To continue an idea started on the "pop" section, let's talk about power pop, and the related offspring: jangle pop, orch-pop, etc. Some general topics:

1. What is power pop? How do you differentiate from other genres? What are the artists you think are power pop artists?

2. What are your favorite power pop artists and records?

3. Are there seminal power pop bands or records you don't like?

I'll lob some stuff out there soon.

Thanks, PE. We've thrown the topic around on enough threads already, a place to call its own is a good idea. I can never get enough Power Pop, so it will be great to hear about some new bands.

quote:

---

1. What is power pop? How do you differentiate from other genres? What are the artists you think are power pop artists?

---

In a nutshell, it's all about the hooks. Power Pop leans heavily on musical hooks. An emphasis on melody is important, jangly guitars are good, but without the hooks, it ain't Power Pop. No, sir.

For me, Power Pop 101 includes: Big Star, The Raspberries, Cheap Trick, The Shoes, Let's Active, The dB's, Material Issue, Velvet Crush, and The Candy Butchers.

quote:

---

2. What are your favorite power pop artists and records?

---

The artists I mentioned above are all personal favorites. A short (short) list of albums, though, would include:

Big Star _#1 Record/Radio City_ (Stax) What's the old saw about The Velvet Underground? Not many people bought their records, but everybody who did formed a band? That goes double for Big Star.

The Raspberries _Capitol Collectors Series_ (Capitol) I don't usually go in for compilations, but their were enough gems on the uneven later albums to justify it just this one. It doesn't get much better than this.

Cheap Trick _Heaven Tonight_ (Epic) I know, I know, what about Budokan? Well, the fact is I'm a sucker for the studio "Surrender," so sue me. I saw Cheap Trick in their home town of Rockford, Illinois at an outdoor festival last Labor Day and they can still make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

The dB's _Repercussion_ (IRS) It's actually a toss-up between this and _Stands for Decibles_. "Amplifier," though, clinches the deal.

Material Issue _International Pop Overthrow_ (Mercury) They had me from "Valerie Loves Me." They were the right band at the wrong time and Jim Ellison's suicide was one my darkest days in music history.

quote:

---

3. Are there seminal power pop bands or records you don't like?

---

Wow. Now that's the really, really good question. I took some time off from new music in the 90s and a bunch of good bands came out during that time that I'm just now discovering. Velvet Crush's _Teenage Symphonies to God_ for example. That being said, Teenage Fanclub hasn't really caught my ears yet. Going back a ways, I always liked Jellyfish more in principle than fact. And, despite the fact that I KNOW he's great, I rarely find myself reaching for Matthew Sweet's records.

Now Playing: "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me" Lester Young _The Complete Lester Young Studio Sessions on Verve (Verve)

I basically agree with all the bands and albums LT mentions, though I do prefer the first two Cheap Tricks and Budokan, no biggie.

I don't have much time, but I will add that I think that the Beatles started power pop, if not earlier, then at least by the time of "Revolver." So I guess that I should add Badfinger to the list.

LT wrote a very a well-thought out piece, and I'm only going to throw out some more bands, for the time being:
Marshall Crenshaw
Posies
Smithereens
Fountains of Wayne
Guided by Voices
Lemonheads
several Nick Lowe/ Dave Edmunds/ Rockpile
Dramarama
Cavedogs
Figgs
Apples in Stereo
New Pornographers
Hang-ups
Harvey Danger
Rooney
All the ex-members of the dB's
Even Ambulance, Ltd. qualifies
Also, although I consider them a great rock and roll band, I guess that the last Soundtrack of Our Lives album, "Behind the Music", has several songs which qualify as exemplary power pop.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

This is the second time I've typed this, so I hope it doesn't turn up someplace else. I've been able to come up with some more thoughts/bands but don't expect anything too deep yet.

I still believe that the Beatles, probably WELL before "Revolver", started power pop, but early Kinks and Who sound like it too. Later in the 60s, you could add the Hollies and even the Monkees.

There are several bands that I omitted yeterday, and I'm still probably leaving out hundreds, but I want to add:

Sloan
You am I
Nada Surf
Weezer
Elvis Brothers
Split Enz/ Crowded House/ Finn Brothers
T. Rex
Elvis Costello ("This Year's Model" through "Trust")
Squeeze
early Cars
Knack
much of XTC
Hoodoo Gurus
Plimsouls
early Bangles
Go-Go's
much of the Replacements/ Westerberg
Sugar
Superdrag
Supergrass
Undertones
much of They Might Be Giants
Radio Stars
Young Fresh Fellows

quote:

---

Originally posted by LinnTate:
example. That being said, Teenage Fanclub hasn't really caught my ears yet. Going back a ways, I always liked Jellyfish more in principle than fact. And, despite the fact that I KNOW he's great, I rarely find myself reaching for Matthew Sweet's records.

---

I'm not sure what selling I can do with the Fanclub, who I love dearly, but I'd say start with Grand Prix and just absorb the harmonies. Bandwagonesque is a classic, but the melodies and the songs on Grand Prix are so good. Actually, the recent best-of is quite a good collection. You should give it a go.

Jellyfish is another fave of mine. I get a little annoyed by the cult that sprang out of their two excellent records, but I can't pick a bad song of either. Even the 4-cd box set on Not Lame, which was really skimming the bottoms of their recording pool, is pretty good.

Matty Sweet's "Girlfriend" is a stone classic, but I'm with you on this front. I listen to it occasionally, but I never reach for the other records. My friends swear by the last US album, "In Reverse", but I just don't feel the love for it. The new Japanese record is pretty good, but again, it doesn't scream for repeated listens.

The whole of the Velvet Crush catalog is well worth a listen, though. Check out, if you haven't yet, the reissues of the 1st record and the singles collection, as well as the new record and the "Ballad of Ric Menck" collection.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mark f:
I basically agree with all the bands and albums LT mentions, though I do prefer the first two Cheap Tricks and Budokan, no biggie.

Marshall Crenshaw
Posies
Smithereens
Fountains of Wayne
Guided by Voices
Lemonheads
Dramarama
New Pornographers
Hang-ups
Rooney
All the ex-members of the dB's[QUOTE]


These are all excellent choices, mark. The Posies are amazing (get the recent Spanish reissue of "Failure" with bonus trax and fine new packaging!), Fountains of Wayne are consistantly amazing, and Guided by Voices, while lacking quality control, make some real pop gems ("Teenage FBI", anyone?)

My fave of all the dB's-related recordings is the Holsapple/Stamey record "Mavericks." That's an underappreciated masterpiece of a record, all harmonies, jangle, and excellent song craft.

quote:

---

Originally posted by mark f:

Sloan
You am I
Nada Surf
Weezer
Split Enz/ Crowded House/ Finn Brothers

Squeeze
Knack
much of XTC
Hoodoo Gurus
Plimsouls
early Bangles
Go-Go's
much of the Replacements/ Westerberg
Sugar
Superdrag
Supergrass
Undertones
Young Fresh Fellows

---

Another great list, mark. I really like the latest Nada Surf, but I can't say much about the earlier albums. I was so-so on them.

Sloan is a great band, never getting much play in the US. Each record is better than the last, although the pop has been gradually replaced by the rock in the recent past.

You Am I hit their pop peak with #4 Record and Hourly, Daily. They are a fantastic band, with a great catalog. It's a shame nobody in the US cares. Rumors are that they'll be Westerberg's backing band on his upcoming tour. That would be a joy...

I've never much cared for the Knack, I'm not sure why.

I'll add a few that leap to mind, but I've got to think on this some more:

The (Paul Collins) Beat: two great records.
Rick Springfield: say what you will, but those early records (including the Australian ones) are filled with pop gems.
Ben Folds (Five): power pop without guitars. What a concept!

quote:

---

Originally posted by mark f:
I don't have much time, but I will add that I think that the Beatles started power pop, if not earlier, then at least by the time of "Revolver." So I guess that I should add Badfinger to the list.

---

Yes. Absolutely. Without The Beatles there is no Power Pop. The same goes for The Beach Boys. The can can at least be made that Badfinger is the seminal Power Pop band.

quote:

---

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
The whole of the Velvet Crush catalog is well worth a listen, though. Check out, if you haven't yet, the reissues of the 1st record and the singles collection, as well as the new record and the "Ballad of Ric Menck" collection.

---

I've been spending a lot of time with the entire Velvet Crush catalog this year and liking all of it. I've also been wearing out Parasol's reissue of _Hey Wimpus_. _The Ballad of Ric Menck_, though, got past me completely, so I'll be listening to it later this morning. Thanks for the tip!

I'm really liking Sloan's _Action Pact_. It will probably end up on my list of 2004 Faves, so I'm going to have to spend a lot more time with their back catalog.

My favorite unexpected discovery in the realm of Power Pop this year is Bill Lloyd's excellent _Back to Even_. I had previously only known him from his work with Marshall Crenshaw, so I didn't realize he'd been quite the star on the Nashville contemporary country scene in the early 90s as half of Foster & Lloyd. His solo work has apparently always been steeped in Power Pop and _Back to Even_ is no exception. Check it out!

Now Playing: "The Town Halo" A.C. Newman _The Slow Wonder_ (Matador) <-- more on this elsewhere, mark f, but in short, you're right!

quote:

---

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I'll add a few that leap to mind, but I've got to think on this some more:

The (Paul Collins) Beat: two great records.
Rick Springfield: say what you will, but those early records (including the Australian ones) are filled with pop gems.
Ben Folds (Five): power pop without guitars. What a concept!

---

I have the 1979 "The Beat" album, and I especially like Side 1 (Rock N Roll Girl, Don't Wait Up For Me, and You Won't Be Happy.)I've never had a Rick Springfield album, but I heard "Jessie's Girl" at least 100 times on the radio, and I don't remember ever changing the station. I enjoy all the Ben Folds albums, with and without Five, but my favorite is the last, solo album. pE, you probably never got into the Knack because they were so obscenely popular while all these other great bands were unknown.

I hope that everybody isn't sick of this yet, but I went through my record collection and found some more, including some of the best English ones.

The Distractions (they made ONE album, 1980's "Nobody's Perfect", a great title since they basically contradicted it themselves)

Records
Only Ones
Soft Boys
early Jam
Sweet
Move
Zombies
Tommy Keene
Todd Rundgren (outside of Utopia)
Windbreakers
The Pursuit of Happiness
Jack Rubies
Romantics
Salvation Army / Three O'Clock
Vapors
Juliana Hatfield
Atlantics (think Strokes with Joey Ramone on vocals, but their one album is seriously underproduced [the music's too low in the mix])


That's enough until next time.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

Like others have said, it is melodic music with an edge and hooks.

Letters To Cleo, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimmy Eat World, Butch Walker, Mary Lou Lord, Rembrandts, Badfinger (some of their stuff) are some more. Great choices here already - Go-Gos, Ben Folds, Beach Boys, Bangles, New Pornographers, Beatles, Byrds, and Cheap Trick are some of my favs.

Much of the pop/rock I love has some power pop elements - like The Corrs, Avril Lavigne, Evan And Jaron, and Michelle Branch.

MattD,

Welcome to the club. You and your friends need to contribute more. Later, Gator.

A few bands that aren't often mentioned in powerpop: The Rich Kids (with former Pistol Glen Matlock), The Boys and The Only Ones.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fastnbulbous:
A few bands that aren't often mentioned in powerpop: The Rich Kids (with former Pistol Glen Matlock), The Boys and The Only Ones.

---

Nice picks, all. I love those first two Only Ones records.

Also, a little bit less power-poppy but in the same camp: The Professionals' "I Didn't See It Coming." I love that record...

quote:

---

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I haven't really liked a whole Marshall Crenshaw record in quite awhile now. And he put on one of the most boring live shows I've ever seen in 2000/2001. But he was REALLY GOOD as the guitarist for the revived MC5 (the DKT) and even sang a tune quite admirably...

---

I decided to go ahead an continue this discussion over here rather than in Country Music.

Honestly, it's been since 1999 and Life's Too Short that I have consistently liked an entire Marshall Crenshaw album.

And you should be grateful that you only got a boring show. Around the time of LTS, Crenshaw played the Hi-Pointe and turned in one of the angriest shows I have ever seen. To this day I have no idea why. The crowd wasn't giving him a hard time, he'd played the Hi-Pointe before, and at that time it had a reputation for treating artists really well.

I've heard really favorable things Crenshaw's work on the revived MC5 tour, most recently on a program on WBEZ in Chicago of all places. Where did you see them?

Now Playing: "Half A Triple" Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings (Mercury)

I saw the DKT gig in Atlanta, and it was good fun. Mark Arm sang like his life depended on that gig...

Crenshaw was very unfriendly and seemed completely uncomfortable after the gig I saw in 2000/2001 at the Echo Lounge in Atlanta. He seemed totally disinterested in chatting with his fans, signing records, or even saying "hi" to anyone. Maybe he's got some shyness issues? Or maybe he's just a moody ol' cuss...

So, I've been playing around with the new advanced search features on All Music for the past couple of days. In searching for 2004 Power Pop releases I came up with a shorter list than I expected, but a list that included We Know How It Goes from Red Planet on Gearhead.

I like it, but these guys are news to me and I haven't been able to dig much up on the Web. Anybody know their story?

Now Playing: "So Long To The Captain" The Sea And Cake (Thrill Jockey)

Hi, mark f - thanks! I have different music taste than most of you, but you have all made me feel welcome.

If I understand you correctly from the Left of the Dial thread, pE, you've contacted Rhino asking for a Power Pop box to compliment No Thanks!, Nuggets, etc.?

So what's the track listing? I'll throw out just four from the early years to start:

"Go All the Way" The Raspberries
"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" The Rubinoos
"September Gurls" Big Star
"Starry Eyes" The Records

Now Playing: "Someday My Prince Will Come" Herbie Hancock (Legacy)

quote:

---

Originally posted by LinnTate:
So what's the track listing? I'll throw out just four from the early years to start:

"Go All the Way" _The Raspberries_
"I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" _The Rubinoos_
"September Gurls" _Big Star_
"Starry Eyes" _The Records_

Now Playing: "Someday My Prince Will Come" _Herbie Hancock_ (Legacy)

---

Rhino's 1997 release Poptopia!: Power Pop Classics Of The '70's contained all four of those songs.

It would be nice to see them expand it into a multidisc set, though.


.