Steve Ward - Opening Night - 2000

Stepping out from full-time duty as frontman to power-popsters Cherry Twister, Steve Ward’s solo debut stands head and shoulders above much of what purports to be heartfelt in the world of cosmetically-enhanced uber-pop. Much of Opening Night reads like an open letter to a lost love, often so beautifully presented one wonders if these songs re-kindled the dormant flame. Opener I Missed The Mark is a classic example of just how affecting pop music can be, a slow-building, layered epic with Ward’s voice hitting home at just above a whisper - “From a strange land / You’re making plans / In a language I can’t understand.” Subdued harmonies and a spot-on arrangement make the title an unintentional gag. The radio-friendly fodder of Switch It On follows, a sprightly throwaway in classic Matthew Sweet/Owsley style, though it’s here that the disconcerting similarity of Ward’s vocals to those of both Sweet and Del Amitri’s Justin Currie shines through. By the third track, California, it’s clear Ward is a master-pop-craftsman, but it’s the slow-burning delights of Lucky Charm, Wings and Still Life (a none-too-distant stripped-down relative to I Missed The Mark) that show his originality making the more derivative Sweet-a-likes (the whimsical Good, the Smog Moon atmosphere of You Can Shine) seem less substantial. That said, Opening Night sets the standard for this year’s inevitable continued onslaught of pop. -Matt Dornan

If you like "Opening Night" get it here!

Steve Ward - Opening Night - 2000/rs
or
Steve Ward - Opening Night - 2000/sb

Buva - All This Humming - 2006

Buva's All This Humming: Buva's Tom Wolfe is an admirer of Brian Wilson, Revolver-era Beatles and Gram Parsons (or is that the Eagles?). Buva's All This Humming (Hi-fi In Motion) gorgeously navigates the gentle waters between Pet Sounds and Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed," a sweet-kneed album of soft boy vocals and swirling arrangements that ring in your memory like a good dream. And Buva doesn't come by this muse accidentally. Like Jon Brion and Aimee Mann, Wolfe is a master at creating cinematic moods and lovesick tone poems within glowing, gently pulsating production epics. Playing all the instruments himself (except for the guitar of Beck's Lyle Workman), Wolfe spins Mellotron, drums, guitars, glockenspiels and the kitchen sink into a lush, Senssuround world of melodic bliss. All This Humming cements Wolfe's rep as major domo of sonic splendor, creating a daydream nation for all those who long for sweet melodies, gentle rhythms and memorable tunes. Prepare your MP3 player for the backwards guitars, twinkling bells and shiny happy message of "She Makes Me Fall Down." "Out Of My Mouth" recalls Fountains of Wayne, if they had the gusto to reimagine The Beatles' "If I Needed Someone" or George Harrison's "Give Me Love." The song's glistening harmonies send shivers with angelic ascension. "Just Step Away" furthers Buva's bliss, a hush of brushed drums, clarinets, Mellotron and steel guitars creating a dew eyed, misty morning classic. And Buva rocks out too, "Something That I Need To Hear" cruising high and mighty, a driving tune for weekend escapes. -Ken Micallef YAHOO! Music

If you like "All This Humming" get it here!

Buva - All This Humming - 2006 pt1 / rs
Buva - All This Humming - 2006 pt2 / rs
or
Buva - All This Humming - 2006 pt1 / sb
Buva - All This Humming - 2006 pt2 / sb

Gonna Take a Couple of Days Off

I am going to take a short break. Don't forget to comment and please share your requests! Also don't forget to vote for your top Power pop albums (the link is to your right). Voting ends 10/31.

See ya

The Contestants - A Fitting Retreat - 2008

The Contestants hail from the musical wonderland of Portland, Oregon and came into being over the course of several years and several lineup changes. After recording their first two EP’s and a full-length album under the name The Empty Set, some members left as others were added. The new lineup -- Josh Kirby, Darin Fabrick, John Meyer, L.S. Walker and Jean-Paul Ramos -- began recording as The Contestants in the Winter of 2006. It was an exciting time for the band, both creatively and collaboratively. No idea or whim was held back. No filters. No timetables.In the end, what came out of those nearly two years of work and play was a streamlined quartet (L.S. Walker departed during mixing), a collection of 12 songs entitled “A Fitting Retreat,” and a new identity as The Contestants. -thecontestantsmusic.com

If you like "A Fitting Retreat" get it here!

The Contestants - A Fitting Retreat - 2008 pt1
The Contestants - A Fitting Retreat - 2008 pt2

Jules and the Polar Bears - Phonetics/Fenetiks - 1979

The second Polar Bears album follows much of the same formula as Got No Breeding, with less memorable results. The band still rocks in places but the overall production is slicker and a little more synthesizer heavy. Shear's songwriting is top-notch ranging from the pure pop of "Good Reason" to the beautiful ballad "Real Enough to Love." His delivery seems more restrained this time around. -AMG

If you like "Fanatkis" get it here!

Jules and the Polar Bears - Phonetics/Fenetiks - 1979 pt1
Jules and the Polar Bears - Phonetics/Fenetiks - 1979 pt2

SeepeopleS - Apocalypse Cow Vol. I - 2007

Asheville, NC-based emerging artist SeepeopleS present their full-length album, Apocalypse Cow Vol. I. The 15 original songs on the album range from rock anthems to introspective ballads that showcase SeepeopleS' confident, agile songwriting, soaring vocals, and bold, majestic instrumentation. Produced by long-time SeepeopleS 'fifth member' Will Holland (The Pixies, Dead Can Dance), Apocalypse Cow Vol. I opens with unsettling minimalism on the guitar-driven "Don't Panic," and proceeds to take the listener on a thought-provoking and sonically-engrossing journey through time and context, culminating with the grandiose and heartbreaking "Say Goodbye," a melancholy swan song bathed in a cascading arrangement of cello and violin. Apocalypse Cow Vol. I is the story of bandleader Will Bradford's personal journey; that of a man coming of age in a world that often seems built on nonsense. Bradford touches upon war, love, spirituality and personal tragedy, often shifting the listener's perspective throughout--Bradford sings from the viewpoint of a soldier, a dying man, a Cassandra and, perhaps for the first time, finds his own unadulterated, pure voice. Met with much anticipation from fans and media, Apocalypse Cow Vol. I is sure to delight devotees and newcomers alike with its straightforward rock attitude, stylistic quirks and unique presentation. -CD Baby

If you like "Apocalypse Cow Vol. I" get it here!

SeepeopleS - Apocalypse Cow Vol. I - 2007 pt1
SeepeopleS - Apocalypse Cow Vol. I - 2007 pt2

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request - 1996

Truth in advertising: the Brian Jonestown Massacre's sophomore album does, as promised, spring forth from the Rolling Stones' long-underrated 1967 masterpiece Their Satanic Majesties Request, copping not only Mick and Keith's leering bad-boy attitude but also their their rock-and-roll-circus spirit. Opening with the brilliant "All Around You (Intro)," a tongue-in-cheek guide to the mind-altering journey ahead, the record is a kaleidoscopic, drug-fueled freakout -- like the Stones' namesake album, Second Request is painted by Eastern drones and psychedelic tangents, each track bubbling with dozens of sound effects including sitars, mellotrons, farfisas, didgeridoos, tablas, congas, and glockenspiels. Travelling through the past, darkly, the Massacre arrives on the other side unscathed; their music is too rich to be merely retro, and too knowing to be merely slavish -- the Stones themselves haven't made a record this strong or entertaining in years. -AMG
If you like "Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request" get it here!

The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request - 1996 pt1
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request - 1996 pt2

Marshall Crenshaw - Miracle of Science - 1996

Crenshaw's first studio effort for the indie Razor & Tie imprint also marks a return to his earlier, stripped-down approach of his debut album. Playing most of the instruments himself (including drums), there's a far more organic feel to the tunes presented here than his last major-label efforts. In addition to solid Crenshaw pop originals like "What Do You Dream Of?," "Laughter," and "Starless Summer Sky," his takes on Dobie Gray's "The 'In' Crowd" and the countryish "Who Stole That Train" also show him as always to be a prime interpreter of other folks' great songs as well. -AMG

If you like "Miracle of Science" get it here!

Marshall Crenshaw - Miracle of Science - 1996 pt1
Marshall Crenshaw - Miracle of Science - 1996 pt2

Mandrew - The Wonderful World of Mandrew - 2007

WOW!! Their sophomore effort is another crunchy and jangly treat! "Sometimes near-perfect power-pop tunes are like a syrupy mess: sugarcoated love made in a mill and missing every natural ingredient known to man. But while Mike Andrew (a.k.a. Mandrew) has perfected that formula, he loads it up with all kinds of honest, saccharine-free goodness - like love and handclaps, tambourines and gritty guitars, and perfectly crafted melodies reminiscent of Matthew Sweet, the Raspberries, and Alex Chilton. At times his vocals are pushing and pulling like heartstrings. Other times his voice is filled with longing, like on the beautiful Brit-pop-inspired 'Princess on the Porch,' whose infectious chorus sticks in your gut like lost love. But mostly Mandrew's songs are all his, and pop doesn't get any purer than that!" - CityPages.com "It falls somewhere between 'power pop' and 'indie pop'. Whether it's the rocking 'Burning' (which sounds like McCartney fronting Collective Soul), the Jon Brion-ish 'Expanding The Collection', the Beatles-by-way-of-Matthew-Sweet 'I Can't Write', the Posies-esque 'Obsceneries' or the AC Newman-influenced 'Note to Self', his world is a wonderful one indeed, and this needs to go to the top of your current power pop wish list. I'm going to have to make room in my top 10 for it!" - AbsolutePowerpopblogspot.com High praise indeed! And spot on, we might add! Can't say enough about this! GREAT!!!! -Kool Kat Musik

If you like " The Wonderful World of Mandrew" get it here!

Mandrew - The Wonderful World of Mandrew - 2007

Farrah - Cut Out and Keep - 2007

Ever since Farrah came out with "Moustache" in 1999, they have been a nicely evolving power pop band. After the hard sounding "Me Too" they matured with the new "Cut Out and Keep." This is an excellent album, and does a great job starting with the corny "Dumb Dumb Ditty" a term referring to a clever homonym (the song itself is a dumb ditty). The lyrical and musical content has improved to the level of Fountains of Wayne and Weezer, and will definitely please fans of either band here. The gentle ballad "As Soon As I Get Over You" has wonderful lyrical rhyme like "As soon as I get over you, I'll change the name on my tattoo." The very energetic "Awkward Situation" has all the hallmarks of a power pop classic. "Fear of Flying" tells a great story in the lyric and the most Adam Schlesinger sounding tune of the bunch. "No Reason Why" is a Jellyfish-like a song filled with trumpet trills and rocking guitars that is my favorite here. The tracks are all killer and no filler. This is a no-brainer if you have e-music.com and a good excuse to open an account if you don't. Bottom line here is that this is a top ten album for 2007. -powerpopaholic
If you like "Cut Out and Keep" get it here!

Removed at copyright holders request

Bill Fox - Shelter from the Smoke - 1997

Bill Fox had been MIA from the American indie scene for nearly a decade when he resurfaced with this solo debut; quickly shaking off any cobwebs, Shelter from the Smoke is the result of years of pent-up creativity finally unleashed, its crisp melodies and lo-fi production both timeless and completely of the moment. Originally released in an edition of only 1000 copies, spinART's reissue of offers not only a remastered recording but also a number of bonus tracks.-AMG

If you like "Bill Fox - Shelter from the Smoke - 1997" get it here!

Bill Fox - Shelter from the Smoke - 1997 pt1
Bill Fox - Shelter from the Smoke - 1997 pt2

Popgun - A Day and a Half in Half a Day - 2007

Embracing the classics while creating fresh sounds in music is a difficult endeavor; Scandinavia's own Popgun has done so with style and a proper ounce of grit. This band will please even the most jaded of true rock-n-roll fans. Citing such influences as the Kinks, Nick Lowe, Teenage Fanclub, and beer, they are playful yet well crafted. The guitars on "The Bend" bob and weave through an infectious chorus, their trails and distortions accenting the songs crescendo. The quirky breakdown, slickly ascending drum line, and early Beatle-stylings make "A Brilliant Fake" an enjoyable sonic history lesson without calling attention to itself. This is the common thread throughout A Day and a Half in a Day; take in everything while forgetting nothing, yet keep moving forward. The opening lines to "My Machinery", bullet holes this point: "If you're still thinking bout that photograph I've got nothing left to say. You want the past but it's a broken path I was not walking anyway." These guys are musical wanderers with their own compass. In a digital age where music is merely a marketing ring tone, Popgun has made an album which leaves a real music fan wanting for nothing. -earbuzz.com

If you like "A Day and a Half in Half a Day" get it here!

Popgun - A Day and a Half in Half a Day - 2007

Boston Spaceships - Brown Submarine - 2008

After two years of treading water following the break-up of Guided by Voices, Robert Pollard finally seems to be reconnecting with his muse in a real way. Robert Pollard Is Off To Business has returned with a new band, Boston Spaceships, featuring , his first album after parting ways with Merge Records and launching his own label, was the strongest and most consistent set he's released since going solo, and four months later PollardJohn Moen of the Decemberists and the Dharma Bums and Chris Slusarenko of the Takeovers and Sprinkler. Teaming up with some fresh collaborators seems to have done Pollard a world of good after recording the bulk of his post-GBV work with Todd Tobias handling all the instruments; Moen and Slusarenko don't bring a striking level of chops to Brown Submarine, Boston Spaceships' debut album, but their work has an organic feel and a natural energy that helps these sessions sound like the work of a real band, and Pollard has thankfully focused on quality rather than quantity in his songwriting, with most of these 14 tunes suggesting the vitality of GBV's peak period without sounding as if he's rewriting his old work, which was the case with too much of his work in 2006 and 2007. Pollard and his partners don't sound as if they're breaking much new ground on Brown Submarine, but that doesn't seem to be the point with this album -- it doesn't reinvent the wheel but it lets it roll very well indeed, and hopefully this is a sign that Pollard is ready to make up for lost time after an unexpected fallow period. -AMG

If you like "Brown Submarine" get it here!

Boston Spaceships - Brown Submarine - 2008

The Rattlers - Rattled - 1985

The Rattlers were a New York City band whose sound straddled the thin line between punk and power-pop. This disc anthologizes the 1985 album Rattled! with two singles from 1979 and 1983, respectively. The singles, released on tiny independent labels, boast a crisper, more compact production than the album, originally released on the larger label PVC. Lead Rattler Mickey Leigh is Joey Ramone's brother. The Rattlers, however, staked out their own musical territory based more on an updated '60s garage rock sound. The Rattlers' most obvious '60s influence is the Who, with "Pure and Simple" hinting at "My Generation"'s chord progression and having "Magic Bus"-like between-chorus exclamations of "No-ooo". The lyrics are also more from the Pete Townshend school of introspection than the Mick Jagger-esque blustering bravado typical of many similar groups. The Who influences are however, a foundation for the band rather than a crutch, as Leigh and company bring original ideas into their music. There are stylistic nods to brother Joey's group. Both bands cover obscure '60s tunes, with repertoires incorporating garage nuggets (the Nightcrawlers' "Little Black Egg") as well as shameless pop (a sincere version of the Amen Corner's "(If Paradise Is) Half As Nice"). They also both feature odes to dementia; "I'm In Love With My Walls," the Rattlers' entry, was penned by veteran rock scribe Lester Bangs. The Rattlers' approach, however, is more understated than the Ramones'. -AMG

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Behind the Music - 2001

The third album from Sweden's Soundtrack of Our Lives is their most concise and rocking effort. After the daunting eclecticism of 1996's Welcome to the Infant Freebase and the trippy ethereality of 1998's Extended Revelation, the relatively straightforward psychedelic rock of Behind the Music is something of a surprise. The thumping and clattering opener, "Infra Riot," is one of the catchiest songs they've ever done, and things just build from there. The booming drums and sharply strummed acoustic rhythm guitars of "Sister Surround" bear a startling resemblance to late-'60s Stones, followed immediately by a pretty but tense acoustic interlude called "In Someone Else's Mind" that would not sound out of place on a Syd Barrett album, itself the precursor to "Mind the Gap," which recalls the more melodic moments of the post-BarrettPink Floyd. The album goes on in this vein for just under an hour, with one terrific song after another that sounds immediately like some classic forebear (there are hints of the Stooges, Love, and even Zappa in spots), but has the presence and strength to stand up on its own merits. Behind the Music lacks the totality and sonic impact of Extended Revelation, but the songs are more consistently memorable. Impressive stuff, and probably the Soundtrack of Our Lives album to start with for all but the most devoted psych/prog fan. -AMG

If you like " Behind the Music" get it here!

The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Behind the Music - 2001 pt1
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Behind the Music - 2001 pt2

Tegan and Sara - So Jealous - 2004

Tegan and Sara's third album, So Jealous, is by far their most ambitious and liveliest record, opening up their punk-folk sound with a heavy dose of new wave sensibility and pop hooks. They started moving in this direction on their previous album, but here they dive headfirst into slick, shiny surfaces, insistent synths, clean guitars, and bright, playful melodies that sound sunny even in minor keys. This musical revamp doesn't betray their nervy emotionalism. Instead, it focuses them, giving their music style and flair that focuses them while making the duo more accessible. And So Jealous is indeed the Tegan and Sara album that could play to a wider audience, but the group remains an acquired taste for one reason: their thin, squeaky voices and close harmonies can be grating to the uninitiated. Nevertheless, for those who have acquired that taste, So Jealous is the most satisfying album Tegan and Sara have yet made. -AMG

If you like "So Jealous" get it here!

Tegan and Sara - So Jealous - 2004 pt1
Tegan and Sara - So Jealous - 2004 pt2

Erik Voeks - Sandbox - 1993

Released a couple of 45’s on Bus Stop records in the early 90’s. Released a CD on Rockville called "Sandbox". Played a few shows. Released a Xmas 45 on Parasol Records. Played a few shows. Recorded some home demos. Played with a few friends as The Octopus Frontier. Recorded some more home demos. Might play a few more shows in the future. That’s about it really. -Erik Voeks

WE WANT TO KNOW "YOUR" TOP 200 POWER POP ALBUMS

It’s been one of the most controversial, critically acclaimed and groundbreaking lists in musical history.

And now “We” are taking it on! Together with Power Pop Criminal$ and Ratboy 69, Power Pop Overdose wants to know what you think!

• Can you improve on Borack's list?
• What would you change?
• Who is left on?
• Who is left off?
• Are the sands of time running out for Batman and Robin?

If you have the intestinal fortitude to shape the answers to these questions then follow the link at the top right and let us know what your top 5 All-Time Power Pop Albums are!

Do It Now!

Voting will continue thru 10/31/08 and we will post the Top 200 in November!

The Grip Weeds - Summer Of A Thousand Years - 2001

No one will ever accuse the Grip Weeds of being the most innovative or forward-thinking band of the 1990s and 2000s. Their music is unapologetically retro-1960s and, even though Summer of a Thousand Years was recorded in 2001, it sounds like it could have been recorded in 1967. This CD sounds dated, but dated isn't necessarily a bad thing -- at least not if you hold the music of a particular era in high regard. And if you worship all things 1960s, Summer of a Thousand Years is dated in the best, most positive sense of the word. The Grip Weeds offer no acknowledgment of 2001's alternative rock scene; their turf is the psychedelic pop/rock and jangly guitar pop of the 1960s, and they excel by sticking with the type of music that they obviously cherish the most. Retro gems like "Moving Circle," "She Surrounds Me," and "Love That Never Ends" aren't the least bit groundbreaking, but they're certainly rewarding and heartfelt -- if you've spent hours and hours savoring the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Yardbirds, and Revolver-era Beatles, it is impossible not to fall in love with Summer of a Thousand Years. The melodies are enriching, and lead singer Kurt Reil knows how to make the lyrics come alive. Although original material dominates the CD, Summer of a Thousand Years also contains an inspired remake of the Who's "Melancholia" (which finds lead guitarist Kristin Pinell singing lead, although Reil handles 90 percent of the album's lead vocals). Summer of a Thousand Years isn't for those who think that all rock releases have to be innovative (an unrealistic and foolish expectation), but it offers considerable rewards to lovers of 1960s rock. -AMG

If you like "Summer Of A Thousand Years" get it here!

The Mockers - Smells Like Spain - 1997

Though the Mockers have included a large cast of musicians hailing from all corners of the U.S. rock scene, the band's foundations were laid by two preteen Beatles fans living in Spain in the early '70s. Tony Leventhal and Seth Gordon were the children of New York expats living on the southern coast of Spain when they met. The third-graders quickly discovered their common love for rock & roll and formed a friendship that would last a lifetime. When their families eventually moved back to the States, both began learning guitar and keeping in touch regarding their plans to form their long-awaited rock band. Many years later the two converged in Virginia, creating the surf-pop band the Mockers. With a rotating cast of lead guitarists and drummers, the Mockers climbed their way to the top of the live music scene in Virginia. They spent the next several years touring tirelessly, sometimes playing as many as 20 engagements a month. As the band conquered the East Coast and Midwest, they earned the attention of the local press. Their relentless schedule began to wear thin, and the bandmembers took a long break to regain their creative spark. Some years later Leventhal and Gordon decided it was time for the Mockers to record their debut CD. The 1995 release Somewhere Between Mocksville and Harmony garnered excellent reviews, including a Billboard Critic's Choice Award. Ironically, the disc saw the greatest amount of airplay in Spain, resulting in heavy touring throughout the country and a reconnection with the boy's old stomping grounds. The band's follow-up disc, Living in the Holland Tunnel, was similarly well received, both at home and abroad. The Mockers continue to thrive in the American and European underground pop world, enjoying regular touring and healthy record sales. Released in 2005, The Lonesome Death of Electric Campfire helped in adding Japan to the list of nations in which the Mockers claim a thriving fan base. -AMG

If you like "Smells Like Spain" get it here!

The Mockers - Smells Like Spain - 1997