THIS IS PART TWO for Mid-August.
You can read PART ONE – HERE
=======================================
PGHer Bruce Brown does amazing work over at the FIX IT IN THE MIX blog – a place that needs to be a regular stop for reasons that will be obvious once you click on the link HERE. However, Bruce has been doing some truly special, extra-credit work that you all are gonna love.
He’s created a mix of bands and songs that appear in the “POWER POP PRIME” books. “PPP” is my 2+ year project that is a 9-volume book series that will span over 2,700 pages. I’m three books in and done…the 4th one is completing VERY soon. (You can get info on the books at the PGH store – HERE)
I’ll be sending out a special email to all the purchaser of the books to let them know of Sir Bruce Brown’s (he’s been officially knighted by me) splendifically appreciated work. This is almost 5 hours of music from the music featured in JUST “Volume 7” in “Power Pop Prime”, which focuses on the years 2007-2008.
Listen, download, save, make a CD-R, share with others – just spend some time and enjoy some of the best power pop from 2007 and 2008. This is well over six hours pure power pop, all based upon bands/artists featured in “Volume 7”.
MIX Number One – HERE
MIX Number Two – HERE
MIX Number Three – HERE
MIX Number Four – HERE
MIX Number Five – HERE
====================
GREAT video documentary on the 80s Memphis indie music scene featuring Mitch Easter, Tim Lee of The Windbreakers, Peter Holsapple and members of The Squalls, Pylon, The Judys and more. Take 35 minutes when you have it and enjoy listening to a bit of jangle and indie rock HERE. An NPR special on him can be listened to at THIS LINK.
====================
LOST IN THE GROOVES blog is no longer active but it’s a great resource for all things obsessive music geek as it has a bunch of cool links to jump off into. CLICK HERE to visit. The blog was based upon the book(which you should own) called, “Lost in the Grooves: Scram’s Capricious Guide to the Music You Missed”.
====================
THE DAHLMANS – Pop Pioneer’s Mark Hershberger’s awesome power pop-driven label, POP DETECTIVE has brand a new Dahlmanns CD/EP out NOW AT THIS LINK on Pop Detective! SIngle is “Dumb Me Down” written by Francis McDonald of Teenage Fanclub FOR The Dahlmanns! Get it at Popdetective.com or via CDBaby.com
Wanna buy one of the world’s largest record collections of over 300,000 albums? Well, it’s been for sale and, last I heard, it still is. An amazing story to read HERE and make sure you watch the video inside the story for a moving portrayal of that story. I am posting an interesting Facebook post that was in the response section of the article below here:
“”Though he balks at the idea of splitting up the records to different sellers only looking for one genre, he knows he might be forced to do so.”
“A buyer in New York paid $25.99 for a record by an obscure violist, another went to a buyer in Germany, and an old 45 of jazz trombonist Grover Mitchell went to a customer in Spain for $11.”
He’s (unconsciously) made his decision already. The reason nobody has come forward to buy the collection is that he’s spent the last 50 years selling off the good stuff.
Private collectors, dealers, libraries, and archives buy important collections all the time. The reason Murray’s collection is still for sale after these (many) years is obvious to everybody except Murray and the sycophants who keep writing hagiographies about him.”
====================
JANGLE ALERT – THE KENNEDYS will be releasing their latest album on August 21st. Read about it HERE.
====================
I was organizing some old boxes of Not Lame stuff from years ago and came across this article I had forgotten about in SPIN magazine five years ago that featured an extensive article on ROBBIE RIST entitled “Can Robbie Rist Save Power Pop?”. I was interviewed for it, along with many others. It’s a truly fun read on one of the most talented artists in the power pop genre over the past 20 years, hands down. Read it at THIS LINK.
====================
I was a BIG obsessive fan of everything coming out of CBGB’s from late ’75 on and I followed a band on that scene called THE PLANETS ,who sadly never went anywhere and disappeared. They were a very power pop oriented band who had a more, direct rocking Who influence. Now, their leader Binky Phillips has released an Ebook on the band’s story and life at CBGB’s. Read about it HERE. Even better news, the demos they did for Warner Brothers in ’76, one can purchase. At ITunes – HERE and Amazon – HERE
====================
Speaking of one of my favorite blogs, Bill Kopp over at another vital music blog, MUSOSCRIBE written a review on the excellent new vinyl release from the Numero Group that focuses on the late 70s power pop scene in Illinois and features some amazing, extremely rare power pop. Trust me, this collection features mostly tracks you’ve NEVER heard, no matter how obsessive you are! Read it at THIS LINK.
====================
Seriously, cool reissue label you may not be aware about – SALVO. Check out what they are doing HERE.
====================
WOLFGANG’S VAULT has been one of my favorite sites for many years because they stream hundreds of concerts that took place at Bill Graham owned music venues. Every artist that matter in the 60s, 70s and 80s came into the sphere of Graham and most were recorded and even video taped. The site has been free for years and is now switching to a paid, premium access and adding more exclusive members-only content. It’s $2.99/month – a cup of coffee at Starbucks. I bite down and did it. Check it out HERE and HERE.
===================
Cool interview with ALAN PARSONS – HERE.
====================
What is Mod? Mr. Suave’s Mod, Mod World is the web’s original modcast celebrating mod music, and mod-influenced music from past eras including soul, ska, garage, sixties R&B, power pop, punk, britpop, acid jazz, lounge, easy listening and more. Listen in HERE.
====================
CANDY Break – Kyle Vincent recently did some shows in Japan to help promote the new reissue of his old band’s only album on Rock Candy Records.
=======================
Speaking of the Numero Group above, Bloomberg Business Week did a story on the label and interviewed their founders. It’s a fascinating look inside the philosophy of the label and why they do what they do. Read it HERE.
=======================
10 years of the music industry decline in 10 seconds or less – HERE. Lived through that, man!
=======================
SUGAR reissues. “Copper Blue” by Sugar is a classic – it just is. One that power pop fans did, do and will bite down for years to come. Read about the reissues at THIS LINK.
=======================
BRANDON SCHOTT has been busy – catch up with what’s going HERE.
======================
Great interview w/ Steve Barton of TRANSLATOR at RockerZine – read it at THIS LINK. The same blog has a cool interview w/ HOODOO GURUS‘ Dave Faulker HERE.
======================
Pop Pioneers here at Pop Geek Heaven do a lot more than obsess about music. PP Chris Twigger has a most fascinating site. Box Of Dreams is a unique site as it allows people to build up a dream diary and interpret dreams. Here’s what Chris has to say about BOD: “We have a diverse user group worldwide and many of our users are musicians and run their own websites. The site also Carries a music review section which has just launched and will give bands the opportunity to promote their products to a wide community with broad musical tastes. Contact us via the website if you wish to have your release reviewed.” Check it out HERE.
If you have a cool blog or site that you want to share w/ the PGH community, just drop me a line at: popgeekheaven@gmail.com
======================
Came across another interesting blog to all of us – BITE IT DEEP – and HERE is a post that talks about one of my favorite, lesser known power pop bands from the early 70s, THE FLAME. If you’ve not heard the band, find a rip out there on the net. There was a what-turned-out-to-be a bootleg CD that came out 5/6 years ago and is findable. I’ve heard for years that this would come out properly on CD or some format but alas, five years on…nothing has come of it. FIND THIS MUSIC – trust me. Think Badfinger, Hudson Brothers. (produced by Carl Wilson, too)
======================
New RICHARD SNOW track – at THIS LINK.
======================
“The consumer has become all powerful now, and the consumer is king. So the consumer gets what he wants. But as I understand it, the consumer didn’t fucking want Jimi Hendrix, but they got him, and it changed the world. And the consumer didn’t want Sgt. Pepper’s, but they got it, and they didn’t want the Sex Pistols, but they got it.
And now there’s an attitude in the music business where it’s like ‘let’s keep the consumer happy because that’s what keeps the music business going around.'” – NOEL GALLAGHER
