POWER POP LOVERS IS BACK
My old friend Blog Kihn from PVAc to 44.1khz has decided to reopen the legendary Power Pop Lovers blog (both @blogspot and @wordpress). So you can grab those old time Power Pop favorites of yours over there:

PPL wordpress or PPL blogspot

Welcome back PPL

E - BROKEN TOY SHOP (1993)

On his second album, E offers more of the same highly crafted pop-rock that graced his major-label debut "A Man Called E" (1992). With a little help from his friend Parthenon Huxley, "Broken Toy Shop" features many delightful pop gems. E's least favorite album cover. After ten years in print, it is currently out of print.

Songs
Shine It All On / Standing At The Gate / The Only Thing I Care About / Manchester Girl / L.A. River / A Most Unpleasant Man / Mass / Tomorrow I'll Be Nine / The Day I Wrote You Off / Someone To Break The Spell / She Loves A Puppet / My Old Raincoat / Permanent Broken Heart / Eight Lives Left

THE SNEETCHES - SLOW (1990)

The addition of a second Englishman, bassist (and former Stingray) Alejandro "Alec" Palao, to a lineup that already included dapper drummer Daniel Swan (who cut his teeth with the Cortinas), allowed Levy to move to guitar and gave the Sneetches a new forcefulness. "Slow" is a sparse, yet somehow dreamier and darker vision of Sneetches-brand popedelia. "Heloise" and "Broke Up in My Hands" are among the bongo-driven favorites on this lovely and unusual no- fixed-decade release. The CD adds a spot-on cover of the Left Banke's gorgeous "She May Call You Up Tonight". Trouser Press

Songs
Things We'll Never See / Over 'Round Each Other / Heloise / Broke up in My Hands / Crystal Ball / What's in Your Mind / Voice in My Head / Wish You Would / How Does It Feel / Let Us Go / She May Call You Up Tonight / Unlisted

THE CHURCH - A QUICK SMOKE AT SPOT'S (1991)

"A collection of songs all roughly and quickly recorded in small studios in Australia and England, some of which have been released as B-sides here and elsewhere and some which have never seen the light of day. These songs are in Sketch Pad Form and were never originally intended for being your ears. They are of Humble and Modest beginnings and beg leniency, O critical listener. But, (And its a big but), I think each song here has at least one interesting or Redeeming Feature that justifies its rescue from the Chilly Vaults of Obscurity. Some of 'em, and I'll leave you to be the judge of which, are better songs than some of the Stuff which got on the Real Records". Steve Kilbey

Songs
Texas Moon / Perfect Child / Much Too Much / Take It Back / Desert / We Both Know Why You're Here / Frozen And Distant / Forgotten Reign / Anna Miranda / Hunter / Dream / Ride Into The Sunset / You Got Off Light / Nose Dive / The Feast / Afterlife

SEAN O'HAGAN - HIGH LLAMAS (1990)

Sean's debut album recorded after Microdisney's split & before he went on to form The High Llamas. The line-up on the 10 tracks includes some members of both groups. originally released in 1990 on Demon, it was reissued in 1998 on Diablo Records.

Songs
Perry Como / Edge Of The Sun / Pretty Boy / Hoping You Would Change Your Mind / C'mon Let's Go / Paint & Pets / Doggy / Half Face Cat / Trees / Have You Heard The Latest News

ROMANTICS & FRIENDS - MIDWEST POP EXPLOSION! (1980)

Released on Quark Records (a subsidiary of Bomp Records) "Midwest Pop Explosion!" compiles the Romantics material recorded for Bomp, the original Bob Segarini produced versions of "Tell It To Carrie / First In Line", plus a couple of songs first available on the "Waves Anthology" compilations. It also adds some of the area bands of the Bomp catalog: Stiv Bators (with two of the best songs ever released by Bomp), The Singles and Nikki & The Corvettes.

Special note: Newly ripped from the original LP. Complete artwork included plus original order form LP inserts.

Bands (Songs)
The Romantics (Tell It To Carrie) / The Romantics (First In Line) / The Singles (You're For Me) / The Singles (Thinking Of Ways) / Nikki & The Corvettes (Gimme, Gimme) / The Romantics (Running Away) / The Romantics (Let's Swing) / Stiv Bators (It's Cold Outside) / Stiv Bators (The Last Year) / Nikki & The Corvettes (Let's Go)

MIMI BETINIS - ALL THAT GLITTERS (2010)

LONG-LOST PEZBAND ALBUM? Click here to order
Review of ALL THAT GLITTERS from Pezband lead singer Mimi Betinis
by Randy Nargi

It's tempting to think of ALL THAT GLITTERS as a long-lost 4th Pezband album... Pezband's RUBBER SOUL or REVOLVER -- thirty years in the making. After all, ALL THAT GLITTERS boasts rich, multi-layered production, inventive songwriting, and the iconic vocals of Pezband's lead singer Mimi Betinis. But while the poppy "Love Is Just a Thin Veneer," (the first track of ALL THAT GLITTERS) may harken back to the skinny tie era -- with its twangy guitars and soaring background vocals, by the time you hit the chorus (arranged with cello and violin), you quickly realize that it's not 1979 anymore and this is not a Pezband record. Which is just fine. In fact, better than fine. What emerges over the course of the next 10 tracks is an artfully-crafted collage of song textures and styles that fit together masterfully -- not unlike the album's cover art (also created by Betinis).

Standout tracks include "Come on Down to My House" (co-written with Pezband drummer Mick Rain) with its wicked swampy guitar licks and an energetic rhythm section featuring Chris Massa (Bass) and Carlo Iaccino (Drums), "Blue Sky" with its refreshingly bare vocals and impossibly hooky melody -- complimented by ska horns by Chuck Soumar and Dave Stalhberg (The Ides of March), and the haunting "Say the Word" featuring acapella vocals with Carla Hassett.

Back in the Pezband era, Betinis was painted as sort of a windy-city Paul McCartney. And it's true that his voice shares the same tone as Macca -- as well as the ability to switch from crooning ballads to raucous rock (as evidenced by Pezband's seminal live performance of "Hippy Hippy Shake" from their Live At Dingwalls EP). But on ALL THAT GLITTERS we're treated to another side of Betinis' voice -- somewhere between John Lennon and Ron Nasty. For proof, check out the hidden gem of the album: a lovingly-crafted symphonic cover of "Across the Universe" -- one of the few Beatles covers that actually surpasses the original.

ALL THAT GLITTERS is great news for Pezband fans, classic rock fans, or anybody who enjoys hand-made music overflowing with melody and texture. But the best news is that Betinis may be making up for lost time. Rumor has it that there is a second album in the works for release next year. Keep 'em coming!

To celebrate the release of the first Mimi Betinis solo album, PPC is sharing both 12" live EP's released in 1978 and 1979. They were ripped from the original 12"but you can order the remastered songs that were included on the japanese editions of "Laughing In The Dark" and "Cover To Cover".

PEZBAND - LIVE 12" EP's (1978-1979)

Two Old Two Soon (Live At Dingwalls 1978) (9-12)
Stop Wait A Minute / Lovesmith / Not Fade Away / Hippy Hippy Shake

The "Two Old Two Soon" 12" EP was produced by Jesse Jackson and bears the mentions on the back of the sleeve "Slam It On Ten" and "Sold For Promotional Use".

30 Seconds Over Schaumburg (Live In Cleveland 1978) (13-17)
Blue Wind & Stroll On / I'm Not Talking / I'm Leaving / Crash & Burn / Close Your Eyes

The "Thirty Seconds Over Schaumburg" 12' EP had one side playing at 45RPM, while the other side was playing at 33 RPM

THE SILENCERS - ROCK'N'ROLL ENFORCERS (1980)

Hailing from Pittsburgh, The Silencers relesaed their debut album, "Rock 'n' Roll Enforcers," in 1980 on Precision/CBS, spawning four local radio hits - "The Peter Gunn Theme," "Modern Love," "Head On Collision" and "Shiver and Shake". The Silencers made two solid albums — "Romanic" (still available on PPC) is significantly superior - with some good songs (like "Illegal" on the first and "1 of Those Girls" on the second) before vanishing. Too bad. These guys coulda been contenders. Trouser Press.

Special note: The album was ripped in 24bit/96khz and then converted to FLAC 24bit/44.1Khz and mp3(320). Full artwork included.

Links : FLAC or mp3 (320)

Peter Gunn Theme / Remote Control / Illegal on YouTube


Songs
Modern Love / Head on Collision / Remote Control / Illegal / Johnny Too Bad / Peter Gunn Theme / Shiver and Shake / Take Out Service / Cold Sweat / I Can't Believe It

GREGG SWANN - FEVER DREAM (1996)

Hailing from New-York and right after the release of the CDEP "Blue in The Face" (1995), Gregg Swann was signed to the spanish label Bam Balam and "Fever Dream" was released in Spain only. Three promo videos for the album, "On The Outside", "More Than Ever" and "Bored To Tears" were supposedly shot but i don't know much more about that. After a second album "Dizzy at The Door", released in 1999, Gregg Swann experienced a long hiatus which led him to release in 2006 the amazing "Everybody's got To Be Somewhere". Available at CDBaby.

Prior to the release of “Everybody’s Got To Be Somewhere” Gregg was selected by the Songwriters Hall of Fame for a "Best of The New Writers" CD. He has had his music videos featured on ABC's "All My Children” as well as several songs featured on NBC’s Homicide as well as other network television shows. His song “Spinning” was Top 20 on the Gavin Magazine A/C Chart and was runner-up in the International Songwriting Competition.

Songs
April Fools / Wake Up Love / Present From The Past / Wait Here / Snap Shot / Going Through The Motions / Last Time / Honey / Begin / Pure / Enough / On The Outside / More Than Ever / Holiday / Bored To Tears

EPIC SOUNDTRACKS - RISE ABOVE (1992)

Perhaps best known as a co-founder of British post-punkers the Swell Maps, Epic Soundtracks reinvented himself as an eccentric, critically acclaimed piano balladeer during the ’90s. Epic Soundtracks (born Kevin Paul Godfrey and brother of Nikki Sudden) writes affecting piano ballads and mid-tempo pieces with an ease that belies how good these songs are. Though J. Mascis (drums on two tracks) and Kim Gordon (voice on “Big Apple Graveyard“) do contribute, this is Epic’s show; he provides most of the music and all the magic. Many songs have a traditional feel and sound strangely familiar. AMG

Songs
Fallen Down / Farmer’s Daughter / Ruthless / Everybody Else Is Wrong / I Feel Good / Big Apple / Graveyard / I Don’t Know / Meet Me On The Beach / Sad Song / She Sleeps Alone_Love Fucks You Up / Wild Situation / She Sleeps Alone

HECTOR PENALOSA - MUSIC FOR CATS (1996)

Released on the spanish label Bam Balam eight years after the excellent "Hector", Hector Penalosa (of Zeros and Flying Color fame) had home recorded 15 songs which exhibited an intimate feel with a classic pop spirit. The album is crafted to make impression. Think of Blue Ash, Badfinger, Shoes, The Toms or even John Lennon in many parts. A collection of great beauty and great dividends across the board.

Songs
Are You Just My Love / Tell Me, Tell Me / Does Anybody Know / Caressed In Rhyme / Saving My Love / Missing You / Make Me Feel Alright / No Time / Dirty Realism / Who Can Remember / Going Away / Reap What You Sow / For Ruth / Ariel / Mi Vida Cambiaste

TRUE BELIEVERS - HARD ROAD (1994)

After a major label bought out their contract and paid for a significantly more polished and powerful second album, the band was dropped following a corporate reorganization, and a potential breakthrough album was left collecting dust in the vault. "Hard Road" finally gives this great band their due, bringing together the True Believers' self-titled debut and their previously unreleased follow-up on one compact disc.The True Believers deserved better than the hand they were dealt, and one listen to "Hard Road" provides all the proof you need. AMG

Songs
Tell Her / Ring the Bell / So Blue About You / Rebel Kind / Train Round the Bend / Lucky Moon / Hard Road / We're Wrong / I Get Excited / Sleep Enough to Dream / The Rain Won't Help You When / It's Over / She's Got / All Mixed up Again / One Moment to Another / Who Calls My Name / Outside Your Door / Wild Eyed and Wound Up / Nobody's Home / Only a Dream / Home / Please Don't Fade Away

A DOUBLE DOSE OF POP! (1995)

"A Double Dose Of Pop". Two bands, two releases on one CD. The Rooks (NYC) expressively channeling The Byrds, Beatles and Hollies. Twenty Cent Crush (L.A) deftly weaving a pop quilt from axis powers Big Star, The Who and Paul Westerberg. Twenty Cent Crush is led by Phil Rosenthal and has released another EP in 1997 "Word Of Mouth". The band can also be heard on many I.P.O volumes. One of 1995's most important pop releases. Bruce Brodeen

The Rooks
Praises / Reasons / Music Sound Sensation / Waiting / Love Said To Me / Glitter Best / On A Pinwheel Spin / Steeplechase / Colors

"A Double Dose of Pop" is now long OOP, but most of the Rooks songs are available on the "Encore Echoes" (USA Edition) compilation except the following ones:

1. Music Sound Sensation: the mix on "Encore Echoes" has not the original pre-song metronome & followed by Elliot Easton’s dialogue, it was restored to its originally intended placement. NOTE: This was mistakenly edited onto "Waiting" on "Double Dose Of Pop")
2. Glitter Best: the mix on "Encore Echoes" has a shorter fade-out
3. In A Pinwheel Spin: the mix on "Encore Echoes" has a shorter fade-out
4. Colors: this is the original mix available here only, it was remixed for "THE WORLD’S BEST POWER POP COMPILATION...REALLY!" and the new mix was included on "Encore Echoes".
   

Twenty Cent Crush
Don't You Know / A Little Fortune And Fame / Sunday Girl / Tuesday Morning (Let's Just Stay In Bed) / She's Sooo Cool / Life's So Strange / Eye To eye / Lessons In Love