The Jon Brion Collection

Jon Brion has released precious little considering his influence in the Power Pop world. After his work with the Grays in 1994 it took seven years for his solo tour-de-force "Meaningless" to finally see the light of day. The rumors of that album preceded its actual release by several years. Individual tracks kept leaking out slowly on the Internet.

When it finally was officially released, Meaningless was indeed a masterpiece. A hand crafted set of originals and covers that showed how Jon's work been a critical part of the Gray's sound. In them, you also clearly heard his influence on the sound of Aimee Mann's first few solo
records.

Of course, Jon's career since that time has focused on high profile producing jobs (Fiona Apple, Rufus Wainwright, Kanye West...) as well as his extremely successful career in scoring films. In those films he has tantalized Power Pop fans by seeding a few great Jon Brion vocal tracks among the instrumental pieces. Great for faithful collectors, but frustrating for everyone else waiting for his next solo album.

As a stop gap, I've collected all of the vocal tracks so far from Jon's soundtrack efforts here along with a track each from a Queen Tribute album and a Hollies Tribute album. Please let me know if you know of something that I am missing. To pad out the collection, I've also included a solo performance that Jon did for KCRW.

Jon Brion - Strangest Times

This is great stuff and I think the collection hangs together well. For true Jon Brion collectors, there is very little new here. For the Power Pop fan new to Jon Brion's work, try these tunes and let me know what you think.

Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey - Here and Now

In the 80s, the dB's were one of the best and most influential power pop groups on the scene. They released a round of classic CDs and then faded from view. They have made several attempts since then to rekindle the flame, each sputtering out after a few months.

Exciting news. Former dB's co-leaders Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey are preparing a new album Here and Now and are performing a few dates in anticipation of its release.

Though I don't have much in the way of rare Stamey Holsapple material together, I did unearth a couple of rare compilations for each of them.

Chris Stamey - Alaska is a compilation of rare singles and an EP released during 1992 and 1993. I pulled these down from the Jeff Giles's classic Jefftoblog blog. As far as I can determine, these files are no longer available. Great stuff that I had not heard before. Highly recommended for Stamey lovers. Thanks Jeff!

After the dB's broke in the early 90s, Peter Holsapple joined the New Orleans based jangle rock super group, the Continental Drifters. Though Peter's then wife Susan Cowsill usually sang lead for the Drifters, Peter sang at least two or three songs on each of their three albums.

Peter Holsapple - Continental Drifter is a collection of the Continental Drifter songs that Peter sang lead on (with one ringer pulled from his solo album). Some great material here. I think "Too Little Too Late" is up there with the best of the later dB's material.

1981 Stands for Decibels

1982 Repercussion

1984 Like This

1987 The Sound of Music

1991 Mavericks (Holsapple and Stamey)

1993 Ride the Wild Tom Tom

1994 Paris Avenue

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.