A BEST OF THE 2011 ADVENT WALL OF SOUND (2012)

Here's one "Best Of" of the ever popular "Advent Wall of Sound". It is time to post my own "best" of the Advent 2010. So, here's my subjective collection of the december harvest... Christmas Night and Christmas Day included. 26 songs, 26 bands posted between the 1st of december and christmas day...

I'd like to thank all the readers for their nice comments about this special feature. And remember, TRY SOME, BUY SOME...Long live Power Pop...

Click on pix below for details of the bands involved

Happy New year
TRIBUTE TO THE FAB FOUR - 1 (2012)

As you may remember, during the past few years, i made some tributes to the original albums of The Fab Four. So, on this New Year's Day, here's another compilation covering "1".

"1" was a compilation album by The Fab Four, released in 2000. The album featured virtually every number-one single released in the United Kingdom and United States from 1962 to 1970. Issued on the 30th anniversary of the band's break-up, it was their first compilation available on one Compact Disc.

No bands featured here on this collection were on those previous PPC tributes.

Happy New year 2012

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

PPC BOXING DAY (2011)

One more year with our "PPC Boxing Day". Today is the 26th of December, and it is time to open some old boxes and grab what's inside. Here are the surprise gifts. Enjoy.

For everyone, read below and grab what you want or need.

1. info here - click here
2. info here - click here
3. info here - click here
4. info here - click here & there & again
5. info here - click here
6. info here - click here
7. info here - click here
8. info here - click here
9. info here - click here
10. info here - click here
11. info here - click here
12. info here - click here
13. info here - click here
14. info here - click here
15. info here - click here
16. info here - click here & there
17. info here - click here & there
18. info here - click here
19. info here - click here

Plus 2 bonus in FLAC

1. info here - click here
2. info here - click here

And the special 2011 AWoS archives + EP

1. click here (gone...)

Enjoy until December, 31st.

CHRISTMAS NIGHT & CHRISTMAS DAY


Angelo & PPC wish you a Merry Christmas.
clue here and clue there

THE ADVENT WALL OF SOUND 2011

Last year, i didn't know if there would be another AWoS again, but as you may see it, here is the "5th Advent Wall of Sound", even though it is more and more difficult to offer something not available on the numerous and great other blogs around. I've tried this special event for one more year and so, from the 1st of December to the 24th of December, everyday you'll have to click on one slice of the image. Everyday, each compartment will show a new album never posted before on this blog. Each post will be available for just one day (or maybe two). Don't click on a part before the day or somebody could be hurt. Now you can enjoy the spirit of powerpop. And feel free to comment everyday.

Clues

Day 1 : # Info (1-2-3)
Day 2 : # Info (1-2)
Day 3 : # Info (1)
Day 4 : # Info (1)
Day 5 : # Info (1-2)
Day 6 : # Info (1)
Day 7 : # Info (1)

Day 8 : # Info (1)
Day 9 : # Info (1)
Day 10 : # Info (1)
Day 11 : # Info (1-2)
Day 12 : # Info (1) + Info (Bonus)
Day 13 : # Info (1)
Day 14 : # Info (1)

Day 15 : # Info (1-2)
Day 16 : # Info (1)
Day 17 : # Info (1)
Day 18 : # Info (1)
Day 19 : # Info (1)
Day 20 : # Info (1)
Day 21 : # Info (1)

Day 22 : # Info (1)
Day 23 : # Info (1)
Christmas Eve : # Info (1)

This was the 2011 AWoS. I hope you have enjoyed this year's AWoS just like the previous years. May everyone have a merry christmas. Stay tuned.

MATERIAL ISSUE - GOIN' THROUGH YOUR PURSE (1994)

A must-have for any power-pop fan, "Goin' Through Your Purse" was recorded live at the Metro in Chicago on June 4, 1994. Though the packaging only lists seven titles, this is a full-length release. The fourth track includes four hidden live songs: "The Fan," "Funny Feeling," and album highlights "What Girls Want" and "Diane." Making the show even more memorable for Chicago music fans, Urge Overkill's Nash Kato introduces the band and Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Neilsen joins them for the encore, a rousing rendition of Sweet's "Ballroom Blitz." The live setting showcases Material Issue's strengths, displaying their pulsing energy and knack for writing irresistible hooks. Their tales of girls and boys are designed for the full-volume, all-out intensity that only a live performance can generate. Unfortunately, due to band visionary Jim Ellison's tragic passing in 1996, "Goin' Through Your Purse" is the closest fans can come to experiencing the band live. AMG

Songs
Master of Ceremonies  / Goin' Through Your Purse / Kim the Waitress / Very First Lie (+ The Fan, Funny Feeling, What Girls Want and Diane) / Valerie Loves Me / Ballroom Blitz / Goin' Through Your Purse [LP Version]

VARIOUS - SLEIGH BELLS IN THE SNOW (2011)

Here we go again, time of the holiday season is knocking on your door. This is part six of the PPC seasonal venture. All previous volumes are still available and quite enjoyable. So, if you want them, you can get them. "A Christmas Blog Gift For You" (2006), "Another Christmas Blog Gift For You - Born To Greet" (2007), "Dreamland With The Pop Snowflakes" (2008) or "Santa Claus & The Powerpop Criminals (2009), The Magnificent Seven (2010). Thanks for visiting the PPC Blog, and have a cool yule!...Enjoy the spirit of Christmas... and don't forget to comment about this "Wonderful Christmastime"..

Click on pix below for details of the bands involved

THE PLIMSOULS - A MILLION MILES AWAY (12" Edition) (1982)

After their two initial Planet Records albums, The Plimsouls's relationship with Planet soured soon after the LP stiffed, and the band left the label to release an independent (Shaky City Records) 12inch of the power pop classic, "A Million Miles Away." which packs all of the passion and punch of some of John Lennon's finest recordings with a wonderful power-driven Byrds-like arrangement. In a show of enormous resilience (both commercial and individual), the Plimsouls subsequently joined the Geffen roster and produced "Everywhere at Once", re-recording that memorable single alongside a batch of similarly strong new ones.

Special note: This vinyl rip was made in 24 bit/96khz then dithered and resampled to 16bit/44.1khz with iZotope RX 2. It is now available in both lossy and lossless versions and comes with all the scans of the original 12" released on Shaky City Records (licensed to Bomp Records).

lossless (flac)

lossy (320)

Songs
A Million Miles Away / I'll Get Lucky

THE GREATEST LIAR - THE GIRL WITH THE CHESNUT EYES (2011)
 

A few weeks ago, i've received a stunning first album by a french band hailing from Toulouse. Fronted by Stephane Gire, the album has 13 perfectly crafted songs with strong power pop influences for today's ears.

More info about the band is available on reverbnation.

Purchase the album at thegreatestliar@rocketmail.com

Here's the first song from their first album, one of the best song i've heard this year. Support Stephane and The Greatest Liar, they deserve it.

You Deserve Better

VARIOUS - SHARP CUTS (1980)

Sharp Cuts features some great music. Ric Ocasek of the Cars produces ex-La Peste Peter Dayton's "Last Supper," as well as the Fast's brilliant "Kids Just Wanna Dance." Both songs are highlights here, but Bates Motel's "Live Among the Dancers" and Single Bullet Theory's "Keep It Tight" get high marks for memorable hooks. Everything on Sharp Cuts is worthwhile, including Chris Stamey's "Soul Kiss," performed by the dB's and produced by Alan Betrock; and Gary Valentine & The Know's "I Like Girls" - definite power pop that rocks. Industry veteran Michael Barackman was one of the three who produced this for Richard Perry's Planet label. USA Today's Ken Barnes provides his always-excellent liner notes, and the only pity here is that there weren't a whole slew of these type of discs released on major labels with a little more help from their friends. Now had Ric O'Casek put one of the Cars non-LP B-sides here, had there been just a bit more high profile stuff to go along with these ten delicious tracks, who knows what might have happened? Had the Willys' producer Robbie Krieger got the three other members of the Doors to do a track bringing more interest to this great disc, maybe Billy Thermal's "I'm Gonna Follow You" might have made him a household name. Instead, Sharp Cuts turned into a collectors item -- a really nice document of power pop and underground rock that you have to go searching for. AMG

Special note: This vinyl rip was made in 24 bit/96khz then dithered and resampled to 16bit/44.1khz with iZotope RX 2. It is now available in both lossy and lossless versions and comes with the usual set of jewel case artwork.

lossy (mp3)
lossless (flac)

Songs (Bands)
Keep It Tight Single (Bullet Theory) / I'm Gonna Follow You (Billy Thermal) / Live Among the Dancers (Bates Motel) / Last Supper (Peter Dayton) / Black Haired Girl (The Alley Cats) / I Like Girls (The Know) / She's Illegal (The Willys) / Kids Just Wanna Dance (The Fast) / Soul Kiss (The dB's) / Unable (Suburban Lawns)