Millard Powers

This post is by request. It's the long out-of-print complete album by the co-leader of the Semantics, Millard Powers. I finally found the original way back in cold storage.

Initially issued as a virtual album on the original incantation of MP3.com, this album shows how critical Powers was to the sound of the Semantics - in addition to Will Owsley who we all know turned into a two hit Power Pop comet phenom. Both had classic (and somewhat similar) Power Pop voices

I've posted most of this before , intermixed with some of the demos for the Semantics album . Here is the complete posting with the original mp3s in the original order in all of their glory. This version includes Millard's solo redo of the Semantics classic "Jenny Won't Play Fair".

Enjoy.

...and Happy New Year!

Dada - Bonus Tracks and Rarities

I'm afraid I'm late with this one.... Here is a bonus track and rarities compilation from Dada. These LA based power poppers have released 8 CDs over the years. I'd describe their sound as slick California pop with a strong hint of electric blues. (They are often compared to the Police but I don't hear it). When they are great (and they often are), their hooks rank with the best. Their playing is loud, powerful with amazing harmonies. I recommend checking out each of their releases below. You can find used copies of most of them for cheap.

The tracks in this compilation were compiled from current Internet sources (Dada's website, and other bloggers...). I've also included some hard to find bonus tracks from the 2004 reissues of El Subliminoso and American Highway Flower. Those reissues had limited release and are hard to find now. I only came up with two of the seven extra tracks. (Trust me - you are going to want to hear Dada's version of California Dreamin' one of those extra tracks!) If anyone has the others, would you please enlighten the rest of us? I've also included several rare tracks from side project Butterfly Jones.

Several years ago, the Dada Enthusiast List did a better job on a rarities project like this - but the postings there appeared to have gone cold. Maybe one of you is out there...

Great band. Looking forward to their next release.

1992 Puzzle
1994 American Highway Flower
1996 El Subliminoso
1998 Dada
2001 Napalm Springs (Butterfly Jones - side project)
2004 How to Be Found
2005 Live: Official Bootleg
2006 A Friend of Pat Robertson (EP)

New Future Clouds and Radar

There is a new "Future Clouds and Radar" album scheduled for release in the upcoming weeks - and that's great news. Last year's self-titled album was a welcome return to form by Cotton Mather's lead singer Robert Harrison. In my opinion, it was a candidate for 2007's best release. Stellar Beatles influenced song filtered through a contemporary lens. What I've heard from the new album "Peoria" is just as great.

In honor of the upcoming release, I'm posting a collection of radio performances in support of the last album. Listen closely and hear Robert and the gang revision and repurpose some of the best material from the first release.

Can't wait to hear the new one....

David Mead - Unreleased Songs, B-Sides and Demos

I really think that David Mead is one of the most underrated Power Pop artists of our time. He has issued four beautiful albums and possesses an other-wordly voice with an amazing range. However the most exciting thing for me about Mead's output is the quality of his writing.

I highly recommend all of his albums. 2004's Indiana and his new album "Almost and Always" are quite introspective affairs. "The Luxury of Time" and "Mine and Yours' have their share of rockers. "Tangerine" is classic Beatlesque song-cycle end to end. You really can't go wrong with any of them.

1999 The Luxury of Time
2001 Mine and Yours
2004 Indiana
2006 Tangerine
2008 Almost and Always

On his website and on some fan sites, Mead has issued a generous number of unreleased demos and b-sides. For convenience, I've collected all I could find here. There are some great songs here:

1 Wherever - Intro Version from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
2 One Plus One - Original Version from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
3 Jonathan Barnum, Talk of The Town - Out take
4 Attitude - unreleased out take from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
5 Claws - Out Take from "Luxury of Time"
6 I Like to Run - From kids song compilation "For The Kids Too"
7 Little Sister - unreleased out take from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
8 Patience - unreleased out take from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
9 Growin' Up - unreleased out take from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
10 Full of Myself - "Mine and Yours" Out take
11 Chutes and Ladders - Japanese bonus track from "Indiana"
12 Subway - unreleased out take from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
13 Only Living Boy in New York - Simon and Garfunkle Cover from "Everwood" sountrack
14 Three Stars - Demo of David with Daniel Tashian
15 Comfort - Original Demo
16 Sex and the Single Girl - "Luxury of Time" Out take
17 Sweet Sunshine - Demo Version
18 Beauty - Original Version from unreleased version of "Wherever You Are"
19 Fighting For Your Life - Radio Session
20 Venus Again - Demo Version
21 A Gift For You All - Christmas song released for fanclub
22 Christmas is So Far Away - Christmas song released for fanclub
23 I Like Christmas Cause You Feed Me Real Good - Christmas song released for fanclub

I know that there are some I'm missing, please let me know if you have them.

Ken Stringfellow's Saltine

Since their first CD, I've been a Posies fan and somewhat of a completist. Today, I've posted a long out-of-print side-project by Ken Stringfellow called Saltine.

Saltine issued a single CD in 2000 during a period when the Posies had "broken up". The writing is strong, however the production is certainly of its time. In addition to Ken, Saltine included Braden Blake of Super Deluxe, a band that was very much influenced by the Posies.

Saltine only officially released the six song EP included here . I've also included a live broadcast concert from the same era. The recording and songs are quite good.

Enjoy and as always let me know if I am missing anything.

Redd Kross - Any Hour Every Day

You have GOT to love Redd Kross. They evolved from pre-teen LA punk stars during the 1980s into a full fledged Power Pop force during the 1990s. Albums from Redd Kross have been few-and-far-between however, and much of their best stuff has come out as singles and compilation tracks . For the power pop collecter, I recommend all the 1990s albums - from Third Eye on. Essential stuff!

I've collected most of their fine singles and compilation tracks here: 

1 Any Hour Every Day
2 Switchblade Sister
3 So Cal V8
4 Fancy
5 What's Wrong With Me?
6 Dancing Queen
7 Popular Cult
8 Tico and Yolanda
9 Yesterday Once More
10 Misery is Mother
11 Byrds and Fleas
12 Girls Can Tell
13 The Insatiable Kind
14 Star Lust
15 How Much More
16 Trance
17 It's In The Sky
18 What Cha Doin to That Girl?
19 I'll Meet You Half Way
20 Sick Love
21 It Won't Be Long
22 Hard Luck Woman
23 Sister Teresa's Biography
24 I Was Born to Love You
25 Marry Christmas
26 Super Sunny Christmas

Enjoy and let me know if I've missed anything. I hear they are working on a new album (don't get too excited. They've been promising that for years.) Can't wait....

The Andy Sturmer Demos

In 1990 and 1993, Jellyfish released two mind-blowing Power Pop classics, Bellybutton and Spilt Milk. Though years later we continue to feel the effcts of those amazing albums, Jellyfish was never (really) heard from again (...well not if you don't count Not Lame Record's excellent live and rare tracks compilation from a couple of years ago).

Band members have put out their own fine efforts. The Roger Joseph Manning Jr. cds have been great ... and obviously Jason Falkner and Eric Dover have gone on to find their own voices and to release Power Pop epics of their own. However we have heard almost nothing from the lead voice and major song writer of Jellyfish, Andy Sturmer. What follows are all the demos that Andy sings on that have leaked out over the years. (I get requests for this stuff often.)

For avid readers of this blog, these tracks are probably old news. Great songs all (at least until the end of the compilation where Andy's recent work on cartoon soundtracks is featured) but there is nothing new or different here. However, for the uninitiated, these tracks should be a revelation, very much in the spirit of Jellyfish. You have to wonder why finished versions never saw the light of day. If you haven't heard these songs, you'll want to get them immediately. The original songs are great and the cover versions bring you back to what was great about Spilt Milk and Bellybutton.

Listen to the collection here

Thanks to the contributors from the Andy Sturmer Yahoo Group who remixed and extended some of the unfinished tracks. I really appreciate your work!

As the first track says, "we're holding out for something better..."