La Fin de Ls Semaine Essay Question: Special "I Can't Believe We've Never Done This One Before" Edition

So yesterday, as you are doubtless aware, our good friend Sal Nunziato at the invaluable Burning Wood blog posted a playlist whose overarching theme was that innumerable 60s songs by The Who were clearly power pop as we understand the term. To which I can only say -- I couldn't agree more.

Which leads us, inexorably and inevitably, to the theme of the weekend's business. To wit:

...and your favorite pre-Big Star/Raspberries proto-power pop song is???

Discuss.

Long-time readers -- by which I mean who've been around since the 'aughts, when NYMary first gave me the metaphorical keys to the car around here -- will doubtless have guessed MY candidate.

I mean -- that drum opening, the chimes and guitar riff on the chorus, the background "oohs"??? Power pop fer sure.

I should add that it's the first cover song the savage young Floor Models learned, and in fact the very first thing we ever performed live in front of an audience (at our sneak audition for a gig at Kenny's Castaways). Alas, no live version of that has survived, but it was a staple of our repertoire for the longest time, and it was an absolute gas to play.

Alrighty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend, everybody!!!

And Speaking of Transplendent...

...that was, of course, The Bangles and their hit cover version of Jules Shear's "If She Knew What She Wants."

Long time readers are aware that I consider those kids to be not just (obviously) the most fab/gear girl band ever, but one of the all-time great rock outfits period. That said, I hadn't listened to that song or watched that video in a couple of decades, and when I chanced across it the other day (hence Monday's post on Jules Shear) I was absolutely gobsmacked. Everything about that is perfect -- Susanna Hoff's haunting lead vocal, the ethereal harmonies, the jangly guitars, the rhythmic groove, the overall mood...a power pop masterpiece, in other words. Wow.

I should add that the above motivated me to check out Shears' original, which I had never heard previously.

Let us not mince words -- advantage Bangles. 😎

Seekers and Ye Shall Find

Prepare to get sniffly, ladies and germs.

That's from their 2013 Australian farewell tour, BTW.

I've always loved that song, and I just gotta say -- that performance is totally undimmed from their glory days. Way to go, senior citizens. 😎

Tuesday's Music-Themed Cartoon Chuckles

The one with the monks just kills me. 😎

Songs I'd Forgotten Existed, Let Alone Loved (An Occasional Series): Special "Please, Don't Ask Me Okay?" Edition

From 1978, please enjoy New Wave faves Jules (Shear) and the Polar Bears and their infectious "You Just Don't Wanna Know," the lead-off track from their debut album Got No Breeding.

That was a big hit around my office at Stereo Review at the time, if not alas with the public at large. Shear, of course, went on to considerable success writing for other artists like The Bangles; in fact, it was listening accidentally to one of those songs that prompted me to revisit the Polar Bears.

More on THAT, however, will have to wait for Wednesday's posting. 😎

La Fin de La Semaine Essay Question: Special "Countdown to Ecstasy" Edition

From 1971, please enjoy pub-rock genre-creators Brinsley Schwarz -- featuring auteur songwriter/bass player/lead vocalist Nick Lowe -- and their serenely Buddy Holly-ish folk/rock/pop masterpiece "Unknown Number."

And when I say Buddy Holly-ish that's not an exaggeration; as you may have noticed, the song's riff is pretty much identical to that of "Words of Love."

Which leads us inevitably and inexorably towards the subject of today's business. To wit:

...and your favorite post-Elvis pop/rock/folk/soul/jazz/country song featuring (either by suggestion or literally) a number either in the title or the lyrics is...???

Discuss.

No arbitrary rules, although I'm gonna be pretty annoyed if you chose an album rather than a song. I mean -- none of that Chicago III crap, okay?

And in case you're wondering about my choice -- it's this.

A;righty then -- what would YOUR choices be?

And have a great weekend everybody!!!!

Closed for Technical Difficulties

No matter what I try, I can't insert images into Blogger at the moment.

Whether this is a glitch in the program or a computer problem on my end I have no idea, but unless I get it resolved in the next hour or so, I won't be posting today,

Whether this will affect tomorrow's Weekend Listomania is anybody's guess, but check this space on Friday and we'll share the news at the least.

Simels regrets the error. 😎

Your Wednesday Moment of "Size Matters"

Brit/Australian songwriter/actor/comedian Tim Minchin, ladies and germs. As Jack Nicholson famously said of Bob Dylan -- this guy's a riot.

I am embarrassed to admit it, but I was unaware of Minchin until I chanced across the above by acccident over at YouTube the other day. In any case, it's one of the most brilliantly funny things I've encountered in far too long, and there's lots more where that came from. Word to the wise.

P.S.: As you'll notice, the subtitles are almost -- unconsciously, if that is the apt word -- funnier than the actual lyrics.

P.P.S.: Minchin gets extra points from me for the Victor Borge reference near the end. 😎

Tuesday's Music-Themed Cartoon Chuckles and Photo-Funny

Re: Mumford & Sons -- hey, SOMEBODY had to say it. 😎

Songs I'd Forgotten Existed, Let Alone Loved (An Occasional Series): Special "Electric 12-String Guitars Rule!" Edition

From 1987, and the evocatively titled In the Heart of the Heart Country, please enjoy Madison, Wisconsin-based folk rockers Fire Town and their sublimely jangly "Carry the Torch."

As is so often the case these days, the song popped into my head unbidden over the weekend. The backstory is that the indie album that it's from crossed my desk at Stereo Review with no advance warning, and it will surprise nobody to learn that the main reason I gave it a spin immediately was due to the Vox guitar posed so enticingly on the right hand side of the album cover.

As for Fire Town, they got signed soon after to Atlantic, who re-released the album; alas, it still refused to sell despite my raving about it in the pages of SR. Two of the band members, however, went on to form Garbage with Shirley Manson, and the rest, as they say, is history.

That said, the whole album is great; I think I have a complete download of it somewhere, so if the above piques your curiosity, gimme a holler and I'll send you a zip file.