Eleven Power Pop Albums Turning 10

2013 Was A Great Year For Hooky Guitar Pop

Twenty-thirteen is honestly a bit of a blindspot for me.

After a lifetime devoted to discovering and playing music, by 2005 I had burned out on modern rock and roll. I mostly turned to Americana, old hard rock, punk, and power pop, and whatever mainstream hits my kids liked (Taylor Swift!) for the next decade.

Consequently, the late 2000s and first half of the 2010s represent a gap in my firsthand, real-time guitar pop knowledge. On the plus side, I’ve been like a kid in a candy store discovering the many great artists, albums and songs that I missed.

And 2013, in particular, seemed to be a pretty incredible moment. For starters, it was the year that Guided by Voices released their nineteenth album, English Little League. (I remember feeling like I’d discovered them too late when Bee Thousand came out!)

These talented power pop/power pop-adjacent artists were the keepers of the flame, setting the stage for guitar pop’s current golden age.

And the great news is that many of them are still releasing music today—in the same band, in several different bands, and/or under their own name. So, be sure to explore their catalogs wherever you listen to and buy music.

(Start with talented singer/songwriter Brad Marino, formerly of The Connection; or check out the new single from The Masticators! featuring Lisa Mychols.)

Anyway, that’s enough of the here and now. Set the time machine controls for 2013!

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As with any of these lists, 11 songs only scratches the surface. If you have suggestions for other guitar pop artists and albums from 2013, please join the conversation in the comments.

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Novel and Profane by Wyatt Funderburk

“It’s pretty clear Wyatt has a knack for catchy hook-filled melodies and solid musicianship. …Similar to Mike Viola or Adam Schlesinger, Wyatt twists those minor chords in each track, along with a ray of hope in each lyric.” —Aaron Kupferberg, Powerpopaholic

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Above Beyond & In Between by Lisa Mychols

“Every cut on Above, Beyond and In Between stands as a candidate to become a hit single. The arrangements are strategically placed, and the melodies are fully formed and ridiculously catchy. Solid musicianship that’s clean but flexible and energetic, is an added plus.” —Beverly Paterson, Something Else!

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Dissed and Dismissed by Tony Molina

“Considering how intensely catchy these songs are, from the sped-up fuzz blast of ‘Change My Ways’ to the isolated haze of guitar on ‘Nothing I Can Do’ or moody textures of ‘Spoke Too Soon,’ you’d think Molina would want to spend more time here, or give us more time, to relish these perfectly constructed melodies, these unbridled and energetic guitar fills. But instead, the songs simply lay them out on the table and then walk away.” —Matthew Fiander, PopMatters

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Let It Rock! by The Connection

“On the cover they fly their skinny ties proudly, but this is not a band closeted in some power pop corral. These are the bastard Yankee sons of Rockpile birthed out of the maternal stateside hinterlands where scruffy, energetic rock and roll bands got rolled up into punk when the word broke out of New York, i.e. Slickee Boys, Fans, Shades, Real Kids, Scruffs, et.al.” —David M. Snyder, Popdiggers

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13 In My Head by Nick Piunti

“In this great new release he has created an album which has a power pop feel with a modern rock sound. In many ways it follows other great acts from The Replacements through Redd Kross and Fountains of Wayne, which have created a magic line of modern pop rock.” —The Soul of a Clown

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Kill You Again by Ulysses

“A throwback Brit pop quartet channeling Kinks, Yardbirds and Hollies, Ulysses brings both grit and luscious harmonies. The title track should be a James Bond theme and ‘April Showers’ washes over you like a warm spring rain. The last two tracks, ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Oh Yeah Huh Huh Huh!’ are pure adrenalin.” —Mike Baron, Bloody Red Baron/Pop Geek Heaven

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Elephants Into Swans by The Sun Sawed in 1/2

“While the first couple of cuts are pleasing to those who are partial to Jellyfish, the third cut really grabs the taste buds. ‘Brittle Star’ pulls out all the bubblegum pop stops and almost reminds me of XTC’s ‘Cherry in Your Tree.’” —Richard Rossi, Power Pop News

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Big Cinnamon by Agony Aunts

“A first listen will draw listeners in thanks to the record’s sound; subsequent spins will likely pull willing listeners farther into the skewed-pop Agony Aunts universe.” —Bill Kopp, MusoScribe

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Use Your Weapons by Valley Lodge

“I’ve heard the band described as power pop, and I suppose there are elements of that in their sound, but there are also elements of glam, bubblegum, and whatever else you can think of thrown in there. They have guitars, they have a drummer, they utilize keyboards, and they play catchy songs with giant riffs that will make your jaw drop.“ —Kevin Poindexter, The Fire Note

Cool Cats for Pop Dogs by PopDogs

“Something of a masterclass in the art of perfecting a classic power pop album. Sunny singalong choruses and catchy melodies, that belie some bittersweet sentiments, are all crammed into nine of the ten short and punchy tracks.”—Retro Man Blog

Non-Stop Power Pop Volume 1 by Parasites

“Dave Parasite enlisted help from around the world to search out obscure 45s from the 1960s. They are mainly in a Beatles style from their early history. When needed, the titles or arrangements were slightly modified. Cool back stories are presented on each band.” —Sean Koepenick, Razorcake Zine