girl is sure to do the trick.
As good as these tracks are, the big payoff is the opening
track. London instantly sounds familiar despite the fact
that I’d never heard it before. Propelled by percussive whips
reminiscent of so many 80’s hits, London kicks into
overdrive with the brothers delivering stellar vocals. It has
all the earmarks of a hit. A BIG one. And it makes you wonder
why the band wasn’t signed to a major label.'
Richard Rossi / Power Pop News [Full
Review]
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Radiophonic Supersonic
The 2020 album from Dave Caruso |
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#1
Album 11/17/23
Phil Maq's Theme Attic / WHFR-FM
#8 Best Power
Pop Album of 2020
Powerpop News
Top 10 Songs of 2020
(Little Miss Sunshine)
Hop On Power Pop
Top 15 Essential
Albums of 2020
Chasing the Essential
#19 Best Power Pop
Album of 2020
Power Pop Station
#23 Top 100 Albums of 2020
Absolute Powerpop
Top 25 Album & EP
Faves of 2020
Indie Pop Takeout
#34 Best Albums of 2022
Phil Maq's Theme Attic / WHFR-FM
Top
50 Albums of 2020
Pop Forever
#56 Albums of
the Year 2020
I Don't Hear a Single |
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"Caruso’s latest release,
Radiophonic Supersonic, continues to showcase his
songwriting talents. The melodies seem to come easy to him, and
they flow naturally from his head as if he’s taking dictation.
Take, for instance, the opening track, Little Miss Sunshine.
The song is as bright as its title as it goes through several
key changes to reach stratospheric levels of happiness.
...Caruso shows a fascinating ability to create memorable
melodies to unforgettable chord progressions, and the result is
a set of songs that stay embedded in your brain hours after you
hear them. ...An exceptional album that leaves you wanting more.
Peter Lee / Hooks and Harmony [Full
Review]
"Dave Caruso has a
special gift that he has been sharing with us... Radiophonic
Supersonic is the physical record of Caruso's skill in
building perfect pop songs. 10 tracks with melodies carefully
tailored to stick to your affective memory, as in Little Miss
Sunshine. Heavenly harmonies piled with mastery, layer
upon layer just to elevate you towards the divine, like in
Tuesday's Gone. And Caruso's stories are told in
clever and insightful lyrics, in his sweet and adorable voice.
Allied to the brilliance of the compositions, are the stars Brad
Jones, in the mix and Andy Reed in the mastering."
Paolo Milea / Power Pop Station
"a 10-song, radio-friendly batch of
hit-single-worthy tracks... On this release that has garnered
boatloads of acclaim from the melodic pop community, Dave has
continued his strong winning streak... Radiophonic Supersonic
is a triumphant winner."
Alan Haber / Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio [Full
Review]
"Mixing Dave’s stuff was a joy —
such beautiful melodies and smart lyrics. His playing and ideas
are so colorful and hooky, that whenever he’d send over a new
track to mix, it was like opening a cool little box of sounds,
hooks, and surprises. Working remotely, I got to know him not
just from our phone calls, but from his songs, too. Close your
eyes and there is the man at the mic, telling his story."
Brad Jones / Nashville Songwriter & Producer
"Detroit’s Dave Caruso
creates such pretty pop songs on his recent album,
Radiophonic Supersonic, reminding me of 10cc mixed
with more than a little Macca. The Drop perfectly
captures his careful attention to song arrangements, juxtaposing
some crunchy rhythm guitar with low key sweet vocals."
Dennis Pilon / Poprock Record - Songs With a Hook [Full
Review]
"I knew it would be a
great Pop Rock album, but more than that, the influences are
widely spread. Catchy verses are linked to memorable
choruses, never more so on I Won't Wait For You.
For all [its] variety, the home runs are when the catchy Pop
rings out. A Piece Of The Action' is great US Pop
Rock and the outstanding Little Miss Sunshine is a
beauty of a song. It is very California Harmonic Pop with
little hints of Toytown. Throwing Out My Baby With The
Bassinet is a great closer, a real 20's / 30's Ragtime joy.
All in all, Radiophonic Supersonic is a more than great
listen."
Don Valentine / I Don't Hear a Single [Full
Review]
"Radiophonic Supersonic is
Dave Caruso’s latest work and his best to date... There are
an abundance of “single” worthy songs here... Atomic Smile
is both uber-catchy and very, very clever. “Indelible” will
transport you right back to 60’s AM radio. On Little
Miss Sunshine, Caruso channels his inner Elvis
Costello with one of the most engaging songs of 2020. It’s
bouncy, radio friendly guitar pop with a big payoff – a chorus
that you can’t help but sing along to. Brilliant.
...Expect Radiophonic Supersonic to appear in our
end-of-year top power pop albums – Highly Recommended."
Richard Rossi / Power Pop News [Full
Review]
"Although it didn’t arrive until
early December, Radiophonic Supersonic still made a
number of 2020 best power pop album lists. If I had
compiled such a list, it might well have cracked my top 25 — a
notable achievement in what was a strong year for the power pop
genre."
Alan Sculley / The Morning Call [Full
Review]
"A new artist for me and I am
grateful I found him. He has a soaring pop voice, the kind
I can’t get enough of. Some great tunes that stay with
you. Listen: 'Little Miss Sunshine,' 'The Boy Wonders,'
'Throwing Out My Baby With The Bassinet.'"
Gene Good / Pop Forever [Review] |
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Buddha Pesto Manifesto.
Dave's 2017 solo album |
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#1
Album 10/21/18
10 wks
on the Top 10 albums chart
Phil Maq's Theme Attic / WHFR-FM
#9 Power Pop Album of 2017
Power Pop News
Top 13 Essential Tracks for 2017
(The Girl Who Checks All the Boxes)
Chasing the Essential
#17 Top Albums of 2017
Power Pop Station
18 Favorite Albums of 2017
Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio
#32
Album of 2018
Phil Maq's Theme Attic / WHFR-FM
#60 Top 100 of 2017
Absolute Powerpop |
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"That Caruso is able to
negotiate the waters of decision in his lyrics while painting
delicious landscapes with his melodic brush is a testament to his
skill as a writer and performer. He is on his own in these 10 songs,
playing all of the instruments and singing all of the vocals. Aided
masterfully by Andy Reed, who mixed and mastered, bringing each
element of these songs to glorious life, Caruso has made a
career-defining album stocked deep with catchy songs."
Alan Haber / Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio [Full
Review]
"Caruso has a slick pop sound informed by Elvis Costello,
Squeeze,
and of course The Beatles and he puts those influences to good use
in Boomer, Jenna & Lennie (which also reminds me of Mark Bacino),
Hanging With You (which could be a Beatles '65
outtake), and God's Green Acre (a lovely chamber-pop
ballad). Elsewhere, Caruso's gift for Costello-like wordplay comes
to the fore with Punctuating Shatner. But Caruso's appeal on this
album can be summed up by the title of one of its better tracks,
The Girl Who Checks All the Boxes, as he checks all the
boxes when it comes to fans of smart, melodic adult pop."
Stephen Ferra / Absolute Powerpop [Full
Review]
"While there are more
than a few very worthy tracks here, the standout single for me is
The Girl Who Checks All The Boxes. A whopping hook from
start to finish, [It's] not only catchy has hell,
it’s lyrically brilliant in its simplicity. It’s one of those songs
that you hear and say to yourself Damn, I wish I wrote that."
GET IT.
Richard Rossi / Power Pop News
[Full
Review]
 A Perfect Album
"Each song has its
own earworm – some with several. ...It’s the hallmark of a
good pop song, and Caruso has managed to do it not once but 10
times.
I Get to Make You
Laugh [is]
a perfect ending to a perfect album. Buddha Pesto Manifesto
is one of the top listens of 2017 so far – there’s not a bad apple
in the bunch."
Peter Lee / Hooks & Harmony [Full Review]
A Must-Have
“I highly recommend Buddha Pesto Manifesto. All original
compositions, written, arranged, recorded and performed by Dave.
If you love pop music, it's a must-have.”
Jeff Grzywinski /
Co-Host of Strange Magic on Rewind 94.3
Highly
Recommended
"Caruso teases you
on 'Go Ahead (Don’t Listen)' an Elvis Costello-like rocker,
and it then draws you into his world with his soft and inviting
vocal. What follows is the brilliant pop narrative Boomer,
Jenna & Lennie, a nostalgic story that recalls Andrew Gold
mixed with Brian Wilson-styled vocals. Each track is a wonderful surprise from the
hymn-like harpsichord pop of God’s Green Acre to the
80’s style power pop of Getting Involved and
Allendale. There is plenty of humorous wordplay with
the Punctuating Shatner, and the heartbreaking I Get
To Make Her Laugh will make you think about all those class
clowns who are crying on the inside. Not a wasted note here and
Highly Recommended."
Aaron Kupferberg /
Powerpopaholic [Full
Review]
"Boomer, Jenna &
Lennie" is the first single off Dave's 2017 album, Buddha
Pesto Manifesto. Melodic Pop Connoisseur, Alan Haber
calls it "a
classic, ever-so-catchy Eric Carmen-styled number about negotiating
life’s path and the ups and downs that are presented along the way.
Light, percussive piano, electric guitar stabs and a sumptuous
melody propel this song to the top of the pops."
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Champion
The 2015 Single from "Cardboard Vegas
Roundabout" |
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Satisfying
Pure Pop
"I found the first jewel of the year: Dave Caruso's Champion.
Highly tuneful. Like eating frosting straight from the jar. Splattered
throughout the song are Beach Boys harmonies – even the “ba, ba ba ba”
that the Beach Boys were known for and a high-pitched “wooo” that would
make Brian Wilson swoon.
Caruso has a knack for melody and harmony."
Peter Lee / Hooks & Harmony [Full
Review] |
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Cardboard
Vegas Roundabout
The 2014 album by Dave Caruso |
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#6 Best Albums of 2014
Pop That
Goes Crunch
#7 Best Songs of 2014
(The Art of Erica)
Pop That
Goes Crunch
Rating: 9 Out of 10
Glory Daze Music
#10 of the 17
Most-Played Songs of 2015
(Your Fake Friends)
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio
21 Favorite Records of 2014
Alan Haber's PurePop Radio
Potential Classics of the Past 10 Years
(Your Fake Friends)
Chasing the Essential
Best of 2014
Ice Cream Man Power Pop & More
Top 60 Favorite Songs of the Decade,
2010-2019
(Your Fake Friends)
Chasing the Essential
#75 Best Albums of 2014
International Pop Overthrow
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Highly Recommended
"An expected pleasure. Dave
really has the vocal technique
honed on his Beach Boys tribute, Champion. Caruso’s guitar pop
hits a winner with Your Fake Friends, a jangle-tastic single.
Another big highlight is the
Elvis Costello-like ballad, The Art of Erica."
Aaron Kupferberg / The
Powerpopaholic
[Full
Review]
Highly
Recommended
"Every once in awhile, I have
the pleasure of listening to a real winner, and this is the first one of
the new year. There is a lot of variety in Caruso's songwriting, and his
pleasant voice is up to the task of switching gears whenever necessary."
Dan Pavelich /
Kenosha News
"Ten finely
crafted tunes.
Caruso lays down some of the most
complex vocal arrangements of the year, and succeeds over-and-over again.
Tasty songcraft."
Jeffrey Raskin / Host, The Big Show & Program Dir., Pop That Goes Crunch
[Full
Review]
"Dave’s miracle of an album is one of the best releases of this or any
year...
Magnificent sound. Lovely, melodic songs. Crafted with care.
Sharp musicianship and gorgeous, multi-part harmonies. I am in
love, love, love with Dave’s music."
Alan Haber / Program Director, PurePop Radio [Review
#1] [Review
#2]
 "Cardboard Vegas Roundabout is worthy of the praise it's getting among
the power pop intelligentsia. The music is fresh, catchy and above
all original. Caruso is no slouch in the lyric department either,
with writing that is often poignant, introspective and topical."
Eric Abrahamsen / Glory Daze
Music
"Dave
Caruso delivers tunes and lyrics that will draw you in, play with your
emotions, and satisfy all your musical cravings. Cracking stuff indeed!"
Wayne Lundqvist Ford / Host,
Ice Cream Man Power Pop & More Show on Radio Andra and Pop That Goes Crunch
Radio
A Slice of Pure Pop Bliss
"Dave Caruso is a primo purveyor of elegantly crafted sunshine pop. Fresh
and ultra-listenable from start to finish. Pitch-perfect vocal
arrangements and songs with flowing melodies and neat little lyrical
asides."
John M. Borack / as reviewed in Goldmine Magazine and reprinted in his music
guide,
"Shake Some Action 2.0,"
documenting some of the best power pop albums from 1970 to 2017.
[Full
Review]
Like Having Dinner at
the Vatican With the Pope
"Cardboard Vegas Roundabout is
fresh, original and engaging. One of my favorites, The Art of
Erica, reminds me a bit of Elvis Costello. The jangle-pop of Your Fake
Friends will surely please the most discerning of powerpop fans. Other
standout tracks: Champion, I’ve Tried To Write You and
It's a Great Day for The Angels.
Richard Rossi / Power Pop News [Full
Review]
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Elizabeth Parker Revisited
remastered from Dave's 2004 EP, "Elizabeth Parker" |
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 Very
Best Songs About Detroit, Michigan
(Elizabeth Parker)
Destination Soundtrack [Complete
List]
Pop Craft of a High Order
"Caruso demonstrates pop craft of a
high order here. The title track is the standout, a jangly treat that
would have fit it perfectly on The Red Button's 2007 album of the year.
I'm going to have to make a
judgment call on whether this one qualifies for the 2009 EP list, because
on merit alone it's a gimme."
Absolute Powerpop
Instantly Catchy and Accessible
"...Sunny, chiming guitar
melodies that are instantly catchy and accessible. The songcraft is top
notch, a perfect example is the Elvis Costello sounding title track
Elizabeth Parker. The next gem is I Can’t Be On Time, a finely tuned
slice of 80’s styled power pop. The bossa nova ballad If I Died
Today and strong guitar riffs of Letter To My Ex round out the album.
An excellent addition to your music collection."
Powerpopaholic [Full
Review]
Captivating
"Before releasing Cardboard Vegas Roundabout, Dave recorded
[Elizabeth Parker,] an EP that is just as captivating. We’re playing
four songs in rotation: the title track, I Can’t Be On Time, If I Died
Today, and Letter to My Ex. A double dose of Dave Caruso will do you
good!"
Alan Haber's Pure Pop Radio [Full
Review]
 Brill Building-esque
"Elvis Costello Alert! Here's a guy that knows his way around a pop
song! He delivers five Brill Building-esque pop nuggets."
Kool Kat Musik
Vivid
Colors
"...an island of
vivid colors amidst the sea of black & monotonous pop music today."
Powerpop Station
Payoff is Big
"Great EP for pure pop fans! Payoff is big if you are a fan of early
Costello, Squeeze and Joe Jackson."
Not Lame Records
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