Biff Bang Pow! - Pass the Paintbrush Honey - 1985

Biff Bang Pow! — the music-making endeavor of Creation Records founder Alan McGee — was for a long time a touchstone for the influential label's definition and development, albeit one that never assumed the limelight or achieved any major hits. (Having named his label for the great '60s aggro-art-mod group, it was probably inevitable that the Glaswegian's band, which never used the Creation for specific musical cues, would take its moniker from one of that band's songs.) From the initial recordings, rife with brisk, neo-psychedelic garage pop, to the spare, acoustic laments at the end, Biff Bang Pow! ambled along, releasing a string of well-conceived and well-executed singles and albums that still sound fresh.
Psychedelia and nostalgia inform Biff Bang Pow!'s records but, as often as not, the wiry guitar pop sounds like a compromise between Josef K, Orange Juice and Haircut One Hundred. Although they would seem spiritually in synch with the Television Personalities or Times (indeed, the latter's Edward Ball is an occasional member), Biff Bang Pow! doesn't share those groups' winsome charm or demonstrative cultural resonance. -Trouser Press




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Helium Angel - Early Clue To a New Direction - 1998

Helium Angel are a young mod band from San Francisco, so correctly mod in fact, that they thank their local Vespa Club and their scooter suppliers in the liner notes. The influences are all right too—The Jam, The Who, The Small Faces. But like the Small Faces before them, Helium Angel clearly dig psychedelia too, though theirs seem to come mainly from the Byrd’s “Eight Miles High” school.
As the album wears on, you realize there’s not a lot of fury here, but then Helium Angel aren’t playing in the shadow of Thatcherism and the Sex Pistols either. There is plenty of self-assured, catchy and crunchy power pop (yes, crunchy can be good), played with the confidence and ability only earned through generous amounts of practice, live playing and, dammit, heart. The punkiest song on the block is “When the Plane Touched Down,” about equal parts Who and Buzzcocks. Here and there, Keith Moon-style drums surface, but then so do Beatlesque harmonies, and a slashing Pete Townshend-ish rhythm guitar. I bet these guys have done a few windmills on their guitars—at least in front of their mirrors. It all adds up to an exciting debut, that while it could use a bit more variety, clearly sets them up for a killer effort next time around. -Pop Matters



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Popboomerang 2010 X​-​Mas Party Sampler

It’s way too late to be good! And do we have a “steal” for you?

With our Christmas blessings we welcome you to download the Popboomerang Records 2010 Christmas sampler.

This sampler celebrates the success of 2010 for the label. It features all bands involved in the Christmas Party as well as those bands that released music on the Popboomerang label during 2010, who could not take part in the Christmas Party this time around.

The sampler features a few songs with Christmas references (Georgia Fields, Splurge & Young Werther) but a BIG Santa "hats off" to “Celadore” who’ve recorded a yuletide anthem for our pleasure!

Free Download from Popboomerang Records

Popboomerang Records

The Dentists - Some People Are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now - 1985

Sounding like they time-traveled in from 1966 or so, picked up a couple of tips from the Smiths, and were let loose in the studio with Joe Meek behind the board, the Dentists' first record, Some People Are on the Pitch They Think It's All Over It Is Now, was released on tiny indie label Spruck in 1985. It is an assured and exciting record informed by the sounds of the '60s garage, folk, and psychedelic scenes (the raw sound and pounding beats, jangling 12- and six-string guitars, whimsical lyrics, and fuzzy edges, respectively), but thoroughly modern too (the Medway-inspired raw guitar sound, the at times fey and melancholic vocal stylings of Michael Murphy, the almost punk attack that the whole record has). The band plays with fire and fervor throughout, Bob Collins' guitar is like a live wire chiming sweetly one minute, drawing blood the next, the rhythm section is tight and tough, the vocal harmonies are spot on, and Murphy balances his moments of introspection with lots of lighthearted and nearly jaunty warbling. All of which would mean nothing without songs, and the group delivers there too. The up-tempo songs ("Flowers Around Me," "I'm Not the Devil," "I Had an Excellent Dream," "Tangerine," "Tony Bastable v John Noakes") sound like the Byrds if they had formed in the wake of the punk explosion of the '70s, hooky and exciting with the rough edges left on and the guitars bubbling and slashing all around. These songs belie the image of being quirky psych-fops that the band somehow ended up being saddled with. The ballads and mid-tempo songs are just as good; tunes like "Kinder Still," "Mary Won't Come out to Play," and "Everything in Our Garden" have haunting melodies and Murphy does melancholy very well, some would say even better than a certain other '80s singer whose last name begins with M. Indeed, place Some People up against the debuts of any '80s guitar pop band and the match would end up knotted at least, the opponents trounced in most cases. Against the best album of any '80s guitar pop band even, because this is the best album the Dentists made. The blend of inspired songcraft performance and sound (and the fact that not too many people heard it) make the record a lost guitar pop classic. -AMG

The JetSet - There Goes the Neighborhood! - 1985

The JetSet were one of the oddest footnotes in British pop music history. Loosely associated with the mod-revival of the late-70s, they took the revival one step further. Not only did they recreate the sounds of '60s pop but they also attempted to mirror the careers and myths of their idols with near-Rutles-esque, attempting a media blitz which included a proposed television series, Christmas greeting flexi-singles, comic strips, trading cards, and an array of fake Jet Set-related products. Though they never really made it out of the underground and have been forgotten by all but mod/pop fetishists, The Jet Set left behind an impressive body of work.

The band was formed in 1979 by teenage friends Paul Bevoir and Melvyn J. Taub. After recording a few demos with Secret Affair's Paul Bultitude, Bevoir and Taub pulled together a makeshift band for promotional photos. When record companies began to show an interest, they enlisted keyboardist Angus Nanan and drummer Paul Bonin as the "real" band for an open slot for Secret Affair. Bultitude signed the band to his own Dance Network label in 1983, releasing their debut, The Best of the Jet Set EP. With the release, they began their marketing attack, creating the Jet Set myth and concept -- the EP included stills from their forthcoming TV show and the "Jet Set Theme." Zany Beatlesque interviews and antics combined with support from Mod underground magazines helped to cultivate a strong cult following for the band. There Goes the Neighborhood, their first full-length album was released in 1985. The album received a great deal of acclaim in the UK and eventually the band attempted to crack the States with Bevoir making a brief promo tour. After 1986's Go Bananas, an album which featured commercials for Jet Set products between songs, Bevoir retired from touring to concentrate on his songwriting and studio craft. In 1987, the band, under Bevoir's direction and growing Beatles obsession, sought to create their own Sgt. Pepper with the lushly orchestrated and painstakingly-produced Vaudeville Park, recreating not only the album's sound but also it's packaging. True to form, they followed with the reactionary back-to-basics recording sessions where Bevoir and Taub found they can no longer work together due to creative differences. The band was dissolved and their final album, Five, was pieced together from the sessions. Bevoir formed Smalltown Parade in 1990 and resumed a solo career in 1994. -AMG



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The Well Wishers - Twenty-Four Seven - 2004

Essentially a solo project for Spinning Jennies frontman Jeff Shelton, the Well Wishers' Twenty-Four Seven is a blissed-out smack of honey that's fueled by late-summer sunsets and misguided road trips. Power pop, while disposable, is hard to throw away when it sounds this good. From the very first lick it's evident that Shelton knows how to sink a hook into you. "See for the First Time" delivers the same kind of instantly gratifying melody that made Brendan Benson's "Tiny Spark" such a pop underground hit -- both songs celebrate the heavy guitar/analog synth interplay that the Cars perfected 20 years ago. Vocally, Shelton has the kind of fluid, vibrato-less croon that so many singers yearn for, so comparisons to Andy Partridge are inevitable, but the punchy production and tube-blown sound of tracks like "Sex & the Suburbs" and "Bustin Up" owe more to Cheap Trick and the Posies than they do to XTC. He breaks out of the mold occasionally with wistful ballads ("Dead Again") and country-rockers ("Something on Your Mind"), but rarely deviates from the pool of hummable melodies and hooks that has so obviously influenced him since his first Kiss record. There's honestly not a bad song on the album, and despite the occasional detour into teeth-rotting lyrics like "Drop me a note/Send me a line/Bring me good wishes from my lonely, funny valentine," the joy that went into making these delicious morsels is evident throughout, resulting in a great collection of songs to make out, break up, and get nasty in the back of an El Camino to. -AMG

Girls at Our Best! - Pleasure - 1981

Featuring, oddly enough, a pre-fame Thomas Dolby here and there on keyboards, Girls at Our Best's sole album, Pleasure, is an underrated delight, tempering the sometimes harsh edge of the earliest singles to an equally passionate and entertaining approach not afraid to be calm here and there. With Harper now firmly settled into the drum seat, the quartet touched on everything from Siouxsie and the Banshees' arty edge to Gang of Four aggro-funk and full-on power pop catchiness, and did so brilliantly. Evans' voice was at its considerable best at many points, sometimes so light that it was hard to catch what was being sung, but often able to deliver her sometimes wry, sometimes sunny, but always smart sentiments just right. The hilarious rip on capitalist dreams "Waterbed Babies" and the sly "China Blue" are two particular winners. The sprightly, full-bodied music didn't lack for excitement either, and unlike the rote exercise that much of indie rock later became, there's still an exploratory, honest freshness about the arrangements. Call it the surfy leads Alan throws in here than there, the very intentional disco quotes on "Heaven," or trying out subtle tempo shifts at points for variety within a song, but there's plenty of random joy to be had, down to the guest clarinet on "Fun-City Teenagers." Excellent as it was, Pleasure didn't have the band's defining moment, the absolutely brilliant debut single "Getting Nowhere Fast," which gained posthumous fame via a cover version on the Wedding Present's debut album. Sharp, short, and perfectly catchy down to its sudden edit ending two minutes in, it's one of the highlights of turn of the '80s Brit rock. -AMG



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V/A - xo for the Holidays - 2010

On the fifth day of December xo gave to me.... a free holiday cd!!! (imagine that I'm singing this to you)

Yes it is true a free holiday album for you to share... tis the season!
Home of the fabulous Backsliders, xo publicity offers up their third installment of "xo for the Holidays"! Best of all, this one is free! Ho Ho Ho! Happy Holidays from xo!


V/A - xo for the Holidays - 2010


xo-kaytea
www.xopublicity.com
http://xopublicity.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/xopublicity

2010 Suburban Sprawl Music Holiday Compilation

Hey PPO Followers!  Here is a Christmas bonus from Zach Curd at Suburban Sprawl Music...

Make sure to thank Zach!

Ho Ho Ho! - You have happened upon Suburban Sprawl Music's annual Holiday compilation. Every year, various friends (from Michigan and beyond) use the SubSprawl Holiday comp as a way to have fun, write some totally sweet holiday songs, and collaborate.

2010: This year we were gifted with 48 tracks to share, and a great cover design by Shawn Knight. Could 2010 hold the most magical holiday of all? Only Santa knows. We hope you enjoy this year's compilation and consider this a thank you for supporting the arts in 2010!

If you're determined to spend money on something, we have a few ridiculous sales going on in the Quack Media webstore.

Tis the season right?



2010's edition (along with every edition since 2002) is available here:
http://www.subsprawl.com/xmas

Zip of 2010's comp:
http://www.suburbansprawlmusic.com/Audio/MP3/xmas10/xmas10.zip

Hi res cover art:
http://www.suburbansprawlmusic.com/xmas/images/2010_hires.jpg


Thanks, and Happy Sprawlidays!

- Zach

The Silver Seas - High Society - 2007

Rock has come roaring back in recent years, and it's now de rigueur for critics to hear most music through a '70s prism. Thus the Silver Seas (formerly the Bees) have found themselves tagged as soft rock and mentioned rather bizarrely in the same sentence as many of that genre's singer/songwriter heroes. In truth, though, the prior decade seems to be where the group draw much of their inspiration. Their harmonies, for instance, oft times echo the Beach Boys, particularly on the lavish "We'll Go Walking" and the bouncy "Hard Luck Tom," although "Ms. November" is the best girl group-styled song ever sung by boys. And then there are Daniel Tashian's marvelous guitars, which shimmer, shine, and jangle, a sublime blend of Big Star and Byrds, especially notable on the brilliant pop of "Imaginary Girl." On the rumbling "Catch Yer Own Train," Tashian shifts into western style, while the harmonies and a wailing harmonica pay homage to the British Invasion. The rhythm section of standup bassist John Deaderick and drummer David Gehrke tint the set with an R&B brush, a style that keyboardist Jason Lehning often emphasizes, particularly on the dreamy "Taitville" and the boisterous "The Country Life." However, he's equally at home purveying elegant champagne piano, best heard on the shadowed "She Is Gone" and "Dream of Love," the latter counterpointed by Tashian's laid-back strumming guitar. But even Lehning's most extravagant work is downplayed by his phenomenal production, which beautifully burnishes all the instruments, then artfully places them in a warm and glowing amber setting. This is pop as it never really was, gentle, but glorious, lavish, but never glossy, a set filled with fabulous arrangement and instantly memorable melodies -- variously clap-along, joyous, luxurious, or musing. A stunning achievement. -AMG

The Research Turtles need your help!

The Research Turtles, a Lake Charles rock band, is currently in second place for international “Song of the Year”. (a British band is currently in 1st place) Please take a second to send an email by clicking here: votes@radiosix.com and typing or pasting “ VOTE- RESEARCH TURTLES” in the subject line. And…

In the text, please type some sort of name and a physical address so the vote will be counted (they want to eliminate electronic mass voting).

You can listen to the Song of the Year nominee, “Let’s Get Carried Away” by visiting www.researchturtles.com .

You can also download for free the Research Turtles album that was the PowerPop (genre for Beatles. Rolling Stones, etc.) Top 10 Album of 2009 by visiting www.researchturtles.com.

The contest ends December 23 so please VOTE today and forward to your friends. Thanks and

Merry Christmas!

The Laureates Complete 'The Year of Covers' Today, With Dinosaur Jr.'s "The Wagon"

DECEMBER'S COVER, RELEASED BY THE LAUREATES TODAY:

DINOSAUR JR.'S "THE WAGON"

Chicago band, The Laureates have completed their year-long goal to release a free cover the 1st of each month in 2010, with today's release of their Dinosaur Jr. cover, "The Wagon." A few other favorites this year have been tracks originally from The Velvet Underground, Wire, The Smiths, Electric Light Orchestra and Yo La Tengo. After an eventful year recording one cover a month while simultaneously writing and recording their upcoming LP, Spells the band is poised to announce details on the LP and other 2011 activities soon. Stay tuned for more information regarding the Spells release coming this Spring, as well as a video, tour dates and a trip to Austin. Below are links to download each of the covers to complete a delightful 12-song compilation, documenting the band's year-long project.

THE LAUREATES, 2010: THE YEAR OF COVERS

Stream all tracks here: http://laureatesmusic.com

(Click on the titles to download the below tracks)

January- I Can't Stand It (The Velvet Underground)

February- Do You Love Me Now (The Breeders)

March- With a Girl Like You (The Troggs)

April- I Wanna Destroy You (The Soft Boys)

May- Sugarcube (Yo La Tengo)

June- For Your Love (The Yardbirds)

July- Outdoor Miner (Wire)

August- 2000 Man (The Rolling Stones)

September- Don't Bring Me Down (Electric Light Orchestra)

October- Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before (The Smiths)

November- Gardening at Night (R.E.M.)

December- The Wagon (Dinosaur Jr.)

Download "All The Covers" here 

For more information, contact Kathryn Musilek- km@sharkpartymedia.com

The Goldenhour - Always In The Now - 2006

It took them two years, and we don't know how they did it (actually we do, they're GREAT!), but they've managed to succeed in delivering a brilliant followup to their also-brilliant debut! "They have topped their debut with this effort. The tunes are big and the backing sublime r'n'b, no not that garbage that gets called r'n'b these days on the pop charts. They are the real deal and sound like someone threw Booker T and the MG's, Small Faces and Kings of Leon in a blender and poured the contents into a glass of sunshine. -Kool Kat



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The Joneses - Meet The Joneses - 2002

The Joneses are basically a rock band with many other influences. Their sometimes rocking, sometimes psychedelic, sometimes just plain moody tunes on their debut album, Meet The Joneses, show many of the other influences they have inherited over the years. -CD Baby



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Orange Juice - You Can't Hide Your Love Forever - 1998

With the sort of bold title that recalled the optimism of the '60s (and, of course, echoes the Beatles' "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"), Orange Juice's long-playing debut announced a band with a considerable repertoire of musical ideas and some endearingly honest songs about romantic dysfunction and rejection. For some, their purist vision was too near to sentiment and too knowingly coy, but that's a cynic's view. There are some lovely songs here, especially the previous Postcard release "Falling and Laughing" and the single "L.O.V.E. Love." And, in contrast to their reputation, these fey Glaswegians could rock out when the moment demanded it, too. -AMG




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