To say that the New York Dolls were not a huge influence on the punk rock scene on both sides of the pond in the mid to late 70s would simply be ignoring history. One need only check out Steve Jones' guitar solos on any of a number of Sex Pistols singles to hear his shameless rip of Johnny Thunders unmistakable guitar sound. The Dolls had the punk attitude and the amphetamine-laced hooks down when their eponymous first record hit the streets way back in 1973. Shambolic and raw, they sounded as if their entire operation could crash and burn at any moment, but their sound perfectly meshed with the zeitgeist of the burgeoning punk movement.
Here's exhibit A, the Dolls' Personality Crisis, which has always sounded to me like Chuck Berry on crank. Cheers!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Weekend Songcrush
WTF do you mean "embedding disabled by request"?
In any case, enjoy Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs "Never Miss a Beat." I dare you not to sing it all weekend.
In any case, enjoy Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs "Never Miss a Beat." I dare you not to sing it all weekend.
Weekend Listomania (Special Casey Kasem, We Hardly Knew Ye! Video Edition)
Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental groinal consultant appointment secretary Fah Lo Suee and I are off to France, home of the Ignoble Frog, for the tenth annual "'Allo, Sailor!" festival. It's a reunion of the surviving crew of Jacques Cousteau's ship The Calypso, and as usual, we'll be touring the colorful waterfront bars and late night establishments of Marseilles.
As a result (and also because I'm thoroughly embarrassed at having recycled that joke yet again), posting by moi will necessarily be somewhat fitful for a few days.
But until then, as always, here's a fun project for us all to contemplate:
BEST POST-BEATLES SINGLE OR ALBUM CUT THAT SHOULD HAVE A HUGE FRICKING HIT BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON WASN'T!!!
Self-explanatory, I think. The original idea here was to list either records that actually charted, albeit not as highly as they should have, or else historic commercial flops along the lines of "River Deep, Mountain High" (which is practically its own category and way overfamiliar, which is why it's not included here). Non-chart records that just should have been hits but have otherwise been lost in the dim mists of rock history are, of course, also acceptable.
In any case, my top of my head Top Eleven is --
11. The Poor-- She's Got the Time (She's Got the Changes)
Future Eagle Randy Meisner on bass; song written by either Brewer or Shipley (of "One Toke Over the Line" fame); group managed and produced by the Greene-Stone team that also managed and produced the Buffalo Springfield. I know for a fact that this got a fair amount of airplay in the NYC area in 1966 because I used to hear it a lot on WMCA-AM and, in fact, was moved to go out and buy the damn thing at Sam Goody. Apparently not big in the rest of the country, however.
10. Stealers Wheel -- Star
The barely successful followup to "Stuck in the Middle of You," and like that much bigger hit, written by group member Gerry Rafferty. As a solo, Rafferty would have better luck a few years later with "Baker Street," but in any case, this is quite adorably Beatle-ish, I think.
9. The Detroit Cobras -- Cha Cha Twist
If there was a sexier rock record released in this decade I haven't heard it. Singer Rachel Nagy rules, obviously.
8. The Easybeats -- Heaven and Hell
The followup to "Friday on My Mind" and an even more epochal masterpiece, I think. Yet despite brilliant production by Glyn Johns and keyboard work by Nicky Hopkins, the record stiffed in the U.S. -- because, or so it has always been said, radio stations were offended by the line "Discovering someone else in your bed." Ah, the Sixties....
7. Shocking Blue -- Never Marry a Railroad Man
The followup to "Venus" was a major hit in Europe, but only barely Top 40 in the States. I think it's gorgeous, myself. You can find it, along with the even lovelier Serenade, which stiffed in 1973, on their wondeful third album, available at Amazon here. Both songs are also available on iTunes, for those who care.
6. The Raspberries -- Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
A record about desperately wanting to go Top Ten which only barely cracked the Top 40, despite being pretty much the band's masterpiece. The ironies abound, obviously.
5. Lorraine Ellison -- Stay With Me Baby
One of the last great baroque flowerings of classic soul, but after its brief appearances on the nation's radios in early 1966, it was largely forgotten by all but a devoted cult. It's been often covered since, of course, but I think the original remains definitive.
4. The Left Banke -- Desiree
(No video on YouTube, alas. Although you can watch and listen to a fan-made Sims video version here.)
This was the eagerly awaited followup to "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina." It took six months -- and cost $35,000, an enormous amount of money at the time -- to produce, and its progress engendered reams of breathless speculation in the then nascent rock press (those liner notes on the rear sleeve of the single address them, as you can see). Unfortunately, when it was finally released in late '67, it barely scraped into the bottom reaches of the Hot 100. Was it too ambitious? Too complex? I didn't hear it that way at the time -- I thought it was a knockout, actually -- and on balance I still think it's their best record.
3. Del Amitri -- Not Where It's At
From the staggeringly gorgeous twelve-string sound to the ache in Justin Curry's voice to the definitively world weary lyric, this is my candidate for Great Lost Power Pop Single of the 90s.
2. Danny Wilde -- Isn't it Enough
This got a lot of play on MTV in 1986, but the album it's from -- The Boyfriend -- is all but forgotten and has never been on CD. Go figure. In any case, despite an occasionally ridiculous lyric (that crap about "your fire," for instance) and a certain Aroma de Big 80s, I think it's a genuinely poignant song with killer hooks and guitars. Wilde, of course, did much better years later as a member of the Rembrandts, of "Theme From Friends" fame.
And the number one coolest record that millions of people should have bought but didn't, it's not even a contest so why are we even arguing about it for crissakes, is obviously --
1. The Byrds -- Lady Friend
Their absolute creative peak, but it totally went over the larger pop audience's head in 1967, a fact which irked composer David Crosby no end, especially after Roger McGuinn declined to put it on their then current album The Notorious Byrd Brothers. At which point Crosby either quit the band or was fired; he was replaced on the album cover photo by a horse, which he also reportedly found irksome.
Awrighty then -- what would your choices be?
[Shameless Blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania -- theme: Movies You Loved As a Kid That Turn Out Not to Be So Hot -- is now up over at Box Office. As always, if you could see your way to going over there and leaving a comment, it would help get me in good with management. I thank you!]
As a result (and also because I'm thoroughly embarrassed at having recycled that joke yet again), posting by moi will necessarily be somewhat fitful for a few days.
But until then, as always, here's a fun project for us all to contemplate:
BEST POST-BEATLES SINGLE OR ALBUM CUT THAT SHOULD HAVE A HUGE FRICKING HIT BUT FOR WHATEVER REASON WASN'T!!!
Self-explanatory, I think. The original idea here was to list either records that actually charted, albeit not as highly as they should have, or else historic commercial flops along the lines of "River Deep, Mountain High" (which is practically its own category and way overfamiliar, which is why it's not included here). Non-chart records that just should have been hits but have otherwise been lost in the dim mists of rock history are, of course, also acceptable.
In any case, my top of my head Top Eleven is --
11. The Poor-- She's Got the Time (She's Got the Changes)
Future Eagle Randy Meisner on bass; song written by either Brewer or Shipley (of "One Toke Over the Line" fame); group managed and produced by the Greene-Stone team that also managed and produced the Buffalo Springfield. I know for a fact that this got a fair amount of airplay in the NYC area in 1966 because I used to hear it a lot on WMCA-AM and, in fact, was moved to go out and buy the damn thing at Sam Goody. Apparently not big in the rest of the country, however.
10. Stealers Wheel -- Star
The barely successful followup to "Stuck in the Middle of You," and like that much bigger hit, written by group member Gerry Rafferty. As a solo, Rafferty would have better luck a few years later with "Baker Street," but in any case, this is quite adorably Beatle-ish, I think.
9. The Detroit Cobras -- Cha Cha Twist
If there was a sexier rock record released in this decade I haven't heard it. Singer Rachel Nagy rules, obviously.
8. The Easybeats -- Heaven and Hell
The followup to "Friday on My Mind" and an even more epochal masterpiece, I think. Yet despite brilliant production by Glyn Johns and keyboard work by Nicky Hopkins, the record stiffed in the U.S. -- because, or so it has always been said, radio stations were offended by the line "Discovering someone else in your bed." Ah, the Sixties....
7. Shocking Blue -- Never Marry a Railroad Man
The followup to "Venus" was a major hit in Europe, but only barely Top 40 in the States. I think it's gorgeous, myself. You can find it, along with the even lovelier Serenade, which stiffed in 1973, on their wondeful third album, available at Amazon here. Both songs are also available on iTunes, for those who care.
6. The Raspberries -- Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)
A record about desperately wanting to go Top Ten which only barely cracked the Top 40, despite being pretty much the band's masterpiece. The ironies abound, obviously.
5. Lorraine Ellison -- Stay With Me Baby
One of the last great baroque flowerings of classic soul, but after its brief appearances on the nation's radios in early 1966, it was largely forgotten by all but a devoted cult. It's been often covered since, of course, but I think the original remains definitive.
4. The Left Banke -- Desiree
(No video on YouTube, alas. Although you can watch and listen to a fan-made Sims video version here.)
This was the eagerly awaited followup to "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina." It took six months -- and cost $35,000, an enormous amount of money at the time -- to produce, and its progress engendered reams of breathless speculation in the then nascent rock press (those liner notes on the rear sleeve of the single address them, as you can see). Unfortunately, when it was finally released in late '67, it barely scraped into the bottom reaches of the Hot 100. Was it too ambitious? Too complex? I didn't hear it that way at the time -- I thought it was a knockout, actually -- and on balance I still think it's their best record.
3. Del Amitri -- Not Where It's At
From the staggeringly gorgeous twelve-string sound to the ache in Justin Curry's voice to the definitively world weary lyric, this is my candidate for Great Lost Power Pop Single of the 90s.
2. Danny Wilde -- Isn't it Enough
This got a lot of play on MTV in 1986, but the album it's from -- The Boyfriend -- is all but forgotten and has never been on CD. Go figure. In any case, despite an occasionally ridiculous lyric (that crap about "your fire," for instance) and a certain Aroma de Big 80s, I think it's a genuinely poignant song with killer hooks and guitars. Wilde, of course, did much better years later as a member of the Rembrandts, of "Theme From Friends" fame.
And the number one coolest record that millions of people should have bought but didn't, it's not even a contest so why are we even arguing about it for crissakes, is obviously --
1. The Byrds -- Lady Friend
Their absolute creative peak, but it totally went over the larger pop audience's head in 1967, a fact which irked composer David Crosby no end, especially after Roger McGuinn declined to put it on their then current album The Notorious Byrd Brothers. At which point Crosby either quit the band or was fired; he was replaced on the album cover photo by a horse, which he also reportedly found irksome.
Awrighty then -- what would your choices be?
[Shameless Blogwhore: My parallel Cinema Listomania -- theme: Movies You Loved As a Kid That Turn Out Not to Be So Hot -- is now up over at Box Office. As always, if you could see your way to going over there and leaving a comment, it would help get me in good with management. I thank you!]
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Oh Good Grief, It's Another Early Clue to the New Direction
From 2006, here's irrepressible gay twin brothers Jacob and Joshua Miller, a/k/a Nemesis, and their actually kind of catchy dance pop anthem "Number One in Heaven."
As always, a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded the first reader who gleans the clip's relevance to tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
Rotsa ruck, though.
As always, a coveted PowerPop No-Prize will be awarded the first reader who gleans the clip's relevance to tomorrow's Weekend Listomania.
Rotsa ruck, though.
Turn on the A.C.
As you know the PowerPop crew is absolutely bananas about the New Pornographers, so it was wonderful news to hear that NP majordomo A.C. Newman has a new solo disc out. Released last week on the mighty Matador label, it's another blast of his trademark baroque pop.
Of course, I just ordered a copy of Get Guilty, so I have not listened to it in its entirety, but the clips I have heard have been very encouraging. It's been a long wait since his 2004 release Slow Wonder, but it appears the wait has been worth it.
Of course, I just ordered a copy of Get Guilty, so I have not listened to it in its entirety, but the clips I have heard have been very encouraging. It's been a long wait since his 2004 release Slow Wonder, but it appears the wait has been worth it.
Thursday Videocrush: "The Sky is Falling"
With our compliments, please enjoy the latest vid from ultra-cool Chicago pop punksters (and friends of PowerPop) The Safes. The song, of course, is from their new, and killer, Sight of all Light EP.
Incidentally, although I get the whole Puppet Theater thing, I would like to go on record as saying these guys are lot better looking than the characters in the video. As you can plainly see from what is, IMHO, the cleverest and most artful rock group photo of the last twenty years. (Note Brian Jones and friends in the background. Heh heh.)
For more about these guys -- including links to where you can either download more of their music (from iTunes et al) or buy the actual CDs, go here. You'll thank me, I'm sure.
Incidentally, although I get the whole Puppet Theater thing, I would like to go on record as saying these guys are lot better looking than the characters in the video. As you can plainly see from what is, IMHO, the cleverest and most artful rock group photo of the last twenty years. (Note Brian Jones and friends in the background. Heh heh.)
For more about these guys -- including links to where you can either download more of their music (from iTunes et al) or buy the actual CDs, go here. You'll thank me, I'm sure.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Ain't Gonna Worry No More
Why Obama's Election Was a Historical Imperative, Part XXXVII:
Former Plimsouls frontman turned mesmeric contemporary blues guy Peter Case is recovering from emergency open heart surgery.
Like a lot of folks, including too many artists, Case has no health insurance, of course.
On his blog Sunday, Case, 55, posted "The surgery was successful, but I am now on a long program of recovery. In other words, I'm glad to be alive, but it really kicked my ass."
We here at PowerPop wish him all the best, obviously.
[h/t Madame Rosa]
Former Plimsouls frontman turned mesmeric contemporary blues guy Peter Case is recovering from emergency open heart surgery.
Like a lot of folks, including too many artists, Case has no health insurance, of course.
On his blog Sunday, Case, 55, posted "The surgery was successful, but I am now on a long program of recovery. In other words, I'm glad to be alive, but it really kicked my ass."
We here at PowerPop wish him all the best, obviously.
[h/t Madame Rosa]
Magic Christian Music
What happens when you put together ex-members of the Flamin' Groovies, the Plimsouls, and add a drummer who's been in every powerpop band that has ever existed? You get Magic Christian! Their sound veers more toward 60's garage punk and R&B, but they can put a nice melody together when they want to. They have one disc out now on Repeat Records, with a new one in the works that will come out on the Cynics Get Hip label.
Here are the boys performing live at SXSW:
Here are the boys performing live at SXSW:
Fun With Audio
Ever wonder what an ABBA song might sound like if it was done by a really cool powerpop band? By which I mean one with guitars?
Exhibit A: From 1996, how about The Wondermints (featuring members of Brian Wilson's current touring band) doing a killer "Knowing Me, Knowing You"?
Okay, as you may have guessed, this is actually an excuse for me to check out a new audio link thingie I just got turned on to -- and if it works, there'll be LOTS more interesting music around here in the future. The bottom line, however, is you should be able to download the MP3 by clicking on this.
And if it doesn't work -- will somebody please tell me how to post a link from a Zip file already?
I thank you.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Orchestral Manouevres Up Your Nose
From 1984, here's Freur and a live version of their astonishing "Doot Doot."
I have absolutely adored this song since the day in the late 80s I heard it on somebody's mix tape at a bar I frequented. So I am thrilled beyond words to finally find this video and see what the band looked like.
Seriously, this is pretty much the only synth pop record of the era that I think really holds up. It's like an aural dreamscape combining the baroque magificence of a Bach chorale with the pop simplicity and guitars of a Buddy Holly song. Only thing keeping it from being an absolute unqualified masterpiece is -- IMHO -- the singer, who has a bit more of that affectless (then fashionable) croon than is really healthy. On the other hand, he seems to be having an infectiously good time in the clip, so I'm willing to cut him some slack.
Anyway, a great song, unjustly forgotten. I would have put up an audio clip of the studio version but I don't know how to link to a zip file (hint hint). In any case, if you want it, e-mail me and I'll send you the mp3.
I have absolutely adored this song since the day in the late 80s I heard it on somebody's mix tape at a bar I frequented. So I am thrilled beyond words to finally find this video and see what the band looked like.
Seriously, this is pretty much the only synth pop record of the era that I think really holds up. It's like an aural dreamscape combining the baroque magificence of a Bach chorale with the pop simplicity and guitars of a Buddy Holly song. Only thing keeping it from being an absolute unqualified masterpiece is -- IMHO -- the singer, who has a bit more of that affectless (then fashionable) croon than is really healthy. On the other hand, he seems to be having an infectiously good time in the clip, so I'm willing to cut him some slack.
Anyway, a great song, unjustly forgotten. I would have put up an audio clip of the studio version but I don't know how to link to a zip file (hint hint). In any case, if you want it, e-mail me and I'll send you the mp3.
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