I had a similar experience. The Green Day-Blink 182-Jimmy Eat World moment was a big one for me growing up. But then I listened to Big Star and Shoes and was like "why wasn't I just listening to this when I was growing up?"
A huge reason I didn't listen to Big Star in my teens was due to a near total lack of distribution of their albums when they were initially released. Seems as if they were barely heard in the early 70's outside of the South (and maybe NYC due to Alex's migration) for the most part. When I finally heard the first two albums in the early 80's, I was astonished that I hadn't heard them before--until I discovered why I hadn't. Criminal. The music business can be really harsh sometimes.
The Undertones' "Positive Touch" LP is still a masterpiece, IMO. I was quite taken by the "Wednesday Week" period, but the musicianship and songwriting on + Touch was a quantum leap above what came before. The band was never better (and didn't continue much longer afterward).
All such good bands! The Beach Blvd comp was a formative one and of course The Last (whom i wrote about on my Sub) and i too am lucky to be from the South Bay where a lot of this was made. Something in the salty air maybe?
One of my favorite bands in this crossover category are Chicago's Slammin Watusis, who released two albums on Epis in the late 1980s. The albums never quite captured their explosive live shows. But this track can best be described as "The Beastie Boys if they grew up listening to Chicago Blues." There's not much power pop here, but it's also pretty distinctive.
FWIW, Watusi guitarist/vocalist Clay Tomasek went on to play with the punk/power popish band Green after the Watusi's broke up.
I'd have to go with Magnetic Shoes-Plain Wrap, Infected-Teenage Head, Cherry Beach Express-Pukka Orchestra, Night Of The Cadillacs-Generation X, Bubblegum-All.
"Copper Blue" by Sugar: still an outstanding album. I saw Sugar and Throwing Muses at the Hollywood Palladium in Nov 1992 shortly after Copper Blue was released. I had never been to a venue where earplugs were sold at the door--I took the hint before Mould came onstage. He took the last drag of a cigarette, snuffed it out with his foot, then followed up with an opening chord that was probably 150 dB of sound pressure--the volume was relentless for hours. Pushed my plugs in as far as I could and narrowly avoided permanent hearing damage. One of my favorite concerts of all time!
Roughly 40 years ago I saw Rock N' Roll High School on t.v. and shortly afterwards I found Rocket to Russia at Goodwill. So that was my very lucky start with The Ramones. Thank you for The Undertones recommendation. My library has two copies of their best of c.d. available that I just placed a hold on. Great frugal music finds are the best.
If you want some solid pop punk leaning more underground check out: The Marked Men, Chinese Telephones, Dillinger 4, Tiltwheel, Toys That Kill, etc..etc..
Great stuff Steve! All of the above. We had a great set of band, both local and worldwide to love before GD made the genre hit the big time
SoCal kids with certain musical tastes were spoiled with great local music in the late '70s and early '80s, for sure.
Pop Punk is the best music there is, the faster, tougher kid brother of Power Pop.
Saw the Buzzcocks in 1979! Yes, they were great.
Good list of songs but ... You left out The Muffs, dude!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGl5lLO6NQE
Thanks! The Muffs were mentioned at least. Jealous you saw Buzzcocks in '79.
I had a similar experience. The Green Day-Blink 182-Jimmy Eat World moment was a big one for me growing up. But then I listened to Big Star and Shoes and was like "why wasn't I just listening to this when I was growing up?"
Maturity! 😉
A huge reason I didn't listen to Big Star in my teens was due to a near total lack of distribution of their albums when they were initially released. Seems as if they were barely heard in the early 70's outside of the South (and maybe NYC due to Alex's migration) for the most part. When I finally heard the first two albums in the early 80's, I was astonished that I hadn't heard them before--until I discovered why I hadn't. Criminal. The music business can be really harsh sometimes.
I think that was a case for many future Big Star fans in that era. What an incredible redemption story arc, tho.
The Undertones' "Positive Touch" LP is still a masterpiece, IMO. I was quite taken by the "Wednesday Week" period, but the musicianship and songwriting on + Touch was a quantum leap above what came before. The band was never better (and didn't continue much longer afterward).
So good!
All such good bands! The Beach Blvd comp was a formative one and of course The Last (whom i wrote about on my Sub) and i too am lucky to be from the South Bay where a lot of this was made. Something in the salty air maybe?
Angsty surfers and skaters with a taste for punk.
Ambition by Subway Sect, I Can't cope by Protex.
Perfect!
One of my favorite bands in this crossover category are Chicago's Slammin Watusis, who released two albums on Epis in the late 1980s. The albums never quite captured their explosive live shows. But this track can best be described as "The Beastie Boys if they grew up listening to Chicago Blues." There's not much power pop here, but it's also pretty distinctive.
FWIW, Watusi guitarist/vocalist Clay Tomasek went on to play with the punk/power popish band Green after the Watusi's broke up.
https://youtu.be/rzSKJIrMoas?si=ybq00VgO3KWqat5A
Cool! I’ll check it out.
I'd have to go with Magnetic Shoes-Plain Wrap, Infected-Teenage Head, Cherry Beach Express-Pukka Orchestra, Night Of The Cadillacs-Generation X, Bubblegum-All.
Nice!
GD was my first real exposure to the genre, I would not have considered the Ramones as part of the lineage.
Where would BobMould and Husker Du fit? I can see Candy Apply Grey as an early entry, with Sugar being a 90’s version.
Husker Du is an interesting thought. Definitely a favorite of mine. And I love Sugar.
"Copper Blue" by Sugar: still an outstanding album. I saw Sugar and Throwing Muses at the Hollywood Palladium in Nov 1992 shortly after Copper Blue was released. I had never been to a venue where earplugs were sold at the door--I took the hint before Mould came onstage. He took the last drag of a cigarette, snuffed it out with his foot, then followed up with an opening chord that was probably 150 dB of sound pressure--the volume was relentless for hours. Pushed my plugs in as far as I could and narrowly avoided permanent hearing damage. One of my favorite concerts of all time!
Great read, and definitely a fan of many of the bands you mention...continuing with Weston, The Menzingers, Against Me! and others.
I really like The Menzingers too!
Roughly 40 years ago I saw Rock N' Roll High School on t.v. and shortly afterwards I found Rocket to Russia at Goodwill. So that was my very lucky start with The Ramones. Thank you for The Undertones recommendation. My library has two copies of their best of c.d. available that I just placed a hold on. Great frugal music finds are the best.
If you want some solid pop punk leaning more underground check out: The Marked Men, Chinese Telephones, Dillinger 4, Tiltwheel, Toys That Kill, etc..etc..