A series of
Rhino Records compilations featuring
power pop bands of the
1970s,
1980s, and
1990s.
These CDs kick ass. Listening to them is a revelation for me. Previously I'd only heard of many of these bands from rock critics who were constantly going on about how insanely great they were. If they're that great, I thought, why haven't I ever heard them before? Silly me. Some of the most talented groups in rock and roll history apparently devoted themselves to sounding just like a combination of the Who and the Kinks circa early-to-mid-1960s, to brilliant effect but commercial suicide. If you're looking for tight, energetic, uptempo music that doesn't suck, do yourself a favor and give these a try.
Poptopia!: Power Pop Classics Of The '70s
- Go All The Way - Raspberries
- Couldn't I Just Tell You - Todd Rundgren
- Abracadabra (Have You Seen Her?) - Blue Ash
- September Gurls - Big Star
- Just A Chance - Badfinger
- I'm On Fire - Dwight Twilley Band
- Shake Some Action - Flamin' Groovies
- Baby It's Cold Outside - Pezband
- Come On, Come On - Cheap Trick
- Where Have You Been All My Life - Fotomaker
- I Wanna Be Your Boyfiend - The Rubinoos
- Starry Eyes - The Records
- Girl Of My Dreams - Bram Tchaikovsky
- Cruel To Be Kind - Nick Lowe
- Good Girls Don't - The Knack
- Too Late - Shoes
- Yellow Pills - 20/20
- Rock N Roll Girl - The Beat
Poptopia!: Power Pop Classics Of The '80s
- What I Like About You - The Romantics
- Baby It's You - Phil Seymour
- Hold On To Something - Great Buildings
- Tell That Girl To Shut Up - Holly & The Italians
- Million Miles Away, A - The Plimsouls
- She Goes Out With Everybody - The SpongeTones
- Whenever You're On My Mind - Marshall Crenshaw
- I Want You Back - The Hoodoo Gurus
- Every Word Means No - Let's Active
- Crybaby - Utopia
- Going Down To Liverpool - Bangles
- Love Is For Lovers - The DBs
- Whatever Happened To Fun... - Candy
- Places That Are Gone - Tommy Keene
- Behind The Wall Of Sleep - The Smithereens
- Lisa Anne - Bill Lloyd
- She's So Young - The Pursuit Of Happiness
- There She Goes - The La's
Poptopia!: Power Pop Classics Of The '90s
Note: I haven't gotten my hands on this one yet, so I can't vouch for it.
- I've Been Waiting - Matthew Sweet
- That Is Why - Jellyfish
- Twisterella - Ride
- Cope - Gigolo Aunts
- Rollin' Down The Hill - The Rembrandts
- Jessica Something - The Tearaways
- Solar Sister - The Posies
- Proto-Pretty - Wondermints
- Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads
- Lady In The Front Row - Redd Kross
- Same Thing - The Grays
- Reasons - The Rooks
- Trampoline - The Greenberry Woods
- Can't Stop Smiling - Velocity Girl
- Hold Me Up - Velvet Crush
- Party Rages On, The - Zumpano
- Every Minute - P. Hux
- You're All Forgiven - Idle Wilds