Tip jar

If you like CaB and wish to support it, you can use PayPal or KoFi. Thank you, and I hope you continue to enjoy the site - Neil.

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

Support CaB

Recent

Welcome to Cook'd and Bomb'd. Please login or sign up.

March 28, 2024, 07:08:53 PM

Login with username, password and session length

Pow! Pow! Power pop thread!

Started by The Mollusk, February 21, 2021, 09:16:43 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

famethrowa

I better put a bit of Aussie content in:

Baby Now by Glide, Sydney band, unfortunately the singer/songwriter up and died before this song was released, so it's a lost classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpA1yXsq-ZA

And good ol' You Am I , they've been around forever and would like to be The Faces, but frequently end up more britpoppy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_fQQKubBIk

The Mollusk

I'm gonna talk about BRAKES now!

Four lads - two from Electric Soft Parade and two former members of British Sea Power - who put out three cracking albums. The first was a lot more punky and goofy, and although it's great, I really feel like they steadily found their feet as a power pop group across the subsequent two. Their final album "Touchdown" is so fucking solid, the tunes just absolutely rip.

BSP and ESP have both enjoyed a bigger success and it's a great shame that Brakes were so overlooked. The last time I saw them play for their comeback/farewell tour was at the Lexington in London which is bloody tiny.

Hamilton's dreamy and thoughtful lyrics are delivered so well in his idiosyncratic and adorable vocal style. Their more punk or country tinged songs are very good but as a straight up pop group they really excel. I can't help but grin like a loon when listening to these tunes:

Worry About It Later

Crush On You

Beatific Visions


Brundle-Fly

Quote from: Butchers Blind on February 23, 2021, 10:20:08 AM
Also check out The Lickerish Quartet which is Manning's latest project with two other Jellyfish alumni.

https://youtu.be/p8tzd6UNA4k

Ha ha. Typically ELO-tastic!


L.E.O.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JLoOt1yOA8



sirhenry

Quote from: SpiderChrist on February 21, 2021, 09:33:08 PM
Anyway - does this count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJs_L7yq5qE
Yes, that definitely counts as mentioning the Beatles. They were 'The American Beatles' after all[nb]Originally by  a Japanese DJ shortly before they landed in Japan for the tour that included the Budokan show that made them international stars, which was why wherever they went in Japan they were followed by screaming fans. "10 days with a smile on my face." as Rick Nielson put it.[/nb].

And in his last years they were John Lennon's favourite band. To the extent that he was about to record an album with them when he was shot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zesCZ6FeFrI

And in 2009 they recreated Sgt. Pepper's live for the 40th anniversary with Paul McCartney as a special guest for Golden Slumbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38in3P9DWz4&list=PLxX0UOEAk8u7VE-gmkpSXRZkw_BBYW_K-&index=12.

But while we're on the subject of Cheap trick, are there any other power pop bands with the same sort of wicked sense of humour that created the aspirational OD anthem Heaven Tonight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjBVdC7Pzds&pbjreload=101 and others on that album?

And Cheap Trick were the only band I ever saw 3 times in a week at different venues (by accident).

samadriel


Retinend

Quote from: sirhenry on February 23, 2021, 08:50:21 PMAnd in his last years they were John Lennon's favourite band. To the extent that he was about to record an album with them when he was shot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zesCZ6FeFrI

And in 2009 they recreated Sgt. Pepper's live for the 40th anniversary with Paul McCartney as a special guest for Golden Slumbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38in3P9DWz4&list=PLxX0UOEAk8u7VE-gmkpSXRZkw_BBYW_K-&index=12.

Wow! I love Lennon and Cheap Trick, so thanks for letting me know this. This version of "Losing You" is way better than the Double Fantasy recording.

The Mollusk

Quote from: samadriel on February 24, 2021, 04:10:56 AM
Adam Schlesinger died last year. :(

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgLZMvnWxRU  Sink to the Bottom

I really need to check out their other records but after he passed I got massively into that debut, it's such a great album.

The Culture Bunker

Quote from: The Mollusk on February 24, 2021, 07:42:00 AM
I really need to check out their other records but after he passed I got massively into that debut, it's such a great album.
I think 'Utopa Parkway' was even better - 'Troubled Times' is my favourite Fountains of Wayne song. The albums after that are a bit more patchy (though I've not heard their last one yet) but still have plenty of very strong songs on them.

If you lived in Manchester, I'd say get to Vinyl Exchange on Oldham Street when it's open again, as I picked up the first four albums and the b-sides compilation for about £3 each and last time I was there, they still had other copies of one or two of them in.

lazyhour

Quote from: sirhenry on February 23, 2021, 08:50:21 PM

And in 2009 they recreated Sgt. Pepper's live for the 40th anniversary with Paul McCartney as a special guest for Golden Slumbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38in3P9DWz4&list=PLxX0UOEAk8u7VE-gmkpSXRZkw_BBYW_K-&index=12.

Did macca actually appear with them? That's a weird fan-made montage, innit?

Butchers Blind

Mention to Jeff Whalen who's made some great power pop sounds

With 00's group Tsar
https://youtu.be/YeL--0fiG4o

Solo
https://youtu.be/d3SgECXVeGU

Side project The Brothers Steve
https://youtu.be/XJEqM9UBU_I

famethrowa

Quote from: sirhenry on February 23, 2021, 08:50:21 PM

And in 2009 they recreated Sgt. Pepper's live for the 40th anniversary with Paul McCartney as a special guest for Golden Slumbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38in3P9DWz4&list=PLxX0UOEAk8u7VE-gmkpSXRZkw_BBYW_K-&index=12.


errr helllo, Golden Slumbers isn't on Sgt Peppers, BEATLES FAIL, someone goofed

The Mollusk

Quote from: The Mollusk on February 21, 2021, 09:16:43 PM
Please do not mention absolutely anything associated with The Beatles in this thread. Thanks.

Get out of my thread.

Retinend


sirhenry

Quote from: famethrowa on February 24, 2021, 02:00:42 PM
errr helllo, Golden Slumbers isn't on Sgt Peppers, BEATLES FAIL, someone goofed
Ok, you got me. I came across that while looking up the Sgt. Pepper's stuff and couldn't resist adding it. Ditto for famethrowa's comment.


And for my money the best Fountains of Wayne album has to be Welcome Interstate Managers. The lyrics are so well written on virtually every track, bubbling over with misplaced optimism and willful blindness. Bright Future in Sales being my favourite example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUquNtnsd7E

lazyhour

sirhenry, have you got a source on Cheap Trick actually playing with Sir Thumbs Aloft?

non capisco

Always been fond of these two tunes from Fuzzy, who I think had some kind of Lemonheads connection (checks: yes, drummer was one of the many many Lemonheads drummers)

Flashlight

Girl Don't Tell Me (Beach Boys cover)

Flashlight is an especial belter. Love that deadpan "I had to feel my way around" hook.

Gregory Torso

#47
Not really sure what a power pops is but hopefully these tunes might be enjoyed by someone

Cub - In Your Bed

The Moss Poles - One Summer

The Dbs - Amplifier

Scruffy The Cat - you dirty rat

The Muffs - New Love

Butchers Blind


Ray Travez



sirhenry

Quote from: lazyhour on February 24, 2021, 10:03:41 PM
sirhenry, have you got a source on Cheap Trick actually playing with Sir Thumbs Aloft?
No, as I said above, it was a video I came across while looking for a good Sgt. Pepper clip to show which was appropriate (if not entirely real). As far as I know the only Beatles link with Cheap Trick was through John and Yoko. Other than the 'American Beatles' tag which followed them for quite a few years.

But I can't leave without a link so, in memory of my old CaB radio catchphrase[nb]
Spoiler alert
"Christmas on the hour, every hour"
[close]
[/nb], here's one of their cheesier cheerful cashgrabs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQo70T6GwXM

samadriel

Quote from: Nice Relaxing Poo on February 25, 2021, 06:29:59 AM
The New Pornographers are rather skill at the old power pop type thing:

Oh yeah!
https://youtu.be/XBAUQaj6EJo Letter From An Occupant. Love this song.

wosl

Recently-ish nabbed practically everything from Shoes' glory years, in the form of the two Cherry Red boxed sets of their seventies and early eighties albums (Black Vinyl Shoes: Anthology, 1973-78 and Elektrafied) and have been knocked out at the amount of quality pop these guys dished up, while being dismayed at how long it's taken me to do a deep trawl of their output (I'd known and loved Tomorrow Night and Too Late for a while, but had very wrongly assumed that the drop-off in their other work would be steep).  Any fans of fey, yearning vox, super-sweet harmonies, crunchy glam-cum-new wave riffage and Byrdsian (a reference to this lot all right, is it?!) jangle ought to find themselves in power pop heaven. It's very impressive how polished their earlier, pre-major label stuff is - most notably the album that worked as a gateway to a major label deal, Black Vinyl Shoes - considering they were essentially made in cramped, home-studio set-ups. Here are a couple of faves from Black Vinyl Shoes, plus the obligatory links to the stupendous Tomorrow Night and Too Late (lead singer/songwriter noted in each case - since the vox sound so similar at first listen):

Boys Don't Lie (John Murphy)
Not Me (Gary Klebe)
Tomorrow Night (Jeff Murphy)
Too Late (Gary Klebe)

Brundle-Fly


Ballad of Ballard Berkley

Some '70s Power Pop, from the original sugary surge of the stuff...

The Boyfriends - I'm in Love Today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98ankke6WlE

Blue Ash - Abracadabra: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=So_JQ5FPRac

Todd Rundgren - Couldn't I Just Tell You: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XERFyUsnlro


Ballad of Ballard Berkley

And speaking of the late Adam Schlesinger, he was the ideal choice of producer for the Monkees'* fantabulous Good Times! album in 2016. This track was written especially for them by Andy Partridge from XTC.

You Bring the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbf6HbKZSMk

* We're allowed to mention The Monkees, right?

Jockice

Quote from: Ballad of Ballard Berkley on February 28, 2021, 10:17:52 AM
And speaking of the late Adam Schlesinger, he was the ideal choice of producer for the Monkees'* fantabulous Good Times! album in 2016. This track was written especially for them by Andy Partridge from XTC.

You Bring the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbf6HbKZSMk

* We're allowed to mention The Monkees, right?

You are. But you're not allowed to mention XTC, They have their own thread.

The Mollusk

Quote from: Brundle-Fly on February 21, 2021, 10:40:21 PM
Spilt Milk is sublime, as is Bellybutton.

I've never listened to "Bellybutton" before (my weird disposition for not wanting to break away from a particular single album because I find it to be perfect), but I've been rinsing it this week, it's so good! Not at good as "Spilt Milk", but much like its successor, its production is sparkling and crystal clear and every tune absolutely soars. It's such an accomplished work and every detail pops so gloriously that I feel like I've known these songs my whole life. What a fantastic band they are.

Oddly for a power pop record, I find myself more enjoying the slow numbers like "The Man I Used To Be", "Bedspring Kiss" and "I Wanna Stay Home". They're flipping gorgeous! Conversely, the album's most lively song "All I Want is Everything" is probably its weakest cut, in my opinion, and doesn't reach the flamboyant heights that tracks like "All is Forgiven" or "The Ghost at Number One" do on "Spilt Milk".

DrGreggles

Quote from: Ballad of Ballard Berkley on February 28, 2021, 10:17:52 AM
And speaking of the late Adam Schlesinger, he was the ideal choice of producer for the Monkees'* fantabulous Good Times! album in 2016. This track was written especially for them by Andy Partridge from XTC.

You Bring the Summer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbf6HbKZSMk

* We're allowed to mention The Monkees, right?

There's a Legs & Co version of the video too, which Nesmith linked to on Twitter and led to a lot of people thinking it was official.
https://youtu.be/F7vDvVLvTd8