Power Pop is the kind of genre that inspires lots of arguments from fans regarding what is or isn't power pop, when it started and/or ended, and which bands are the best. This kind of passion has led to multiple collections from different labels looking to tell the story of power pop in their own way. From Rhino's Poptopia series to the Yellow Pills collections and various discs put out by Bomp, Numero, and Teenline, there has been no shortage of power pop comps over the years. In 2019, Ace Records took a crack at ...
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Power Pop is the kind of genre that inspires lots of arguments from fans regarding what is or isn't power pop, when it started and/or ended, and which bands are the best. This kind of passion has led to multiple collections from different labels looking to tell the story of power pop in their own way. From Rhino's Poptopia series to the Yellow Pills collections and various discs put out by Bomp, Numero, and Teenline, there has been no shortage of power pop comps over the years. In 2019, Ace Records took a crack at defining power pop with Come On Let's Go! Powerpop Gems from the 70's and 80's, a collection that hits mainstays of the genre, goes deep for obscurities, and will certainly get some sideways glances for a few inclusions and exclusions. A few of the songs are already burned deep into the brain of even the most casual power pop fan: Big Star's "September Gurls" and the Flamin' Groovies' "Shake Some Action" are basic building blocks of the sound with their blend of jangling guitars, vocal harmonies, and soaring melodies. The Raspberries, Shoes, the Dwight Twilley Band, and the Rubinoos are also foundational, and they are all represented here with tunes that rate with their best work, especially Twilley's majestic "Looking for the Magic." Alongside these big names are some that almost hit the same heights, like 20/20, Van Duren, and the Spongetones, whose "(My Girl) Maryanne" is a much-anthologized classic of Merseybeat revival. The rest of the set is much more obscure and ranges from the brilliant folk-rock of the Nashville Ramblers' "The Trains" and the jumped-up new wave rush of the Tweeds' "I Need That Record" to the Boys' super-chirpy ballad "(Baby) It's You" and a lost classic ("Teen Line") from the Shivvers, one of the rare power pop bands that was female-fronted. These are gems that the casual fan of the style might not know about, and it's great that they are getting more exposure. The same can't be said for the Romantics' "What I Like About You," a song that could be locked in a vault and shot into space, never to be heard again. The mix of such overly familiar songs and those that are super rare -- and a few that stretch the bounds of power pop like Wire Train's "It's Only Dark" -- makes it hard to figure out exactly who this collection is meant for. It's not a greatest hits or beginner's kit of power pop, though it comes close. It's not a Nuggets -style deep dive into the sound for the experts either. Maybe it is what the title says it is: a random collection of gems, both polished and raw, from the heyday of Power Pop. Not perfect by any means, but not a bad way to spend an hour or so, surrounded by winsome vocals, chiming guitars, and classic melodies. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi
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