Superdrag: “Regretfully Yours”

January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Our featured album this week was Superdrag’s Regretfully Yours. Based out of, Tennessee, Superdrag had a brief flirt with fame in 1996 when this album came out. In 96, alt rock was flourishing, and Regretful‘s lead single, “Sucked Out”, took MTV by storm. Superdrag went on to release the delightful Head Trip In Every Key in 1998, and later Stereo 360 Sound, but never found the same support from radio or mainstream labels. In the Valley of Dying Stars was their final release before disbanding in 2003. But that wasn’t the end for Superdrag, despite appearances. Superdrag reassembled in 2007 and released Industry Giants in 2009 before fading back into the ether. Here’s a video of “Sucked Out” from Superdrag’s 2007 tour, in their hometown of Knoxville:

Favorite tracks: _4_ Sucked Out , 1 Slot Machine, 3 Carried
Label: Elektra Entertainment Group
RIYL: Fountains of Wayne, Mike Viola, Nada Surf

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop

Brendan Benson: “My Old, Familiar Friend”

January 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

Brendan Benson has been crafting power pop tunes since he was 26, and My Old, Familiar Friend, his fourth album, was released in 2009. There had been a gap in his solo output, easily explained by his participation in the musical supergroup The Raconteurs, but he came back wiser and more enthusiastic. Here’s the lead single from the album, called “A Whole Lot Better”:

Hot off the presses as of just a few minutes ago, Brendan announced that he is launching a new record label, Readymade, and that his next solo album, What Kind of World, drops April 21st. We’ll definitely stay tuned for this.

Favorite tracks: __7__ “Poised and Ready”, _1_ A Whole Lot Better, _2_ Eyes on the Horizon, 8 Don’t Wanna Talk, 4 Gonowhere
Label: ATO Records/The Echo Label
RIYL:  Wiretree, Jason Falkner, Paul McCartney

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop

Matthew Sweet: “Girlfriend”

December 29, 2011 By 2 Comments

The cover of "Girlfriend" is a photo of actress Tuesday Weld

It’s amazing to say that it’s been 20 years since the release of Girlfriend, the third and most critically acclaimed album by Matthew Sweet. Breaking through during a narrow window of time in which music from the 80s had been discarded in favor of grunge and alternative rock, Girlfriend ended up high on commercial radio charts, and even MTV seized on Matthew’s anime-themed music videos and played them non-stop (nearly a decade before, we might add, Daft Punk had success with the same trick.)

The album was recorded in NYC and features incredible solos and musicianship from the lines of Robert Quine, Richard Lloyd, Greg Leisz, Lloyd Cole, Rick Menck and Fred Maher. This year Matthew has been touring the US, playing songs from the album in their original ordering, with backup from long time touring bandmates Paul Chastain (bass) and Ric Menck (drums). But who, in the wake of Robert Quine’s tragic death in 2004, would be providing the signature guitar solos? Dennis Taylor. Who? Dennis is a gem of a find – he was discovered by Matthew whilst guitar teching for the Bangles, and went on to help Matthew record his latest record, Modern Art.

See an excellent interview of Matthew Sweet by the AV Club, which includes an acoustic performance of “I’ve Been Waiting.” It’s clear that as an album, Girlfriend holds up and lives on even 20 years after its release.

Favorite tracks: _2_ I’ve Been Waiting, _10_ I Wanted to Tell You, 6 Evangeline, 9 You Don’t Love Me, 12 Your Sweet Voice, 3 Girlfriend
Label: Zoo Entertainment (defunct), rereleased by Legacy Recordings/Volcano
RIYL: Velvet Crush, The Replacements, Game Theory, The Lemonheads

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop, Vancouver

Rooney: “Eureka”

December 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

After 2007′s Calling the World and a tour in 2008, Rooney departed from Geffen Records and did their own thing. Taylor Locke, guitarist for the band, put in a lot of time with his band The Roughs, and ended up hanging out quite a bit with our pal Bleu. They released an EP in 2009, and finally in 2010, they released Eureka, through Warner’s independent label, California Dreamin’ Records. Rooney is still the same band that brought us “Blueside” and “Calling the World”, and it shows on Eureka. Here’s the music video for the leading single “Holdin’ On”:

Favorite tracks: _5_ All Or Nothing, 2 I Can’t Get Enough, 12 Don’t Look at Me, 1 Holdin’ On
Label: California Dreamin’ Records / Rooney Music
RIYL:  Weezer, Ocean Colour Scene, Fountains of Wayne

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop, Vancouver

The New Pornographers: “Together”

December 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Last year, the revered power pop supergroup from Vancouver, The New Pornographers, released their fifth album on Matador Records. It is called “Together”, and in the span of twelve tracks it covers the distinct influences of all of its members – A.C. Newman’s cryptic lyrics, Neko Case’s charmingly cheerful choruses, Dan Bejar’s awkwardly beautiful songwriting, Kurt Dahle’s unmistakably persistent drumming.. it’s only right that the band end the album with a song calling “We End Up Together.”

In the video below, feel free to skip over the first :17 or so, and then watch a ludicrously funny trailer for a non-existent movie: “Moves: The Rise and Rise of the New Pornographers.” Directed by noted comedian and radio host Tom Scharpling (WFMU, Monk, etc.), it features all manner of TV celebrities and musicians taking on the roles of characters from the band.. and then some! Witness, for example, Ted Leo tarted up in the role of bandmate Kathryn Calder. The trailer takes “mockumentary” to a new level, perhaps best described as “crockumentary.” See it for yourself:

Favorite tracks: _1_ Moves, _2_ Crash Years, _10_ A Bite Out of my Bed
Label: Matador Records
RIYL:  The Gay, Sloan, Brendan Benson, The Wondermints

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop, Vancouver

They Might Be Giants: “Join Us”

November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Were there ever to be a “nerd-pop” genre, John Lennel and John Flansbergh would be the celebrated champions. Throughout their astounding 28 year (and counting) career as They Might Be Giants, they have reigned supreme with their own unique, sometimes quirky, always upbeat take on accordion and guitar-based pop. Earlier this year the band of Johns released Join Us on their own label, Idlewild Recordings. This release marks their 15th full album, and brings them back to their adult fans, who perhaps have been waiting in the wings as a whole new generation of children have come to know TMBG through their children’s albums (Here Comes Science, Here Come the 123′s, etc.)

Here’s a hilarious video take on the opening track, “Can’t Keep Johnny Down.” TMBG solicited music videos for the song, and this piece was judged — by John Hodgman, of all people — to be the runner up in the contest.

Favorite tracks: _1_ “Can’t Keep Johnny Down”, 4 “Canajoharie”, 9 “When Will You Die”
Label: Idlewild Recordings / Rounder Records
RIYL:  XTC, Ween, The B-52s, Weezer

Filed Under: Featured Album, Power Pop

Matt Pond PA: “Spring Fools” / Interview with Matt Pond

November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Spring Fools EP by Matt Pond PA

Earlier this year, chamber pop fans rejoiced when Matt Pond PA released a bright new EP entitled Spring Fools. Not only did we feature the EP this week on the Overthrow, we actually had a chance to chat with Sir Pond himself about many things: the breaking of legs, the crafting of songs, and the importance of listening to and appreciating an album from start to finish as one piece. Take a listen for yourself:

Favorite tracks: _1_ Love to Get Used, _3_ Lovers Always Win, _5_ Sugar Bush, 2 Human Beings
Label: Altitude Records
RIYL: Buried Beds, The New Amsterdams

Filed Under: Chamber Pop, Featured Album, Indie Pop

Ken Stringfellow: “Soft Commands”

November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ken Stringfellow co-leads The Posies along with Jon Auer. He has been involved at times with bands like REM, and was a principal member of the reformation of Big Star, until Alex Chilton’s untimely demise. Today’s featured album is his solo release from 2004, on Yep Roc Records. Here’s a video of Ken performing our favorite track “Any Love (Cassandra et Lune)” from Soft Commands, in a house concert in Lithuania this February:

Favorite tracks: _2_ “Any Love (Cassandra et Lune)”, 1 “You Drew”, 9 “You Become the Dawn”, 4 “When U Find Someone”,
Label: Yep Roc
RIYL: The Posies

Filed Under: Featured Album, Indie Pop, Power Pop

Teenage Fanclub: “Shadows”

November 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Teenage Fanclub is a power pop and indie pop band from Scotland. They’ve long led the charge, having originally debuted in 1989. Last year they released a long-awaited album, Shadows, a seemingly long five years after their previous release. We’ve featured Shadows on the Palo Alto Overthrow today, as released by Merge Records here in the States.

The Fannies (as they’re affectionately called) operate on a simple principle: the three songwriters of the group, Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, and Gerard Love, each sing lead vocals on their own tracks, and each songwriter’s tracks are rotated amongst each other evenly on the disc.

It’s surprising then, that the disc sounds so smooth throughout. Though it’s fair to say that we most prefer the songwriting of Gerard Love, all of the songs are great. At times Shadows channels The Byrds, yet at still other times it divines the best of Archer Prewitt. Overall, Shadows is a very listenable album.

Watch this video of Teenage Fanclub playing our new favorite track, “Baby Lee”, live in concert in Dublin:

Favorite tracks: _2_ “Baby Lee”, 4 “Into The City”, 7 “Shock And Awe”, 1 “Sometimes I Don’t Need To Believe In Anything”
Label: Merge Records
RIYL: The Byrds, Big Star, Sonic Youth, The Posies

Filed Under: Featured Album, Indie Pop, Power Pop

Glenn Tilbrook and The Fluffers: “Pandemonium Ensues”

October 27, 2011 By 1 Comment

On the Palo Alto Pop Overthrow we feature music that has descended from bands like The Beach Boys, The Beatles, XTC, and Squeeze. Today’s featured album is by a band with a direct line of heritage to one such band – Squeeze – via their lead singer, Glenn Tilbrook. Glenn is one half of the songwriting duo of Difford and Tilbrook that really form the basis for Squeeze. With his backing band The Fluffers (Lucy Shaw on bass, Stephen ‘Lord’ Large on keyboards, and Simon Hanson on drums), Glenn has put out an album entitled “Pandemonium Ensues.”

In this video, Glenn and the Fluffers play a song called “Through the Net”, which we featured on today’s show. Skip to ~44 seconds:

This record, from 2008, was important in that it fed back into yet another reformation of Squeeze. In an interview with Songfacts, Glenn compared the two bands: “Squeeze is a lot more structured, and I’d say it’s a very professional band. There’s a lot of excitement which is what I feel we’ve brought back to Squeeze from the Fluffers. On the other hand, the Fluffers is more market, it’s more out on a limb, it’s more improvisational within certain structures. And the Squeeze, professionally, they have brought certain things back to the Fluffers.”

A final bit of trivia: this album was mixed by Bob Clearmountain, known for the “Clearmountain Pause“.

Favorite tracks: _8_ “Melancholy Emotion”, _2_ “Through The Net”, 11 “Black Sheep”, 1 “Best of Times”
Label: Quixotic Records London
RIYL: Jules Shear, Michael Penn, Squeeze

Filed Under: Featured Album
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