VARIOUS - THE BAM BALAM EXPLOSION VOL 5 (1998)

Another very highly recommended compilation (OOP) of power pop from the U.S.A. 24 tracks with a 28 color page booklet if you purchase the album.

Click on pix for details

BUDDY JUDGE - PROFILES IN CLOWNHENGE (1998)

Possibly one of the strangest - and most interesting - guitar pop albums of the late 1990s, Buddy Judge's first solo project (titled, in full Mister Spalding's Orchestral Devices Proudly Perform Buddy Judge's Full-Length Musical Compendium "Profiles in Clownhenge") sounds almost nothing like his previous work with The Grays. As one of the three frontmen in that project, Judge's songs blended seamlessly with those of Jason Falkner and Jon Brion, and despite some adventurous flourishes, the song writing on that album was fairly conventional guitar pop fare. On this album, however, Judge gets pretty weird: the concept is that the music is inspired by a late 19th century Boston bookkeeper named Mr. Spalding, who created an orchestra of mechanical animal musicians run on steam power. Mr. Spalding was a bit of a recluse who died when the orchestral device's main boiler exploded, also destroying all of his devices. This album is recorded in that particular style - sounding a bit like a circus gone mad - making it possibly one of the only tuba-based pop records in memory. What's surprising is that even with the inherent weirdness, "Profiles in Clownhenge" is still basically a pop album, just with tuba taking the prominent role generally taken by a guitar. So that means that songs like the infectious "Everybody Loves Bob" and a very literal cover of "Send in the Clowns" aren't too weird to scare pop fans away, but are plenty different enough to establish this as a truly creatively unmatched project. (There are four bonus tracks tacked on after the main section of the album. Those songs are more traditional guitar-based numbers that won't surprise fans of Judge's other work.) AMG

Songs
Prelude / Ballad of Bud and Dan / The Ugly American / Everybody Loves Bob / The Nemesis Waltz / Earl's Breakdown / Smaller Than Life / The King of Reseda / Horrible Guy / Parade of the Damned / Send in the Clowns / A Perfect Day / Just Another Girl / Vision / X-Mas in Clownhenge

BLUE ASH - THE ALTERNATE AROUND...AGAIN

A few years before the official release of the Blue Ash demos, some tapes were changing hands through some unofficial channels. Most of them surfaced on the official Not Lame release "Around...Again" in full stereo and high quality. But a few of those demos weren't included on it (such as "Everywhere I Go" or the famous "A Million Miles Away" which was recorded by Stiv Bators on his Bomp album). So the overall sound quality of the songs featured here might vary from excellent to average, but the historic value is huge.

Also noteworthy is the reissue of the first and classic album "No More, No Less" available through Not Lame, Kool Kat or any other record store.

Special note: I got the demos a few months ago courtesy of a very impressive (trust me) power pop fan. I revamped the original "Around...Again" artwork in order to post them here on PPC.

Read the BLUE ASH BLOG for the complete Blue Ash story

Songs
1 Elementary Dr. Watson / Second-Story Man / It’s So Easy / Here I Go Round Again / She Isn’t There / I’m Insane About You / Make Sure You Give It Back / Everywhere I Go / A Million Miles Away / Never Surrender / Sweet Little F-16 / When You Rock / Lover Boy / Oh No Not Again / Baby Baby / Start All Over Again / You Really Get To Me

2 I’m Your Man / You Better Find Someone Else / Give Your Love Away / Pleasant Dreams / Magic Words / It Won’t Be Long Now / Mind Reader / Day And Night / Silver Horses / Rosie Brown / You Don’t What It’s Like / Rock On Rock And Roller / Halloween Girl / With You On My Mind / I’m A Bad Actor / When I Come Home / It Don’t Bother Me / If I Were Ever Minus You / She’s A Pleaser / Instantly I Knew That I Loved You / Northern Comforts / Make It Easy

ACTION NOW - ALL YOUR DREAMS (1983)

Before she unleashed The Pandoras on an unsuspecting world in 1984, Paula Pierce was the lead guitarist/singer/songwriter in Action Now, a garage power pop band hailing from Southern California's San Gabriel Valley.

Signed to Posh Boy, Action Now recorded a full-length album (All Your Dreams, a Lolita Records release that was only issued in France) . With Rhino Records reissuing The Pandoras' 1986 classic "Stop Pretending" LP on CD for the first time, there has been a revival of interest in the work of the late Paula Pierce, who died tragically of a brain aneurysm in 1991.

Avebury Records released the excellent 27-song CD "All Your Dreams ...And More" combining 13 studio tracks (12 from this scarce French-only release, remastered from the original tapes for CD by Bill Inglot) with an entire 1981 live show from the legendary West LA club, Madame Wong's West.

In all, 26 of these songs have never been on CD, 25 have never been released in the United States and there are five previously unreleased Paula Pierce-penned tunes. Of interest to fans of Peter Case (and The Plimsouls) is "This One Chance," which he co-wrote with Pierce in 1981. Pandoras fans will want to hear original versions of "Stop Pretending" and "Anyone But You."

Songs
All Your Dreams / Then And Now / I Want You / This One Chance / So Much On My Mind / When Wednesday Comes / Stop Pretending / I’m Not Trying To Hurt You / See If You Can / Every Word I Say / Taking Care / You Say

THE BONGOS - THE MERCURY LOUNGE (1996)

Richard Barone and The Bongos did a one-off reunion show at the Mercury Lounge in NYC in May 16th, 1996. It was a benefit concert for Hoboken musician George Usher who convinced them to play for him. George Usher had serious medical bills after some illness, and they said yes. Here's the show. More about George Usher here.

Special note: I recently grabbed this on a registred website in lossless format. It seems the first four songs of the second part (specially "Mambo Sun") of this set have had some problems of extractions - a lot of digital glitches - i tried my best to get rid of those flaws, the result is quite listenable now. A soundboard recording with a PPC customized artwork

Songs
1. Intro / In The Congo / The Bullrushes / I've Got a secret / Complications / Hunting / Video Eyes / Tiger Nights / Speaking Sands_Clay Midgets / Splinters / Sweet Blue Cage / Glow in the Dark / Zebra Club / Nuts and Bolts
2. Totem Pole / Mambo Sun / Three Wise Men / Number With Wings / River to River (with George Usher) / Barbarella (with George Usher) / Sunshine Superman / Space Jungle

THE KAVANAGHS - 1st ALBUM PREVIEW (2008)

The Kavanaghs first album -to be released early 2009- is full of retro power pop songs influenced by classic bands like The Beatles, Badfinger and Raspberries among other great bands from the sixties to nowdays. (like The Records, Flamin' Groovies "Shake Some Action", Fountains of Wayne)
If you're into power pop, psych pop, beatlesque songs you will sure enjoy this album!!
Want to know some more about The Kavanaghs??

The Kavanaghs Website ... www.thekavanaghs.com.ar
The Kavanaghs Myspace Site ... http://www.myspace.com/thekavanaghs

Songs
1 The wrong side of the way -power pop, Beatles / Badfinger styled-
2 Friday on my mind -Beatlesque song-
3 English town, English people -Ray Davis meets Sgt.Pepper´s and Astor Piazzola-
4 Surreal -a McCartney-esque acoustic latin ballad-
5 The simple things -power pop, Raspberries styled-
6 Hyde Park -Kind of a happy George Harrison tune, lots of slide guitars-
7 You know -acoustic ballad-
8 All the time -power pop, Badfinger styled-
9 It seems that I´m not getting things quite right -kind of a Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds song-
10 Cat in town -a straight forward rock and roll song-
11 Goodbye Chris -kind of a Brian Wilson, Beach Boys ballad-

Eric Carmen and Jim Bonfanti from the Raspberries who wrote the liner notes for the upcoming album said about the Kavanaghs:
"The Beatles, Badfinger and Raspberries fans will love this band!! This guys really wear their influences well. Catchy melodies and great harmonies are still alive. It's a pleasure to hear their songs!!"

The Kavanaghs is a brand new band from Rosario city, Argentina. Formed in early 2006, they’re now preparing the release of their first album.
Band members are: Tiago Galindez (lead vocals, bass guitar, pianos), Alejandro Pin (lead vocals, rythm guitars) Diego Vázquez (lead guitars, backing vocals), Julio Leidi (drums, percussion and backing vocals).

"All the time", the first single of the band, was released on 2007 by Matchbox Recordings UK on the Big Indie Comeback vol.2 compilation album. (available at cdbaby).

So, here, for you, are The Kavanaghs. Hope you enjoy it!

Special note: The Kavanaghs sent us an advance copy of their first album, so feel free to comment about the album and this talented band hailing from Argentina (the living proof there's more coming from Argentina along the very gifted Lionel Messi)

Songs (advance copy)
The Wrong Side Of The Way / Friday On My Mind / English Town / You Know / The Simple THings / Hyde Park / All The Time / The King Is Dead, The Queen Is Beautiful / It Seems That I'm Not Getting Things Quite Right / Surreal / Cat In Town / Goodbye Chris

TISRA TIL - PSYCHEDELICATE (1997)

Hailing from Rehoboth Beach Delaware, Tisra Til's first and sole album "Psychedelicate" has reached cult status because of his frontman, Cliff Hillis. Cliff Hillis has played with Starbelly, John Faye Power Trip and Ike. He has also released three acclaimed solo albums: "Be Seeing You" (2001), "Better Living Through Compression" (2004) and "The Long Now" (2007)

Special note: I got a CDR copy of this rare item courtesy of a french mate.

Songs
Windows / Sometimes / Made of Glass / She Said / Helpless / Untitled / Will You Come Out Tonight / Evening Song / Time / All My Life / Glad to See the Sunshine / Painting Pictures

SCOTT KEMPNER - CICERO'S BASEMENT BAR (1993)

In 1992, Scott Kempner released his first solo album, the very highly recommended "Tenement Angels". This 1993 solo acoustic performance was recorded in St Louis at the Cicero's Basement Bar to promote his solo album. Along a mix of his first CD and some of the most famous tunes from the Del-Lords era, comes "Saving Grace", a song which had to wait until 2008 to get its first official release, with the excellent "Saving Grace" album

Special note: A few years ago, I grabbed this concert on a registered website. I made the PPC artwork using elements of "Tenement Angels".

Songs
Livin' On Love / Cheyenne / Burning In The Flame Of Love / Bad Intent / Listening To Elvis / Judas Kiss / Saving Grace / Hot Rod Angel / Livin' With Her, Livin' With Me / How Can A Poor Man Stand Such Times And Live / Lonesome Train / Feel About You / Heaven / Life Time Of Trouble / Dream Come True

THE PHENOMENAL CATS - SEAGIRL & 5 OTHER DOGS (1996)
















The review by: Gary "Pig" Gold

Psst! I know a band that not only knows how to write, arrange, sing and perform wonderfully ear-provoking material, but actually knows how to record it too - no small feat in these digitally sub-sonic daze. The band in question? Harper Woods, Michigan's very own Phenomenal Cats, who score absolute direct hits with at least half the selections on this Extended Play: "Seagirl" is so delightful and so absolutely bright-eyed that even the Cats themselves can't help la-la'ing along, and "Greatest Lullaby" wistfully reminds us that yes, Paul McC. really COULD do some fine work 'round REVOLVER time. But the true treasure here, recorded at home no less, is the closer, "Maybe I Need You", which melodically sets out a distress call for the late great Left Banke without once sinking into the realm of power-paisley'isms. Suffice to say, naming themselves after one of THE KINKS ARE THE VILLAGE GREEN PRESERVATION SOCIETY's finest moments smacks of presumptuousness of the highest odor, but not only do these guys pull it off, they might actually consider tossing Ray Davies a melodic bone of their own one of these days. Really!

You can purchase the Chris Richards' Anthology "Pathetic History" (2001) or "Mystery Spot" (2003) or the Pantookas album "Salad" (1997)

Songs

Seagirl / Greatest Lulabby / See Your Smile / Ask Him Now / Tears At The Table / Maybe I Need You

PAUL COLINS' BEAT - RADIO 3 TV SHOW (2006)

The 2006 live performance of the Paul Collin's Beat on Spanish Television. Broadcasted on January 13th, the TV Show offered 8 songs from his popular "Flying High" CD.

Note: I got the DVD a couple of years ago on a registered website. Converted to DivX5 Pal 720x544 (two-pass compression).

File size: 300mb
Running time: 26'14

Songs (Part 1 + Part 2)
More Than Yesterday / Rock 'n' Roll Shoes / All Over Town / Will You Be A Woman / Afton Place / Helen / I'm On Fire / Flying High

JOHN WICKS & THE RECORDS - MOLLY MALONE'S (2008)

Times are changing, that is for sure, but you can still hear great live music the way it used to be in the good old days, and now you can hear it in the comfort of your own home. John Wicks and Paul Collins have teamed up to bring their music to you in the Living Room House Concert format. Both John and Paul made their mark years ago in the burgeoning power pop scene of the late seventies and early eighties. On opposite sides of the pond, they created and formed bands of lasting impact and quality. John Wicks, founding member of The Records, will always be remembered for "Starry Eyes", a classic among classics and Paul’s work with The Nerves and The Beat have stood the test of time with Power Pop hits like “Hanging on the Telephone”, “Rock and Roll Girl”, and “Don’t Wait Up For Me”. Both John and Paul are active performers who are regularly out there tearing it up on stages in this country and abroad. After exchanging emails from coast to coast they finally met up at one of John’s live shows in Spain. A friendship developed and now for the first time they have joined forces to make their music available to you in this intimate and informal setting. Both artists are superlative songwriters and the acoustic guitar is their instrument of choice to create with. This is not a watered down version of what you would see if they were performing with a band behind them, and they both do. This is an up close and personal look at two performers who love music and have dedicated the major part of their lives to it. These two gentlemen have seen and done a lot and as performers they love to share, so stories would abound of all their exploits over the years coupled with an evening of fantastic songs.

For additional information regarding John and Paul’s 2009 Living Room Concert Tour, please go to the John Wicks official website

If you’d like to see John Wicks and Paul Collins perform in YOUR living room, email martinitimerossi@gmail.com (Attn: Rick Rossi) with your location, date you would like to have the event, and phone number where you can be reached. Every serious inquiry will receive a response with available dates and applicable performance fees.

Special note: This soundboard recording has been given by Mr. Rick Rossi from The Living Room Concert Tour courtesy of John Wicks himself. I made the artwork for the PPC Blog.

Songs

All Messed Up And Ready To Go / Hearts In Her Eyes / Different Shades of Green / Girl In A Golden Disc / Edges Of A Dream / Teenarama / Every Word We Say / That Girl Is Emily / The Same Mistakes / Union Jack / Starry Eyes / Girl / Guitars In The Sky / Rock 'n' Roll Love Letter

PAUL COLLINS' BEAT - RADIO 3 (2006)

Paul Collins has joined forces with Gentleman Jesse to go out on the road for 10 shows in the South/Mid West/East Coast starting January 24th at The Earl in Atlanta Georgia! Paul met Jesse when they performed together this past summer in Atlanta at The Earl and also at the Wildweekend Power Pop Festival in Austin Texas. The "Ribbed of Gold" CD was released in 2008 to critical acclaim. The tour will culminate with a live broadcast on WFMU on The Cherry Blossom Clinic with Terre T, February 7th!

JANUARY
24th ATLANTA - THE EARL
26th MEMPHIS - HI-TONE
28th INDIANAPOLIS IN - cancelled
29th MILWAUKEE – CLUB GARIBALDI..S
30th CHICAGO - THE BEAT KITCHEN
31st CLEVELAND - NOW THAT'S CLASS

FEBRUARY
1st PITTSBURGH -BELVEDERES
2nd BALTIMORE - THE TALKING HEAD
5th BOSTON – MIDDLE EAST
6th NEW YORK- MAXWELLS
7th WFMU LIVE BROADCAST

To promote this tour, here's a 2006 live performance of the Paul Collin's Beat on Spanish Television. Broadcasted on January 13th, the TV Show offered 8 songs from his popular "Flying High" CD.

Note: I got the DVD a couple of years ago on a registered website. Then i extracted the audio files from the DVD and converted them to 320 mp3. A special PPC Blog artwork has been included. If you really want the video, let me know.

Songs
More Than Yesterday / Rock 'n' Roll Shoes / All Over Town / Will You Be A Woman / Afton Place / Helen / I'm On Fire / Flying High

Special Bonus: Paul Collins on Radio 4 (the video)

Another 2006 TV performance on Spanish Television, two songs broadcasted in February.
"Afton Place" and "What's A Girl" plus an exclusive interview (in spanish)

SCOTT KEMPNER TELLS MORE ABOUT THE DEL-LORDS DEMOS

Hey - i just wanted to say hi, happy new year & thanx for giving a shit about the band. we recorded non-stop. we had and track set up in our 8th Ave. rehearsal space. there are several of these demos around. but,i have no idea how you got these. i don't even have a copy of the original "ONLY LOVE" demo. there is so cool stuff. It was a great ride. i miss it. and, the guys. onward and upward

By the way, the full title is "MICKEY PAID FOR WHAT MICKEY DONE". Just keepin'the record straight.

One more thing. your chronology is a bit off. some of those songs: "MICKEY", "RUINS", maybe "WANNA BE YOURS" were before "FRONTIER DAYS". we also demoed a bunch for TRUE STORY. "FOLSOM" was done with LOU WHITNEY in Missouri in 82. if i had the space i would clear all this up. there's about another half dozen 1st LP demos, a few 3rd LP songs. alright, time for SEINFELD or TWILIGHT ZONE, the 10pm LA choice & current cultural highlight

Also, Dr. Kylidare (a blog reader) sent us his own artwork of the Del-Lords demos, a really tasty piece of work

download here and there

THE RUBINOOS - LA BOITE, BARCELONA (2003)


















NEW 320 RIP

The Rubinoos 2009 Spanish tour has been confirmed, Here are the dates. Book your travel now!

February 4 - The Wurlitzer Ballroom - Madrid
February 5 - La2 Apolo - Barcelona
February 6 - Plateruena Kafe - Durango
February 7 - The Wurlitzer Ballroom - Madrid
February 8 - Auditorio - Castellon de Plana

To celebrate this, here's a 2003 concert recorded in February à La Boîte (Barcelona) to promote their "Crimes Against Music" CD. A concert given to me by a spanish mate. I only made the artwork.

I re-upped the concert for two reasons
1st: the first one previously posted had been by mistake ripped in vbr, so now it is 320 as usual
2nd: there were some minor flaws with the song titles (hence on the artwork) and even the band had been misnamed as Rubinoss (thank you cddb!!!) instead of the more famous Rubinoos. Please accept my apologies, that won't happen again (well, i sincerely hope).

Songs
Rockin' In The Jungle / Arcade Queen / No More When She Came From / Early Winter / Hard To Get / I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend / Walk, Don't Run / I Never Thought It Would Happen / Thorn In My Side / Stingray / Tonight / Falling In Love / My Little Red Book / I Think We're Alone Now / Hit The Nerve / Party 'til We Die / Life In The Slow Lane / Shake Some Action / Rock 'n' Roll Is Dead

DANIEL WYLIE - SALA MATISSE (2008)

Daniel Wylie made two solo albums under the guise of CRR, "Deliverance" in 1999 and "Panorama" in 2000. Local musician Stephen Fleming was brought in to engineer and play guitar on the "Panorama" sessions. After the album was complete, Wylie invited him to become a full time member of CRR. Wylie (by now a successful songwriter who was used to making all his own decisions in the studio) got tired of the constant bickering about the direction the music should take; the interference from his newly acquired band members in the studio had become such a problem that he decided to leave and go solo again. Promoting the release of his first "Very Best Of", here's another amazing performance courtesy of the Alta Tension association brought to you by PPC with the bonus of an original artwork.

Songs
I Love America / Unwind / I Can Fly / You Go There / Revolution (In The Summertime) / That Was The Day / The Cello Player / Consoling The Girl / The Rain Inside / The Loser / The Grapevine / Can You feel The Love / Snow Pony / Photograph / The One I Love / Define Love

THE WELLINGTONS - MATISSE, LIVE IN VALENCIA (2008)

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, The Wellingtons are everything that's fun, smart and sweet about indie guitar pop – sunshine hooks, big choruses and girl-boy harmonies. Add nfectious, feel-good tunes with a shiny dollop of punchy pop on the top and you have three albums "Keeping Up With" (2005), "For Friends In Far Away Places" (2007) and "Heading North For The Winter" (2008) full of powerpop hooks with fresh sing-along tunes that reel you in and leave you wanting more. Heading for a 2008 full length world tour, The Wellingtons landed on the Sala Matisse in Valencia around September of 2008 gently offering their best stuff. This great performance is brought to you courtesy of the amazing Alta Tension cultural association. I only made the original artwork for our faithful PPC readers. And if you dig vintage Elvis Costello or even Ben Folds, you'll love The Wellingtons.

Songs
Song For Kim / Come Undone / Help Me Fall / Goodbye Heartbreaker / Top 10 List / I Get My Heart / Broken Everyday / Natalie / Tired & Lazy / Popped Balloon / Sight For Sore Eyes / For Friends In Far Away Places / Freak Out / On & Off / Don't Move / I Want You To Want Me / Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah

Happy New Year 2009 Powerpop Addicts.

SHOES - BLACK VINYL SHOES (1977) (the 1st edition)

Link removed because the album has been reissued in Spain - a limited edition of 300 with all inserts. More info here.

Feb. 10, 1964, Plaza Hotel in New York
Ringo: John thought of the name Beatles, and he'll tell you about it now.
John: It's just that it means Beatles, isn't it, you know? That's just a name, like "shoe."
Paul: "The Shoes" See, we could've been called "The Shoes" for all you know...

I remember asking the Murphys about this and telling me this was all wrong about the origins of their band's name, but the story is so good anyway...

Originally released in 1977 on Black Vinyl Records (S-51477), "Black Vinyl Shoes" was reissued in 1978 on PVC (PVC 7904) with a completely different artwork. It was remastered and reissued in 1993 on Black Vinyl Records with another artwork. So, here is the very rare and original mix which sounds way better than the PVC release. But you can order the CD reissue here, there and everywhere, and compare the original LP mix and the cd reissue one.

Recorded in a livingroom on a TEAC 3340S, 4-track tape machine it has been refererred to by some in the press by the grandaddy of D.I.Y. home recording. Self-produced, recorded and packaged on the band's own Black Vinyl Records label. The original LP pressing of 1,000 copies have been known to fetch over $200 a piece, if one can be found. The 15 pop gems embodied here have an innocent charm that received rave reviews in the US and abroad and eventually attracted the attention of Elektra Records. It remains a touchstone in the do-it-yourself craze of home recording and holds up well even amid today's digital technology and remains a testament to what can be achieved with good songwriting on a shoestring budget. Source

"Black Vinyl Shoes" was recorded in guitarist Jeff Murphy's living room and positively shames many multi-million dollar jobs. Fifteen songs all short, deliriously sweet, and strangely disorienting through their combination of high grinding fuzz tone guitars, garage drums and ethereal Byrds like harmonies.

Songs
Boys Don't Lie / Do You Wanna Get Lucky / She'll Disappear / Tragedy / Writing A Postcard / Not Me / Someone Finer / Capital Gain / Fatal / Running Start / Okay / It Really Hurts / Fire For Awhile / If You'd Stay / Nowhere So Fast