Tuesday, September 28, 2010

McCarthy - Live at Eindhoven 1987


1. The Fall
2. Monetaries
3. Red Sleeping Beauty
4. Worse Off

Here is an excellent live recording from heavily political pop group McCarthy. Of course McCarthy features a pre-Stereolab Tim Gane. I have had the pleasure of meeting Tim Gane and it was awkward and wonderful. McCarthy holds a special place in my heart because of that meeting. Enjoy this!

Sweet

Monday, September 27, 2010

This Scarlet Train - Fimbria (1987 Nightshift Records UK)



1. Picture Frame
2. Autumnhood
3. Candice
4. Kistvaen
5. Still Rain
6. Lily Haze

Here is one of the best only releases ever. I don't know much about This Scarlet Train except for that they were from Falkirk, Scotland. This record is divine. It sounds like the Field Mice if they were dreamier and darker. The vocalist, Stuart Nelson resembles Bobby Wratten a lot. Still Rain is by far the best track and the most beautiful. It's sweeping rhythm and guitar lines fit it with the song title. Take a night, rainy drive and listen to it. It is amazing. Indie pop, dream pop and post-punk are all coinciding with this release. The record label Nightshift released Lowlife albums so it definitely has that dreamy Scottish feel. Please take the time to enjoy this record!

Sweet

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Handsome Train - This Engine Should Do (2004 Popkonst Recordings)


1. You Might Not Believe
2. Horse, Boy, Girl
3. Watching the Sky
4. When I Work I Cry

Great Swedish pop here from 90's band Handsome Train. Enjoy!

Sweet

Monday, September 20, 2010

The Jaywalkers - Mini LP (1987 Virgin Records)


1. Happy All the Time
2. Good Day Sunshine
3. I Had A Dream
4. Tomorrow Never Knows

More excellent Greek pop from 1987. Surprisingly released on Virgin records. Enjoy!

Sweet

Sunday, September 19, 2010

The Mighty Lemon Drops - Like an Angel 7" (1985 Dreamworld Records)


1. Like an Angel
2. Now She's Gone

Today I went to a record expo and to my surprise, there was a surprising amount of pop records. It is rare to find C86 records in California so I was extremely happy when I found the debut single from the Mighty Lemon Drops. It was released in 1985 on Dreamworld, which was once Whaam! Records. There is a 12" of this single but I bought the seven inch so that is what I posted. Enjoy pop fans!

Sweet

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Fantastic Something - If She Doesn't Smile (It'll Rain) (1983 Cherry Red Records)


1. If She Doesn't Smile (It'll Rain)
2. The Thousand Guitars of St. Dominiques

Fantastic Something were the Veis brothers from Greece who recorded one of my favorite pop songs, the title track. They released this, one self-titled album, and another single. In 2001, Spanish label Siesta released Songs in a Small Room, which consisted of unreleased recordings. This single could be found in other places on the worldwide web but I wanted to share it on my blog because this is such a special single. Enjoy!

Sweet

Friday, September 17, 2010

Orange Cake Mix/Tricycle Popstar Split 7" - Animals and Machines (Blackbean and Placenta Tape Club 1997)


1. Orange Cake Mix - Sunday Kind of Girl
2. Orange Cake Mix - Crystal Lake
3. Tricycle Popstar - Peach Boys Bed Sounds
4. Tricycle Popstar - Clover

Orange Cake Mix is Jim Rao of Connecticut. He's released music on Darla, Sunday, Bus Stop and Elefant among many others. I don't know much about Tricycle Popstar except for it is one Japanese guy. This split single does have a nice Beach Boys homage songtitle. I guess he could be described as the male version of Bad Dream Fancy Dress. I only say that because they have both released songs about curry.

Sweet

Moment 0004 - Songs About Pop


A1. Tullycraft - Pop Songs Your New Boyfriend is Too Stupid to Know About
A2. The Pooh Sticks - Indiepop Ain't Noise Pollution
B1. Watercolor Sunset - International Pop Star
B2. Hormones in Abundance - Rubinoos T-Shirt

In this mix, a collection of songs about pop music takes over. On the first side, the more well known songs are features. This includes Tullycraft and the amazing Pooh Sticks. On a side note, the Pooh Sticks track is he version taken from the Leamington Spa compilation, which is better in my opinion. Side two includes Watercolor Sunset, who I don't know anything about except for that they were featured on a Sunday Records compilation. Hormones in Abundance is of course Patrik Lindgren. His song is about the powerpop band the Rubinoos. Enjoy!!!

Sweet

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Hopkirk & Lee - Beneath the Apple Tree (1998 Gallery Recordings)


1. ¡Free Arthur Lee!
2. A Love Like Ivy
3. Summershine
4. My Line is Short

Hopkirk & Lee are a mysterious folkpop duo who released this gem in 1998. No one knows who these people are exactly so it makes it even better. The album cover shows two mysterious figures and with the font used, it reminds me of a progressive rock cover. I wish there was more information about this. Anyway enjoy!

Sweet

Dorotea - We've Had Enough: Pt. 2


1. I Just Don't Know What to Do
2. Here Comes That Feeling Again
3. My Guilty Conscience
4. Pack Some Heat
5. You Destroy Me
6. The Days Are Short When You Work
7. Freedom
8. Luxury Flats
9. Kortedala
10. We've Had Enough

Bonus
1. Please Mister Postman

Twee pop-punk Swedes Dorotea released various ep along their short life. I don't even know what this album is actually. I don't think it's a compilation but I can't find anything about it on the web. But anyway, this is a fun, short, poppy album with a drum machine. Enjoy it! As a bonus I added Please Mister Postman, which is a homage to Indie Pop mail order.

Sweet

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Dolly Mixture - The Fireside E.P. (1984 Cordelia Records)


1. Coriander - Let's Cook!
2. Welcome Home
3. Dilly Dolly Dally
4. Three O'Clock Rhapsody
5. Dolly Medley
6. Borinda's Lament

Preemptive pop queens Dolly Mixture released this e.p. before the band fell apart. Here you can hear the band changing style including piano and strings. It doesn't exactly sound like the pop we all know them for but it is an incredible stylistic change with beautiful results. Hear it now!


Sweet

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Moment 0003 - The Field Mice Covers

A1. Aberdeen - Emma's House
A2. Saint Etienne - Let's Kiss and Make Up (Donna Savage Version)
B1. Trembling Blue Stars - Missing the Moon
B2. The Field Mice - Loveless Love

Side one of this single consists of Sarah alumni Aberdeen's cover of the iconic Emma's House. It's companion is Saint Etienne's second single released on Heavenly Records. This version includes vocals by Donna Savage of Dead Famous People from New Zealand. The flip side consists of two related Bobby Wratten songs. First is Trembling Blue Stars acoustic cover of Missing the Moon. Second is an early demo of a Feelies cover from yes, the Field Mice. Enjoy!

Sweet

Cats on Fire - The Empty Town Demo (2002)


 1. Praying on a Sunny Day
 2. The True Nature of an Empty Town
 3. They Produced a Girl
 4. Stars
 5. Favourite Sons

Here is the first release by the Finnish Cats on Fire. Great pop! Does anyone know if they play these songs live?

For the official Cats on Fire page visit here.

Sweet

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - I Wanna Go All the Way (Demo)


Here is a demo for a song recorded in 2007. I Wanna Go All the Way has never been released in a finished form so this is all we get. In an interview Peggy said that she wished that they could play this live but then Kip stated that he can't remember how to play it. So most likely, we will never hear this live. So enjoy it while you can!

Sweet

Monday, September 13, 2010

Even As We Speak - Blue Eyes Deceiving Me (Sarah Records 1993)


1. (All You Find is) Air
2. Getting Faster
3. Blue Eyes Deceiving Me

Here is Sarah 79 from 1993. I haven't been able to find this anywhere so I thought I'd help in posting it. I have always viewed this as the most forgotten release by them (even though they are all forgotten by popular music standards). Three wonderful songs on one wonderful label. Pop love!

Sweet

Moment 0002 - The Cat's Miaow Covers


A1. Fireflies - Hollow Inside
A2. Hormones in Abundance - Crying
B1. The Cat's Miaow - Baby I Love You
B2. The Cat's Miaow - Let it Flow (Live)

Here is a single consisting two Cat's Miaow covers and two covers by the Cat's Miaow. Fireflies is Lisle Mitnik of Chicago indie poppers Very Truly Yours. Patrik Lindgren of Sweden is Hormones in Abundance. Fireflies cover of the emotionally draining Hollow Inside conveys the lyrics beautifully. Lindgren's cover is short and simple - just like the original. On the flip side are two covers featured on Songs For Girls to Sing. These include a Ronettes cover and a live version of Spiritualized's Let it Flow.

For more information on Fireflies and to download some his releases for free click here

Sweet

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Moment 0001

A1. Ring Snuten - Mellanstadiediskot
A2. Alone Forever - I Will Be (Alone Forever)
B1. Popsicle - Histrionics
B2. They Go Boom!! - Body

Here is the first mix single from Sweeter Moments. Includes a classic Swedish pop band, Patrik Lindgren, a Californian bedroom project and British synth-poppers.


Sweet

Moment 617924 - #1 - Recommendation - Japan Air


Although not a brand new band, Japan Air's sweepingly beautiful brand of pop makes a great addition to a post-summer collection. From Sweden, their music incorporates the discreet charm of simplicity and melodicism. They have a 3 inch CD-R released on Cloudberry Records.Check out their Myspace page below.
Japan Air

For Cloudberry Records: Cloudberry

Free Download: Sweet