Here's what was played on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow for July 29, 2008:
Artist
Track
Album/Label
**Fountains of Wayne
Radiation Vibe
Fountains of Wayne Atlantic Records
Grays, the
Very Best Years
Ro Sham Bo Sony Music (Modern)
Teenage Fanclub
The Concept
Four Thousand Seven Hundred And Sixty-Six Seconds Jetset Records
**Fountains of Wayne
Please Don't Rock Me
Fountains of Wayne Atlantic Records
Greenberry Woods, the
Yeah (Yeah, Yeah, Yeah)
Big Money Item Sire Records (Modern)
Felumlee, Mike
Halfway
64 Hours Double Zero Records
Pale, The
Wake-Up Call
Gravity Gets Things Done Sidecho Records
**Fountains of Wayne
I've Got a Flair
Fountains of Wayne Atlantic Records
+Rooney
Paralyzed
Calling the World Geffen Records
+Let Go
Spotlights
Let Go The Militia Group
+Rewinds, The
Ghostriders
The Rewinds Livewire Recordings
*ike
When I Fall
Parallel Universe Bisbee Roadkill
+Pugwash
Cluster Bomb
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
@+New Amsterdams, the
The Spoils of the Spoiled
Worse for the Wear Vagrant Records
** Featured Album * Featured Track + Former Feature @ Request/Dedication
Palo Alto Pop Overthrow with Phil Andrews Tuesdays from 10-11PM PST KZSU Stanford, 90.1FM / http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ Blog at http://www.palopop.org/
When you think of power pop, any Philadelphia musician will tell you to give John Faye a call. John rode on the success of his mid-90s band The Caulfields, and in the new century he formed a band called the John Faye Power Trip. This band morphed into "ike" (e.e.cummings capitalization not withstanding), which included Joann Schmitt on bass, Cliff Hillis (ex-Starbelly) on guitar, and Dave Anthony on drums. The band is still around today, but no longer carries Cliff or Dave on its roster.
Will you stick around when I fall? Will you shelter me when I come crashing down
Tonight's featured album is the self-titled release from the New Jersey-born power pop group Fountains of Wayne. You can hear more information and some cuts from the album by listening in to the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow at 10PM on the west coast (1AM east coast), via KZSU's online streams, or on your Bay Area radio dial at 90.1FM.
At the core of Fountains of Wayne are bassist Adam Schlesinger and vocalist, guitarist, and keyboard player Chris Collingwood. Named after a lawn ornament store in Wayne, New Jersey, this power pop duo scored a record deal with Atlantic records in 1996 that lead to the release of their self-titled album that we're featuring today. Adam and Chris had great success with their first single, "Radiation Vibe," on US radio. Many other tracks on the album are great. While Fountains of Wayne's later album "Utopia Parkway" wasn't commercially successful, they reformed and rebounded with hit "Stacy's Mom" in 2003. Today's featured album is a snapshot in time of Fountains of Wayne before they made it big. I hope you enjoy it for what it is.
Favorite tracks: 1. Radiation Vibe, 11. Please Don't Rock Me Tonight, 9. Leave The Biker, 8. I've Got a Flair
Here's what was played on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow for July 22, 2008:
Artist
Track
Album/Label
**Let Go
Somewhere
Let Go Militia Group
Posies, the
Solar Sister
Frosting On The Beater Geffen Records
Felumlee, Mike
Halfway
64 Hours Double Zero Records
Belle And Sebastian
The State I Am In
Push Barman To Open Old Wounds Matador Records
**Let Go
Illuminati
Let Go Militia Group
+Rooney
Paralyzed
Calling the World Geffen Records
+Splitsville
Forever
The Complete Pet Soul Houston Party Records
Squeeze
Peyton Place
Frank A&M
**Let Go
Spotlights
Let Go Militia Group
+Rewinds, the
Ghostriders
The Rewinds Livewire Recordings
Rembrandts, the
Rollin' Down the Hill
Untitled Atco Records
*New Amsterdams, the
The Spoils of the Spoiled
Worse for the Wear Vagrant Records
Sweet, Matthew
This Moment
Sweet Relief Chaos Recordings
Wiretree
Don't Need It
Bouldin Cobaltworks Music Division
+Pugwash
Take Me Away
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
** Featured Album * Featured Track + Former Feature @ Request/Dedication
Palo Alto Pop Overthrow with Phil Andrews Tuesdays from 10-11PM PST KZSU Stanford, 90.1FM / http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ Blog at http://www.palopop.org/
The New Amsterdams was the acoustic side-project of The Get Up Kids' guitarist Matthew Pryor. After the breakup of the Kids, Matthew went on to focus on the New Amsterdams, along with help from his former bandmate Ryan Pope. The band doesn't steer that far away from the emoish tendencies of the Kids, but its earnest and upbeat number "The Spoils of the Spoiled" will get your toes tapping.
"Let Go" is a band from Tempe, Arizona, that arose out of the ashes of pop/rock band The Stereo. Ex-Stereo members Chris Serafini on bass, and Jamie Woolford on guitar and vocals, are rounded out by new member and drummer Scott Hessel. Their 2005 self-titled release was launched by the well-respected Los Angeles-based Militia Group label. Let Go veers more into guitar-laced metalesque punk pop than The Stereo ever did. The track "Somewhere" is the most laid back track of the trio we're featuring today on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow.
Here's what was played on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow for July 15, 2008:
Artist
Track
Album/Label
**Rooney
Paralyzed
Calling the World Cherry Tree Records / Geffen
New Pornographers, The
The Bones Of An Idol
Twin Cinema Matador Records
Odds
Someone Who's Cool
Nest Elektra Records (West Coast)
Sweet, Matthew
What Matters
In Reverse Volcano Entertainment
**Rooney
When Did Your Heart Go Missing
Calling the World Cherry Tree Records / Geffen
Toy Matinee
Queen of Misery
Toy Matinee Reprise Records
Neil Finn & Friends
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
7 Worlds Collide Nettwerk America
**Rooney
I Should've Been After You
Calling the World Cherry Tree Records / Geffen
+Pugwash
Take Me Away
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
Felumlee, Mike
Halfway
64 Hours Double Zero Records
Matt Pond PA
In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Winter Songs Altitude Records
*Coconut Records
West Coast
Nighttiming Young Baby Records
+Travis
My Eyes
The Boy With No Name Independiente
+Churchills, The
Please Carolyn
Big Ideas Near Recordings
** Featured Album * Featured Track + Former Feature @ Request/Dedication
Palo Alto Pop Overthrow with Phil Andrews Tuesdays from 10-11PM PST KZSU Stanford, 90.1FM / http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ Blog at http://www.palopop.org/
Shout out to Canuck from KZSU's very awesome radio show I Once Was Canadian, who blogs at ipickmynose.com, for turning me on to Coconut Records. Ever since he told me to take a listen, I have been unable to purge from my mind the haunting three note synth line at the center of this song.
And I Miss you. I'm going back home to west coast I wish you would you put yourself in my suitcase
Coconut Records is really just one man: the actor Jason Schwartzman, formerly of the band Phantom Planet. There's a relationship between this week's featured album and featured track: Jason Schwartzman is the brother of Rooney's vocalist and guitarist, Robert Schwartzman.
"West Coast" was produced by Brendan O'Brien, who is yet another high profile producer who has worked with the likes of Matthew Sweet, Michael Penn, and Paul Westerberg.
This week's featured album is "Calling the World" by the Los Angeles band Rooney. The band is named in honor of Ed Rooney, the principal in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Their music recalls the deepest veins of ELO and traces of Queen, while rocking their way into modern power pop. The band's lineup is: Robert Schwartzman (vocals, guitar), Louie Stephens (keys), Taylor Locke (guitar & vocals), Ned Brower (drums and vocals), and Matthew Winter (bass guitar).
Favorite tracks: 8. Paralyzed, 2. When Did Your Heart Go Missing?, 3. I Should've Been After You, 1. Calling the World
Here's what was played on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow for July 8, 2008:
Artist
Track
Album/Label
Penn, Michael
Lucky One
MP4 [Days Since a Lost Time Accident] Epic Records
Belle and Sebastian
The State I Am in
Tigermilk Matador Records
Athenaeum
Flat Tire
Radiance Atlantic Records (Modern)
Breakup Society, The
Robin Zander
James at 35 Get Hip Recordings
**Pugwash
Take Me Away
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
Toy Matinee
Queen of Misery
Toy Matinee Reprise Records
@Semisonic
Chemistry
All About Chemistry MCA Records
**Pugwash
Clusterbomb
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
+Churchills, the
The Lights Are On But No One's Home
Big Ideas Near Recordings
+Splitsville
Forever
The Complete Pet Soul Houston Party Records
**Pugwash
At The Sea
Eleven Modern Antiquities 1969 Records
** Featured Album + Former Feature @ Request/Dedication
Palo Alto Pop Overthrow with Phil Andrews Tuesdays from 10-11PM PST KZSU Stanford, 90.1FM / http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ Blog at http://www.palopop.org/
Today's featured album is "Eleven Modern Antiquities" by Pugwash. I spoke with Thomas Walsh, the lead musician and songwriter for the band, in an exclusive interview for the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow. Pugwash is a fascinating power pop band - on their latest album, they have collaborated with Jason Falkner (The Grays/Jellyfish), Andy Partridge (XTC), Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), and Michael Penn. Take a listen for yourself to this interview aired on tonight's Palo Alto Pop Overthrow:
Favorite tracks: 1. Take Me Away, 2. Cluster Bomb, 4. It's So Fine, 5. Song for you, 10. At the Sea
Here's what was played on the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow for July 1, 2008:
Artist
Track
Album/Label
**Churchills, The
Lights Are On But No One's Home
Big Ideas Near Recordings
New Pornographers, the
Letter From An Occupant
Mass Romantic Mint Records Inc.
Rooney
Stay Away
Rooney Geffen Records
**Churchills, The
Run Out of Things To Say
Big Ideas Near Recordings
+Rewinds, The
It's Not The End
The Rewinds Livewire Recordings
Shins, the
Kissing the Lipless
Chutes Too Narrow Sub Pop Records
Mann, Aimee & Penn, Michael
Two of Us
I Am Sam V2 Music Limited
*Splitsville
Forever
The Complete Pet Soul Houston Party Records
Ben Folds Five
Underground
Ben Folds Five Caroline/Blue Plate
@Candy Butchers, the
My Monkey Made a Man Out of Me
Play With Your Head RPM Records/Sony
Squeeze
Sleeping With a Friend
Domino Quixotic London
**Churchills, The
Please Carolyn
Big Ideas Near Recordings
Sloan
The Lines You Amend
A Sides Win Singles 1992-2005 Koch Entertainment
Old 97's
My Two Feet
Blame It On Gravity New West Records
Chris von Sneidern
Sun
Headful of Words Innerstate
** Featured Album * Featured Track + Former Feature @ Request/Dedication
Palo Alto Pop Overthrow with Phil Andrews Tuesdays from 10-11PM PST KZSU Stanford, 90.1FM / http://kzsulive.stanford.edu/ Blog at http://www.palopop.org/
"Forever" is a track by Splitsville, a power pop group based out of Baltimore, Maryland. This song had its origins in a series of tracks pressed as an EP entitled "Pet Soul," which was made for the band's 1998 performance at the LA Poptopia Festival. The four tracks on that EP were meant as a tribute to the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" and the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" albums. Splitsville's EP was so highly acclaimed within power pop circles, that the band developed an entire album, "The Complete Pet Soul," in 2001, of which the track "Forever" headlines the album.
The Churchills are truly an inspirational band. Not only are they a stellar musicians with crazy pop/rock skills, they are entirely self made. After the hope and promise of a Universal Records contract left them stranded without support, they started over from scratch and fought their way back to success. Band members Ron Haney and Bart Schoudel learned how to produce this record, their 2002 release "Big Ideas", by working by day in a recording studio as audio techs, and then by playing and recording their music at night. Since they released "Big Ideas," the band has been featured on TV shows such as "Spin City" and "Scrubs." They've toured the world with OK Go and Yellowcard, and have lit up the New York City power pop scene. They also released the album "The Odds of Winning" in 2005.
Favorite tracks: 1. Lights Are On But No One's Home, 3. Run Out of Things to Say, 13. Please Carolyn, 5. Na Na (NFAP), 7. Me and my Big Ideas, 9. Close My Eyes, 10. Ordinary, 11. Smile
The KZSU summer schedule has officially been released, and it is awesome. For those of you wondering when the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow will next air - fear not, we're here to bring you the best power pop music of the summer, on Tuesdays from 10 to 11PM. It's a summertime party, and you're invited! Be sure to tune in every Tuesday to KZSU in the Bay Area at 90.1 on your FM dial, or online at kzsulive.stanford.edu.
