Up until now, Doug Powell’s been a proverbial rock ‘n’ roll also-ran, although that’s certainly not a statement on his talents. Not by a long shot. Powell’s one of the more consistent power pop practitioners for the past ten years, proof of which can be found in any of his eight albums. Rather, it refers to the sad fact that Powell’s talents have yet to garner him the rewards that are clearly his due, as evidenced by two failed relationships with major record companies (RCA and Mercury) and a dashed opportunity to reap national attention as front man for the New Cars, a gig he lost to Todd Rundgren. Four Seasons, a second collection of orphaned demos (his first, Curiouser, was released in 1998), provides further reason to regret that Powell hasn’t caught his big break. The first six tracks apparently served as his New Cars audition reel, with his uncanny replication of the Cars’ signature sound effectively incorporating their big beat and the Ocasek croon. Powell wades through his own turf via the four effusive tracks that make up the ultra-rare Japanese EP Venus DeMilo’s Arms, two promising songs from an aborted album and “God Bless Us All,” a Queen sound-alike optimistically intended for a 1999 Ringo Starr Christmas album. A handy encapsulation for newcomers and longtime fans alike, Four Seasons is another worthy example of the Powell pedigree.
~ Lee Zimmerman
Release date: June 6, 2006
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