Thursday, March 11, 2010

D.I.Y. - Shake It Up: American Power-Pop (1978-1980)


The second D.I.Y. to cover American power-pop, Shake It Up has less of the flouncey, cutesiness that crept in around the edges of the prior volume and includes a slew of gutsy power-pop bands like The Beat, Holly & the Italians, The Romantics, Chris Stamey & the DB's and The Plimsouls as well as wussier-but-still-great ones like Shoes, 20/20, The Rubinioos and and unfortunately The Now - basically The Knack but shittier - and their tepid tune, "I Like Girls".




MRML Readers: Did American power-pop get better of worse as the seventies wore on? Leave us a comment!



Shake It Up: American Power-Pop link in comments

11 comments:

  1. http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?nygm2gnnzyw

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  2. Thanks again for the DIY series. Can't wait to listen to them.

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  3. these look great, didn't know this series existed, thx a ton for posting.
    ksn

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  4. like the previous post is a mix of well knowns and lesser ones,interesting...thanks.

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  5. My favorite one in the series, which I was very lucky to find a used copy of in the not-so-distant past! I'm going to miss digging through the racks of discs just to find that elusive treasure...

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  6. thanks abunch. i love this series. in the mid 90's i was driving cross country alot and i would check out Walmart's music section in which they would have a 99cent cassette box in which i would consistently find gem like all of the ones in this series. i haven't had these in years - it'll be a treat. cheers!

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  7. oldkdawg
    Welcome!

    ksn
    Yeah Rhino never properly pushed this series - enjoy it now!

    roberto
    Yeah they do mix things up but I've always wanted to see Rhino do one of JUST obscurities - their equivalent of Shake Some Action.

    cpb
    For sure a pro-CPB take on power-pop - it sounded great!

    anon
    Oh yeah the .99 bin - full of cut-out treasures. This must have been a pleasant surprise amidst the old country and failed Big Rock albums.

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  8. I have also found some gems in the 99 cent bin. YOu always had to dig through a bunch of garbage to get 'em, but that only made the good finds so much sweeter.

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  9. dr
    Welcome!

    Anon
    Some of my fave albums of all time have come from the dollar bin.

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  10. The "better or worse" question is difficult to answer. The quantity of skinny-tie bands definitely increased, and the major labels all got into the act as the more presentable side of Punk morphed into "New Wave". But, the high points pre- and post- Sex Pistols (to pick a handy dividing line) are pretty comparable, in my opinion.

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