the Power Pop thread

Know of a great band you think we'd like to hear about? Got some music news? Or just want to talk about music in general? Post it here.

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shuffle
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the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

so I've been getting back into listening to this type of music again, which is great... I thought the one's of us on 3DD that dig this type of music could share rec's and stuff in here. I remember that beentownbubba gave me a bunch of recommendations on 9B before the forum transfer, and I'm sad to say that I don't think I've listened to any of them...it was just after I was given those rec's that I sort of dropped out of touch with power pop in general, sorry 'bout that btb. I've got them wishlisted on rateyourmusic so I haven't forgotten about them completely :) I'll get on it...

well, here's the album that made me start this thread:
Image

I don't really know much about the band except that they're British and were mainly active during the late '80s/early '90s (I think). This one's from 1991 and it's the only album of theirs that I've heard...and it's a really good one. I got it through a recommendation from a guy on another forum in 2008 I think, listened to it a bit then and then completely forgot about it after clearing out my iPod. Listening to it again now...the first track, Young People, is just great. In another world this should've been a hit...pretty much everything on this album is stolen from somewhere, but it fits together perfectly...Young People has pretty much the same melody as one of the tracks on Candy's Whatever Happened To Fun..., which I know btb enjoys :)

so, um, recs guys!


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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

@btb I looked through my rym wishlist/history and these are what I think you recommended me:

Various Artists - Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '70s (1997)
Various Artists - Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '80s (1997)
Various Artists - Poptopia! Power Pop Classics of the '90s (1997)
Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)
Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather (2007)
Various Artists - Titan: It's All Pop! (2008)
Mark Bacino - The Million Dollar Milkshake (2003)
The Merrymakers - Bubblegun (1998)
Cherry Twister - At Home With Cherry Twister (1999)
Myracle Brah - Life on Planet Eartsnop (1998)
The Pursuit of Happiness - Love Junk (1988)
Velvet Crush - Teenage Symphonies to God (1994)
Wondermints - Bali (1998)
Wondermints - Mind If We Make Love to You (2002)
Wondermints - Wondermints (1995)
The Figgs - Palais (2004)
The Rubinoos - Anthology (2000)
Pointed Sticks - Perfect Youth (1980)

anything else?
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

Not my favorite genre, but these guys were great:

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

^I checked out their rateyourmusic page, and they've got a decent rating (3,74) and judging by what people have written it sounds like something I'd dig...
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

The Loveless - A Tale of Gin and Salvation
Image
I'm listening to this right now for the first, and I've just begun, but I've been trying to find a cd copy for a decent price or a download link for a few years now, and I finally found a download link today...The reason I give a shit about this band that nobody has ever heard of is the fact that this is the continuation of mid-'80s power pop-wonder Candy (who's Whatever Happened To Fun... is a lost classic), Candy became the Electric Angels who released one self-titled album in 1990 and after some personnel changes they became The Loveless. Gilby Clarke of Guns N' Roses fame (check out his solo work) played on Candy's record and Ryan Roxie (of Slash/Alice Cooper etc fame) played with Candy during the recording of their unreleased and unleaked second album and on Electric Angels' self-titled. The Loveless retains bassist and main songwriter for all bands Jonathan Daniel, drummer John Schubert (I think he played with both Electric Angels and Candy) and Electric Angels-vocalist Shane. Anyway, Candy's album is great and the Electric Angel's one was a decent enough album but not nearly as good as Candy...judging by the first four tracks on this one, it's a lot better than Electric Angels...Jonathan Daniel wrote great songs, with great melodies for all three albums but none of the band's ever made it beyond one album, despite (from what I've read) critical acclaim... If you've heard Candy's Whatever Happened to Fun... I'd definitely recommend this and if you haven't I'd probably recommend you to start with that one, but this one's more of a rock album and a bit more mature, while Candy is were much an adolescent album, and suffers/benefits from glossy pop production.

here's a pretty decent (raving) review from popmatters if you want a better idea of what they actually sound like: http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/l/loveless-tale.shtml
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by beantownbubba »

Well, I can't give u much credit for motivation there, Shuffle, but like u say, at least u kept the list, ROFL. Just in case there are some others wading into these waters for the first time, here are a couple of "musts" that weren't on my list of recs for you either because u already know 'em or they were mentioned previously in that thread:

Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend
Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow
Teenage Fanclub - Songs From Northern Britain, Bandwagonesque

But really, the starting point has to be those 3 Poptopia albums, including the accompanying notes, which are typically first rate Rhino.

The Pointed Sticks is not my rec - I don't know them, so u can let me know what you think of them :)

I'll post some more must listens and quirky favorites, but get to listening!
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by beantownbubba »

Oh, just saw your post re Candy and of course "Whatever Happened to Fun" is an absolute classic and the album's pretty good too.

BTW, by "motivation" i meant mine to post more, not yours to listen - obviously you're welcome to listen to whatever you'd like.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by brettac1 »

Matthew Sweet in general is fantastic. Girlfriend, though, is a masterpiece.

It got stuck in my CD player in my car (still is) and I was cool with that for like 3 months.

I'm pretty sure Shuffle knows Teenage Fanclub (or what the hell, he should from all the time he spends at At Ease), but anyhow, for people who don't, they're fantastic.

Obviously Big Star and Badfinger.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Clams »

Makes me think of old stuff like My Sharona and Ballroom Blitz. And newer stuff like Santa Monica by Everclear, though I guess that's not so new anymore.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

One I haven't seen mentioned here are The Posies. Dear 23 in particular was a really good album. The two principals, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, later became mainstays in the nineties-aughts version of Big Star along with Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Rusty Shackleford »

If you're into the power pop, the new Teenage Fanclub is really good. They'll be touring the US this fall as well.

In addition to the stuff people have already posted, I'd also highly recommend the first two Fountains of Wayne records: s/t and Utopia Parkway.

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Penny Lane »

Tequila Cowboy wrote:One I haven't seen mentioned here are The Posies. Dear 23 in particular was a really good album. The two principals, Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, later became mainstays in the nineties-aughts version of Big Star along with Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens.



YES i loved them and Superdrag.

didn't even know what the term 'power pop' really meant
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

brettac1 wrote:Matthew Sweet in general is fantastic. Girlfriend, though, is a masterpiece.

It got stuck in my CD player in my car (still is) and I was cool with that for like 3 months.

I'm pretty sure Shuffle knows Teenage Fanclub (or what the hell, he should from all the time he spends at At Ease), but anyhow, for people who don't, they're fantastic.

Obviously Big Star and Badfinger.

Yeah, Teenage Fanclub's one of my favourite power pop bands, and one of the best bands of the '90s imo. Thirteen is my favourite album by them though, which is kinda unusual. Bandwagonesque, Grand Prix and Songs from Northern Britain are great too. Anyone into this type of music (or interested in gettin' into it) need to check them out, just after you listen to Big Star.

I haven't moved beyond Girlfriend with Matthew Sweet, but that's a great one. Badfinger's another one of those bands I need to check out...

One "essential" band that haven't been mentioned yet (I think) is the Raspberries. Recommended.

to whoever mentioned My Sharona: The Knack's Get The Knack is great. Listened to it at work today...
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by B-rad G »

The Odds - Nest, Neopolitan
Sloan - Action Pact, Never Hear The End Of It
The New Pornographers - Electric Version, Twin Cinema

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by brettac1 »

New Pornos are a great pick, but that album has got to be Mass Romantic. Classic album.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by B-rad G »

I could never get into Mass Romantic as much as the Electric Version.

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by RevMatt »

The Smithereens -- Especially For You, Green Thoughts
Material Issue -- International Pop Overthrow
Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds and Rockpile
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

brettac1 wrote:New Pornos are a great pick, but that album has got to be Mass Romantic. Classic album.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Slipkid42 »

shuffle wrote:
One "essential" band that haven't been mentioned yet (I think) is the Raspberries. Recommended.


Their 'Go All The Way' is perhaps the finest example of this art form.
Since we're in the way back machine check out some of these pioneers of power pop:

The Dave Clark 5
The Buckinghams
The Hollies
Tommy James & the Shondells
The Ronettes
The Bee Gees
The Monkees (esp. Valeri which is the worthy forerunner of Material Issues pop classic 'Valeri Loves Me')
The Turtles

and umpteen dozen other great (and not so great) bands, from the heyday of sugar music.

other torchbearers:

Boston
Queen
ELO
BeBop Deluxe
The B52's
Marshall Crenshaw
Elvis Costello
Nick Lowe (pop god)
Robyn Hitchcock
The Housemartins
The Cure (esp. the cd w/Friday I'm In Love)
The Gin Blossoms
James
Travis
Micheal Penn
The Church
The Connells
Afghan Whigs
The Violent Femmes (to some extent)
Oasis
The Lemonheads
The Cranberries (continuing the berry tradition)
Bananarama
Dramarama
Sponge
Cake
Keane
Weezer (esp. Jamie)

all good stuff, but the one-hit wonders might rule the day in power pop.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Penny Lane »

The Connells!! Used to love them. "74-75" is one of the sweetest songs ever.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Slipkid42 »

Penny Lane wrote:
The Connells!! Used to love them. "74-75" is one of the sweetest songs ever.


Hey PL, the Connells do seem like honey bees to me too. My favorite by them is Stone Cold Yesterday.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Penny Lane »

Slipkid42 wrote:Penny Lane wrote:
The Connells!! Used to love them. "74-75" is one of the sweetest songs ever.


Hey PL, the Connells do seem like honey bees to me too. My favorite by them is Stone Cold Yesterday.


you brought up a ton of bands i haven't listened to in years...the church, the housemartins, never heard of the honey bees, but i know the raspberries were from (i think Cleveland) and i remember having this compilation cd as a kid w/all ohio artists.

i guess i still don't have a grasp on what separates power pop from brit pop (aside from the obvious geography) or billboard pop...other than those poppy guitar riffs? power chords? i have no idea....is it a musical thing? i don't know what Cake and Oasis have in common...i played guitar, trumpet, and piano growing up and i am still clueless about these kinda things..
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by dime in the gutter »

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by emandrisdad »

Hoodoo Gurus. Especially the early stuff, they got a bit harder edged a few albums in.

Dramarama is a killer band. Vinyl is one of the great unheard albums of all time. (Unheard by the masses that is)

The Church a power pop band? I don't see it but thats just me.

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Slipkid42 »

Yeah, The Church may be a stretch. I was thinking lilting melodies (and they have them), but they're a bit too moody to be power pop. The Afghan Wigs are probably too edgy to be called pop, but they project the 'wall of sound' effect that was a key ingredient in pops' evolution. The parameters of a particular genre tend to be a little fuzzy to me. Music is so subjective, and not easily or strictly defined. The better bands evolve over their careers and some cross genres (some even invent their own). Let's drop The Church and The Wigs and add Del Amitri and Squeeze (and the Dandy Warhols to boot).
PL - I've heard of The Honeydrippers, but not The Honey Bees. That was merely my weak stab at wordplay in regard to the 'sweetest' reference in your Connells post. A lot of the time I confuse myself, too.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by emandrisdad »

Wow how did I forget The db's. One of the all time greats.

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Penny Lane »

Slipkid42 wrote:Yeah, The Church may be a stretch. I was thinking lilting melodies (and they have them), but they're a bit too moody to be power pop. The Afghan Wigs are probably too edgy to be called pop, but they project the 'wall of sound' effect that was a key ingredient in pops' evolution. The parameters of a particular genre tend to be a little fuzzy to me. Music is so subjective, and not easily or strictly defined. The better bands evolve over their careers and some cross genres (some even invent their own). Let's drop The Church and The Wigs and add Del Amitri and Squeeze (and the Dandy Warhols to boot).
PL - I've heard of The Honeydrippers, but not The Honey Bees. That was merely my weak stab at wordplay in regard to the 'sweetest' reference in your Connells post. A lot of the time I confuse myself, too.



Doh. That honeybees reference went right over my head. ! Nice. Not sure I'd even link dandy warhols in there. Superdrag though. Loved them. I think I'm starting to zero in on the sound. Housemartins,teenage fanclub exemplify the melody but bands like the posies and better than Ezra have those riffs ? Oh well.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

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Image

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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by Tequila Cowboy »

emandrisdad wrote:Wow how did I forget The db's. One of the all time greats.


Absolutely, and Chris Stamey had a few excellent albums on his own.
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Re: the Power Pop thread

Post by shuffle »

emandrisdad wrote:Dramarama is a killer band. Vinyl is one of the great unheard albums of all time. (Unheard by the masses that is)

shit, I forgot about them...they're awesome although I prefer Cinema Verite over Vinyl (still really good though). Stuck in Wonderamaland is also very good.
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