GRAHAM ELVIS - NAKED YOUNG SOUL (2000)

Multi-Insrumentalist Graham Elvis is of Elvis Brothers fame. With a penchant for writing timeless melodies and a big, radio-ready sound, Graham Elvis is poised to make it big. His songwriting is straightforward and easily accessible, taking cues from the Lennon - McCartney, Rolling Stones songbook. The music is a stellar balance of guitars, drums and keyboards, and his distinct voice sets him apart from other mainstream rock acts. Similar Act's Radiohead ,Beatles and Velvet Underground, McCartney even Hank Williams. "Naked Young Soul" was released (or not) at the beginning of the century, actually this album appears nowhere at all and it seems it was a very limited release. Most of the songs were re-recorded later and are available on the excellent 2008 "Sure" album (visit cdbaby).

Special note: I got this album from a chicagoen area mate a couple of years ago with no further info.

Songs
Emotional Poison / Dreamland / You're Stupid And I Hate Your Friends / This Is How I Feel / She's A Scream / Lonely Bed / I'm Just Me / 930 / The Great American Acid Test

POPSICKO - OFF TO A BAD START (1994)

Popsicko were Keith Brown (guitars/vocals), Tim Cullen (guitars), Marko Desantis (bass) and Mick Flowers (drums). Combining the knotty, bass-driven rhythms of Southern California punk with the poetic fervor of early Cheap Trick sounds like an audacious idea. What's amazing is that Popsicko pull it off with charm and panache. Wait a minute, who ever heard of a punk band with panache? For Popsicko, that's an easy enchantment to deliver. The Santa Barbara-based group offers a heavy, punchy sound that is fashioned from the interplay between the group's members, a chemistry refined over four years time with surprising melodic resilience.

Their debut CD, "Off To A Bad Start" is a hard-charging collection of song sketches and sonic experiments that eloquently expresses singer Keith Brown's restless spirit. Yet ironically, the album's title now describes two unlucky events in the band's history. First, was Popsicko's great score of getting the chance to open up for the wily Meat Puppets; too bad the show date ended up being the day after the LA Riots broke out in 1992 (needless to say, attendence was hardly what they'd expected.) Then last year, right after the group signed to Smart Recordings and released "Off To A Bad Start". On November 7, 1995, Keith Brown was killed in a tragic car accident, devastating all who loved him and his music. Now the record is a thrilling legacy to the propulsive punk-pop project led by this talented singer

Formerly the lead vocalist of Pennywise, Keith Brown left that outrageous punk band he was a founding member of as a teen and relocated from the South Bay to Santa Barbara to attend college in 1991. There he hooked up with bassist Marko Desantis and the two started forming a most unusual band conglomerate--The Cardboard Superstars--something like an early Redd Kross with lots of Sparks and David Bowie influences sprinkled throughout their young pop songs. Later they transformed into Popsicko, with guitarist Tim Cullen adding searing melody to this strange arsenal of tunes, and drummer Mick Flowers' brutally swinging beats grounding them with a powerful punch.

Tim Cullen then formed Summercamp "Pure Juice" (1997) and went solo with the successful "Fun Razor" (2003).

The intense results of this musical mixture are now showcased on "Off To A Bad Start" with splendid momentum. Popsicko has managed to forge a new style from the raw material they loved during their youthful follies. And it's this distinctive way of making new pop music, eliminating the conformity of the mainstream and the predictability of plain punk, that gives Popsicko a strident edge. Source.

Songs
Nastassja / I Don't Need You / Ashtray Mouth / Dragging Me Down/ Some Mother's Son / Gettin' Used to You / Story / Distrust / Back It Up / Starless / Hard to Tell / To Would Have Beens

JOHN WICKS & PAUL COLLINS - McCABES, AUGUST 23rd (2009)

Paul Collins joined forces with John Wicks to go out on the road for to perform the highly successful House Tour 2009. On August 23rd they met at McCabes and those who attended the show were given a glimpse of things to come. John and Paul performed a few new compositions and were later joined by Peter Case for several memorable hits from yesteryear.

Paul and John have kindly allowed PPC & PPO to share it. Here's the first half of the recording from the show at McCabes. For the second half head over to the fabulous Power Pop Overdose blog and get it!

Things went extremely well with the 2009 House Tour, and John and Paul are hoping to do the same in 2010. Both John and Paul are recording albums over the next month or two and they'll be performing a few new songs this time round as well as the favorites we all know and love. f you would like information on how to arrange for a house concert with John Wicks and Paul Collins, contact Richard Rossi at martinitimerossi@gmail.com.

John and Paul doing Hearts In Her Eyes at McCabes

Also worth mentioning:
An online download of The Records Play Live Evanston 1980 is now available through John's website. Don't miss this.

John and Paul's house concert website:
www.johnwicksandpaulcollins.com
John Wicks' site:
http://www.johnwicksandtherecords.com/
Paul Collins' site:
http://www.thepaulcollinsbeat.com/

LMNOP - ELEMEN OPEE ELPEE (1986)

Stephen Fievet is LMNOP. Drawing from a consistent and seemingly bottomless well of neat melodies, memorable hooks and substantial personal lyrics, the one-man power pop auteur from Atlanta loads each perky studio arrangement with rich layers of guitar, harmony vocals and whatever else his febrile invention may contrive to add.

Following three cassette albums, LMNOP finally reached vinyl. The unfailingly perky "Elemen Opee Elpee" contains charming and provocative contemplations on mendacity ("Please Believe Me"), conformity ("The Big Ride"), world peace ("Breakfast Cereal") and the study of anthropology ("Comparative Analysis"), all sparked by crisp production and flawless playing. Anyone fond of Shoes, Advertising, Milk 'n' Cookies, Sneakers, Three O'Clock, etc. should find the record a most agreeable treat. Although LMNOP is clearly a one-man show, the drummer of a performing lineup did help on the record, and two non-participants are also pictured for confusion's sake.

Nine of the best tracks from "Pony" and "Elemen Opee Elpee" were added as a bonus, to the French "Numbles" CD edition. This is an essential introduction to Fievet's bent world of wonder. Check CDBaby, Not Lame for LMNOP CD's.

Special note: I got the rough WAV files and rough scans of the LP sleeve from SOTD's midnight rambler, so i cleaned up the audio parts and split the tracks, i also made the jewel case artwork with the elements provided. "Elemen Opee Elpee" has never been reissued on CD, though the vinyl LP can be purchased from the official LMNOP website.

Songs
Tapes / Like A Diatom / Please Believe Me / Constant Change / The Big Ride, / Wanna Write A Letter / Kaleidoscope / Escapes / Breakfast Cereal / This Is Logical Thinking / Semi-Circular / Impossible / Y? / Comparative Analysis / Sandwich Time For The Smaller Children

BRUCE JOYNER - HELLBOUND TRAIN (1984)

Bruce Joyner & The Plantations lip synch "Hellbound Train" for the french 80's music magazine program called "Musicalifornia". Short Bruce Joyner interview at the beginning, subtitled in french.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 4'16 - Size: 50 mb.

POP GREETINGS VOL 1-3 (2000-2001)

Prior to the excellent Pop Greetings Vol 4 focusing on Swedish bands, Yesterday Girl Records released 3 volumes of Pop Greetings (limited edition of 500 each). Each volume was compiled by Stefan Johansson who is now recording with Joe Algeri. You'll hear some well known (and lesser known) powerpop bands hailing from California, Illinois and Minnesota. Stefan Johansson also compiled the "Pop Under The Surface" collection and worked with Jeremy Morris and Herb Eimerman as well.

Volume 4 released in 2002 was another collaboration between Zip Records and Stockholm's Yesterday Girl Records. You can order it here.

Vol 1 - California
The Shambles (Pretty Well It) / Peter Mardsen (Need This Girl) / The Retros (Girl) / Brian Jones Was Murdered (You And Me) / Bat Country (Can't Endure Anymore) / Dragsterbarbie (He's a Vegetarian) / Rachael Gordon (Fun At Your House)

Vol 2 - Illinois
The Critics (I Hate This Place) / The Shakes (Eternity) / The Disappointments (Someday) / Phil Angotti & The Idea (Better Day) / Ted Ansani (Have To Say) / The Shots (Ordinary Wrong) / Julian Leal (Again)

Vol 3 - Minnesota
Moneypenny (Ballerina) / Beatifics (Meantime) / Vandalias (Julie Come Around) / Todd Newman & Lori Wray (Bitter, Uncompromising) / Uberscenester (He Gets All High) / Jason Sack (Kinda Love) / Devin Hill (Good Friend)

SQUEEZE - UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (1982)

Squeeze performed live at the University of California, Berkeley in 1982. The show was recorded for a special "Houba Houba" aired on several european channels. The show was aired on french TV in two parts, so the parts were stitched to get the whole concert.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 33'27 - Size: 392 mb

A sampler (Tears Of A Clown) can be watched on the PPC Channel.

You need both parts to unpack the file.

Set (Part 1 & Part 2)
Mumbo Jumbo / In Quintessence / I Can't Hold On / Tears Of A Clown / Is That Love / Pulling Mussels From The Shell / Tempted / Mess Around / Rip It Up / Goodbye Girl

MARSHALL CRENSHAW - HOUBA HOUBA TV SHOW (1982)

Marshall Crenshaw live on french TV for the Houba Houba TV show. He performed "Someday, Someway" (mistitled again by the french TV!!) and "Soldier Of Love".

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 5'35 - Size: 65 mb

SILVER SUN - YOU ARE HERE (1997)

This Japanese-only ten-track album contains all the songs from their "Sun EP", and the "Lava" and "Last Day" singles. Early on, it's obvious that Silver Sun had their sound mapped out: surround sweet, catchy melodies with a wall of guitars that are set to stun. Falling somewhere between Cheap Trick and the Buzzcocks (with a touch of Teenage Fanclub), Silver Sun's songs, penned by James Broad, are strikingly powerful little pop nuggets that are hard and tough on the outside, soft and gooey on the inside. There are eight songs on "You Are Here" that didn't end up on their album, so collectors should take note. AMG

Songs
Last Day / Lava / Trickle Down / Thick Shake / Captain / Top Trumps / There Will Never Be Another Me / Gossip / Changing / Streets Are Paved With Tarmac

TRIBUTE TO BURT BACHARAH - WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS...(1998)

This Big Deal collection of Burt Bacharah songs by the company artists is a fitfully enjoyable collection of irreverent covers of classic Burt Bacharach songs. Some bands have reverence for Bacharach, others don't.

Click on pix below for details of the bands involved

SILVER SUN - B SIDES, RARITIES & DEMOS

Some "rarities, demos or b sides" by the amazing Silver Sun. This is the fifth volume of the bootleg series (9 or 10 volumes were available) sold on the Silver Sun website around the beginning of this century. A great collection of some of the best Silver Sun songs.

Tracks 1 & 2 are from the first ever Silver Sun demo tape.
Tracks 5 & 6 : recorded at River Studios when the band were still called Sun.
Tracks 19-22 : written around the time of Neo Wave but never released.

Special note: As previouly stated for the previous Silver Sun posts, i got this from the same mate a few years ago, once again i made a custom artwork.

Songs
She'll Do / Together Again / Streets Are Paved With Tarmac / Changing / Together Again (Studio) / She'll Do (Studio) / There Will Never Be Another Me / She'd Like To / Top Trumps (with Added Bridge) / Gossip / Captain / It Couldn't Be You / Saint / In Nature / Trickle Down / Fifteen / Missed / 17 Times / Cut 'n' Thrust / New To Me / Why So Blue / I Can't Wait

DAVID A.BURDICK - A MUSICAL HISTORY

This the official musical history of a power pop legend who has contributed to the genre for more than 25 years. First, all of you familiar with the blog have heard at least one of his songs as he has been part of some of the PPC compilations as David Burdick or his powerpop combo the fabulous "Sins Tailor".

You'll find a link directly given to the blog by Mr. David A.Burdick himself including around 60 songs spanning his musical carreer with his various bands. A special note has also been included within the rar file. If you dig jangle pop, twilley pop and any power pop stuff, you'll enjoy David Burdick recordings.

Here's the note written by David A.Burdick about his career
"most of these tunes are from live shows....demo's,cassettes and vinyl only releases from way back about 20+ years ago or more...........most have never ever been released anywhere in any form..( except for some "hyped to death" cd's )........some were released on cassette or vinyl...but only locally in either tulsa oklahoma.....or dallas texas......the two places i've mainly lived..........i've included some tunes by my friends...and fellow musicians i've worked with......some songs i am not on at all.......but they are by people i have been in bands with or have played with at one time or another and i consider them to be power pop classics...( and as such need to be heard once again )...even though never heard before by anyone outside of a few..........enjoy !!!!!"

"hey guys ..i hope you dig these ultra rare obscure power pop gems from my friends and bands....i know the files are huge but there are some real gems there for you..( and you won't find these anywhere else on the planet period !!!)( you won't believe "the jacks" and the "trey garitty" stuff )...i come here because this is THE place for power pop...and you guys ..of all the places on the internet ..really got your shit together...been lurking here for a while and have discovered great new power pop from the likes of "the mad"..."the toms" amd "the telepathic butterflies".......i really appreciate the recognition i've gotten here for my work.......and this is my legacy to you for that...........merry christmas............for some unknow reason tulsa oklahoma has been a touchstone in power pop......i have no idea why.....i hope i have somehow added to that legacy to some degree........i miss phil seymore...and if things had been different i might have been in a new band with him......tulsa and to a smaller part dallas.....has many unnoticed power pop greats.....and the ones i've been associated with are included in these songs.......anyway thanks for the recognition....and keep on rockin......."

love you guys
david a. burdick

Links
Mediafire : 1 & 2

If you like the music and you certainly will, you can support David A.Burdick
here davidaburdick@gmail.com at https://www.paypal.com/

The "Sins Tailor" CD can be purchased here at myspace or you can send an email to David Burdick to the aforementioned email.

SQUEEZE - LE PALACE (1982)

In 1982, Squeeze performed live at Le Palace in Paris . The concert was introduced on french TV as "The Last Concert ?" Actually, this was the end of the first impersonation of the band before the split. In 1985, Squeeze were back.

They TV show aired 5 songs of the performance, i guess this was the end of the concert as they performed "Rip It Up" (wrongly credited to the dynamic duo, as you can read it) and some of their most famous songs.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 14'48 - Size: 173mb. The overall quality might not be of the usual standards of the PPC blog, but it is still a document rarely seen...

Set
Annie Get Your Gun / I Can't Hold On / Rip It Up / In Quintessence / Take Me I'm Yours

THE BEST OF THE 2009 ADVENT WALL OF SOUND

Just like every year since 2007, this is the time to post my own "best" of the Advent 2009. So, here's my subjective collection of the december harvest... Christmas Day included. 25 songs, 25 bands posted between the 1st of december and christmas...plus one hidden track.

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

HERE'S THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DECADE
The best way to celebrate the new decade.
(with a little help from a spanish mate)

# 013 (Expanded 2005)
RS1 & RS 2



Happy New Year 2010

Thank you for your support and your nice comments all year long.

Finally, please remember the dumbest password ever.....password