Spring Forward Soundtrack: Power Pop

ml1: I always forget "Girl of My Dreams." Thanks for the reminder.

Good call on the New Pornographers! I'll circle back with more obscure bands/artists...

hard to leave this one out:

which suggests this one:

and this one:

and this one:

and this one:

XTC clone...Infectious melody

A bit more crunch...This chorus is sick!

Did someone say Hooters? Philly in the house (though the second one is on the long side for power pop):

cuethesun said:

XTC clone...Infectious melody

Yes ... and yes.

A bit more crunch...This chorus is sick!

Yes ... and yes.

The "power" in power pop...

Not that there has to be a definition, but I'd also be interested in hearing what the term "power pop" means to others.

Think Raspberries and Big Star as the founding fathers with Cheap Trick as ambassadors. Gotta have large guitars, rich, melodic verses, perhaps a clever B section leading into a soaring chorus (lush harmonies optional). A middle-eight to pique your interest and get it all done in under 3:30.

DaveSchmidt said:

Not that there has to be a definition, but I'd also be interested in hearing what the term "power pop" means to others.

cuethesun said:

Think Raspberries and Big Star as the founding fathers with Cheap Trick as ambassadors. Gotta have large guitars, rich, melodic verses, perhaps a clever B section leading into a soaring chorus (lush harmonies optional). A middle-eight to pique your interest and get it all done in under 3:30.

Hard to argue with that, other than I'd add ear-catching drums and encourage generosity with exceptions.

"Serious Fun": 4:40.

Damn. 3:31.

Point taken! 3:30! Though a quicker fade-out would have remedied.

For me, it has to be jangly, and there should be full stops in there somewhere for added tension.

Some more recent obsessions: Do these fit?

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j_r said:

For me, it has to be jangly, and there should be full stops in there somewhere for added tension.

Kind of like this?

j_r said:

Some more recent obsessions: Do these fit?

A couple of weeks ago, a neighbor said Car Seat Headrest was a band to listen out for. Is this a movement?

Another "This is for me" song, college edition.

If it was some woman from Millburn, then yeah, check them out, but Cronin and Ty Segall might be a better fit.

Nope, someone else. So it must be a movement.

Tempo, shmempo.

Seriously, no REM?

So much good stuff. Almost too much to process! Superdrag has always been one of my favs. John did a great acoustic cover of September Gurls but here's their most popular tune...

Dave - here's another you may not have heard before...

The studio version is more trad power pop (a bit more polished and slower) but I like this live version for it's mix of melody, whistling and xylophone.