Song of the Day: January 30, 2005
Back Door Records 45, 1980
Ireland produced a disproportionate number of great power pop records following the '77 punk explosion, the most obvious example being the run of classics by the Undertones and the class acts on the Good Vibrations label. Near the top of the list would have to be the five wonderful 45s recorded by The Donkeys, this particular one (their third, I think) being my favorite. A close runner up would be the last in the series, "Listen to the Radio," released following a name change to "The Donkees." Although this is another strange instance where a band never got to make an LP, there are a couple of compilations available: Detour Records has a new one on both LP and CD, and our friends at Smog Veil have one issued by Japan's 1977 Records. 
Song of the Day: January 29, 2005
From The Len Bright Combo present the Len Bright Combo By the Len Bright Combo, Empire Records LP, 1986
There's no one named Len Bright in the combo. It's actually Wreckless Eric of "Whole Wide World" fame with a couple of guys from the Milkshakes/Headcoats/Prisoners camp. This is from the first of their two LPs, which along with this lovely snapshot of cold dead romance contains such gems as "Shirt Without a Heart" and "Selina Through the Windshield."
Song of the Day: January 28, 2005
1968, available on Biff! Bang! Powder CD,
Distortions Records, 1996
It seems strange that while so many 60s teens in American garages embraced the R'n'B-derived sounds of the Stones, Pretty Things, Kinks, etc. there were seemingly very few windmilling Rickenbackers in an attempt to emulate the Who or any of their mod/psych peers. Powder were among these few, and their recordings contained on the Biff! Bang! Powder CD, while never released during the band's existence, show them remarkably adept at aping the 'oo with ocasional bits of The Pink Floyd thrown in. 
Song of the Day: January 27, 2005
The Sandy Coast-Subject Of My ThoughtsRelax Records 45, 1965Also Available on: Nederbeat 63-69 CD box set on Hunter Music Dutch Beat Explosion CD on Distortions Records Subjects Of Our Thoughts 10" LP on Kux Like New Zealand in the 80s, Holland in the 60s presented an enormous hunk of great rock 'n' roll that belied the country's relatively small size. The Q65 and the Outsiders get the most hipster ink, as is appropriate, but there were tonsa great bands, check the above CDs for documentation. The Sandy Coast issued a handful of great beat singles before getting decidedly heavier in the later part of the 60s, as was the pattern for most. Guess which we prefer? 
Song of the Day: January 26, 2005
Stortbeat Records 45, 1979
The DIY ethic (see the entry for January 15) occasionally applied to power pop bands as well. Here's a fine example of lo-budget, black-and-white sleeve power pop. The flip says "Dub Version," but it isn't. It's another good number in the same vein. The Gangsters had an album as well, which was booted a couple of years ago; it's not often up to the standard set here. The exquisite picture sleeve is shown mainly to demonstrate that we're not terribly snobby about condition.
Song of the Day: January 25, 2005
From Native Sons, Frontier Records LP, 1984
The Long Ryders, like a hundred other bands you could name, got shafted by time. It is entirely possible that had they emerged in the early aughts instead of the mid-80s they might be recognized as the prime purveyors of country-influenced roots rock that they were. They made a solid EP and a great LP for Frontier before moving to Island Records to make a couple of LPs that possibly overplayed their desire to be the new Buffalo Springfield a bit, but in retrospect, stand head and shoulders above most of the stuff you'll read about in No Depression. (Speaking of reading, singer/guitarist/songwriter Sid Griffin is a frequent contributor to mags like Mojo, and is acknowledged as perhaps the leading authority on Gram Parsons and the Byrds.) They also got a lot of flak for appearing in a Miller Beer commercial, a sin that would hardly draw a raised eyebrow today when scads of hipster artists are allowing their incredibly personal, heartfelt works to sell SUVs and diapers.
By the way, didn't Frontier Records release a batch of great albums? Thin White Rope, American Music Club, Pontiac Brothers, Three O' Clock...What are your top five?
The Picture sleeve is from the Zippo Records (UK) 45.
Song of the Day: January 24, 2005
You Say When Records 45, 1993
One of the best things about this blog thing is that I've been able to meet (at least via e-mail) some really nice folks. One such person is Jen Talbert, microbiologist and co-owner of You Say When Records, the label that issued the debut of the Kicksouls, a Baltimore band led by brothers Casey and Mason Cutlip. I remember seeing fanzine ads for a full-length album in the mid-90s, but never being able to find it; Jen says that it was indeed recorded and will probably be issued at some point, although the label is currently on a "prolonged break." We'll try to keep you posted. Until that day this 3-track 7" reamins their only artifact, save for a few stray compilation appearances. 
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