14 Comments

Nothing gives me a larger and more vicious headache than the endless petty litigation over "genre" and who belongs or doesn't belong in one and why. The fact that no one will listen to your music if you don't come "pre-tagged" by some self-appointed gatekeeper just compounds the stress. That goes for all the "post-" and "-adjacent" stuff too.

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I get it. Genre debates and/or discussions aren't for everybody, but I personally really like James' essay. Thanks for checking it out anyway.

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The Raspberries "Go All the Way" is the ultimate Power Pop song.

Paul Collins's first band The Nerves were great Power Pop.

It is a funny genre since it bleeds into other things at the edges.

Like Badfinger -- guitar pop but not Power Pop.

The Arrows original version of I Love Rock'N'Roll - Glam or Power Pop?

Great stuff whatever you call it.

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Love all the music you mentioned! Especially love The Nerves. Have you read Paul Collins’ book? Here’s something I wrote about it (with links to the book): https://rememberthelightning.substack.com/p/10-amazing-quotes-from-i-dont-fit

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Did not. Will check it out.

One my top five bands of all time is heavily Power Pop influenced -- The Muffs. Do you know their stuff?

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Yes! Love The Muffs. We have an article about them/their legacy and an interview with Ronnie in the latest edition of our semi-annual guitar pop journal: https://rememberthelightning.substack.com/publish/post/114598188

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They are quite literally one of the greatest bands of all time, and Kim was one of the greatest rock singers, guitarists and songwriters of all time as well as being generally bigger than life. RIP Kim.

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Such a terrible loss. Thankful that she left behind so much amazing music.

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Are you familiar with the work of Lisa Marr? Her bands were Cub and Buck as well as the Lisa Marr Experience. She is Ronnie's Ex-Wife and Kim's one-time bandmate in The Beards. Some phenomenal stuff from Lisa, but she seems to have stepped away from music in recent years. (The Beards song Sidewalks is an overlooked classic, majestic melancholy pop worthy of The Mamas and the Papas.)

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Go go Goodson! Love Dazy.

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author

So great! Thx for checking it out.

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Nov 9, 2023Liked by S.W. Lauden

Got to see Dazy last night thanks to the tour dates you posted here 🙏 Killer live show!

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That's fantastic! Definitely a fav modern band.

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