Shelf-Stacker's 20 Greatest Power Pop Albums of All Time
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- čas přidán 7. 09. 2024
- #powerpop #recordcollection #vinylcommunity
I love Power Pop. You'll get a sense of how much when you see how excited I am about my number 1 choice!
There are so many incredible records that didn't make my Top 20, but I've chosen the albums that have meant the most to me over the years. I'd love to get your feedback on my choices, and recommendations for bands I need to check out. ☮
#powerpop #vinylcommunity #recordcollection
Oh Man when I seen the title of this video I was so stoked to tune in and see your take on one of my favorite genres of all time, Power Pop! I even grabbed pen and paper as I’m always looking for PP albums I don’t have and you did not disappoint! My fave era of PP is the late 70’s early 80’s and we have a bit of overlap in our PP choices! The Records! Screams! 20/20! Big Star! Cheap Trick! Man I really dig how you mixed the classic PP with the more modern stuff of the 90’s and 00’s! I absolutely took notes! In my old band we used to cover Stacy’s Mom by FoW! And we also covered Cheap Trick! So sad to hear of Adam Schlesinger’s passing! I’m a nurse who does Covid testing daily at my job and I do all I can to battle this horrific illness! Loved this video and I took note of many bands I didn’t know Thank you for this incredible Show and Tell! Peace ☮️✌️👽🤘☮️
You have my utmost respect for the job you're doing to fight Covid. Other Vinyl Community members' channels gave me a real lift at the start of the pandemic, and it was that that prompted me to start uploading my own videos. I'm so pleased you enjoyed what you saw here. Keep up the great work. 🐱🏍 ☮
@@MrShelf-Stacker Absolutely! Still seeing a few “positive” Covid cases but it’s getting much less than it was! Thanks again! Peace ☮️🤘👽✌️☮️
Hey There - CZcams just now served me up your show from 3 years ago - and, first off, really cool to see two bands from my label on your list(Not Lame Recordings) and arguably one more(though, not technically), your #1...Jellyfish "Spilt Milk"(Not Lame released the "Fan Club" 4-CD box set in 2002).
Second, your tastes very and truly much align with my own...."Screams" being there? Well, RIGHT ON, man! The first Cheap Trick album being your choice to represent the band? Well, that would be my very hard choice to nudge to the top spot, as well . Grass Show? Yes! Merrymakers? Yes, again. But the cool one to see your life up...Straw. Whoa, nice surprise, that one. Loved that album, too - hard to import at a good cost to the U.S. back then, but my distro arm of Not Lame did. Tough to get folks to drop $30 on something they couldn't hear first(which was the case back in 1999).
Lastly, you are a true music loving pantheist with your passions in so many other genres! Very well done, good sir! Gonna be tracking you(in a good way, not a creep one) going forward - keep it all up!
Hi Bruce. So glad you found your way here! At the risk of chucking compliments right back at you, I was a huge fan of your label. I'm long overdue another Power Pop-themed video, and suspect there will probably be a couple of Not Lame releases featured when I get round to it. You're right about my casting my net wide when it comes to my taste in music. I'd love to host one of those channels which focuses on just one genre, but there's too much great music out there to limit myself. Keep watching. Glad to have you on board! ☮️
@@MrShelf-Stacker I would be like you - wanting to focus on many genres, which reflect my own personal tastes. It was funny during the Not Lame Recordings/Pop Geek Heaven years, many assumed I was *only* about power pop with my fandom/knowledge/singular passion and that could not have been further from the reality. (though, power pop certainly was a deep and genuine passion, without question)
So glad to hear of your past customer connection and enjoyment of so many releases in the Not Lame family - btw, a 2-LP reissue of "Godspeed the Shazam" will be coming out in 2025. Even though I'm 'out' of the music biz these days, I have been working with Hans and other inner circle supporters on the project for a few years, remastering(for vinyl), mixing, going through live material, demos, art work tweaks - and we're heading to a finish soon!
@@notlameguy That Shazam LP will be top of my wants list when it finally sees the light of day!
Merry Christmas! I just want to say that this is probably my favorite video from the past couple years that I've ever seen. Being 17 years old and having loved music with any sort of hook for most of my life, I've never had the sheer volume of amazing music recommendations that I've gotten from you aside from my dad and myself scrolling through rate your music. When I first saw the video I remember recognizing a couple of the bands like 'the Merrymakers', 'Bleu', 'the Records', and 'Big Star', as well as 'Cheap Trick', 'Fountains of Wayne', and 'Jellyfish' in the top 3 sealing the deal. Little did I know of the absolute wealth of music that I would discover through this video.
Many of these records helped me further understand the structure of a good record, and have inspired me more than ever to make my own music. I've done music stuff my entire life but this video took me to the next level. Now I sit here typing this, in the middle of drum tracking my very own power pop record, for songs that I've written in the timespan of seeing this video, in my room, with a bunch of recording gear I've borrowed from my dad and blown out my money I earned as a dishwasher on. I'd love it if you'd make another follow up ranking, or even emailed me a couple more music recommendations. Thanks for everything!
Yours is the kind of comment that makes creating CZcams content worthwhile. I'm so glad that my video has led you to some bands you might not otherwise have found, and I'm even more pleased to hear that you're making your own music. Perhaps you could share it on your channel when you're ready. I assumed that my small audience consisted solely of middle-aged men like myself, so it's great to know that somebody at an early stage of their musical journey has been watching. I definitely plan on posting more power pop-themed videos (as I've barely scraped the surface), so keep checking back. Thanks again for your feedback: it really has put a smile on my face! ☮️
@@MrShelf-Stacker You're more than welcome! I will reply to this comment with a link whenever my music is at a finished point. I look forward to more great videos in the future!
Red's (of RedcoMusic) runner up's:
21. The Cars - self-titled
22. The Knack - "Get the Knack"
23. Rick Springfield - "Working Class Dog"
24. The Outfield - "Play Deep"
25. The Bangles - "All Over the Place"
26. The Raspberries - self-titled
Some great albums there! One or two of those nearly made my Top Twenty.
The Knack and The Outfield!
Can’t argue with your top pick. Fantastic album.
These lists are hard since there would be so many missing from anyone’s list like Grand Prix by teenage fanclub, the posies frosting on the beater, badfinger straight up, the heats etc.. it’s an impossible task but bravo to your list. Always learn a few new ones and that is what it’s all about
I'm glad you appreciate what an impossible task it is to pick just 20. There are hundreds of other deserving LPs, I know. I'm pleased I introduced you to some that you may not have been familiar with. ☮️
Most inspiring choice of power pop albums ever. Great job man, great taste. Got a new favorite playlist now. Thanks!
Phil Seymour's self titled debut and The Pursuit of Happiness Love Junk. Two of my all time favorite power pop LPs
I don't know a great part of the albums that you tell it. Some albums, probably you know, on my favourites of power pop: Fingerprintz "Beat noir" (1979), Hellvelln (1991), Klang "Dots and dashes" from Nederlands, Tommy Tutone "2", The Radio (1981) from Sweden and Secretos "Algo más" (1983) from Spain. I will search your favourite albums for hear it.
Some new ones to me on your list. I'll have to give them a listen.
Hello. I really enjoyed your top 20 and great descriptions/ reviews! I’m a big power pop and jangle fan. Nice to see Merrymakers, Cherry Twister and Gigolo Aunts on your list. I have all of those and most of the other albums you showed. Will check out the few I don’t know. Thanks. Look forward to more videos. Cheers! / Matt
10:18 "nice use of Theremin"??? I think Cherry Twister's "Don't Forget Your Man" is the greatest use of one in a rock song (especially by high schoolers!).
Great video, full of bands I love that to be honest I hadn’t really sussed were power pop adjacent - Straw, Honeycrack, Webb Brothers and Grass-Show are all personal faves that still get listened to. I bloody love both Jellyfish albums. Very jealous of your Spilt Milk vinyl. I will definitely seek out some of the 1979 power pop iteration. Thanks so much for this.
Thanks for commenting Dino. For me, the mid-90s to early noughties were an era of incredible powerpop sneaking in the back door disguised as indie, Britpop etc. Supergrass is another band from back then that fits the bill: In It For The Money still gives me goose bumps.
Was watching this and didn’t recognize very many of the first 14 bands or so. All I could think was how can this guy not say Spilt Milk. Then there it was. Such a brilliantly produced and layered album. I always felt like it was as if Queen sang on a Pet Sounds-type concept album.
Queen doing Pet Sounds. Nail on the head!
I plan on listening to this whole video but i couldn't wait to recommend one of my all time favorite albums that's also power pop and criminally underappreciated... The Cave Dogs' Joy Rides for Shut Ins. Not a bad song on it and emphasizes the power in power pop imo.
I just pick some bands i like(their albums is good). The Motors,Fotomaker,Off Broadway,Pezband,Tommy Tutone...
All great bands!
My top 20 power pop albums may include only five bands: Sloan, The Flashing Lights, The New Pornographers, Fountains of Wayne, and The Shazam. Spilt Milk may come in somewhere around #75....I'll have to listen to it again soon.
Wonderful list! I wondered why Marshall Crenshaw did not make the list. His first record is my fave.
Only recently picked up that Marshall Crenshawe album. I need to immerse myself in it for a bit.
@@MrShelf-Stacker Kind of ironic as at the beginning of the video you say many bands or albums, in this genre, go unnoticed or fly under the radar.
@@theselector4733 I'd say it proves my point. There's so many artists that fall under the powerpop umbrella that it's impossible to know them all, let alone love them the moment you hear them. Marshall Crenshaw was one of those artists I always meant to check out, but as he didn't exactly set the charts alight in the UK his LPs aren't as easy to find here as they might be in the States. The rockabilly feel to some of his material (e.g. 'The Usual Thing') doesn't really float my boat, but his debut seems to be so highly regarded that I owe it to myself to keep listening.
Whenever You're On My Mind would have been bigger if (imo) they had a different producer.
Great Job!...will look into some I haven't Heard
Great video! All good picks! Have you ever heard of the band Pugwash? Very good Beach Boys influenced stuff :)
Oh yeah, I love Pugwash! And Duckworth Lewis Method too.
@@MrShelf-Stacker Yes!! Great stuff. My dad and I have always been huge power pop fanatics!
The Olympus Sound a favorite.
Hi ! You did a great job. You are clear, pedagogical and precise in the details. Your intervention is a pleasure to see. And even if I don't know 80% of the bands you mention, I want to listen to them! Cheers ! Hervé
Thanks for the glowing feedback! ☮️
weird to see this the day after Eric Carmen from the Raspberries passed away
So jealous of the spilt milk vinyl! Favourite band of all time next to the beach boys
my personal list of favorite power pop albums is:
10- Fotomaker - Fotomaker
9- Big Star - #1 Record
8- Cheap Trick - In Color
7- Joey Molland - After The Pearl
6- The Who - Who Are You?
5- 20/20 - 20/20
4- The Cars - The Cars
3 - The Raspberries - The Raspberries
2 - Badfinger - Say No More
1 - Badfinger - Wish You Were Here
Anyways, thanks for the cool list in your video, I'll check out some of that records! 👍🏻
That Fotomaker LP is a great choice. 'Can I Please Have Some More' is a classic!
You’re a bit heavy on the Badfinger. Badfinger had two of the best power pop singles, but not albums. Also, Big Star’s Radio City>#1 Record. Opinions, they’re like, well, you know the rest.
@@melodymakermarkactually yes they did...as good as the Apple albums were, their finest was 1974's "Wish You Were Here" on Warners...but sucks what happened after that...
Great video with some fascinating & brilliant choices, cheers 👍
Great pics, first, Jellyfish did get reissued on vinyl in the US, on Omnivore on green vinyl...cool you picked Grass Show, love that album, and Merrymakers too...off top of my head other great powerpop albums...Adam Schmitt "World So Bright", Sugarbomb "Bully", Richard X Heyman "Hey Man", Per Gessle (he of Roxette) "The World According to Gessle" (Per is THE powerpop master, tunes coming out of his pores), Rick Springfield "Working Class Dog", the Muffs (any but I'd pick 1997's "Happy Birthday to Me"), Letters to Cleo's "Wholesale Meats & Fish", Veruca Salt's "American Thighs", Shonen Knife's "Let's Knife", this band called the Sighs, album on Charisma/Virgin, forgot the title but so good, Marvelous 3 "Hey!! album", many more I could mention...
I've just recently got 2 of the Webb brothers brilliant
Worth noting Schlesinger also did Josie and the Pussycats and many musical numbers for Crazy Ex Girlfriend.
And was the third of Ivy. What an immense loss !
I used to watch Screams and Off Broadway in the local clubs in Central Illinois in the late 70s. They were both great bands. The songwriter of I Play For You is Greg Clemons and our band recorded a CD at his nine studio. Talented guy.
Jealous! Would have loved to have seen those bands.
I just discovered your channel and I’m so glad I did
Thank you. I hope you keep coming back!
Just 10 power pop albums I love a lot..
The Sweet - s/t
Jellyfish - Spilt Milk
Raspberries - s/t
Badfinger - Straight Up
The Knack - Get The Knack
Weezer - s/t
The Romantics - s/t
Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque
Nick Lowe - Labour of Lust
The Cars - Candy-o
Some stonewall classics there!
Sweet never had a self-titled album...no that was a US compilation on Bell Records from 1973, consisting of non-album UK singles on RCA released between 1971 & 1973...I have the 9CD Sweet boxset on RCA/Sony Germany & there is a disc in there called "The Lost Singles" which all those songs are included, plus more...if anything, "Ballroom Blitz" shoulda been included too cuz it was a non-album UK single from 1973, but Arista & Clive Davis dropped em in 1974 before the song came out in the US, so when Capitol signed em for the US (they were with RCA everywhere else through 1977), the first thing they put out was the US compilation version of "Desolation Boulevard" in 1975, which was really a retooled version of 1974's "Sweet Fanny Adams" with 1973's "Ballroom Blitz" & the rerecorded "Fox on the Run"...sorry for the Sweet corrections, love that band...
When Guided By Voices were on the TVT label (Do the Collapse & Isolation Drills) they were the best power pop band on the planet. The earlier stuff is GREAT but too weird and psychedelic to qualify.
You're right; their back catalogue is a bit daunting for the uninitiated. I like the weird stuff, but it definitely doesn't fit neatly into the powerpop box.
I have both Jellyfish originals, bought when they were released.
How did you skip over The Beat and their album "The Beat" from 1979? They had to change the name from The Beat to The Paul Collins Beat because there was another band called The Beat from England who had to change their name to The English Beat.
@ABARTH55 Great album! It features in one of my other power pop videos.
Did I miss when you said rasberries?
great video as always, adam schlesinger also wrote songs on the monkees 2016 good times album and plays on nearly ever track its a great power pop album with rivers cuomo, andy partridge, paul weller and noel gallagher writing songs too, adam also writes and plays on their christmas party album from 2018
Thanks for the heads-up. I need to check them out.
And Adam Schlesinger's original main band was trio IVY, with Andy Chase & French-born female chanteuse Dominique Durand (Andy's wife), such good cool music they made...like French pop meets 60s sunshine pop meets NY indie pop...FoW was originally a side band while Ivy was his main concern, but things got switched..."Apartment Life" was a masterpiece...anything Adam touched was golden & his loss was major...
Enjoyed your choice of albums. I thought I was a power pop geek, but I must admit I hadn't heard of The Merrymakers, Straw, Screams, Bleu, Grass-Show and Jackdaw. I've noted the names and will be checking them out further on CZcams ... The power pop tag, like all musical tags put on artists/bands, leaks into other tags and is ultimately a bit meaningless. There are many bands I love which more commonly get described as Mod Revival, Pop Punk, garage rock, Emo etc, but which play what I just class as guitar pop ... Off the top of my head, my Top 20 would include Material Issue 'International Pop Overthrow', The Flamin' Groovies 'Shake Some Action', The Promise Ring 'Very Emergency', The Muffs 'The Muffs', Velvet Crush 'Teenage Symphonies To God' , The Exploding Hearts 'Guitar Romantic' and The Media Whores 'Master Of Pop Hits' ... I love that you are so knowledgeable on different musical genres. Carl
Not as knowledgeable as you might think - The Promise Ring, The Exploding Hearts and The Media Whores are all new names to me. I'll definitely be investigating.
Thank you for this video, so many great suggestions! Listening to many of them now. Part 2 by any chance?
I'm definitely planning on another powerpop vid soon...
100% Fun, Matthew Sweet, Warehouse:Songs and Stories,Hüsker Dü
Pleased To Meet Me,The Replacements
Interesting and fascinating choices. And you're young! 1978/79 brought some musical gems to the States. We lived in a University town in St. Louis, Missouri where STIFF records was all the rage. I'm 61 and I have children as old as 38 and as young as 15. They all know Reckless Eric. And they all love Ian Dury. Not exactly Power Pop. Anyway, the Knack were around my first year as a driver. I loved them. Off Broadway? What an excellent choice you made with them. And then you mention the Tinted Windows project. Excellent. And then you go with Cheap Trick for the number two spot. Brilliant. Jellyfish seems to be the Power Pop aficionado's choice. Good video.
Thanks for your comments, particularly the one about me being young. You made a 56 year-old man very happy! 😂
I love Cherry Twister! I saw them live in NYC many years ago as part of the International Pop Overthrow festival. Their lead singer, Steve Ward, has put out two very tasty solo albums as well. I don't know whatever happened to Steve, but he was a true talent who deserved to make it big. And hang on to that 20/20 album. It's very hard to find as I've been looking for a copy for many years.
Thanks for the heads-up on the Steve Ward solo LPs. I'll seek them out for sure. Don't worry, my 20/20 LP isn't going anywhere!
I purchased an outdoor furniture set for my deck at FOUNTAINS Of WAYNE on route 46 Wayne NJ. Late 90's I believe. The band took their name from the actual store. I still have the table & umbrella set. "Welcome Interstate Managers" is a banger of an album.
Great album! I always loved the fact the band got its name from a garden supplies store.
Thanks for all the introductions. The electric soft parade are amazing. I listen to a few power pop bands like jellyfish, fountains of Wayne, weezer, Ozma, but I didn’t know about a lot of these. Let me give you a recommendation, check out the band The Stereo and their album “three hundred”
Thanks for the tip, Todd. Glad to know my video turned you on to a band you didn't know.
Hey really enjoyed this and got some great tips........can I recommend " Shoes: Black Vinyl Shoes", the DBs, and a Dublin band called " the number ones: lie to me, From OZ -The Stems: at first sight, Punk/power pop: Protex-I can't cope
Great recommendations. Shoes I know, the others I'll definitely have to check out.
What a fantastic list!
I knew when you dropped Cherry Twister that you knew your power pop! I've never hear of Straws, but that will change soon. As far as "Screams" goes, it's been sitting in my collection since the 80's and I have yet to listen to it. I think I picked it up in a dollar vinyl bin based on its cover and never put it on the turntable!
I happen to adore Silver Sun myself and "Neo Wave" would be near the top of my own list. A couple of great "one-off" discs would be The Semantics "Powerbill" (1993) and Teen Machine "After School Special" (2000).
Finally, I can't recommend the Swedish band Brainpool enough. Any of their discs are wonderful but "Painkiller" (1995) includes the masterpiece "Bandstarter". What a track!
I've submitted a Top 500 of my favorite tracks to youtube.
The link is czcams.com/video/Eh_5AgnxNNQ/video.htmlsi
There is plenty of Power Pop in it. Track 495 is "April's Fool" ;-)
Some great recommendations there, which I'll definitely be checking out. It never ceases to amaze me how many power pop bands exist that I've never even heard of! I'm overdue another power pop video, so watch this space....
Ok, Swedish band Brainpool...one of my fave powerpop artists is Per Gessle (he of Roxette fame), who consistently has had killer tunes coming out of his pores...well, his partner in crime for many years now, both solo, and sidebands & Roxette is Christoffer Lundquist from Brainpool...what a team!! Yes we lost Marie Fredricksson but despite her being a great singer, she was more a collaborator than partner...Chris has been more a musical partner...and the Swedes just make killer powerpop...another is This Perfect Day, their US major label debut "C-60" was amazing & another Swedish band I love is Tommy 16, who mix Oasis-esque Britpop with great Swede powerpop...
Great choices. Love the shazam and FOW. Will check out electric soft parade and few others that i dont know.
My faves are Wanderlust - prize, Mayflies usa - summertown, Brad jones - gilt flake, Zuckerbaby - s/t and Tsar - s/t All essential. More recent but classic. Great video.
Great taste, great choices.
Love both of Tsar's records...fun band live too
What a great list, a good number in there that I don't know, but I'm already in love with The Merrymakers, so looking forward to discovering some of the others too. Seeing as everyone else is chiming in with their lists , I'd also give honourable mentions to Mach V by The Vandalias and Jason Falkner Presents Author Unknown, his first solo album. I had those on either side of a C90 and wore it out.
Jason Falkner gets a big 👍🏻from me. The Vandalias I don't know. Thanks for the tip.
Interesting list. I will check the unfamiliar bands out. Some of my favorites - "The Flame" by The Flame (the Blondie Chaplin outfit). "This Day and Age" by D. L. Byron. "Beat & Torn" by The Spongetones.
I don’t know D.L. Byron... one for me to check out. I featured The Flame LP in my video about Beatlesque bands. Great album!
This is a great list!! Thanks to you I've been listening to The Webb Brothers and Shazam on repeat the last few days. Have you listened to the Introducing Sparks album; it's first rate power pop but bombed when released at the height of the punk movement.
I'm gradually building my Sparks collection, but don't have that one. Great band!
Matthew Sweet’s “In Reverse”, Owsley, Taxiride, Jellyfish, new Butch Walker…
Great top 20! You listed a few bands that passed me by that I need to explore.
Thanks Patrick ☮
I enjoyed this very much thank you.
Great post- I have no idea who most of these bands are. Was excited though to see that fountains of Wayne’s welcome interstate album was up there- that is a fantastic record whatever genre you call it! Jellyfish is not a band I knew either but am understanding based on your list and that of others on CZcams you that this particular album spilt milk is a masterpiece! A few other bands that I think get short shrift in these lists/discussions: the Dentists (try the compilation called Dresses then get more); flop and the fall of the mopsqueezer- self-titled or whenever you’re ready; Big Dipper- Craps. If you’ve not heard any of these you owe it to yourself to give them a listen!
Those recommendations are all new to me, so I'll seek them out. Cheers!
Enjoyed your list and naturally there will also be albums others would have in the top 20 but that is not why most of us watch these videos. I believe most of us watch in order to learn a few new PP titles which you did for me. Believe me, that is hard to do since I think I know them all (which is not the case - never can be the case) kudos on that web brothers lp by the way. That is a gem! In my top 20 I would have had Grand Prix by teenage fanclub, frosting on the beater by the posies and present tense by shoes so curious on what you think of those classics. What about shake some action by the groovies and the last LA explosion? Thanks for doing this!
Grand Prix is my favourite Teenage Fanclub LP, and Frosting is my favourite Posies album. So nearly included both of those! Some tough decisions had to be made. I'm going to have to do a part 2 where I show some of the records that just missed my top 20.
You notice how much Buddy Holly made an impression on these powerpop acts?
Huge fan of Fountains of Wayne but for some reason I’ve never really taken to Jellyfish.
Can't be helped if a band doesn't click with you. There's plenty of bands I should love but leave me cold.
Great video, lots of unknowns here for me, so plenty to check out. Enjoyed this and have subbed.
Cheers Rob. Much appreciated.
Mr.Shelf is Georgeous 😍😍… I love this kind of man who loves music 😊😊
You're too kind ☮️
Enjoyed your video very much. Thanks for The Webb Brothers suggestion. IMHO, Kontiki by Cotton Mather has to be on all Power Pop Top 20 lists, and One Mississippi by Brendan Benson is no slouch. Oh, and Evan Hillhouse s/t from 2005. :-) Thanks for the video.
How did I manage to leave out Kontiki?! Damn!
Check these out : THE DBS STANDS FOR DECIBELS + THE DBS -REPERCUSSION .......SPARKS - PROPAGANDA ......BIG STARS 1ST 2 ALBUMS....CRACK THE SKY- WHITE MUSIC {songs , skin deep + techno generation } ....HENRY GROSS - PLUG ME INTO SOMETHING { songs dixie spiderman, southern band, tommorrows memory lane } . THE RAVYNS { Baltimore band, song, raised on the radio, rhytym of the heart }
An impossible task. Some classic powerpop bands today as well.
Impossible to reach a consensus with other powerpop fans, but I know what I like! You're right, there are tons of great new powerpop bands out there.
Great video. Lots I agree with, lots I would pick a different album by the same artist, lots of new things for me to check out! What more could I ask for in a CZcams vid? A couple of albums I would have in mine that you didn't feature would be Lolas - Something You Oughta Know and Cotton Mather - Kontiki. As for Redd Kross, I always felt Show World was the more timeless album where the harder elements are less grungy. Also keep an eye out for news about Godspeed The Shazam. Interesting stuff is in the works for anyone who loves that album.
My eyes are peeled for the Shazam news - intriguing. And you're right, Kontiki should definitely be in my Top 20... but what would I remove to make room for it?
@@MrShelf-Stacker Lists are fun because they are impossible!
@@MrShelf-Stacker Take a look here for the Shazam news... at least a teaser: czcams.com/video/eNPKW3ThpuE/video.html
Good stuff! Lots of bands which are new to me, I'll look forward to checking out.
Glad to see the Webb Brothers getting some love. I think I've got their three albums, but Maroon is by far my favourite.
I've never listened to Cheap Trick, I think my prejudices and possible misconceptions have made me steer clear. The problem is, they seem to be championed by the same people who go on and on about shitey 70s US stadium rock. But on your recommendation I'll have to give them a go.
Cheers - Hedley
Cheers, Hedley! Do check out the debut Cheap Trick album - definitely not stadium rock: far too snotty and in-yer-face for that. You've given me the idea for my next video... Top 20 Shitey 70s US Stadium Rock Acts 😂
Cheap Trick may have been promoted in the US like that, but they first really clicked in Japan and have more in common with Britpop (they are Anglophiles), powerpop & punk than bad US stadium rock & metal...maybe the fact that they toured with everyone both good and bad (to them, a gig's a gig, it's all a payday) worked both for and against them...but they kept their cultlike fanbase, plus lately, they are on an artistic roll, with their most recent 5 albums as great as the first 4... seriously...the latest "In Another World" is a masterpiece!!
Funny how Illinois was an epicenter of power pop. Tons of great bands
So true.
Oh sorry forgot: The Fans- True
How how how did you leave "girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet off this list? I honestly thought it'd be number one.
What, and knock Jellyfish off their perch? No way. Girlfriend is a great album though. I just wish I could have 50 records in my Top 20 😄
Matthew Sweet was influenced heavily by Cheap Trick and his later album Blue Sky on Mars is another awesome power pop album. Plus most of his band is Velvet Crush, another underrated power pop group.
To make it 21 I would add Sterophonics Peformance and Cocktails .
Interesting. I played that CD a ton when it came out, but never thought of it as power pop. Perhaps I need to listen to it with fresh ears.
Posies? Teenage Fanclub?
This sorta music…I’m thinking The Cars,The Buzzcocks or Veruca Salt…. love these bands,but it’s always Hard Rock/HM for me
Love your choices, except the omission ofvthecRaspberries,,whobperfectedvtheveholevgenre❤😮😢
Don’t forget Jason Falkner from Jellyfish One and lots of great solo stuff, plus the Grays.
Really enjoyed the list. A bit disappointed that superdrag, Weezer and teenage fanclub weren't in the top 20
Ha ha! If I'd included all the records that viewers think should have made my top 20, it would be a top 50! Last Call For Vitriol came very close. ☮
I have a lot of these artists among various playlists. I would say, you should have had The Raspberries somewhere in the top 10. They had more commercial success than Big Star which should count for something. The Raspberries have to be acknowledged as the core of Power Pop’s successful beginnings.
I struggle to get my head around what it is that defines Power Pop. Always have. I assumed it was an American term. Interesting to hear one or two references to Swedish artists. Is there a link or was that just coincidence? I can think of some great Swedish Pop artist that aim more for the domestic audience, but that are worthy of international attention. Check out Veronica Maggio's 2nd album 'Och Vinnaren Är...' (And The Winner Is...). Anyway, back to Power Pop. Would you say that The Act were Power Pop? They only made one album, 'Too Late At 20', but it is what comes to my mind when I hear definitions of Power Pop.
Sweden produces so many great stoner, progressive, power pop and hard rock bands. I think there's something in the water over there. They're doing with music what the Japanese did with cars and electronics in the 70s: taking it, making it their own, and in many cases improving on it. Hey, they gave the world ABBA, so they know more than anyone about great pop music! As for what defines Power Pop, who knows! Far as I'm concerned, if it sounds like Power Pop to my ears, then it is. But you're right, pinning it down is tricky. Never heard of The Act. Just listened to a few tracks on CZcams, and I reckon they fit the bill. That said, their track 'The Long Island Sound' could almost be a New Wave Bruce Springsteen.
The Act?? They were the precursor to the Dream Academy, as they had 2 of the 3 members...singer/guitarist Nick Laird-Clowes & keyboardist Gilbert Gabriel...they broke up or grew out of the Act cuz Elvis Costello accused them of sounding too much like him & Nick was quite embarrassed & became determined to find his own original sound...I heard a track by the Act & despite the EC similarities, it was a catchy song...
@@lawrencedavis4406 I did not know that about Elvis Costello. I don't believe Gilbert was in the Act, but Mark Gilmour, brother of David Gilmour was. I suspect that was the connection that allowed Nick Laird-Clowes to write some material for The Division Bell in 1994.
I just gave you sub number 300.
Ive always preferred the first Jellyfish LP. Also, nobody ever mentions Pezband, in the lsit of great Powerpop albums. Laughing in The Dark is a classic.
I think Pezband get a fair bit of love. Their self-titled is at #47 in John M. Borack's book. I need to dig out their LPs again as they haven't really clicked with me yet.
@@MrShelf-Stacker Laughing In The Dark, the second album, is their best.
@@neilherring Cheers Neil. I'll give it a listen this week. I have that one, the debut and a mini album called Thirty Seconds Over Schaumburg, all sat on the shelf waiting for that eureka moment.
never heard of any of them
@@strider5453 Now you have!
Just wondering if you have a copy of the UK Band called Shooter from 1978 on CD. Cheers.
No I don't. Is it one I should check out?
@@MrShelf-Stacker probably. I had a copy but lent it years ago, was hoping someone would put the album on CZcams. Unfortunately it's not on CD only vinyl, but only over seas. Cheers anyway.
So, this was interesting. Lots of stuff I know, which I expected, but some fairly obscure bands - especially amongst the CDs.
Back in the day, I used to hit the Our Price CD sales, and better than that, the branch of Record & Tape Exchange thatt was (is?) just down the road from Kings Cross station, when I visited London.
They would buy in used CDs, and start them at a high price; then they'd come down a pound every week until they hit £3, at which point they would be dumped into locked cabinets at floor level. I would always ask to the key & end up buying a foot high pile of discs that looked interesting. Amazingly enough, I don't think I ever picked up anything that didn't have some merit - even the Danish death metal compilation was funny - if only for their attempts to write lyrics in English!
I picked up quite a lot of obscure indie/neo-psych/new wave/power pop bands that way, including some of the artists you showed.
I will have to try to tracxk down copies of the ones that I'd never heard of.
I was particularly glad to see you show that Jackdaw4 double album. I recommended that one to Hanna, The Omaha Introvert, in a comment on one of her power pop videos.
Arftists I might have listed would be The Yachts - albeit I liked them more before their original vocalist left after the first single. If I remember correctly, he was also on a 30 minute BBC in concert recording, which I no longer have.
Another would be Pretty much any of Sean Tyla's work - Ducks Deluxe, Tyla Gang & solo. I don't know if Ducks Deluxe could really be considered power pop, but Tyla Gang might.
The Record & Tape Exchange! I dread to think how much of my cash found its way into their tills over the years. I used to hit up the branches in Camden Town, Notting Hill Gate and Goldhawk Road all on the same day and stagger home under the weight of vinyl. And you're right, those CD cabinets yielded up some gems too at a price where you could take a chance on something that looked interesting.
A notable release. Bram Tchaikovsky. Strange Man Changed Man.
Definitely. Powerpop royalty!
Sad by absence of Badfinger and The Raspberries... But you pretty much nailed all of the classics... Do you like Shoes mate?
I love all those bands, but there's too much competition for a place in my top 20!
So no music ?
Give - "Present Tense" a listen by Shoes
I have that LP, and Black Vinyl Shoes. Need to give them both another spin.
I reckon Raspberries were the first overtly power pop band, predating Big Star.
You're probably right. Both debuts came out in '72, but I think the Raspberries LP was slightly earlier in the year.
Badfinger predated them, though…
@@vampyros1 Get the Message from 1969 sounds like 1972 Raspberries.
@@finslaw I’ll check it out. I remember Carmen saying he once hired somebody to the Raspberries just because “he looked like Todd Rundgren”. ‘Forget All About It’, by Nazz, is the definitive power pop song, for me… recorded early’69.
As far as power pop goes, there's Big Star. Then there's everybody else.
That was a brilliant description at the start but I'm still not sure really is it a genre or what it is. I suppose it's good music sure with proper guitars......
I suppose that categorising any kind of music can be pretty arbitrary and Power Pop is particularly hard to define. But I'm pretty sure I know it when I hear it, or at least, what I think of as Power Pop. If nothing else, it sparks some interesting debate.
Superdrag
You are gorgeous and your voice is soothing❤❤❤
Thank you. You've made my week!
20/20. Db s repercussion. The records let's active cypress. Jellyfish spilt milk. Windbreakers. Rockpile seconds of pleasure. Blackfoot sue the sweet. Raspberries starting over. The bears car caught fire
What is the power in power pop? I always thought it was pop that rocked a bit
Nailed it!
Why are you omitting the godfathers of “Power Pop” from the Sixties, Seventies, Eighties? You should know better!
It can’t be happenstance that you’re stuck on ‘79 and ‘99.
You seem to be focusing on mostly obscure bands.
Why so many references to The (overrated) Beach Boys?
Hype is more powerful than the Truth.
And, why no solo music artists?
You stuck your neck out way too far.
Thank the Gods that You included Cheap Trick.
Cool power Pop album from 2014, The Reign "The Long Wait" & from 2020 The Reign "Storm" check these albums out
Will do! Thanks for the recommendations. ☮️
Have you not heard of Matthew Sweet? Where is Girlfriend? You mentioned "Get The Knack" - did they not deserve a mention above "Straw" or "Screams" or "Off Broadway"? #FAIL
A great pair of albums, and if I was doing a video of YOUR twenty favourite powerpop LPs I would have included them, but they don't quite make MY top 20. One of the things that makes music appreciation so special is that it's subjective. I'm not trying to tell people what to like, just showing some records that mean a lot to me. #MissingThePoint
Love vids when I dont know half the albums! Turns me on to “new” music possibilities. Thanks!
My pleasure!
Spilt milk. End. Of. ❤
Cheap Trick 77 is power pop on steroids.
Are you Power Pop Pop Pop?
Am I what??
🤠 Shoes ❤
Mr Shelf do you consider The Thrills power pop ?
They're certainly in the general ballpark, but the banjo and harmonica take them in a different direction. So, the definitive answer is: maybe, I dunno. ☮
@@MrShelf-Stacker yea it’s a little too rootsy but always thought it had a power pop heart at times
you need to grow some hair
Hey Mr Self Wacker what are the 20 best shampoos?
Spilt Milk is a great album with one major flaw. Sebrina, Paste and Plato. One of the most annoying songs ever recorded. Hate it immensely. But still better than Ignorance Is Bliss. Nobody’s perfect 😂