As promised, here are the remainder of the year-end lists from International Pop Overthrow's David Bash:
II. Top Reissue of Recent Vintage
Richard Snow-Tuesday Music (SideB)
III. Top 5 EPs
1. The Avenues-Love, Life & The Giant Leap (Self-Released)
2. Stonecake-Always In My Mind (Self-Released)
3. Marykate O’Neil-mkULTRA (Self-Released)
4. The Simple Carnival-Me And My Arrow EP (Sundrift)
5. The Bobbleheads-Two Guitars, Open Fire (Poppop)
IV. Top 5 Compilations-Single Artists
1. Ross-A Collection For Enemies And Friends 1992-2002 (Perdicion)
2. The Gripweeds-Infinite Soul: The Best Of The Gripweeds (Wicked Cool)
3. Phamous Phaces-All Bashed Up: A Birthday Tribute To David Bash & The IPO Festival (Bink!)
4. Los Shambles-Desde Ayer (Blindspot)
5. The Eels-Meet The Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1 1996-2006 (Geffen)
V. Top Compilation-Various Artists
International Pop Overthrow Vol. 11 (Not Lame)
VI. Top Covers Disc
The Shambles-20 Explosive Hits
VII. Top Tribute Disc-Various Artists
Beautiful People: The Songs Of The Posies Revisited (Burning Sky)
VII. Biggest Disappointment
Brian Wilson-That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol)
Reissue Categories
There are still some reissues I haven't heard which would probably make the list, but there's only so much time and $$ - ok, mainly $$; I'll always somehow find the time.
I. Top 50 Proper Reissue Albums
1. Love-Forever Changes: Collector’s Edition (Rhino)
2. R.E.M.-Murmur: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
3. The Zombies-Odessey and Oracle: Anniversary Edition (Repertoire)
4. Dennis Wilson-Pacific Ocean Blue (Legacy)
5. The Searchers-Love’s Melodies (Wounded Bird)
6. Buster-Buster (Airmail)
7. The Spongtones-Beat Music (Air Mail)
8. The Millennium-Begin (Sundazed)
9. The Rollers-Elevator (7T’s)
10. Five Man Electrical Band-Half Past Midnight: The Staccatos and Beyond (Now Sounds)
11. Nick Lowe-Jesus Of Cool (Yep Roc)
12. Squeeze-Argybargy: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
13. Wednesday Week-What We Had (Noble Rot)
14. City Boy-Young Men Gone West (Renaissance)
15. City Boy-Book Early (Renaissance)
16. The Tuneful Trolley-Island In The Sky (Now Sounds)
17. Blue Ash-No More, No Less (Collector’s Choice)
18. Clovis Roblaine-The Clovis Roblaine Story (No Sweat)
19. Cat Stevens-Teaser And The Firecat (Deluxe Edition) (Universal)
20. Buster-Buster 2 (Airmail)
21. The Move-Looking On (Deluxe Expanded Edition) (Salvo)
22. Paul & Barry Ryan-Two Of A Kind (Rev-ola)
23. Squeeze-Sweets From A Stranger (Universal)
24. The Wind-Where It’s At With The Wind (Vinyl Countdown)
25. Elvis Costello and The Attractions-This Year’s Model (Deluxe Edition) (Universal)
26. The La’s-The La’s (Deluxe Edition) (Universal)
27. Sagittarius-The Blue Marble (Sundazed)
28. The Yardbirds-Roger The Engineer/Over Under Sideways Down (Repertoire)
29. Anthony Phillips-Wise After The Event (Voiceprint)
30. The Searchers-The Searchers (Wounded Bird)
31. Strawbs-Strawbs (Universal)
32. Buzzcocks-A Different Kind Of Tension (Special Edition) (EMI)
33. The Hollies-Hollies (EMI)
34. The Ian Mitchell Band-Suddenly You Love Me (Airmail)
35. The Magic Lanterns-Shame Shame (Airmail)
36. The Peppermint Rainbow-Will You Be Staying After Sunday (Rev-ola)
37. Wendy & Bonnie-Genesis (Sundazed)
38. Love Sculpture-Forms And Feelings (Esoteric)
39. Kristine Sparkle-Devil Woman (RPM)
40. The Walker Brothers-Images (RPM)
41. Cat Stevens-Tea For The Tillerman (Deluxe Edition) (Universal)
42. Brotherhood Of Man-United We Stand (RPM)
43. Kathe Green-Run The Length Of Your Wildness (Rev-ola)
44. Elton John-Elton John: Deluxe Edition (Universal)
45. Matthew’s Southern Comfort-Later That Same Year (BGO)
46. Alice Cooper-Pretties For You (Rhino)
47. Laura Nyro-More Than A New Discovery (Rev-ola)
48. Tina Mason-Tina Mason Is Something Wonderful (Now Sounds)
49. Free-Fire And Water (Deluxe Edition) (Universal)
50. Honeybus-Story (Rev-ola)
II. Top 5 Two-Fers (and Four-Fers): Proper Albums
1. Flo & Eddie-The Phlorescent Leech & Eddie/Flo & Eddie (FloEdCo)
2. The Lemon Pipers-Love Beads And Meditation: Green Tambourine/Jungle Marmalade (Rev-ola)
3. The Osmonds-Crazy Horses/The Plan (7T’s)
4. Michael Guthrie Band-Direct Hits/Banned In America (Self-Released)
5. The Impressions-This Is My Country/The Young Mod’s Forgotten Story (American Beat)
III. Top 10 Compilations, Single Artist
1. The Parade-Sunshine Girl: The Complete Recordings (Now Sounds)
2. Colours-Love Heals: The Complete Recordings (Now Sounds)
3. Tommy James and The Shondells-40 Years: The Complete Singles Collection 1966-2006 (Rhino)
4. The Spongetones-Always Carry On: The Best Of The Spongetones 1980-2005 (Loaded Goat)
5. The Blue Things-Let The Blue Things Blow Your Mind (Cicadelic)
6. The Mojo Men-Not Too Old To Start Cryin’: The Lost 1966 Masters (Big Beat)
7. West Coast Consortium-Mister Umbrella Man: A Collection Of Demos 1967-1969 (Wooden Hill)
8. Chris Rainbow-Waves (Vital Spark)
9. Jeff Christie-Outer Limits/Floored Masters-Past Imperfect (Angel Air)
10. The Finkers-Epilogue (Off The Hip)
IV. Top 10 Compilations, Various Artists
1. Thank You Friends: The Ardent Records Story (Big Beat)
2. Treacle Toffee World: Further Adventures Into The Pop Psych Sounds From The Apple Era 1967-1969 (RPM)
3. Realistic Patterns-Orchestrated Psychedelia From The U.S.A. (Psychic Circle)
4. Do Waah Diddy-Words And Music By Ellie Greenwich and Jeff Barry (Ace)
5. Sweet Floral Albion-23 Pop & Psych Gems (Past & Present)
6. Let’s Ride-20 Popsike Excursions From The UK & Europe: Faerytales Can Come True Vol. 3 (Psychic Circle)
7. Titan: It’s All Pop! (Numero Uno)
8. A Day In My Mind’s Mind Vol. 2-Fantasies, Polka Dots & Flowers: 27 Kiwi Psychedelic Trips 1967-72 (EMI)
9. A Day In My Mind’s Mind Vol. 3-Spinning, Spinning, Spinning: 28 Kiwi Psychedelic Trips 1967-72 (EMI)
10. Sing Me A Rainbow-A Trident Anthology 1965-1967 (Big Beat)
V. Top 5 Box Sets: Single Artist
1. The Kinks-Picture Book (Universal)
2. The Move-Anthology 1966-1972 (Salvo)
3. Split Enz-Enz To Enz (Mushroom)
4. The Swinging Blue Jeans-Good Golly, Miss Molly!: The EMI Years 1963-1967 (EMI)
5. Herman’s Hermits & Peter Noone-Into Something Good: The Mickie Most Years 1964-1972 (EMI)
VII. Top 5 Box Sets: Various Artists
1. Motown: The Complete No. 1s (Hip-O Select)
2. The Complete Motown Singles-Vol. 10: 1970 (Hip-O Select)
3. Flower Power: The Music Of The Love Generation (Time Life)
4. The Complete Motown Singles-Vol. 11A: 1971 (Hip-O Select)
5. A&M Records-History 100 (Universal)
Showing posts with label Best-of Lists 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best-of Lists 2008. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
David Bash's Top 125 of 2008.
One of the most eagerly awaited lists in the power pop community is David Bash's exhaustive year-end list of the top 125 albums of the year, and I'm proud to be bringing you David's 2008 list. Today I will post the Top 125 proper, and tomorrow I will post his ancillary lists (top EPs, reissues, compilations, tributes, etc.)
So without further ado, here is David's top 125 of 2008:
1. Roger Joseph Manning Jr.-Catnip Dynamite (Pony Canyon)
2. The Doll Test-Mosque Alarm Clock (Unsmashable)
3. The Madd-Ongeneeslijk Beat (Excelsior)
4. The Junipers-Cut Your Key (San Remo)
5. Josh Fix-Free At Last (1650 Entertainment)
6. Adrian Whitehead-One Small Stepping Man (Popboomerang)
7. Three Hour Tour-B Side Oblivion (Martian)
8. The Resonars-That Evil Drone (Burger)
9. The General Store-Mountain Rescue (Brewery)
10. The Lackloves-Cathedral Square Park (Rainbow Quartz)
11. Big Kid-Big Kid III (Self-Released)
12. The Telepathic Butterflies-Breakfast In Suburbia (Rainbow Quartz)
13. Cliff Hillis-The Long Now (Tallboy)
14. Rob Bonfiglio-Bring On The Happy (Damask)
15. The Pop Project-Stars Of Stage And Screen (Suburban Sprawl)
16. Jeremy-Pop Explosion (Jam)
17. Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears-Flight Of The Knife (Black & Greene)
18. The Hi Risers-Once We Get Started (Spinout)
19. The Dress Whites-My God, The Shame! (Self-Released)
20. The 88-Not Only…But Also (Island)
21. The Handcuffs-Electroluv (OOFL)
22. Greg Pope-Popmonster (Octoberville)
23. The Feeling-Join With Us (Universal)
24. The Royal Purple-The Time Element (Umbrella)
25. Tim Morrow-Back To Delton (Self-Released)
26. Pugwash-Eleven Modern Antiquities (1969)
27. The Gurus-Now (Rock Indiana/Rainbow Quartz)
28. Graham Day & The Gaolers-Triple Distilled (Damaged Goods)
29. The Galaxies-Here We Go! (Self-Released)
30. Mari Wilson-Emotional Glamour (Beehive)
31. Rob Smith-Trick Of The Light (Zip)
32. The Goldbergs-Under The Radar (Kool Kat)
33. Kelly Jones-SheBANG! (Good Morning Monkey)
34. Beat Hotel-Move On (Self-Released)
35. The Well Wishers-Jigsaw Days (Thatwasmyskull)
36. Brent Cash-How Will I Know If I’m Awake (Marina)
37. The Respectables-Sibley Gardens (Self-Released)
38. Smash Fashion-A Gentlemen’s Guide… (ElectricPudding)
39. The Afternoons-Sweet Action (Self-Released)
40. Lindsay Buckingham-Gift Of Screws (Reprise)
41. Paul Starling-Doors & Windows (Rockshot)
42. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop Drop and Roll!!! (Jingle Town)
43. Garfield’s Birthday-Let Them Eat Cake (Pink Hedgehog)
44. Marmalade Army-Johnny Cake and Moonpies (Modern Artists)
45. Laurie Biagini-Ridin’ The Wave (Self-Released)
46. The Wellingtons-Heading North For The Winter (Zip)
47. Andy Reed-Fast Forward (Kool Kat)
48. Alan Bernhoft-Beatlesque One (Jaxalon)
49. Chewy Marble-Modulations (SideB)
50. The Bye Bye Blackbirds-Houses & Homes (American Dust)
51. Daisy-It’s About Time (Elements)
52. Stratocruiser-Egg Shells (New Atlas)
53. Private Jets-Jet Sounds (Sparkplug)
54. The Sunshine-I Heard A Rumour About You Boy (Self-Released)
55. The Mop Tops-Ground Floor Man (Sound Asleep)
56. The Breakdowns-Heartbreak Radio (Rock Indiana)
57. Leave-On A Happy Note…(Self-Released)
58. The Parties-Can’t Come Down (Rainbow Quartz)
59. The Explorers Club-Freedom Wind (Dead Oceans)
60. Kaiser Chiefs-Off With Their Heads (Universal)
61. The Pleasure-Travel Inside (Rookie)
62. Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles-Diamonds In The Dark (Sugar Hill)
63. The Rhinos-In Rhi-Fi (Rainbow Quartz)
64. We Should Be Dead-Forget Romance, Let’s Dance! (Pop4pop)
65. The Simple Carnival-Girls Aliens Food (Sundrift)
66. Kai Reiner-Kai Reiner (Self-Released)
67. Service Group-Principles Of Electronic Circuitry (Squid Vs. Whale)
68. The Temponauts-A Million Year Picnic (Teen Sound)
69. Dave Dill-Follow The Summer (Self-Released)
70. The Pete Best Band-Haymans Green (EMI)
71. All Day Sucker-The Big Pretend (Self-Released)
72. Deleted Waveform Gatherings-Baby Warfare (Rainbow Quartz)
73. Pinto-Hook Me Up (Self-Released)
74. The Cheeksters-Movers and Shakers (Caterina Sounds)
75. Andy Bopp-This Guitar Kills Singer Songwriters (Rainbow Quartz)
76. Poplord-Full/Filled (Self-Released)
77. The Jellybricks-Goodnight To Everyone (Primitive)
78. Adrian Bourgeois-Adrian Bourgeois (C Side)
79. Hundred Million Martians-Marseille (Plastic Passion)
80. Your Gracious Host-Your Gracious Host (Self-Released)
81. The Human Statues-The Human Statues (Self-Released)
82. Philip Vandermost-Automatic August (Self-Released)
83. Panic At The Disco-Welcome To The Sound Of Pretty Odd (Fueled By Ramen)
84. Pris-The Kiss Off (Thistime)
85. Dropkick-Dot The I-(Taylored)
86. Dimebox-Five And Dime Waltz (Avebury)
87. Young Sportsmen-If You Want It (Unsmashable)
88. Sextus-Stranger Than Fiction (Dramapants)
89. Junebug-Fifth (Planet 8)
90. Monkeeman-Life In The Backseat (Cargo)
91. Captain Wilberforce-Everyone Loves A Villain (Blue Tuxedo)
92. The Pillbugs-Everybody Wants A Way Out (Rainbow Quartz)
93. Rinaldi Sings-Bingo (Tangerine)
94. The Higher Elevations-The Protestant Work Ethic (Time For Action)
95. Derby-Posters Fade (Green Submarine)
96. Norman Kelsey-A Talent For Loving (Self-Released)
97. The Eisenhowers-Film Your Own Atrocities (Serali)
98. The Brigadier-The Rise & Fall Of Responsibility (Self-Released)
99. Baby Scream-Ups And Downs (Recorded Recordings)
100. Lund Bros-Songbook IV (Self-Released)
101. Sloan-Parallel Play (Murderecords)
102. The Stems-Heads Up (Invisible)
103. The Spongetones-Too Clever By Half (Loaded Goat)
104. Class Three Overbite-Horses For Courses (Self-Released)
105. Peter Colours-Welcome To The Show (Bip Bip)
106. Only Make Believe-Message From A Mockingbird (GreenTree)
107. The Powerchords-..Think I’m Gonna (Screaming Apple)
108. Starling Electric-Clouded Staircase (Bar None)
109. Do The Undo-Do The Undo (Excelsior)
110. *The Ringles-Rickenbacker Ballet (Jam)
111. Readymade Breakup-Alive On The Vine (Self-Released)
112. Black Hollies-Casting Shadows (Ernest Jenning)
113. Frank Barajas-Better Times (Operation Big Beat)
114. Epicycle-Jingle Jangle (Self-Released)
115. Triggers-Smoke Show (Self-Released)
116. The Pranks-Modern Communication (Screaming Apple)
117. Michael Mazzarella-Folk Songs For The Curious Few (Self-Released)
118. The Major Labels-Aquavia (Self-Released)
119. The Smith Bros.-Restless (Toin Coss)
120. The Top Drawers-You’re So Fine (Indiepool)
121. The Spring Collection-In Between (Blindspot)
122. Sugar High-Let The Sunshine Out (Thousandaire)
123. Brown Line Fiasco-Superstar (Self-Released)
124. Khalid Hanifi-Pamplemousse Presse (Cerberus)
125. Gigantic-Gigantaphonic Sounds (Zip)
**The Orchid Highway-The Orchid Highway (Rainbow Quartz)
**Vibeke-The World Famous Hat Trip (Pop Detective)
**The last two would have been high on this list, but they were ranked in 2007 when they were released on their previous labels
So without further ado, here is David's top 125 of 2008:
1. Roger Joseph Manning Jr.-Catnip Dynamite (Pony Canyon)
2. The Doll Test-Mosque Alarm Clock (Unsmashable)
3. The Madd-Ongeneeslijk Beat (Excelsior)
4. The Junipers-Cut Your Key (San Remo)
5. Josh Fix-Free At Last (1650 Entertainment)
6. Adrian Whitehead-One Small Stepping Man (Popboomerang)
7. Three Hour Tour-B Side Oblivion (Martian)
8. The Resonars-That Evil Drone (Burger)
9. The General Store-Mountain Rescue (Brewery)
10. The Lackloves-Cathedral Square Park (Rainbow Quartz)
11. Big Kid-Big Kid III (Self-Released)
12. The Telepathic Butterflies-Breakfast In Suburbia (Rainbow Quartz)
13. Cliff Hillis-The Long Now (Tallboy)
14. Rob Bonfiglio-Bring On The Happy (Damask)
15. The Pop Project-Stars Of Stage And Screen (Suburban Sprawl)
16. Jeremy-Pop Explosion (Jam)
17. Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears-Flight Of The Knife (Black & Greene)
18. The Hi Risers-Once We Get Started (Spinout)
19. The Dress Whites-My God, The Shame! (Self-Released)
20. The 88-Not Only…But Also (Island)
21. The Handcuffs-Electroluv (OOFL)
22. Greg Pope-Popmonster (Octoberville)
23. The Feeling-Join With Us (Universal)
24. The Royal Purple-The Time Element (Umbrella)
25. Tim Morrow-Back To Delton (Self-Released)
26. Pugwash-Eleven Modern Antiquities (1969)
27. The Gurus-Now (Rock Indiana/Rainbow Quartz)
28. Graham Day & The Gaolers-Triple Distilled (Damaged Goods)
29. The Galaxies-Here We Go! (Self-Released)
30. Mari Wilson-Emotional Glamour (Beehive)
31. Rob Smith-Trick Of The Light (Zip)
32. The Goldbergs-Under The Radar (Kool Kat)
33. Kelly Jones-SheBANG! (Good Morning Monkey)
34. Beat Hotel-Move On (Self-Released)
35. The Well Wishers-Jigsaw Days (Thatwasmyskull)
36. Brent Cash-How Will I Know If I’m Awake (Marina)
37. The Respectables-Sibley Gardens (Self-Released)
38. Smash Fashion-A Gentlemen’s Guide… (ElectricPudding)
39. The Afternoons-Sweet Action (Self-Released)
40. Lindsay Buckingham-Gift Of Screws (Reprise)
41. Paul Starling-Doors & Windows (Rockshot)
42. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop Drop and Roll!!! (Jingle Town)
43. Garfield’s Birthday-Let Them Eat Cake (Pink Hedgehog)
44. Marmalade Army-Johnny Cake and Moonpies (Modern Artists)
45. Laurie Biagini-Ridin’ The Wave (Self-Released)
46. The Wellingtons-Heading North For The Winter (Zip)
47. Andy Reed-Fast Forward (Kool Kat)
48. Alan Bernhoft-Beatlesque One (Jaxalon)
49. Chewy Marble-Modulations (SideB)
50. The Bye Bye Blackbirds-Houses & Homes (American Dust)
51. Daisy-It’s About Time (Elements)
52. Stratocruiser-Egg Shells (New Atlas)
53. Private Jets-Jet Sounds (Sparkplug)
54. The Sunshine-I Heard A Rumour About You Boy (Self-Released)
55. The Mop Tops-Ground Floor Man (Sound Asleep)
56. The Breakdowns-Heartbreak Radio (Rock Indiana)
57. Leave-On A Happy Note…(Self-Released)
58. The Parties-Can’t Come Down (Rainbow Quartz)
59. The Explorers Club-Freedom Wind (Dead Oceans)
60. Kaiser Chiefs-Off With Their Heads (Universal)
61. The Pleasure-Travel Inside (Rookie)
62. Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles-Diamonds In The Dark (Sugar Hill)
63. The Rhinos-In Rhi-Fi (Rainbow Quartz)
64. We Should Be Dead-Forget Romance, Let’s Dance! (Pop4pop)
65. The Simple Carnival-Girls Aliens Food (Sundrift)
66. Kai Reiner-Kai Reiner (Self-Released)
67. Service Group-Principles Of Electronic Circuitry (Squid Vs. Whale)
68. The Temponauts-A Million Year Picnic (Teen Sound)
69. Dave Dill-Follow The Summer (Self-Released)
70. The Pete Best Band-Haymans Green (EMI)
71. All Day Sucker-The Big Pretend (Self-Released)
72. Deleted Waveform Gatherings-Baby Warfare (Rainbow Quartz)
73. Pinto-Hook Me Up (Self-Released)
74. The Cheeksters-Movers and Shakers (Caterina Sounds)
75. Andy Bopp-This Guitar Kills Singer Songwriters (Rainbow Quartz)
76. Poplord-Full/Filled (Self-Released)
77. The Jellybricks-Goodnight To Everyone (Primitive)
78. Adrian Bourgeois-Adrian Bourgeois (C Side)
79. Hundred Million Martians-Marseille (Plastic Passion)
80. Your Gracious Host-Your Gracious Host (Self-Released)
81. The Human Statues-The Human Statues (Self-Released)
82. Philip Vandermost-Automatic August (Self-Released)
83. Panic At The Disco-Welcome To The Sound Of Pretty Odd (Fueled By Ramen)
84. Pris-The Kiss Off (Thistime)
85. Dropkick-Dot The I-(Taylored)
86. Dimebox-Five And Dime Waltz (Avebury)
87. Young Sportsmen-If You Want It (Unsmashable)
88. Sextus-Stranger Than Fiction (Dramapants)
89. Junebug-Fifth (Planet 8)
90. Monkeeman-Life In The Backseat (Cargo)
91. Captain Wilberforce-Everyone Loves A Villain (Blue Tuxedo)
92. The Pillbugs-Everybody Wants A Way Out (Rainbow Quartz)
93. Rinaldi Sings-Bingo (Tangerine)
94. The Higher Elevations-The Protestant Work Ethic (Time For Action)
95. Derby-Posters Fade (Green Submarine)
96. Norman Kelsey-A Talent For Loving (Self-Released)
97. The Eisenhowers-Film Your Own Atrocities (Serali)
98. The Brigadier-The Rise & Fall Of Responsibility (Self-Released)
99. Baby Scream-Ups And Downs (Recorded Recordings)
100. Lund Bros-Songbook IV (Self-Released)
101. Sloan-Parallel Play (Murderecords)
102. The Stems-Heads Up (Invisible)
103. The Spongetones-Too Clever By Half (Loaded Goat)
104. Class Three Overbite-Horses For Courses (Self-Released)
105. Peter Colours-Welcome To The Show (Bip Bip)
106. Only Make Believe-Message From A Mockingbird (GreenTree)
107. The Powerchords-..Think I’m Gonna (Screaming Apple)
108. Starling Electric-Clouded Staircase (Bar None)
109. Do The Undo-Do The Undo (Excelsior)
110. *The Ringles-Rickenbacker Ballet (Jam)
111. Readymade Breakup-Alive On The Vine (Self-Released)
112. Black Hollies-Casting Shadows (Ernest Jenning)
113. Frank Barajas-Better Times (Operation Big Beat)
114. Epicycle-Jingle Jangle (Self-Released)
115. Triggers-Smoke Show (Self-Released)
116. The Pranks-Modern Communication (Screaming Apple)
117. Michael Mazzarella-Folk Songs For The Curious Few (Self-Released)
118. The Major Labels-Aquavia (Self-Released)
119. The Smith Bros.-Restless (Toin Coss)
120. The Top Drawers-You’re So Fine (Indiepool)
121. The Spring Collection-In Between (Blindspot)
122. Sugar High-Let The Sunshine Out (Thousandaire)
123. Brown Line Fiasco-Superstar (Self-Released)
124. Khalid Hanifi-Pamplemousse Presse (Cerberus)
125. Gigantic-Gigantaphonic Sounds (Zip)
**The Orchid Highway-The Orchid Highway (Rainbow Quartz)
**Vibeke-The World Famous Hat Trip (Pop Detective)
**The last two would have been high on this list, but they were ranked in 2007 when they were released on their previous labels
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Absolute Powerpop Top Songs of 2008 - Part 7
This one's a little longer than the others, since it's the last of the series. Back to regular reviews next week!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
The Absolute Powerpop Top Songs of 2008 - Part 6
Happy New Year to all, and someone commented in one of the previous top songs threads that he could only hear about 20 seconds of each track. Anyone else having this problem?
UPDATE: According to the commenter below, the Lala embeds only work in full song mode if you're in the USA. Apologies to my overseas readers; if anyone's aware of an equivalent I can use that works overseas, please let me know.
UPDATE: According to the commenter below, the Lala embeds only work in full song mode if you're in the USA. Apologies to my overseas readers; if anyone's aware of an equivalent I can use that works overseas, please let me know.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top Songs of 2008 - Part 5
This song rollout is taking a bit longer than expected, so there will be a couple of more installments after this.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top Songs of 2008 - Part 1
The "best songs" recap of 2008 will feature a different format this year. First of all, I've embedded the tracks from Lala so you can easily listen to them. Secondly, it's not a comprehensive list; I'm just using tracks available on Lala. And third, to keep the number of loading embeds within reason, I'll do about 7-8 at a time.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top 125 of 2008, #1-5.
And now at long last, the Absolute Powerpop Top 5 of 2008:
5. Pale Hollow-Pale Hollow. The best classic rock/British pop disc of the year, and it's the product of a guy from Cleveland, Michael Allen. With touchstones from Neil Young to The Kinks & solo Ray Davies to Peter Bruntnell to Al Stewart to Oasis, and a bunch of great songs to do those influences proud, Allen has made a disc that will instantly appeal to anyone who grew up in the 60s or 70s.
4. Cliff Hillis-The Long Now. With the best "pure pop" album of the year, Hillis has reached that state of musical zen where it all seems so effortless. I described him in the original review as the "golden mean of power pop" and there's something for everyone here, whether your tastes run to the crunchier or softer sides of the genre. Plus, "Elevator" and "Northern Lights" are two of the catchiest tracks of the year.
3. Adrian Whitehead-One Small Stepping Man. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised. Last spring, I was excited to be getting the new Bryan Estepa disc from Popboomerang (with justification as it ended up #10), and the label threw in a couple of other discs I wasn't expecting, one of which was this one. And what a breath of fresh air it was. Hands down the best Beatlesque disc of 08, Whitehead serves up one chewy pop confection after another.
2. Clint Sutton-Clint Sutton. Back in April when I unveiled an early-year best-of, I had this disc at #1 and it was a semi-controversial pick. "All the songs sound the same", "not enough melodic variety", etc. were among the criticisms. To which I respond: if you do one thing and do it extremely well, you don't need to be a virtuoso. Sutton has stripped power pop down to its most basic elements: loud, crunchy guitars and sweet melodies. No bells and whistles, no string-laden ballads, no baroque flourishes and no spoken-word interludes. Just 11 tracks of kick-ass melodic rock that despite their relative lack of variance, still sound fresh to me every time I go back and listen to them.
And at #1.................
1. Greg Pope-Popmonster. I knew Greg Pope was a talent in his days fronting Edmund's Crown, but given a chance to fly solo he really outdid himself. A true one-man effort (Pope played all the instruments, wrote all the songs, and did everything except design the tres cool album cover - maybe the best of the year in that field as well), Popmonster is kind of the anti-Clint Sutton: Pope jumps around from indie rock to power pop to classic rock to Americana and pulls all of these styles in a uniformly excellent manner. Clocking in at 16 tracks, it runs the risk of solo self-indulgence, but never crosses that line or wears out its welcome. While some albums demand to be played in sequence as a cohesive whole, Popmonster is like a jukebox filled with your favorite songs and is perfect for shuffling on an iPod.
5. Pale Hollow-Pale Hollow. The best classic rock/British pop disc of the year, and it's the product of a guy from Cleveland, Michael Allen. With touchstones from Neil Young to The Kinks & solo Ray Davies to Peter Bruntnell to Al Stewart to Oasis, and a bunch of great songs to do those influences proud, Allen has made a disc that will instantly appeal to anyone who grew up in the 60s or 70s.4. Cliff Hillis-The Long Now. With the best "pure pop" album of the year, Hillis has reached that state of musical zen where it all seems so effortless. I described him in the original review as the "golden mean of power pop" and there's something for everyone here, whether your tastes run to the crunchier or softer sides of the genre. Plus, "Elevator" and "Northern Lights" are two of the catchiest tracks of the year.3. Adrian Whitehead-One Small Stepping Man. It's always nice to be pleasantly surprised. Last spring, I was excited to be getting the new Bryan Estepa disc from Popboomerang (with justification as it ended up #10), and the label threw in a couple of other discs I wasn't expecting, one of which was this one. And what a breath of fresh air it was. Hands down the best Beatlesque disc of 08, Whitehead serves up one chewy pop confection after another.2. Clint Sutton-Clint Sutton. Back in April when I unveiled an early-year best-of, I had this disc at #1 and it was a semi-controversial pick. "All the songs sound the same", "not enough melodic variety", etc. were among the criticisms. To which I respond: if you do one thing and do it extremely well, you don't need to be a virtuoso. Sutton has stripped power pop down to its most basic elements: loud, crunchy guitars and sweet melodies. No bells and whistles, no string-laden ballads, no baroque flourishes and no spoken-word interludes. Just 11 tracks of kick-ass melodic rock that despite their relative lack of variance, still sound fresh to me every time I go back and listen to them.And at #1.................
1. Greg Pope-Popmonster. I knew Greg Pope was a talent in his days fronting Edmund's Crown, but given a chance to fly solo he really outdid himself. A true one-man effort (Pope played all the instruments, wrote all the songs, and did everything except design the tres cool album cover - maybe the best of the year in that field as well), Popmonster is kind of the anti-Clint Sutton: Pope jumps around from indie rock to power pop to classic rock to Americana and pulls all of these styles in a uniformly excellent manner. Clocking in at 16 tracks, it runs the risk of solo self-indulgence, but never crosses that line or wears out its welcome. While some albums demand to be played in sequence as a cohesive whole, Popmonster is like a jukebox filled with your favorite songs and is perfect for shuffling on an iPod.
The Absolute Powerpop Top 125 of 2008, #6-25.
UPDATE: Top 5 going up at 1PM Eastern.
6. Derby-Posters Fade
7. Andy Reed-Fast Forward
8. Todd Herfindal-Collective
9. Rob Bonfligio-Bring on the Happy
10. Bryan Estepa-Sunday Best
11. The Galaxies-Here We Go!
12. Adrian Bourgeois-Adrian Bourgeois
13. Scott's Garage-Scott's Garage
14. John McKenna-Stone Cold Summer
15. The Favorites-Bright Nights, Bright Lights
16. Tyler Burkum-Darling, Maybe Someday
17. The Meadows-First Nervous Breakdown
18. Scott Murray-Vinyl Generation
19. The Afternoons-Sweet Action
20. The Goldbergs-Under the Radar
21. Mike Viola-Lurch
22. Ike-Where to Begin
23. The Smith Bros-Restless
24. Pugwash-Eleven Modern Antiquities
25. The Offbeat-The Offbeat
6. Derby-Posters Fade
7. Andy Reed-Fast Forward
8. Todd Herfindal-Collective
9. Rob Bonfligio-Bring on the Happy
10. Bryan Estepa-Sunday Best
11. The Galaxies-Here We Go!
12. Adrian Bourgeois-Adrian Bourgeois
13. Scott's Garage-Scott's Garage
14. John McKenna-Stone Cold Summer
15. The Favorites-Bright Nights, Bright Lights
16. Tyler Burkum-Darling, Maybe Someday
17. The Meadows-First Nervous Breakdown
18. Scott Murray-Vinyl Generation
19. The Afternoons-Sweet Action
20. The Goldbergs-Under the Radar
21. Mike Viola-Lurch
22. Ike-Where to Begin
23. The Smith Bros-Restless
24. Pugwash-Eleven Modern Antiquities
25. The Offbeat-The Offbeat
Monday, December 22, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top 125 of 2008, #26-50.
26. Frisbee-ReDISCOVERY
27. Waz-The Sweet Bye and Bye
28. Hotel Lights-Firecracker People
29. The Well Wishers-Jigsaw Days
30. The Baseball Project-Frozen Ropes & Dying Quails, Vol. 1
31. Tom Fuller Band-Abstract Man
32. Roger Joseph Manning Jr-Catnip Dynamite
33. Jeff Bruckner-Take Me to the West Coast
34. Three Hour Tour-B Side Oblivion
35. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop, Drop & Roll!
36. Shake Some Action!-Sunny Days Ahead
37. Jim Boggia-Misadventures in Stereo
38. Ted Lukas-Misled
39. Patrick Leonard-Being the Beginning
40. Poplord-Full/Filled
41. Attic Lights-Friday Night Lights
42. Smash Palace-Everybody Comes and Goes
43. Class Three Overbite-Horses for Courses
44. The Explorers Club-Freedom Wind
45. American Mars-Western Sides
46. Butch Walker-Sycamore Meadows
47. Brent Cash-How Will I Know If I'm Awake?
48. The Respectables-Sibley Gardens
49. Kevin Bents-The Means
50. In Elvis Garage-Winning by Cheating
27. Waz-The Sweet Bye and Bye
28. Hotel Lights-Firecracker People
29. The Well Wishers-Jigsaw Days
30. The Baseball Project-Frozen Ropes & Dying Quails, Vol. 1
31. Tom Fuller Band-Abstract Man
32. Roger Joseph Manning Jr-Catnip Dynamite
33. Jeff Bruckner-Take Me to the West Coast
34. Three Hour Tour-B Side Oblivion
35. Foxboro Hot Tubs-Stop, Drop & Roll!
36. Shake Some Action!-Sunny Days Ahead
37. Jim Boggia-Misadventures in Stereo
38. Ted Lukas-Misled
39. Patrick Leonard-Being the Beginning
40. Poplord-Full/Filled
41. Attic Lights-Friday Night Lights
42. Smash Palace-Everybody Comes and Goes
43. Class Three Overbite-Horses for Courses
44. The Explorers Club-Freedom Wind
45. American Mars-Western Sides
46. Butch Walker-Sycamore Meadows
47. Brent Cash-How Will I Know If I'm Awake?
48. The Respectables-Sibley Gardens
49. Kevin Bents-The Means
50. In Elvis Garage-Winning by Cheating
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top 125 of 2008, #51-75.
51. Josh Fix-Free at Last
52. Jack McManus-Either Side of Midnight
53. Old 97s-Blame it on Gravity
54. Karg Bros-What We Do to Ourselves
55. Dave Dill-Follow the Summer
56. The Wellingtons-Heading North for the Winter
57. The Lackloves-Cathederal Square Park
58. The Pinder Bros-Ordinary Man
59. The Major Labels-Aquavia
60. Mikal Blue-Gold
61. The Rip Off Artists-Esque
62. David Dewese-Make the Best of It
63. Birdwatchers of America-There Have Been Sightings
64. The Fauves-When Good Times Go Good
65. The General Store-Mountain Rescue
66. The Shimshaws-Ear to the Wire
67. Hello from Reno-Hello from Reno
68. The Revisionists-The Revisionists
69. Brownline Fiasco-Superstar
70. Edward Rogers-You Haven't Been Where I've Been
71. Nada Surf-Lucky
72. Sheboygan-It's OK Say Yes
73. Elvis Costello & the Impostors-Momofoku
74. Magdalena-Magdalena
75. Codaphonic-The Ballad of Codaphonic
52. Jack McManus-Either Side of Midnight
53. Old 97s-Blame it on Gravity
54. Karg Bros-What We Do to Ourselves
55. Dave Dill-Follow the Summer
56. The Wellingtons-Heading North for the Winter
57. The Lackloves-Cathederal Square Park
58. The Pinder Bros-Ordinary Man
59. The Major Labels-Aquavia
60. Mikal Blue-Gold
61. The Rip Off Artists-Esque
62. David Dewese-Make the Best of It
63. Birdwatchers of America-There Have Been Sightings
64. The Fauves-When Good Times Go Good
65. The General Store-Mountain Rescue
66. The Shimshaws-Ear to the Wire
67. Hello from Reno-Hello from Reno
68. The Revisionists-The Revisionists
69. Brownline Fiasco-Superstar
70. Edward Rogers-You Haven't Been Where I've Been
71. Nada Surf-Lucky
72. Sheboygan-It's OK Say Yes
73. Elvis Costello & the Impostors-Momofoku
74. Magdalena-Magdalena
75. Codaphonic-The Ballad of Codaphonic
Saturday, December 20, 2008
The Absolute Powerpop Top 125 of 2008, #76-100
Post a bit later than originally intended today, as I took the kids to a Christmas parade.
76. Heap-Oddball
77. Danna & the Changes-Consonant Cacaphony
78. Craig Marshall-Point of View
79. The Fools-10
80. Fawkes-Curiosity and Consequence
81. Kai Reiner-Kai Reiner
82. R.E.M.-Accelerate
83. Charley Dush-September's Sun
84. Secret Powers-Explorers of the Polar Eclipse
85. The Riffbrokers-Weight of Line and Intersection
86. The Eisenhowers-Film Your Own Atrocities
87. Junebug-Fifth
88. It's Over-That Girl
89. Shane Barry & the Distractions-Radio Friction
90. The Jellybricks-Goodnight to Everyone
91. The Greater Good-Shake Til I Let You Go
92. The Squires of the Subterrain-Feel The Sun
93. The Humming Field-The Humming Field
94. The Romeo Flynns-Pictures of You
95. Par Basset-In The Summertime
96. Jeff Larson-Left of a Dream
97. Warren Pash-Plastic Rulers
98. Cameron Dobb-The Ride
99. High on Stress-Cop Light Parade
100. Dropkick-Dot the I
76. Heap-Oddball
77. Danna & the Changes-Consonant Cacaphony
78. Craig Marshall-Point of View
79. The Fools-10
80. Fawkes-Curiosity and Consequence
81. Kai Reiner-Kai Reiner
82. R.E.M.-Accelerate
83. Charley Dush-September's Sun
84. Secret Powers-Explorers of the Polar Eclipse
85. The Riffbrokers-Weight of Line and Intersection
86. The Eisenhowers-Film Your Own Atrocities
87. Junebug-Fifth
88. It's Over-That Girl
89. Shane Barry & the Distractions-Radio Friction
90. The Jellybricks-Goodnight to Everyone
91. The Greater Good-Shake Til I Let You Go
92. The Squires of the Subterrain-Feel The Sun
93. The Humming Field-The Humming Field
94. The Romeo Flynns-Pictures of You
95. Par Basset-In The Summertime
96. Jeff Larson-Left of a Dream
97. Warren Pash-Plastic Rulers
98. Cameron Dobb-The Ride
99. High on Stress-Cop Light Parade
100. Dropkick-Dot the I
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
