Glad to see The Semantics on your list but you can't forget how terrific that first Material Issue LP was. I know you mentioned them in your intro but I can't express how influential they were in the Chicago music scene, The Bad Examples, The Insiders and so many Chicago greats were influenced by them. One of the most underrated band of the nineties, Material Issue's appreciation of pop was sadly out of place due to the popularity of grunge.
Was not expecting to see Enuff Z'Nuff in that list, so now I'm compelled to go listen to that album. I had always had them in the hair metal genre but many of the best hair metal songs were really power pop dressed up with aqua net and cheesy guitar solos. I likely couldn't get past the band name is why I also didn't take them seriously.
I also need to re-listen to Enuff Z'Nuff. Otherwise I still listen to these fairly regularly. Another I'd add would be The Fastbacks "Zucker". Some of their best songs and Bee Gees cover. They also released a single from the record with the Raspberries "Go All The Way" as the B-side. One of the great underrated bands of the 80s and beyond.
Once again, you talk about albums and artists I've never heard of, like The Semantics and Chris Von Sneidern. Will definitely have to check those out.
I would like to throw Matthew Sweet's Altered Beast into the mix. It does get overshadowed coming out in between the twin pillars of Girlfriend and 100% Fun, but is a great collection of songs. You can also throw "Superdeformed" from No Alternative in there too!
Glad to see The Semantics on your list but you can't forget how terrific that first Material Issue LP was. I know you mentioned them in your intro but I can't express how influential they were in the Chicago music scene, The Bad Examples, The Insiders and so many Chicago greats were influenced by them. One of the most underrated band of the nineties, Material Issue's appreciation of pop was sadly out of place due to the popularity of grunge.
I love Material Issue...but they didn't release anything in 1993, right?
Was not expecting to see Enuff Z'Nuff in that list, so now I'm compelled to go listen to that album. I had always had them in the hair metal genre but many of the best hair metal songs were really power pop dressed up with aqua net and cheesy guitar solos. I likely couldn't get past the band name is why I also didn't take them seriously.
I think a lot of power pop fans who come from punk/alternative/college rock have the same reaction, but I'm more and more in favor of a bigger tent. Also, you might enjoy (or hate?!) this: https://rememberthelightning.substack.com/p/can-hair-metal-be-power-pop
I can enjoy music writing of any genre -- and wrote about one of my favorite "hair metal" bands, Cinderella, for my Substack a few months ago.
https://earworm.substack.com/p/you-dont-know-what-you-got-till-its
By the way - you have expanded my power-pop vocabulary exponentially, so thank you for that!
I also need to re-listen to Enuff Z'Nuff. Otherwise I still listen to these fairly regularly. Another I'd add would be The Fastbacks "Zucker". Some of their best songs and Bee Gees cover. They also released a single from the record with the Raspberries "Go All The Way" as the B-side. One of the great underrated bands of the 80s and beyond.
Good call!
Fastbacks! Yes. Great pick.
I'd add Buffalo Tom's "Big Red Letter Day," "Ring" by the Connells (pretty sure that's from '93), and maybe The Goo Goo Dolls "Superstar Car Wash."
Love it! Keep them coming.
Great call on Big Red Letter Day and Ring!
I'd find room for Jason Falkner solo albums.
Once again, you talk about albums and artists I've never heard of, like The Semantics and Chris Von Sneidern. Will definitely have to check those out.
I would like to throw Matthew Sweet's Altered Beast into the mix. It does get overshadowed coming out in between the twin pillars of Girlfriend and 100% Fun, but is a great collection of songs. You can also throw "Superdeformed" from No Alternative in there too!
Good call. I had "Altered Beast" on a longer version of the list, but it didn't make the cut when I went to 8.