Post by Ken on Apr 8, 2004 23:36:49 GMT -5
Today's pick is 
Poptopia! - Power Pop Classics of The 80's
![]()
images.amazon.com/images/P/B0000033ZF.01.MZZZZZZZ.gif
[/IMG]
Label - Rhino
Released - 1997
Various Artists
Produced By - Rhino's Poptopia Team
This was the second in a three disc series . Rhino's very fine attempt to bring together both the well known and lesser known artists in the power pop genre.
They did a first rate job although some collectors complained(and I have to admit that so did I) that the 70's disc repeated many of the songs found on two early collections released by the label in '93 :
Come Out and Play - American Power Pop 1 - 1975 - '78 and
Shake It Up - American Power Pop 2 - 1978 - '80
But hey! the 70's disc did include a Badfinger song so it can't be all bad ,enough of my rambling and on to the music:)
What I Like About You - The Romantics - Yeah it's been a tad overplayed but I still love it from it's piledriving drumbeat to the very cool harmonica solo.
Baby It's You - Phil Seymour - This was the b - side to the Prescious To Me 45 and is just a great little tune - Phil left us way to soon but left behind some very fine music.
Hold On To Something - Great Buildings - Years before hitting it big with the "Friends" theme I'll Be There For You Danny Wilde and Phil Solem were part of this L.A. quartet .
The band released one album and quickly vanished without a trace . The song deserved so much better. Excellent tune.
Tell That Girl To Shut - Up - Holly and The Italians - It has a great bass line and a catchy chorus . Reminds me of early Blondie.
A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls - If you saw the Valley Girl film back in the day like I did you'll remember this gem. It gets better with every listen.
She Goes Out With Everybody - The Spongetones - After reading quite a bit about them I finally got to hear a track and this is so good it's scary LOL They've really got that 60's sound down. They write amazing songs and are excellent musicians. It's a shame they aren't more well known but they are still going strong.
Whenever You're On My Mind - Marshall Crenshaw - This should have been a huge hit, it's that simple . I can't say enough the record is perfect right from the opening chimey guitar chords all the way to the end.
I Want You Back - The Hoodoo Guru's - These guys were very good and this is a great example - a super guitar riff and a great chorus you can't help but sing a long with.
Every Word Means No - Mitch Easter's nasal vocal delivery really adds to the song . And for some reason the chorus reminds me of The Monkees 'I'm Not Your Steppin Stone.
Crybaby - Utopia - This very cool tune was from the band's final album. Todd Rundgren and company do not disappoint from the great high harmonies to Todd 's scream near the end of the song.
Going Down To Liverpool - The Bangles - The song that started the ball rolling for the band. You may remember Leonard Nimoy driving them around in the video. A catchy tune.
Love is For Lovers - The dB's - Some excellent guitar drives the song along nicely, great production and melody as well.
Whatever Happened To Fun - Candy - Gilby Clarke later of Guns N Roses was in this band (?!!!) yup it's still hard for me to believe. Kyle Vincent's flawless vocals are amazing( I have one of his solo songs on a compilation and it is awesome).
Places Are Gone - Tommy Keene - A very meloncholy type of song and it is so good. A huge fave.
Behind The Wall of Sleep - The Smithereens - I've mentioned this song in an earlier album review and it deserves it's place in this collection. Solid drumming and a killer guitar solo from Jim Babjak . Crank it!!
Lisa Anne - Bill Lloyd - I love his songwriting - a three minute piece of perfection.
She's So Young - The Pursuit Of Happiness - I'm not sure how well known they were in the U.S. but here in Canada they were very popular for a couple of years.
They were from Toronto , the album this came from Love Junk, was produced by Todd Rundgren. Lead singer Moe Berg could really write a great pop song - it's an amazing tune with great guitar playing and wonderful back up vocals by Leslie Stanwyck.
The La's - There She Goes - A great way to end the disc. The band was from Liverpool and this superb tune was heard in So I Married an Axe Murderer . I believe it was Six Pence None The Richer who later covered it but I much prefer the original.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed reading my review:)
Poptopia! - Power Pop Classics of The 80's
[/IMG]
Label - Rhino
Released - 1997
Various Artists
Produced By - Rhino's Poptopia Team
This was the second in a three disc series . Rhino's very fine attempt to bring together both the well known and lesser known artists in the power pop genre.
They did a first rate job although some collectors complained(and I have to admit that so did I) that the 70's disc repeated many of the songs found on two early collections released by the label in '93 :
Come Out and Play - American Power Pop 1 - 1975 - '78 and
Shake It Up - American Power Pop 2 - 1978 - '80
But hey! the 70's disc did include a Badfinger song so it can't be all bad ,enough of my rambling and on to the music:)
What I Like About You - The Romantics - Yeah it's been a tad overplayed but I still love it from it's piledriving drumbeat to the very cool harmonica solo.
Baby It's You - Phil Seymour - This was the b - side to the Prescious To Me 45 and is just a great little tune - Phil left us way to soon but left behind some very fine music.
Hold On To Something - Great Buildings - Years before hitting it big with the "Friends" theme I'll Be There For You Danny Wilde and Phil Solem were part of this L.A. quartet .
The band released one album and quickly vanished without a trace . The song deserved so much better. Excellent tune.
Tell That Girl To Shut - Up - Holly and The Italians - It has a great bass line and a catchy chorus . Reminds me of early Blondie.
A Million Miles Away - The Plimsouls - If you saw the Valley Girl film back in the day like I did you'll remember this gem. It gets better with every listen.
She Goes Out With Everybody - The Spongetones - After reading quite a bit about them I finally got to hear a track and this is so good it's scary LOL They've really got that 60's sound down. They write amazing songs and are excellent musicians. It's a shame they aren't more well known but they are still going strong.
Whenever You're On My Mind - Marshall Crenshaw - This should have been a huge hit, it's that simple . I can't say enough the record is perfect right from the opening chimey guitar chords all the way to the end.
I Want You Back - The Hoodoo Guru's - These guys were very good and this is a great example - a super guitar riff and a great chorus you can't help but sing a long with.
Every Word Means No - Mitch Easter's nasal vocal delivery really adds to the song . And for some reason the chorus reminds me of The Monkees 'I'm Not Your Steppin Stone.
Crybaby - Utopia - This very cool tune was from the band's final album. Todd Rundgren and company do not disappoint from the great high harmonies to Todd 's scream near the end of the song.
Going Down To Liverpool - The Bangles - The song that started the ball rolling for the band. You may remember Leonard Nimoy driving them around in the video. A catchy tune.
Love is For Lovers - The dB's - Some excellent guitar drives the song along nicely, great production and melody as well.
Whatever Happened To Fun - Candy - Gilby Clarke later of Guns N Roses was in this band (?!!!) yup it's still hard for me to believe. Kyle Vincent's flawless vocals are amazing( I have one of his solo songs on a compilation and it is awesome).
Places Are Gone - Tommy Keene - A very meloncholy type of song and it is so good. A huge fave.
Behind The Wall of Sleep - The Smithereens - I've mentioned this song in an earlier album review and it deserves it's place in this collection. Solid drumming and a killer guitar solo from Jim Babjak . Crank it!!
Lisa Anne - Bill Lloyd - I love his songwriting - a three minute piece of perfection.
She's So Young - The Pursuit Of Happiness - I'm not sure how well known they were in the U.S. but here in Canada they were very popular for a couple of years.
They were from Toronto , the album this came from Love Junk, was produced by Todd Rundgren. Lead singer Moe Berg could really write a great pop song - it's an amazing tune with great guitar playing and wonderful back up vocals by Leslie Stanwyck.
The La's - There She Goes - A great way to end the disc. The band was from Liverpool and this superb tune was heard in So I Married an Axe Murderer . I believe it was Six Pence None The Richer who later covered it but I much prefer the original.
That's it! I hope you enjoyed reading my review:)
