Power pop is a big tent, encompassing the adrenaline rush of Cheap Trick and the Raspberries, the chamber music of the Left Banke, exquisite harmonies of the Beach Boys and Sun Sawed in 1/2, and the raw thrust of Kurt Baker and Paul Collins.
“What defines power pop? Power pop is a harder type of pop-rock that combines classic rock band instrumentation—guitar, bass, drums, and occasional keyboards—with catchy pop hooks highlighting the lead vocalist. Power pop music is often recognized for its powerful lead vocals and recognizable guitar riffs.”
Power Pop ruled throughout the sixties, seventies and eighties. Beatles, Beach Boys, Barry & the Remais, Paul Revere and the Raiders, the Zombies, the Rascals, all power pop. It has never fallen out of style, but with the collapse of traditional radio and physical product, it has all but disappeared from the airwaves. Every year I say it, and every year it’s true. This has been one of the greatest years for power pop in history, but you’d never know it reading the music press, the Billboard charts, or watching the awards shows.
Power pop is an addiction to those who make it, as well as fans. So many bands producing so many records, many just slip through the cracks. Without proper promotion, they become lost, their creators discouraged. They move on with their lives. They get married, settle down, raise a family, and work toward retirement. Some of those records are brilliant and deserve to be heard.
Ed James released Poprocket twenty years ago. Like many others, Ed is a one man band who played every instrument and double tracked his voice for the harmonies. Poprocket explodes out of the speakers with a classical intro that segues into the anthem “Welcome to the Show,” every bit as powerful and iconic as Cheap Trick’s “Hello There.” Every song is a bullseye with incandescent hooks, from the bittersweet “Emily” to the hortatory “Get Up and Go.” Good luck finding a copy.
The Jessica Fletcher released What Happened to The? in 2003. Recorded in Norway, Jessica draws heavily on Brit influences with traces of Zombies, Kinks, and XTC. Their vocals are paisley shaped, that is, they bend the start and finish of each line so that it sounds like a smile. This record is still available.
Rob Stuart is another one man band who put out three CDs as Broken Promise Keeper. All are great, but the first, Ice Cold Pop, is a gem, beginning with the cascading “Directions” with more hooks than Mike Tyson. Stuart’s compositions flow as naturally and bracing as a mountain stream. “Worship From Afar” is another perfect pop song. They all are. This record is available.
Bruce Brodeen launched Not Lame Records in 1994, and put out more than a hundred brilliant power pop discs before he was forced to close his doors. Not Lame highlighted many brilliant bands including the Rooks, Sun Sawed in 1/2 and The Deal, none greater than The Shazam, combining Who-like dynamics with serendipitous melody. Their Tomorrow The World is just one of their brilliant records, containing the overwhelmingly powerful and emotional “Squeeze the Day.”
All Not Lame records are at a premium and many are unavailable. This one is. I just checked Amazon. It’s forty bucks. They have some used.
The High Dials were a Montreal based psychedelic quintet. All their albums are good but War of the Wakening Phantoms stands out due to its mix of Michael Brown-like chamber music, exquisite harmonies, Brit rock influences and killer hooks, all on this song:
Would you consider Vol Beat, The Struts ,and Muse power pop bands?
I like your reviews, keep them coming. I'm hoping that i will soon have the time, space, and equipment to listen to the bands you review when my basement studio is completed in another month or so.
The movie The Edge of Tomorrow had a Struts song.
Great movie. I could do a Forgotten Masterpieces every week.
Would you consider Vol Beat, The Struts ,and Muse power pop bands?
I like your reviews, keep them coming. I'm hoping that i will soon have the time, space, and equipment to listen to the bands you review when my basement studio is completed in another month or so.
Those are new to me, Mike. But I'm not surprised. There are so many great bands out there waiting to be discovered.