The Power Pop Thread

[HOF]

Inspired partially by Mike Portnoy appearing on The Sea of Tranquility to discuss his 5 favorite power pop albums. Pretty fun listen and a good intro to the genre:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR3TPuYKnKz53-L5tRlVnjpybb3gR4080NE28TNjjUOCgLgRWM3oQdF05rw&v=-hZhSZQqUSU&feature=youtu.be

I imagine everyone has their own definition of power pop, but I sort of think of it as shorter, catchy songs with a lot of melody and harmony (IOW like the Beatles) but also a somewhat aggressive rock or maybe a punk edge (but not necessarily hard rock or metal).

I’m actually not super familiar with the bigger names in the genre like Big Star, Badfinger, or Todd Rundgren. I also have only heard a few Jellyfish songs (they’re on my “I’ll get into them some day” list). But I do really like that sort of sound and a good number of bands I like dabble in that style. Some of the bands discussed here that I dig to varying degrees include XTC, Matthew Sweet, Ben Folds, Jughead (Ty Tabor has a lot of stuff that fits), Adrian Belew, The Cars, Weezer.  I checked out the New England album they mentioned, and that’s pretty fun. 

I would also include a band like Crowded House in that category to some extent. There’s a band from Scotland called The Pearlfishers who make fantastic Beatles-ish pop who I really love. Not sure they are quite rocking enough to fit the power pop label.

There’s good bit of overlap with alternative rock probably. I’ve seen The Gin Blossoms put in that category. Not sure I’d agree but they are a band I grew up loving. Stone Temple Pilots have a bit of that sound at times. Jimmy Eat World are another band that might fit. Then you have a number of classic rock acts like Cheap Trick or even The Who who I’ve heard described as power pop (Pete Townsend reportedly coined the term).

Anyway, who else here is into this kind of stuff?

[SoundscapeMN]

You should definitely check out Jellyfish, like asap. They live up to their hype.

2 bands I enjoy, that are somewhat popular among the college/alternative/indie crowd from the 2000's:

The Apples in Stereo
The New Pornographers

New Magnetic Wonder and any of the 1st 4 TNP's records I would recommend.

[DTA]

I'm a huge Weezer and pop fan in general (probably moreso than prog or metal at this point) though I'm not sure how much would fall into the "power-pop" category. I tend to either like the straight pop, pop-punk, or alternative leaning genres but power-pop just isn't I've really latched onto.

My unpopular Weezer opinion - Blue and Pinkerton are extremely overrated and not nearly as good as some of their later albums.

[King Postwhore]

That is a very unpopular take on Weezer.


Fountains Of Wayne
The Knack
The posies
XTC
Squeeze
Mathew Sweet

[WildRanger]

I'm not very familiar with prominent names in 'power pop', but I dig the first 4 Cheap Trick albums and first two Weezer albums. My Name is Jonas is my fave Weezer song and Surrender Cheap Trick's.

Another power pop-related guy worth checking out: Jeff Rosenstock (album WORRY.)

[HOF]

I think Ty Tabor’s Moonflower Lane album is a really good album in the power pop vein. I think that’s one of the first things (along with the Jughead album) that I recall hearing described as power pop, so it’s kind of a touchstone of the genre for me. Ty also sounds a good bit like Matthew Sweet vocally, who was one of the other early examples I was aware of.

[WildRanger]

My unpopular Weezer opinion - Blue and Pinkerton are extremely overrated and not nearly as good as some of their later albums.

Buddy Holly vs. Beverly Hills? Pick a tune. 

[WilliamMunny]

I love, love, LOVE the Gin Blossoms—the combination of that Byrds-meets-Big Star sound with Robin Wilson's voice is just money all day long.

I would add to this list The Counting Crows. They have a pretty stellar catalog in my opinion, with their last (Somewhere Under Wonderland) being in their top-three as far as I'm concerned.

[HOF]

I love, love, LOVE the Gin Blossoms—the combination of that Byrds-meets-Big Star sound with Robin Wilson's voice is just money all day long.

I would add to this list The Counting Crows. They have a pretty stellar catalog in my opinion, with their last (Somewhere Under Wonderland) being in their top-three as far as I'm concerned.

Big fan of both. Wasn’t sure about including The Counting Crows. Not sure either have that strong harmony element I usually look for, but those two made some great pop rock albums at any rate. Maybe some of the later Counting Crows stuff fits better actually (thinking of the Hard Candy album and songs like Butterfly in Reverse).  Jangle pop is another term that might be applied to those bands.

 I haven’t heard that most recent Counting Crows album. Should check it out.

[Mladen]

My unpopular Weezer opinion - Blue and Pinkerton are extremely overrated and not nearly as good as some of their later albums.

I agree with kingshmegland. That is indeed an unpopular opinion.  I personally love Maladroit and Green about as much as I love Blue, though. But as much as I like quite a lot of their "newer" stuff as well, the first four are the big four in my opinion. No band ever kicked off a career with four excellent albums.

I watched that video on Sea of Tranquility last night. Of all the mentioned band, I have only listened to Weezer and Jellyfish. It's apparent to me that Badfinger, Cheap Trick and The Cars are considered classics, so I'll have to check them out at some point.

I am not sure which other bands from my repertoir would qualify as power pop, honestly. Rooney is one of my favorite bands, if they fall under the category. I am also an enormous fan of the groups that make up The Elephant Six collective, but I'd place most of them under indie rock or psychadelic pop. SoundscapeMN mentioned the legendary The Apples in Stereo, though, so maybe some groups could find their place on the lists in this thread.

[King Postwhore]

Of the newer Weezer albums I do love Everything Will Be Alright in the End and The White Album.

[SoundscapeMN]

Fountains Of Wayne

my wife is a HUGE fan of theirs, so by extension I have become 1. Also the fact Adam Schlesinger produced the last 2 Monkees albums (which she is an enormous lifer fan), added to the appreciation. Adam's passing last year still really stings, but he left a ton of great music behind him including FoW and stuff like That Thing You Do soundtrack which would fall under Power Pop.

[Crow]

fun.'s first album Aim and Ignite is fantastic tbh

[King Postwhore]

Fountains Of Wayne

my wife is a HUGE fan of theirs, so by extension I have become 1. Also the fact Adam Schlesinger produced the last 2 Monkees albums (which she is an enormous lifer fan), added to the appreciation. Adam's passing last year still really stings, but he left a ton of great music behind him including FoW and stuff like That Thing You Do soundtrack which would fall under Power Pop.

Real heartbreaking to lose him.




Another that might surprise you is Hanson.  In the 2010's they have written some great pop tunes.   Speaking of FOW and Hanson.  Ever hear of this one of Super group?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1acLwi-jos

[HOF]

Another that might surprise you is Hanson.  In the 2010's they have written some great pop tunes.   Speaking of FOW and Hanson.  Ever hear of this one of Super group?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1acLwi-jos

Woah, that song is great fun! James Iha!

[HOF]

You should definitely check out Jellyfish, like asap. They live up to their hype.

Well I found a cheap copy of Bellybutton on Discogs (as well as XTC's Skylarking which I've been meaning to get for a long time too), so there you go!

[DTA]

My unpopular Weezer opinion - Blue and Pinkerton are extremely overrated and not nearly as good as some of their later albums.

Buddy Holly vs. Beverly Hills? Pick a tune. 

I choose Living In LA 

Of the newer Weezer albums I do love Everything Will Be Alright in the End and The White Album.

EWBAITE is their masterpiece imo. Lots of a good stuff on White too

My unpopular Weezer opinion - Blue and Pinkerton are extremely overrated and not nearly as good as some of their later albums.

I agree with kingshmegland. That is indeed an unpopular opinion.  I personally love Maladroit and Green about as much as I love Blue, though. But as much as I like quite a lot of their "newer" stuff as well, the first four are the big four in my opinion. No band ever kicked off a career with four excellent albums.

Green is incredible and Maladroit has a lot of good stuff, but isn't one of my favorites. I'm actually really liking OK Human and I may be the only one who admits to thinking Black is incredibly solid. Blue and Pinkerton fall really short for me, though El Scorcho and The Good Life are favorites of mine.

[Mladen]

I thought The Black Album was charming, as it was tongue-in-cheek for the most part, insted of trying to seriously pursue mainstream success. OK Human is also solid, it's growing on me with each month. However, I have a feeling that Van Weezer will be right up my alley. 

[King Postwhore]

Another Band to check is Rooney.  I think you folks will like them.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZLkw9io9C0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB809oiPE1c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E24HsmOLAw

[EPICVIEW]

I love good power pop   I like it all .

I like things like Powerman 5000, Marvelous 3, Four Year Strong, New Found Glory, HelloGoodbye , A Day to Remember, Pierce the Veil, Seaway  etc,  most of the bands I like only have a few good songs but the ones I like I like...too many to list

[EPICVIEW]

Senses Fail    Buried a Lie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUXZfybUbCM

[EPICVIEW]

The Used   I caught Fire

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLoOx86A6bE

[EPICVIEW]

Mid Town   Give it up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPcY55fRJYs

[Stadler]

HUGE Power Pop fan here.

Jellyfish
Squeeze (Argy Bargy is required listening)
Cheap Trick (Hot take:  Dream Police is their high-water mark)
The Cars


Hidden gem:  Talk Show, the album that the DeLeo brothers (from Stone Temple Pilots) did with a guy named Dave Coutts.   Very Cheap Trick-ish.   Another hidden gem: the debut from Enuff Z'nuff. 

[King Postwhore]

HUGE Power Pop fan here.

Jellyfish
Squeeze (Argy Bargy is required listening)
Cheap Trick (Hot take:  Dream Police is their high-water mark)
The Cars


Hidden gem:  Talk Show, the album that the DeLeo brothers (from Stone Temple Pilots) did with a guy named Dave Coutts.   Very Cheap Trick-ish.   Another hidden gem: the debut from Enuff Z'nuff.

Hello hello.....

[EPICVIEW]

HUGE Power Pop fan here.

Jellyfish
Squeeze (Argy Bargy is required listening)
Cheap Trick (Hot take:  Dream Police is their high-water mark)
The Cars


Hidden gem:  Talk Show, the album that the DeLeo brothers (from Stone Temple Pilots) did with a guy named Dave Coutts.   Very Cheap Trick-ish.   Another hidden gem: the debut from Enuff Z'nuff.

funny  I just had dream police on in my truck,... Huge fan   Black and white and in color into Heaven Tonite to me is the golden age

[EPICVIEW]

HUGE Power Pop fan here.

Jellyfish
Squeeze (Argy Bargy is required listening)
Cheap Trick (Hot take:  Dream Police is their high-water mark)
The Cars


Hidden gem:  Talk Show, the album that the DeLeo brothers (from Stone Temple Pilots) did with a guy named Dave Coutts.   Very Cheap Trick-ish.   Another hidden gem: the debut from Enuff Z'nuff.

Huge STP fan   love deleo brothers,...  I agree

[TAC]

WTF is Power Pop?

[King Postwhore]

WTF is Power Pop?

Listen to the bands silly.

[TAC]

The Cars is Power Pop?

[King Postwhore]

Yes

[TAC]

Since when? I have literally never heard the term before this thread.

[HOF]

Since when? I have literally never heard the term before this thread.

It’s on their Wikipedia page and everything!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cars

[TAC]

Gee, I guess I missed that the last time I was on The Cars wikipedia page..



Joe, I'm gonna name some random music genre.. whaddya think?

How about...Pizza Rock?

[bl5150]

I only came in here to see why the hell TAC was posting here ...........now it makes sense