Power Pop can be overly sugary and dumb - but it can also be a hoot if done properly. Obviously it pained me to exclude classics such as "November Gurls" and "Marie Provost", but for the purposes of this list - it had to be ten. Power pop... Chiming guitars, infectious melodies, hooks galore. What's not to like?
10. "Valerie Loves Me" (1991) by Material Issue
The story of this American band is quite tragic so all the more reason to listen to their four LPs that feature all-time greats like "Diane", "Goin' Through Your Purse" and, of course, "Valerie Loves Me". God what a song. Take this as gold standard.
I have never been a big Cheap Trick fan, not least because I do not believe they have ever written anything better than this Beatlesque stomper from the 1977 debut album.
8. "Maria" (1999) by Blondie
I may be selling my soul here but fuck it I am at the point in life when I no longer dock points for popularity. This song is perfect. Power pop par excellence.
7. "Fingerpops" (1996) by Garageland
Your cultural education will never be complete until you get into New Zealand pop music of the 80s and 90s. Garageland may be a lot more obscure than The Chills and The Bats and The Clean and The Verlaines but their first album was phenomenal and songs like "Come Back" and "Fingerpops" should get a lot more recognition.
6. "Sparky's Dream" (1995) by Teenage Fanclub
Interestingly, Kurt Cobain's favourite band. I will never forget that day in Northern England when I got a copy of Bandwagonesque and heard the chiming melody of "The Concept" for the first time. Arguably, though, Grand Prix was even better. This music is both charismatic and radio-friendly.
5. "Useless Information" (1968) by The Move
I have no idea what Roy Wood is doing these days (other than singing that blasted Christmas song, of course) but back in the 60s he was responsible for the sort of melodies Paul McCartney and Ray Davies would envy. "Useless Information" is a great example of 60s power pop.
4. "Letter From An Occupant" (2000) by The New Pornographers
It is true that if you count the number of hooks and melodic twists in this song, you might faint. I firmly believe that The New Pornographers have been offering diminishing returns of late but their back catalogue is impeccable.
3. "Cheap Thrills" (1996?) by Tune Bureau
Now this is very obscure, and your chances of having heard this song are limited to owning a great compilation of Australian Power Pop Songs titled Pop On Top. "Cheap Thrills" lasts a little more than two minutes, and in these two minutes it gives you everything that this particular genre could offer. I am so enamoured with this song that I would not even want to hear Tune Bureau's other songs. The disappointment may be unbearable.
2. "Another Girl, Another Planet" (1978) by The Only Ones
Possibly the greatest song of all time, by the hugely underappreciated songwriter who is still recording excellent music.
1. "Shake Some Action" (1976) by Flamin' Groovies
"Another Girl, Another Planet" may be the greatest song of all time, but there is no way this list can end with anything other than "Shake Some Action". No explanation is necessary, I believe, just open your ears and listen to it. It's timeless.
