Friday, March 30, 2012

Give More Power Pop to the People

       The really warm spell we had here in the northeast is over, but spring will be back soon so I thought it was time for some power pop.  I've mostly resisted power pop mixtapes on this blog (with the exception of this 90s power pop compilation) in part because there's so many other great power pop blogs on the web.  One of the most prominent one is http://powerpopcriminals.blogspot.com/ and about 4-5 years ago, they put together a huge, 8-9 part compilation from the best 200 power pop albums of all time.  Now, I don't know if this violates some ethical boundary, but I took 32 of my faves from that 200 and created a much smaller 2 volume compilation (I'll post volume 2 next week).

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Overnight Sensation (Hit Record) Raspberries
The Company of Light Chris Stamey
The One Cloud Eleven
Gold Town Tommy Keene
Sally Works Nights Liverpool Echo
Couldn't Help Myself Bobby Sutliff
I Want You To Want Me Cheap Trick
With My Face On The Floor Emitt Rhodes
We Love Girls Buster
Remember The Lightning 20-20
Tiger Nights The Bongos
The Popular Splitsville
A Girl (La La La) Artful Dodger
Faith Sex Clark Five
A Different Sunday Beagle
You've Got No Time The Cowsills

Thursday, March 22, 2012

All Hail the New Traditionalists - Sharon Jones and the Detroit Cobras

           I thought of putting together a Sharon Jones and Detroit Cobras compilation a while back, but I was waiting for a new Cobras release.  That was about 18 months ago, and since there doesn't seem to be one forthcoming in the near future.... well, now's as good time as any (especially with summer on its way - if, I may be so bold, I think it would make a nice bbq soundtrack).   And I know traditionalist is kind of a silly term, but, hey, it seemed a bit better than revivalist. :)

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100 Days, 100 Nights Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Hey Sailor The Detroit Cobras
Ain't Hittin' on Nothin' The Detroit Cobras
My Man Is A Mean Man Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
(I Wanna Know) What's Going on The Detroit Cobras
Give It Back Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Wild About That Thing Sharon Jones, Alvin Youngblood Hart & Teenie Hodges
I'll Be Home Someday Detroit Cobras
I Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Is In Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
I'll Keep Holding On The Detroit Cobras
Pick It Up, Lay It In The Cut Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Ya Ya Ya (looking For My Baby) The Detroit Cobras
Heartbeat The Detroit Cobras
She Ain't a Child No More Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
Last Nite The Detroit Cobras
What If We All Stopped Paying Taxes? Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
The Dap Dip Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
As Long As I Have You The Detroit Cobras

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Damnations - Where it lands

   I know I posted some Texas country two weeks ago, but since SXSW is going on as I type, I figured I'd post the second album, 2002's Where it lands, from the great Austin band The Damnations.  Their 1998 self-titled first album (which they had to release under the name Damnations, TX for legal reasons) is still available as an mp3 album.  It's a little better, imho, but Where it lands  is still an alternative country gem, too.

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All Night Special
Quarter in the Couch
Root On
Steeple Full of Swallows
Wanna Be Your Mama
Animal Children
Bloodhound
New Hope Cemetery
Corona
Tora Tora Tora
Time To Go Home

Thursday, March 8, 2012

I'm Living in the 80's! (Disc Four)

     It's really no use try to defend/rationalize/excuse one's musical nostalgia especially since (imho) it's the rare person who doesn't indulge their music nostalgia jones at least occasionally.  In that spirit, here's another 80s (mostly postpunk) mixtape (You can also still download Discs 1-3.

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Dissidents Thomas Dolby
Appetite Prefab Sprout
Death at One's Elbow The Smiths
Landslide Cabaret Voltaire
Producer Gang of Four
Motorcrash Sugarcubes
88 Seconds In Greensboro OMD
Saint Julian Julian Cope
The Sinking Feeling The The
Mandinka Sinead O'Connor
Clay Echo & The Bunnymen
Under The Milky Way The Church
Head Over Heels / Broken Tears For Fears
Boss Toyota Trouble Biting Tongues
The Telephone Always Rings Fun Boy Three
Swirling Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians
Sugar Hiccup Cocteau Twins
The Three Sunrises U2

Thursday, March 1, 2012

3 Legends of Texas Country: James Hand, Justin Trevino, and Don Walser

     The annual South by Southwest music conference is fast approaching and even though it's been ten years since I attended one, I thought a little homage to Texas artists was in store for this week.  Don Walser passed away back in 2006, but Justin Trevino and James Hand are still going strong and I would hope they're both playing at SXSW this year (even if it's unofficial events).

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In The Corner, At The Table, By the Jukebox James Hand
Texas Honky Tonk Justin Trevino
One More Drink Don Walser
Cowpoke Don Walser
I Heard Mama Callin James Hand
Leavin' And Sayin' Goodbye Justin Trevino
Don't Want Me Too James Hand
(The Party Don't Start) 'Til The Playboys Get Here Don Walser
Brand New Sister Me Justin Trevino
She Knows My Weaknesses Justin Trevino
Chime Bells Don Walser
When You Stopped Loving Me, So Did I James Hand
Leave The Lonely Alone James Hand
Chalk One Up for You Justin Trevino
A String Boogie Don Walser
Little Bitty Slip James Hand
Cattle Call Don Walser
Don't Leave the Leaving Up to Me Justin Trevino