| Author | Message | ||
     kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 968 Registered: 05-2005 |
On a bit of a Power Pop trip at the moment. Playing The dBS Stands for Decibels and Crazy Rhythm by The Feelies. Think this may have been inspired by the new album by Robyn Hitchcock, not suggesting for a minute this is power pop but its got some jangly guitar on it. Anybody got any power pop favourites? | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 707 Registered: 04-2005 |
Currently, I'd say the New Pornographers are the best power pop going, although it's hard to say what that term even means. Anything that rocks in nice three-minute chunks that's catchy and not too heavy? | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 922 Registered: 03-2006 |
Like Kurt, I'm fuzzy about what exactly like the term means, but I'd say you were in the right ballpark with the dBs, whatever genre they're supposed to be... Also, not sure he fits either, but Marshall Crenshaw is incredibly wonderful. If you hadn't heard him already, check out his first album. Pure pop pleasure for now people. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 804 Registered: 05-2005 |
Spike Priggen. He's a genius ( I would say that!) http://www.myspace.com/spikepriggen Nada Surf - The Proximety Effect and The weight is a gift. Ben Folds is power pop with a piano. Cosmic Rough Riders - Melodic Sunshine William Douglas and The Wheel - http://www.myspace.com/williamdouglasandthewheel | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 713 Registered: 04-2005 |
The term was first coined in the '70s, wasn't it, because of bands like Badfinger, the Raspberries, Big Star, Cheap Trick, the Shoes, etc.? Then along came the power-pop Brits like Nick Lowe, Rich Kids, the Motors, etc. But to me power pop probably is best defined by the Ramones, Buzzcocks, and Undertones. Plenty poppy, and it doesn't get much more powerful...but some would still call it punk. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 925 Registered: 03-2006 |
I believe so, Kurt...Those names always come up (hey, whatever happened to that highly permed wussyboy, Eric Carmen?)...Like so many genres, though, no great power pop group would actually call itself that or willingly accept the label...rather, they just do what they feel and sort of arrive at that result through happenstance. Can you imagine Nick Lowe or Big Star saying, "we're a power pop group"? When groups tried too hard to fit that mold, as was the case with some of those skinny-tied worthies back in the day (can you say "Knack"?), the results inevitably sucked. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 258 Registered: 01-2005 |
Right you are Kurt!It does go back to the 70's with the bands you listed. Teenage Fan Club I would add to the list of second generation power pop bands. Matthew Sweet would slot in as well as a power popster. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 969 Registered: 05-2005 |
Velvet Crush too. Made one good album, Teenage Symphonies to God and kind of disappeared | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 927 Registered: 03-2006 |
Kev, got a question for ya. You're the computer dude...is there any we on the board could (theoretically speaking, Administrator), trade mp3s easily? That would be a great way for us to, once again theoretically, check out each other's recommendations without having to buy the album. Of course, if we liked it, I'm sure we'd all go out and actually buy the record. If we could've posted mp3s on the "Dancing Fool" thread, that would've made a helluva mix tape! | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 971 Registered: 05-2005 |
Not sure about the board, but we all know each others email addresses so you could do it that way I suppose. Not sure how many MP3s could be sent in one email, there is probably space restrictions on that. Napster have a function called "Share Music With A Friend" so thats another way I could share my music. I have just sent you an MP3 via email from The La's at the BBC. It took just under 2 minutes for me to attach the MP3 file to the email I sent you. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 928 Registered: 03-2006 |
I've been away from my computer, so I can't tell how long it took, but it did arrive, apparently sometime in the last hour...cool...an interesting option...I will check out the La's - thanks... | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 673 Registered: 05-2005 |
I love power pop. Along with soul it's my favourite single type of music. It's hard to define beyond being pop hooks, melodic vocals and crunchy guitars. Some of those mentioned above are not artists I have considered power pop before, but maybe I will now. For instance the only Feelies album I considered power pop was their fourth and last one Time For A Witness (which I love). When I make power pop mix CDs (and tapes in the past) I always include Big Star, Lemonheads, Teenage Fanclub, Matthew Sweet and others of similar ilk. I usually throw in something unexpected too such as Cliff Richard's power pop classic Wired For Sound or Keep On Movin' by boy band Five (hate boy bands, love that song because I heard it before I realised who it was), or Why Can't This Be Love by Van Halen. (I'm serious about all three BTW). There is some Ben Folds song which I have on a compilation which I think is an absolute power pop gem, but I can't remember the name right now. The lyrics are about his first band breaking up and him wanting to join the army and his dad says: "Son you're fucking high". | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 714 Registered: 04-2005 |
I love the Feelies too, Padraig, and agree with you--I'd never think to call them power pop (even on their last album). The melodic vocals and pop hooks are just not there. It doesn't mean they're totally uncatchy, but songcraft wasn't their strong point. And yes, I could see lumping some Van Halen into power pop, and even AC/DC. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 676 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yeah, even on Time For A Witness the only track that's truly power pop is is Doin' It Again. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 173 Registered: 11-2004 |
Boston's the home of power-pop, by way of The Real Kids, Modern Lovers and The Paley Brothers in my humble opinion. The Paley Brothers self-titled album from ca. '77 is genius - absolute genius. | ||
| Jonathan Evans Member Username: Jon Post Number: 40 Registered: 04-2005 |
Little Keith / Kevin Could MySpace be used to store recommendations? Obviously you'd need to find out MySpace addresses as well, don't know if that's allowed though. Cheers Jon | ||
| Eke Member Username: Ekewebb Post Number: 99 Registered: 05-2005 |
You can use Messenger to send files but that's a one to one method. For sending a file to many recipients there's yousendit.com or megaupload.com (and certainly more of that ilk) where you can upload a file then send your contacts a link to it for downloading. Lots of adverts and messing about but they do the job in the end. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 973 Registered: 05-2005 |
Eke, yeah I had forgotten about Yousendit, that is probably the best for what LK is proposing here. I have never uploaded anything to it, but I have been sent links from other people allowing me to hear what they have uploaded. Need to check it out when I get home from work | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 974 Registered: 05-2005 |
Unless I'm missing something I cannot see what advantage Yousendit has over just emailing the files. With Yousendit the files you send or receive are only available for a week(admittedly this is with the cheapo no subscription version), unless there is a way to save the file to your hard drive that I am too stupid to suss out. However the files you email can be saved to the recipients hard drive. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 933 Registered: 03-2006 |
Not sure exactly what I was proposing - it just occurred to me that there are so many interesting, informed opinions here about music, it really is kind of like a music blog anyway, so why not actually add the music? Could be fun... Also, for the occassional GBs rarity that comes along that simply isn't available to buy, or if it is, costs a king's ransom, there must be some efficient way to share those, without incurring overseas shipping fees, etc..... | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 4 Registered: 08-2006 |
I'll belatedly second Little Keith's love for Marshall Crenshaw. I'd say he and the GBs have a lot in common, in terms of the consistent quality of their recorded output and their keen grasp of their own artistic aesthetic. I don't know how much play Crenshaw got outside the US, but the first two records are stone-cold classics in my opinion, and most of what has followed is highly worthy as well. And I hear he hates the term "power pop" so shame on me for posting this here. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 665 Registered: 03-2005 |
I confess I still don't quite get what is power pop. Like Kurt I thought the term referred to the Buzzcocks and also bands like the Dickies and, yeah, the Ramones too. I thought there had to be a punk element to it so would never have thought of including earlier 70s bands like Badfinger, Raspberries, 10 cc and definitely not Big Star who (during the Chris Bell period) really were just doing a vastly better version of what Boston did a little bit later. Were the Flamin' Groovies power pop too? When I think of the vaguely 60s-ish bands that started cropping up in the early 70s as a VERY welcome alternative to Led Zep and Steve Miller Band and the prog rockers and all the other evil demons of that accursed era, I personally don't have a name for them. For my own purposes I coined the label "haute bubblegum" for the final iteration of the Hollies before they went AOR (say, through "Confessions of the Mind" and "Distant Light") and maybe that will apply to some of these groups, such as Badfinger and 10 cc. As for modern power pop, I agree New Pornographers seem the perfect illustration. | ||
| spence Member Username: Spence Post Number: 814 Registered: 05-2005 |
It seems we all have our own ideas on what power pop is. Its great to see the diversity. However, I do feel that the Americans have it more than the Brits do. Save for Teenage Fanclub, and a couple of others maybe. A lot of British power popseems to acted out by solo artists, Brendan Benson, Ed Harcourt et al. Those ar powerpoppers to me anyway. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 988 Registered: 05-2005 |
We seem to be having differing opinions as to what is or isnt power pop. It could be worse, we could be in to "house" music. Just what the fluff is "hard house", "deep house" and "handbag house"? The mind boggles I would have classed Buzzcocks as punk/new wave, but I can see what Randy means. Power Pop is a great description of what the Buzzcocks do, but they are not the type of band that people normally associate with the term. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 667 Registered: 03-2005 |
We could not be into house music. | ||
| Little Keith Member Username: Manosludge Post Number: 943 Registered: 03-2006 |
Rob, welcome to the board and congratulations on your excellent taste! Yes, Crenshaw is the greatest, and those two records are indisputable classics, though he's made a lot of records since that I've really enjoyed...Wonder what he's been up to lately? Haven't heard much about him... I used to see him play live a lot, where he'd really cut loose and do a lot of cool covers by ABBA, Al Green, etc... And the comparison to the GBs is very apt - they both really do have that very focused vision and there's something very pure about their adherence to it...And any artist worth their salt, I think, would balk at being ghettoized into any genre... Having said that, two more very good power popsters to add to the list: The Records Tommy Keene | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 6 Registered: 08-2006 |
Oh, man, LK, a blast from the past. I bought Tommy Keene's early EPs - on Dolphin Records or somesuch entity - way back in college and was blown away. "Places That Are Gone," "Back Again... Try" - all the tunes on those EP were amazing. I wasn't so fond of his Geffen CD in the late 80s (too overproduced for me), but he's rebounded of late. If you don't have it, there's a great comp of Keene's early stuff called "The Real Underground." Very nice. Nice to see his name mentioned here, too. And yeah, Crenshaw's later CDs are great, too ("#447" was a good recent one) but I could listen to "Field Day" 'til the cows come home. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 725 Registered: 04-2005 |
Interesting comparison, Randy--Badfinger, Raspberries, 10cc, etc., and Boston? Explain, please! I always thought Boston was a metal/prog/generic rock hybrid formulated in a laboratory to steal the hearts, minds, and money of stoner teenagers. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 726 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Records! Good one, LK--I totally forgot about them. And how about the Dwight Twilley Band? And a few other American bands: the Beat, the Pop, 20/20, Earthquake, the Rubinoos, Greg Kihn Band...the last three would have been labelmates of the Go-Betweens if the Beserkeley Records thing hadn't fallen through. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 7 Registered: 08-2006 |
I thought Boston was stretching the definition, too. I think of power pop as a little less - uh - grand. But "More Than a Feeling" is pretty poppy, and, whatever else you want to say about it, it's got power. Maybe it's power pop to the second power, like, with all the studio effects turned up to 11. | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 8 Registered: 08-2006 |
Has anyone mentioned the Plimsouls? I think they're considered gods among hard-core power poppers. (We have a lot of them in here in Chicago, actually.) | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 729 Registered: 04-2005 |
The Plimsouls--that was the band Peter Case came out of, wasn't it? "A Million Miles Away"? Speaking of Chicago, wasn't Steve Albini in more of a power-pop type band at one time, before his journalist/Big Black days? | ||
| Rob Brookman Member Username: Rob_b Post Number: 10 Registered: 08-2006 |
Yep, that's the Plimsouls. I actually don't know them that well, but I know they're held in high esteem by people who love their genre. And I've never heard that about Albini. I thought he was a 'zine writer before Big Black, Rapeman, Shellac, etc. Hard to imagine a member of Rapeman harboring a secret power pop past. Not that I'd put it past him, though. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 731 Registered: 04-2005 |
Oh, and one more that I remember discussing before with someone here (Michael?): the Bangles. Their first album, "All Over the Place," is definitely an '80s power-pop classic. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 668 Registered: 03-2005 |
Doesn't there have to be some POWER in it for it to be power pop? I can't see the Bangles there. Before they became major label their thing seemed to be ersatz Mamas & Papas in sound. With the Boston reference, all I was trying to say was that I don't see Big Star as power pop at all but, rather, as the sort of thing that was pumped up and ruined by Boston. I am speaking specifically of the early Chris Bell Big Star and not of the gradually disintegrating Alex Chilton Big Star. Sorry, I didn't mean to compare the likes of 10cc, Badfinger, Raspberries et al to Boston. | ||
| Michael Bachman Member Username: Michael_bachman Post Number: 268 Registered: 01-2005 |
Randy, All Over The Place does have POWER! "Hero Takes A Fall", "Dover Beach", "All About You", "James", "Restless" all kick butt! They also do a nice cover of Katrina and The Waves "Going Down To Liverpool". It doesn't sound anything like the other subsequent Bangles albums. I bought it vinyl when it first came out in 1984 and have loved it ever since. | ||
| kevin Member Username: Kevin Post Number: 994 Registered: 05-2005 |
Just listened to Underground Sun from Robyn Hitchcocks new album, now thats what I understand journalists to mean when they talk about Power Pop. Whether I, or we agree with them, is another matter altogether. | ||
| Kurt Stephan Member Username: Slothbert Post Number: 739 Registered: 04-2005 |
Michael's right--"All Over the Place" is totally power pop in my book...plenty muscular. And they did "September Gurls" on the next album--whether Chilton was really power pop or not, I don't know, but that song certainly is in my book. The Bangles' version of Simon & Garfunkel's "Hazy Shady of Winter" was also a sublime bit of pop candy with some muscular guitars and drums. | ||
| Jerry Clark Member Username: Jerry Post Number: 446 Registered: 08-2004 |
Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR if you're sad) are they power pop? I don't trust genres at all. Sub-genres, less so. | ||
| Donat Member Username: Donat Post Number: 176 Registered: 11-2004 |
I think a lot of us (for better or worse) have very personal definitions of power pop! (Early) Cheap Trick anyone? | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 671 Registered: 03-2005 |
Nah, Creedence is garage punk that gradually grew up. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 701 Registered: 05-2005 |
Creedence is the original swamp rock! Robert Forster likes Creedence. He once described Spring Rain to me as "a Brisbane AM radio song, like hearing Can't Stop The Rain". |