Meet The Labels: Curation Records

Brent Rademaker Chats About Those Pretty Wrongs, Uni Boys, Billy Tibbals + More

Whatever’s going on over at Curation Records these days, I want more of it.

The Glendale, CA indie label was founded as a home for West Coast country rockers, a genre that is still their stock-in-trade, but lately they’ve struck gold with a string of impressive guitar pop releases. It started with a 2LP reissue of Those Pretty Wrongs/Zed For Zulu from Those Pretty Wrongs, featuring legendary Big Star drummer Jody Stephens and multi-instrumentalist Luther Russell.

That was followed with a couple killer singles from rocking LA pop quartet Uni Boys before unleashing their stunning debut album Do It All Next Week. Then, in late December, Curation dropped the shockingly good Onwards and Upwards/Lucy single by LA-based English ex-pat Billy Tibbals (co-produced by Reza Matin of Uni Boys, who plays drums on both tracks).

Most recently, the new Those Pretty Wrongs single “Paper Cup” was released in the ramp up to their next album, Holiday Camp. Power pop fans were left wondering: Is there something in the water at Curation Records?

I caught up with Curation CEO Brent Rademaker (who is also a founding member of “cosmic American music band” Beachwood Sparks, and frontman for GospelbeacH) to discuss the label’s history, some of his favorite power pop music, and this exciting new guitar pop direction for Curation Records.

Can you tell us a little about the history of Curation Records?

Brent Rademaker: When I was a kid, I was involved with my first indie record in 1981 when the coolest local DJ at the community radio station in Tampa released a 7" E.P. by my band A New Personality on her label. We got it recorded and then printed/cut/folded/glued/stuffed the sleeves ourselves—DIY vibes. It was super inspired by Postcard Records from Glasgow. 

Not only was I stoked about the process, but then I saw that our music could reach all over the world from our kitchen table in our small town and that blew me away. Following that, as an artist I recorded for Sub Pop, Rough Trade, Creation and Geffen (among many other boutique-style indie labels), and I saw it all from the inside/out. Those labels were all the biggest inspirations for Curation Records.

Curation’s origins start with Matthew Clonts’ and his wife Kellie’s total belief in me. Matt, a former Mod who had the largest and best Junkshop Glam/Power Pop/Bubblegum 7" collection in the USA, trusted me to launch the label with a young band that was more like The Dead and Jackson Browne than Milk ‘N’ Cookies. That was cool and Curation wouldn't exist without him.

We currently have a staff of five incredible folks who all contribute where their strengths lie. We are approaching our 30th release since 2020, almost all on vinyl...the pandemic and supply issues have been a challenge though.

“Co-owner Kellie Clonts and I were packing records and listening to The Nerves’ 25th anniversary 10-inch and we both wondered out loud "WHERE ARE ALL THE YOUNG BANDS THAT SOUND LIKE THIS?!"

How has your vision for Curation Records evolved over time? 

Brent Rademaker: Curation was initially an extension of my career with cosmic American music band Beachwood Sparks and the initial vibe was—and still is—to reflect the beauty and spirit of the West Coast...the LOVE. Asylum Records (David Geffen) was a huge inspiration. I think it was a natural place to start for us.

Power pop’s having a moment and Curation has some of the hottest acts. Was that genre of music always in Curation's DNA? 

Brent Rademaker: It's rad that you say that because while we were having huge success with our first releases—Pacific Range and the 20th anniversary release of Beachwood Sparks—co-owner Kellie Clonts and I were packing records and listening to The Nerves’ 25th anniversary 10-inch and we both wondered out loud "WHERE ARE ALL THE YOUNG BANDS THAT SOUND LIKE THIS?!"

I'm not kidding, literally the next day the Uni Boys walked into our office in Glendale. We met Billy Tibbals through them and the rest is kinda history in the making. Kellie's spirit brought them to us. Uni Boys are indeed massive power pop fans and do it well, but they also embrace the spirit of the Heartbreakers live at Max's and are developing their own sound and style.

My goal for Curation from day one was to get Those Pretty Wrongs’ vinyl back in print so it was a total thrill to have Jody Stephens and Luther Russell record a new TPW record for us. Uni Boys are massive Big Star fans and the whole thing just started to gel.

I'm almost 60, so this kind of rock and roll is in my DNA. It's true that my love of The Byrds led me down the long path of country rock, but I always considered myself a "Springfield Mod." I really love that period from ‘76-‘80 when some of the classic rock artists made solo records or tried their hand at the new wave, even some of the southern rock groups ended up sounding like power pop.

“I can report that Uni Boys just finished recording their second LP for Curation with Brian and Michael D'Addario from Lemon Twigs producing. That’s gonna be coming out in July/August.”

Who are some of your all-time favorite power pop artists? Who are a few non-Curation modern power pop artists you like? 

Brent Rademaker: The Records were a band I loved from the very start (in real-time) seeing them on TV, and my brother’s group The Strait Jackets actually supported them on their first US tour (I was too young to get in, but I got a fake ID so I could see 999 and The Vapors). It was cool to meet John Wicks, he was the sweetest dude ever and a great songwriter.

In those days, reading the new Trouser Press and hearing the best of what became classic power pop was rad. I love Dwight Twilley and David Werner (my current fave). In ‘79 I heard The Beat on a German new wave comp. My brother had their first 7-inch, “Don't Wait Up For Me Tonight,” and I would play it over and over. The Jags “Back Of My Hand” single was big around our scene too.

As power pop started to become more defined into its own genre the lack of new bands playing it well made me start to lose interest, until recently—now there's a shitload of GREAT new bands. I dig The Whiffs’ new single, Lemon Twigs, and I am hoping some more new young bands follow that path of strong songwriting. You know, the stuff you listened to as a kid—Cheap Trick, Rockpile/Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, even early Tom Petty.

Following the "format" is boring.  The list of obscure power pop records I love is too long to name. Some days I just stay on the "I Don't Wanna Cry” YouTube channel until I can't take it anymore.

What are some of the biggest Curation Records releases in 2023?

Brent Rademaker: The new Those Pretty Wrongs Holiday Camp LP is huge for us. The first single is out now. And for your readers I can report that Uni Boys just finished recording their second LP for Curation with Brian and Michael D'Addario from Lemon Twigs producing. That’s gonna be coming out in July/August.

We got tons of new rock and roll (Farmer Dave and The Wizards of the West, Triptides, Eric Silverman, Hollow Hand) and the cool thing is we have branched out so much from our original concept that there's literally something for everybody.

Plus some BIG surprises coming that'll send cold shivers down your spine!