Friday, April 30

EXPLODING WHITE MICE - WE WALK ALONE (1995)


















Taking their name from Rock'n'Roll High School and most of their sound from Rocket to Russia, this Adelaide quintet has done its damnedest to be Australia's own Ramones. But while the familiar song skeletons and Paul Gilchrist's Joey-esque delivery are in clear debt to the brudders, the Mice add a distinct garage element (credit Radio Birdman), especially on the early recordings. The six-song "In a Nest of Vipers" (1985) and "Brute Force & Ignorance" (1988) were available together on Normal Records (visit SOTD). Released in 1995, "We Walk Alone" was their final album. Trouser Press

Songs
Born Loser / 51st State / Balance Of Power / Faceache / The Silent Treatment / Just Plain Bad / No Sign Of Life / Out Of My Head / Something Wrong / Different Girl / We Walk Alone / Always End The Same

Friday, April 23

TRIBUTE TO GENE CLARK - FULL CIRCLE (2000)


















At a hefty 36 songs with a minimum of typical tribute-album filler, this is a respectful, even reverential treatment of Clark's music, a tribute in the truest sense of the word. Even more importantly, the producers have ensured that all facets of Clark's career have been covered here - not just his most renowned work with the Byrds, but also his solo material and his stints with Dillard & Clark and the Gosdin Brothers. There are even several previously unreleased songs by Clark himself. The Long Ryders' Sid Griffin penned the detailed historical liner notes. Most of the songs are exclusive to this compilation. AMG

Special note: The tribute is now out of print and pretty rare. Complete artwork included. Two independent RS links.

Click on pix for details

JACK LEE - JACK LEE'S GREATEST HITS VOL.1 (1981)



















A brand new rip of a previously posted power pop vinyl only classic This is the "Special Limited Edition" LP (Maiden America MA 1001) that was used. As usual, you have two kinds of links. For more info about the original PPC post (September 2007), click here.

Lossless : 1 - 2 (347 mb)

Songs
Good Times / Give Me Some Time / Come Back & Stay / Any Day Now / Stand Back & Take a Good Look / Hangin' On The Telephone / Woman / I'm Gonna Have Fun / Crime Doesn't Pay / Paper Dolls / It's Hot Outside

Thursday, April 22

SPINNING JENNIES - STRATOSPHERE (2002)

To celebrate the release of the new Well Wishers CD, here's Spinning Jennies' "Stratosphere".

"I’m excited to announce the Well Wishers’ BRAND NEW ALBUM is just about ready to hit the ground running! “Post Modern Romantic” is due to hit stores in early May; but you….the WW Insider – have the coveted opportunity to pre-order this fabulous new beer coaster for only $10…exclusively online!

Check out song clips and PRE-ORDER here
(only $10…plus shipping & handling) … help support indie music!!!

“Post Modern Romantic”, is the Well Wishers’ 5th full-length album and the Bay Area collective’s most rocking, powerhouse platter to date. Driven by tight, punchy rhythms, the album’s 11 tracks burst from the speakers with a sonic assault of guitars and soaring melodies and harmonies that recall the best of artists like the Posies, Nada Surf, Bob Mould, Redd Kross, and Cheap Trick. The homage here is topped of by a heartfelt and spirited cover of the song “Fountains” originally recorded by the revered underground 80’s Canadian punk band The Nils. Jeff Shelton.

Tuesday, April 20

THE POP - THE POP (1977)

Latest news: A reader just pointed out the album is available through iTunes. So, even though i spent a lot of time on this brand new rip, i have to remove the links (FLAC & mp3)
Click here and read carefully.

Saturday, April 17

ICECREAM HANDS - LIVE ON TRIPLE J (1999)


















IceCream Hands fits neatly into the '90s power-pop revival, holding dear the values of guitar-pop bands from the Beatles to the Posies. On the 20th of December 1999, a couple of years after the release of the classic "Memory Lane Traffic Jam" and promoting the release of their third album "Sweeter Than The Radio" IceCream Hands performed live on Triple J in Melbourne playing some of their new songs along a few of their most well known songs.

Special note: I got this 5-star quality live performance from "a collector friend", and i made a custom artwork (using elements of the Not Lame "Memory Lane" original design) for the PPC readers.

Songs
The Obvious Boy / Stupid Boy / I Bet It's Warm Up There / Paper Bird / This Will Be Our Year / You Should Know By Now / Sobersides / Nipple / Supermarket Scene / Dodgy / Spiritlevel Windowsill / Yellow And Blue / Picture Disc From The Benelux / It's Always Gonna Get Ya

Friday, April 16

BEST KISSERS IN THE WORLD - PUDDIN' (1993)


















Led by California-born, Michigan-raised and Phoenix resident singer-guitarist Gerald Collier, this snappily monickered band started off as a beautifully scrawny fusion of Cheap Trick/Replacements pop brawn.They released their 1st EP on Sub Pop produced by Jon Auer followed by a couple of singles and this 5 song EP "Puddin'". A year later, "Been There" was released before the band recorded an album called "Yellow Brick Roadkill" that disappeared from MCA's release schedule early in '96.". Gerald Collier would later pursue a solo career.

Songs
Pickin' Flowers For / 60 Seconds / Melanie / Smoke Rings / Laughable

Wednesday, April 14

WHO PUT THE BOMP ISSUE #15 (Spring 1976)

The last issue bearing the "Who Put The Bomp" full title. Referred as the Gala Girl Issue with the Cherie Currie cover and a long feature about the Runaways, Leslie Gore, the Shangri-Las, and Jackie DeShannon. Dave Edmunds and the Rockfield story, Chicago 60's Rock, the Dunwich Story and a Greg Shaw full page review of "Shake Some Action". A few months later, a larger issue #16 will be published bringing some new bands such as Dwight Twilley, The Beckies and the first appearance of the "Where The Action Is" feature.

As usual, the vintage ads have been included. Enjoy.

Info
Format PDF - Acrobat Reader 5.0 and others
bookmarks added - direct access to features
complete issue: 48 pages !!! (vintage advertisements included)
  
ZS (17mb)

Special note: I have the issues #16 (with Brian Wilson) & #17 (the punk edition) , both 64 pages. I hope one day they will be posted on PPC. Scanning, editing, printing PDF is a long process, so...maybe one day. If someone has the issues #14 (the 1st issue in color) & #21 (the last issue ever), i would be glad to post them here on PPC.

Sunday, April 11

THE KEYS - THE KEYS ALBUM (1981)


















Hailing from London, The Keys (Drew Barfield, Steve Tatler, Ben Grove, and ex-Wings drummer Geoff Britton) released one album and a bunch of singles. They were signed to A&M records and released “The Keys Album” to rapturous reviews but no sales!! Produced by Joe Jackson, it contained the perfect pop songs of “One Good Reason”, “I Don't Wanna Cry“ and “Greasy Money”, but actually all dozen tunes are winners with the right influences: Beatles, Monkees and even neo-rockabilly. The album was released in Europe and Canada only and has never been reissued on CD.

When The Keys split in 1983 Drew formed The Big Heat with singer Bill Hurley (The Inmates) and guitarist Chris Parks (Any Trouble). Big Heat's first release was the acclaimed single “Watch Me Catch Fire” (on A&M) which was written by Drew and produced by Elvis Costello. This looked a sure bet for some serious chart action until The Bradford Football Stadium fire, which led BBC producers to drop it from their playlists because of the title!

Special note: The album has been ripped in 24bit-44.1Khz and converted to FLAC 24Bit-44.1Khz and mp3.
  1. FLAC 487mb with artwork: click here 1 - 2 - 3
  2. mp3 (320) 101mb with artwork: click on the title
Songs
Hello, Hello / It Ain't So / One Good Reason / Listening In / I Don't Wanna Cry / Saturday To Sunday Night / Spit It Out / If It's Not Too Much / Run Run Run / Greasy Money / Back To Black / World Ain't Turning

Saturday, April 10

BEN'S DIAPERS - LAUGHTER TRACKS (2002)


















Powerpop & country rock under the radar, out of limits and beyond the trends since 1997 from Turku, Finland. Ben's Diapers have released a bunch of records (4 full-length albums, a couple of EPs, singles and tracks on compilations around the world), a bunch of gigs (somewhere around 100 at the time of writing) and not enough rehearsals sums up the first 12 years perfectly. The latest album is called "Up in the Mountains, Deep in the Sea", has just been released on Plastic Passion & Rhythm Barrel Records in March 2010 and is available through the official Ben's Diapers website. Contact the band for gig offers, CD order instructions and other communication.

"Laughter Tracks" was the second album by Ben's Diapers, and like you may have guessed, it's an excellent power pop album. It's quite a classic pop album too. All the elements that we pop freaks love are here. Melodic guitar pop, strong vocals, sweet pop hooks, honest lyrical approach and especially vocal harmonies and on laughter tracks Ben's Diapers are able to create some astounding vocal parts. Source.

The french mini album "Middle Eight For Modern Lovers" (2001) can be ordered directly from Pop The Balloon. Click Here.

Songs
Happy Man / Slylight / The Way It's Going To Be For The Rest Of Our Lives / Sweet Somethings / I Wrote A Song About Sadness / Hey Rock And Roll / Josephine Geraldine / Huge In Heaven / Play Through The Pain / Under The Surface / Stockholm Sky

Thursday, April 8

JACK LEE - JACK LEE (1985)


















A brand new rip of a previously posted power pop vinyl only classic, plus the single released only in France featuring 2 songs not available on the LP. I have slightly revamped the artwork and sharing so 2 kind of trays - one with the bonus single and the other one with the two songs not listed. As usual, you have two kinds of links. For more info about the original PPC post (May 2007), click here.
  1. First a brand new vinyl rip of the original french only LP recorded in Wav 44.1 Khz / 24 bit cleaned and then converted to FLAC Lossless 44.1 Khz / 24 bit. The 7"single with 2 unreleased songs has also been included. Both artworks are included. Size: 407 mb + 86 mb. FLAC Links 1 - 2 - 3
  2. Second, the 320 mp3 of the same Wav 44.1 Khz / 24 bit rip. Both artworks have been included. Size: 87 mb + 25mb. Click on the title.
Songs
Sex / Somebody Else To Love / Bird In A Cage / Why Am I So Lonely / From Time To Time / Between Two People / Play With Me / Time Machine / The Girl In The Picture / Breaking Into My Heart / Bigger Than Life

7" Single
(Lolita 10010) (1986)

Somebody Else To Love (Remix Version) / Small World

Tuesday, April 6

BOMP ISSUE #20 (January 1979)

The penultimate issue of the Bomp magazine, (#21 with Talking Heads on the front page ought to be the very last Bomp issue ever and the major one i don't have, too bad...). Anyway, #20 was a great one with Nick Lowe on the cover and great features such as a Nick Lowe interview, a Stiff Records story, another one about Sire Records and a very recommended Crib Death about the burgeoning 20/20 with Phil Seymour on drums. As usual, the vintage ads have been included. Enjoy.

Info
Format PDF - Acrobat Reader 5.0 and others
bookmarks added - direct access to features
complete issue: 48 pages !!! (vintage advertisements included)

ZS (17mb)

BOMP ISSUE #19 (October 1978)

Following the paths of the Power Pop #18 issue (see previous post below), this second 1978 issue came out in October 1978 with Joey Ramone on the front page. Special features included Ramones, Acid Punk, Sex Pistols, Toronto's New Wave, the "B" Girls, an amazing 1978 Greg Shaw's Top Ten and some thrilling vintage advertisements by Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Pezband, Cheap Trick and a special 7-4-11 Bomp one.

Info

Format PDF - Acrobat Reader 5.0 and others
bookmarks added - direct access to features
complete issue: 64 pages !!! (vintage advertisements included)

ZS (22mb)

Sunday, April 4

BOMP ISSUE #18 (March 1978)

Greg Shaw did a lot to Power Pop to be more popular (as pop music meaned it in the 60's with The Fab Four).
Bomp magazine was started in 1970 by Greg Shaw, who had previously edited and published Mojo-Navigator Rock & Roll News, one of the earliest rock fanzines. Originally called "Who Put the Bomp", the new zine was to be different; not a news sheet at all, but a place where serious fans and professional critics could talk openly about music, its culture, and the rock press. The first issues were slim, hand- printed, and of very limited circulation. Issue #16 (early '77) was a transitional one, until this famous #18 with the classic "Power Pop!" front page.

Info
Format PDF - Acrobat Reader 5.0 and others
bookmarks added - direct access to features
complete issue: 72 pages !!! (vintage advertisements included)

ZS (28mb)

You still can listen to vintage Bomp compilations posted here on PPC
Waves Vol 1 (1979)
Waves Vol 2 (1980)
Vampires From Outer Space (1979)

VARIOUS - IPO VOL. 2 (1999)


















The second annual IPO event took place in Los Angeles & Orange County from July 23 thru August 3, 1999. Initiated by David Bash a year earlier, the IPO second festival brought over 140 bands, featuring Not Lame and Ginger records label nights. This new 2CD IPO collection of 42 bands was compiled by David Bash and released on Del Fi Records for the last time, Not Lame would release all the subsequent volumes.

Click on pix for details

Thursday, April 1

THE ORANGE HUMBLE BAND
THE ALTERNATE ASSORTED CREAMS
(1994)



















In 1994, Darryl Mather "came out of hivernation" with more than an album's-worth of new songs. He took his songs to old friend Bill Gibson (Lime Spiders, Eastern Dark) and "I said, I think I'm playing as well as i've ever played, I think i've got it right. Let's do some demos together". That was the beginning of The Orange Humble Band's first album, "Assorted Creams". Recordings for "The Alternate Assorted Creams" took place - with Darryl Mather on electric and acoustic guitars, Bill Gibson on bass and vocals, Matt Galvin on lead guitar, Pete Kelly on drums, Anthony Bautovich on lead and backing vocals.

This was the closest The Orange Humble Band ever came to being a "real" band - recorded live in the studio in one day with only some vocal and lead guitar overdubs. Of course, this is way before Mitch Easter and Ken Stringfellow's involvement, much less the orchestrations of the finished album, so these takes are considerably more raw than the final product....VERY raw, in places....and there are four previously unreleased songs that didn't make the cut for the album sessions. If you do remember the story about the Someloves "Something or Other" official White Label mix, then the choice was made to speed up each song by one-or-two-percent, so Darryl had this thing about speeding up tracks in the mastering, and that's obviously been done to these tracks (some more noticeably than others). They've been left as they were on the tape.

Tracklisting follows the final album sequence (the original OHB CD track 14, "Apple Green Slice Cut" was not demo'ed, and therefore not included here) followed by b-sides and unreleased tracks. A very minor glitch on "All Wrapped Up" couldn't be removed from the original tape. I made a custom artwork for an exclusive and really scarce document.

Songs
Fanclub Requiem / Down In Your Dreams / Sleepin' In My Caravan / It Doesn't Matter / Spindizzy / Any Wonder How / Can't Get What You Want #1 / Little Picture Story Book / Katie Said So / Cherrytime / Rainin' Like Soft Fun / Hello Emptiness / Think I'm Gonna Get You / Here We Are (Through Your Veins) / All Wrapped Up / Jet's Gone / Sometimes You Win / This Time For Sure / Sunray / Help Me Make It Thru / Step On The Gas

PHIL SEYMOUR - 2 (1982)


















Phil Seymour 2 has been reissued but the Fuel Records release is NOT a reissue of the version of the record that was commercially released! It DOES feature all previously unreleased recordings of the songs that appeared on "2" because the first nine tracks of the original Richard Polodor/Bill Cooper version were remixed by Val Garay prior to release. Garay's work was hit or miss, and his original mix held back an otherwise decent album. It should also be noted that his cover of Dwight Twilley's "Looking For The Magic" was actually recorded during the sessions for his first album, and is not present on this release (but will be included on a future Archive release).

So, this is a brand new rip of a previously posted power pop vinyl only classic. Also included is a totally reworked artwork of the original Boardwalk LP unavailable elsewhere. Now, you have two kinds of links.

  1. First a brand new vinyl rip of the original Boardwalk LP recorded in Wav 44.1 Khz / 24 bit cleaned and then converted to FLAC Lossless 44.1 Khz / 24 bit. Artwork included. Size: 423 mb. FLAC Links 1 - 2 - 3
  2. Second, the 320 mp3 of the same Wav 44.1 Khz / 24 bit rip. Artwork included. Size: 84 mb Click on the title.
For the ones who will remember it, the album had been previously posted on PPC in June 2007 in mp3. You can read more info about the album here on the PPC blog.

Songs
Love Receiver / Don't Let Daddy Find Out / Dancing a Dream / Surrender / Looking for the Magic / Talk to Me / You Give Good Love / Suffering / Better to Me Than You / Tear up the Night