popdude

I'm definitely more of a GBW fan than a Splitsville fan, also, although I like both. The early Splitsville efforts were WAY too noisy and jokey for my tastes. ("Come Back to the Five and Dime, Larry Storch, Larry Storch?"---yikes!)

Love "Parachute." Actually, my fave GBW song would be either "Super Geek" or "Go Without You," which is perfect evocation of 1968-vintage Carl Wilson.

Marvin wrote: <<They released a fine Beach Boys influenced disc in 1994, "Big Money Item" produced by Andy Paley, and then broke up.>> Actually, BIG MONEY ITEM was their second album; their debut was called RAPPLE DAPPLE and featured the super-bouncy "Trampoline" (ouch! bad pun!).

It's a bootleg.

You know, this Lobo info is great, but can you be a LITTLE more detailed next time, please?

Ian Gomm's hit was called "Hold On." Great tune... Paul Carrack, later to appear in Squeeze (he sang "Tempted") and other bands was Ace's lead singer on "How Long."

Tony C. said <<The last time I criticized Eric's music, Bernie sent down a couple of his LA "Connections" and beat the crap out of me.>> Did they look like Ken Sharp? He's one badass mofo!

Marvin: <<"Beautiful Sunday" by Daniel Boone was a great song Bob. Maybe it didn't get airplay in the U.S.>> It is indeed a great tune, and one that got plenty of airplay in California. As a matter of fact, my band covered it a few years back on the RIGHT TO CHEWS: BUBBLEGUM CLASSIC REVISITED compilation on Not Lame Records.

Oh gosh, along these lines, I could tell you guys some tales about my 20 years in music journalism...such as... * The one NYC popster who's wife got VERY upset with me after my review of his record. "But I liked the record and gave it a positive review," I protested. "Yes, but it didn't make your top 10 of the year and you didn't call my husband a genius! What did we do to upset you?" (I'm not making this up, folks!) * The L.A.-based artist who chose to find the ONE negative bit in my review of his band's record---that I thought too many of the songs were mid-tempo---and chose to vilify me by writing a song about it on his next album. "They said 'mid tempo trap'/might as well just call it crap." Ironically, the song was mid-tempo. * The webmaster/editor of a pop-music site I used to write for, who refused to run my review of a Who Tribute CD because, even though I enjoyed the bulk of the CD and said so, I actively disliked three of the cuts on it (and these were DREADFUL). When I asked him why, he said, "These guys are trying to sell this CD and your review would do more harm than good." Huh? I've been known to be extremely honest in my reviews, unlike many of my fellow reviewers in the power pop world...it's just the way I've always gone about my business. I obviously don't set out to hurt anyone personally and I believe in civility, but I also believe in calling a spade a spade. At any rate, just my two cents...

Here's an obituary from Melbourne's The Age newspaper: Crowded House drummer dies By Patrick Donovan Music writer March 28, 2005 Former Crowded House and Split Enz drummer and TV personality Paul Hester committed suicide on Saturday after a long battle with depression. A message, sent to Crowded House and Split Enz fan club email lists said: "Everyone, sitting here in the office trying to figure out what to write, we are a bit messed up at the moment. Last night, our mate, and Crowded House drummer Paul Hester, took his own life. "Over the years Paul has swung the extremes of happiness and sadness, but none of us ever thought this would happen. He loved life too much . . . " Crowded House was one of Australia's most successful bands of the late 1980s and early '90s. Formed out of the ashes of New Zealand's Split Enz in 1985, it featured Hester on drums, Neil Finn on vocals and guitar, and Nick Seymour on bass. Guitarist Kev Garant, who played with Hester in the Bay of Pigs, said: "He was considered an absolute world class drummer in the pop field." As recently as two weeks ago, Hester, 46, was at the Espy in St Kilda to appear in the SBS music quiz show, RockWiz. RockWiz's Brian Nankervis said: "He could be everything and anything in one go. He had a lightning wit, he could be wonderfully sensitive, clever and unpredictable."

Hear, hear, Julia! I love the Rubinoos and don't care for The Drysdales. GOD, that felt good! But seriously, you are 100% on the mark...

Marvin, what song was it?

I'm not Marvin, but I think "Soul" is a nice little song...what makes you say it's self-indulgent?

Early Wynn's a good one. Denny McLain's a convicted felon, and Wilbur Wood sounds like a porn actor's name.

Early Wynn wrote: <<Tommy Keene - Songs From the Film Tommy Keene - Ten Years After Tommy Keene - Based on Happy Times>> Always glad to see a fellow TK fan. Tommy's been a fave of mine for a long time, too...

You are not alone! "Pop Teasers" was one of the highlights of REFRESHED...

Early, it's great to have a 300 game winner in our midst! Heard from Minnie Minoso lately?

Stiv passed away a few years back...

Speaking of Not Lame (and since we're making some recommendations), check out The Soul Engines' CLOSER STILL cd at Not Lame (they have soundclips). Jangly guitars and great, memorable songs abound. Another one of my faves from 2003. Heck, why don't I just go ahead and post my top 10 from 2004? :-) Most of it's power pop/pop stuff... 1. Eugene Edwards - My Favorite Revolution (Tallboy Records) 2. Lolas - Something You Oughta Know (JAM) 3. Bronco Bullfrog - Oak Apple Day (Rock Indiana) 4. David Grahame - DT and the Disagreeables (Dog Turner) 5. Cloud Eleven - Terrestrial Ballet (West Coast/JAM) 6. Tommy Keene - Drowning: A Tommy Keene Miscellany (Not Lame) 7. Cliff Hillis - Better Living Through Compression (Tallboy) 8. Jamie Hoover and Bill Lloyd - Paparazzi (Paisley Pop) 9. Seth Swirsky - Instant Pleasure (no label) 10. John Hoskinson - Miscellaneous Heathen (Kaopeoths)

Splitsville would be cool, too; the album they released immediately after "The Complete Pet Soul"---titled "Incorporated"---was one of my favorites of 2003. They're a great live band, too---I've seen 'ema few times here in L.A.

Some right coast pop acts that might be good openers for the 'Berries: The Gripweeds The Flashcubes (still rockin' after all these years) Cliff Hillis The Rosenbergs off the top of my head....

Kool Kat does not have major label distribution...they are much like Not Lame Records, a cool 'lil indie mailorder house/label. Another act on Kool Kat that folks here might enjoy are The Fire Apes. Their new CD, CENTRAL PARK CAROUSEL, has just been released. It's veery Beatle-esque without sounding too retro, with some sparkling melodies and vocals. I liked the last Jellybricks record, but as I mentioned in my review of it, I thought it sorta ran out of steam about halfway through...

Oh, by the way, I have a copy of the magazine with the MM review in it available free of charge to the first person who e-mails me...popdude@aol.com

Jellybricks are cool; the lead singer often sounds like a dead ringer for Matthew Sweet....

Sweet!