quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
Oh...and Welcome!!! I'm always game for more power pop talk...

Same here, but I'm resisting the urge to spam the board with any more raves about the new Roger Manning album.


.

flem_snopes:

Both of the first two PCB records are WELL worth having on disc. Primo early 80's power pop, for sure.

And, on further review, I've found evidence that CalvinBrujeria has been plugging the Records at several other sites. I'm still gonna leave these posts up, since they're on point and a loose contribution to the thread, but please refrain from future plugging for the sake of plugging.

Hello Everyone,

Yes, these are my all-time favorite bands, not including The Plimsouls, The Knack, 20/20, The Raspberries, Big Star, Eric Carmen, Smoking Popes, Guadalcanal Diary, BMX Bandits, Cherry Twister, Dwight Twilley and Ron Flynt and The Bluehearts. I am currently writing a book about power pop with my friend David, which I hope to one day publish. Do you think that there would be a demand for something so specialized?

Keep in touch,

Calvin

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LinnTate,

quote:

Originally posted by calvinbrujeria:
Hello Everyone,

Yes, these are my all-time favorite bands, not including The Plimsouls, The Knack, 20/20, The Raspberries, Big Star, Eric Carmen, Smoking Popes, Guadalcanal Diary, BMX Bandits, Cherry Twister, Dwight Twilley and Ron Flynt and The Bluehearts. I am currently writing a book about power pop with my friend David, which I hope to one day publish. Do you think that there would be a demand for something so specialized?

Keep in touch,

Calvin

If it were well written, I'd certainly want to read it. I have a book written by Ken Sharp on power pop that was, at best, so-so. It covered some of those same artists. I'm not sure if it sold well...but I'm not sure you would EXPECT a book like this to be a huge seller. But if you get a nice front-loaded contract for it, you should be OK.

1)Power pop, to me, is:

Great hooks, harmonies, totally upbeat, and a lot of energy. I think it is empotionally honest as well. Lesser forms can cross into bubble-gum, but the good stuff is never wimpy.

2) Artists: Posies, Posies, Posies. I guess Dear 23 is not for everyone but it is one of my top-5, all-time.

Teernage Fanclub is amazing, too. Every album is solid and usually has three or so particularly great songs. I defnitley agree with Grand Prix, also check out "Songs From Northern Britain," especially closer "Speed of Light."

Well, I'm hearing New Pornographers for the first time right now, and I like Big Star..

Would you classify Aztec Camera as power pop? They seem to fit the definition of being upbeat with hooks and harmonies, and I associate them strongly with Marshall Crenshaw partly because I heard them for the first time at about the same time.

God save the Power Pop!
Spoon is the kung-fu master when it comes to the power of Power Pop.
What is Power Pop?
Pop, with Power.
It's Pop that RoKs!
Pop that makes you almost give the "Rock On" hand gesture that is often mistaken for the sign of the devil.
My question to you is:
Is Power Pop, also not Rock?
Hmmm.

I'm sure that pE, LT and others will chime in soon, but I'm glad that this topic is still getting plenty of mileage. Hey, there's several good topics languishing in back pages which you guys should resurrect.

Down to a couple of specifics. The Posies Dear 23 was my #1 of that year and certainly one of the tops of that decade, but I like all of their stuff. I saw them twice live, the first time opening for the Replacements at the Hollywood Palladium!

Aztec Camera's first album may qualify as power pop, but I think most of their stuff is closer to pop and then some rock anthems later on. I did see them live opening for Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and at that concert it would have never occurred to me that they were power pop. It seemed more like folk/pop-rock. Marshall Crenshaw, I did always think of as power pop, though, and I've got all of his albums.

Spoon's last I love, and I'm looking forward to the new one. (It seems that we've been looking forward to it here since these forums opened!) I will state categorically that good power pop is good rock and roll.

Ahh...Aztec Camera's first is the only one I have and the only one I heard is worth my time.

"Oblivious" is certainly power-pop.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobthespirit:
Ahh...Aztec Camera's first is the only one I have and the only one I heard is worth my time.

"Oblivious" is certainly power-pop.

I think the first Aztec Camera is certainly power poppish. Later AC records move towards other genres (jazz, easy listening, rock) as mark points out, but there's certainly the feel of Britpop/power pop through most of High Land, Hard Rain.

I don't really know Spoon that well. I can't say whether or not I consider them power pop. The songs I've heard, I've not liked and didn't find them akin to power pop, but I've only heard a few.

The Posies are certainly at the forefront of current power pop artists, as are Teenage Fanclub. Both bands have records due in 2005, and there's a Posies connected tribute to Bread out soon on Badman.

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
I recently stumbled across a cool power pop comp for those with power pop leanings (LT, flem_snopes). It's called Yellow Pills-Prefill and it's on the boutique label The Numero Group. Here's the site: www.numerogroup.com

A few articles about the set can now be found at the following places:

http://music.riverfronttimes.com/issues/2005-03-30/music/radarstation.html

and here

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/entertainment/stories.nsf/music/story/C94D37BA5E0AE46786256FD60037C4E8?OpenDocument&highlight=2%2C%22power%22+AND+%22pop%22

Also related the "related story" (at the top right of the page) on the Numero Group, the reissue label that put this comp out (founded by one of LT's old coworkers!)

I'm only catching up on my online reading this evening, so I only just stumbled across a very exciting piece of news courtesy of Pitchfork:
The dB's to Reunite for First Sessions in 20 Years

They are currently sans label, but I cannot imagine that will last.

I also had not previously visited the db's web site , which audio goodness including live sets from 1979 and 1984 and an unreleased track with is...

Now Playing: The dB's "Rains Around Here"

Some bands I didn't notice mentioned...

the Real Kids
the Tweezers
Firestarter
the Riff Randells
the Barracudas
the Automatics
the Exploding Hearts

Those are just a few I've really been digging (especially the Barracudas, the Tweezers and Firestarter, lately) that I didn't see get mentioned.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hates,

I was solicited today for a power pop book from power pop label Not Lame. Info here:

http://www.notlame.com/PBPOWERPOPBOOK.html

It sounds cool, and they need 300 people to pre-order to get it rolling. The free CD sounds cool, too. I'm not sure if this was the book calvinbrujera was writing, but it might be good stuff.

I didn't realize that Ken Sharp's book Power Pop! Conversations with the Power Pop Elite goes for between $75 and $300 these days! I oughtta sell my copy!

quote:

Originally posted by philosopherEric:
It sounds cool, and they need 300 people to pre-order to get it rolling.

Count me in.

"Shake Some Action's what I need...to let me bust out at full speed, and I'm sure that's all you need...to make it alright."

.

Good news for people who love power pop!

According to Pitchfork, the oft-delayed Fountains of Wayne b-sides and rarities comp is due in June. I haven't checked all of my import singles against the track listing, but it looks fairly complete (it's missing the great cover of "Better Things" from the Kinks tribute, for sure). Story here:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-04/19.shtml#fountains


Track list:

>>Disc One:
01 Maureen
02 California Sex Lawyer
03 Janice's Party
04 Karpet King
05 Baby I've Changed
06 I Know You Well
07 You're Just Never Satisfied
08 I'll Do The Driving
09 Nightlight
10 I Want You Around
11 Trains And Boats And Planes
12 Places
13 Can't Get It Out of My Head

>>Disc Two:
01 The Girl I Can't Forget
02 ...Baby One More Time
03 Elevator Up
04 Comedienne
05 Kid Gloves
06 Today's Teardrops
07 She's Got a Problem (live)
08 These Days
09 I Want an Alien For Christmas
10 The Man in the Santa Suit
11 Killermont Street
12 Half a Woman
13 Imperia

I wouldn't call most Aztec Camera power pop myself. It's more kind of classic pop, not quite anthemic enough for what I think of as power pop. Although the BRILLIANT "Still on Fire", one of the great, joyous singles of ALL TIME, is probably close to power pop. At a certain point, the categories break down and merge, but it's fun to try to delineate them.

I recently bought "Lonely People of the World Unite!" by Devin Davis. Anyone else have that?

Is anyone else a fan of Kevin Tihista's Red Terror? Their 2004 album "Wake Up Captain" was just a glorious suite of gorgeous pop songs, with definite Beach Boys influences in the stunning melodies and harmonies. Only Uncut mag, I think, gave this album its due when it came out. It probably falls more into the category of chamber pop, but it definitely, in some songs, has power pop characteristics. Along with Sam Phillips' "A Boot and a Shoe", I don't think there was an album I played more in 2004.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Peewee,

quote:

Is anyone else a fan of Kevin Tihista's Red Terror?

Here's the answer so far.

Thanks for the search results, Mark.

I started a thread on Kevin Tihista last summer, but it had little activity until flem_snopes hopped on the Tihista train. All three of his albums have been highly regarded (by me) for a while now, and the "official" release of the demos record on Parasol is imminent.

A buddy of mine who books shows in Atlanta is bringing him to the ATL from Chicago for a concert and a house party in early June, so I'm looking forward to seeing him, meeting him, and having some hang time with him then.

Cool. I liked "Don't Breathe a Word", but nothing prepared me for the full-blown masterpeice that is "Wake Up Captain". It's definitely the best album that starts with the words "wake up" since the Boo Radley's "Wake Up!"