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ivan@stellysee.de
| From | "Scott Pazur" <powerpop@z3d.net> |
| Subject | My Top 20+ |
| Date | Tue, 2 Jan 2007 08:49:34 -0500 |
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Sorry if this goes through twice, I received error messages the first
time...
01. Zerochance - Better Days For Broken Hearts
For the longest time, I thought for sure Aeroclub was going to be my #1, but
I've come to like this one more and more each time I listen. Although the
new Gin Blossoms CD is top25-worthy (see #21 below), this is a better Gin
Blossoms CD. "Van Nuys" is a close runner-up in the favorite song of the
year category. I'll admit that it took some time for this to grow on me,
but I'm glad I gave it time.
http://www.myspace.com/zerochance
02. Aeroclub - Boarding Completed
Wow, loved it from the first listen, maybe because it reminds me a lot of
the best Swedish pop bands. They're from Germany, not Sweden, so mix up a
little Fool's Garden and the lighter side of the Merrymakers and here's the
result. They do have some 60's pop influences, which would normally be a
turn-off for me, but it all works here. "Let Love Be Free" is another song
of the year contender, but the part in the middle that sounds like that
plastic flute thing my little one plays knocks it down a notch.
http://www.myspace.com/aeroclubmusic
03. Sister Hazel - Absolutely
I've always liked Sister Hazel, but not enough to hang on to any of their
earlier CDs. They are great listens for a while, and then forgotten. This
one finally stuck, and I'm not sure why. Nothing terribly new, maybe even a
tad more to the country side (sounds a lot like Blackhawk in a few spots),
but a keeper.
http://www.myspace.com/sisterhazel
04. October Fall - A Season In Hell
This may get lost in the hated emo category, but don't dismiss it. Plenty
of good rock/pop on this one, "pop for men" or something similar was used on
the list earlier this year (I loved that!). And my song of the year is on
this one - "It Was Summer (Baby Steps)". If you haven't heard it, don't
just blow it off because I said "emo". A lot of piano is always a good
thing too.
http://www.myspace.com/octoberfall
05. Superbeing - Bright Idea
Let's keep it loud for now with a little glammy pop for lack of a better
adjective. Lots of guitars and more rock than pop make this a long shot for
many on this list, but "15 Minutes" and "New York Minute" are great songs.
http://www.myspace.com/superbeingmusic
06. Boys Like Girls - Boys Like Girls
The first of my pop-punk entries, and I still love that stuff. My kids
thought this was a new All American Rejects CD when I first played it for
them. Enough said. "5 Minutes to Midnight" is a strong song of the year
candidate.
http://www.myspace.com/boyslikegirls
07. Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook
I think this one has gotten enough press that everyone knows it. I think
the variety is what I like about this one. If you took each song and made a
whole CD of similar songs, I wouldn't like any of them. But the mix here is
nice, some mellow, folky kind of songs, some more up-tempo pop songs.
Vocals aren't the strongest, but it seems to work here.
http://www.myspace.com/suburbankid
08. Locksley - Don't Make Me Wait
Have a prerelease of this one and now that I'm searching for links to
include, I see it's not released until January 2007. If there was such a
thing as "punk" during the brit invasion of the 60's, this would be it.
Damn, this is a fun disc. If it's not eligible, substitute one from the
bottom.
http://www.myspace.com/locksley
09. Orson - Bright Idea
Another that has been around for a while and everyone probably knows. This
is the new Rooney disc until they come up with one of their own.
http://www.myspace.com/orson
10. New Found Glory - Coming Home
Another of the pop-punk entries, and like Sister Hazel, a band I've liked a
little over the years but finally had one jump out at me.
http://www.myspace.com/newfoundglory
11. The Innocents - Pop Factory
Was I the only one who missed them the first time around in the 80's? From
what I read, not much has changed, so where were they when I was spinning
discs at my college radio station?
http://theinnocents.com.au
12. Cowboy Mouth - Voodoo Shoppe
Another band that although is not new, is certainly new to me. Either I
never heard the earlier releases, or they never made that good of an
impression on me. This one has spent a lot of time in my player, reminds me
a lot of Watershed, who made my best of list from last year. Nothing fancy,
just a good pop-rock disc with many highlights.
http://www.myspace.com/cowboymouth
13. FM Static - Critically Ashamed
Not quite pop-punk, but close, and loads of fun. This is the side project
of a couple members of Thousand Foot Krutch, and while their 2003 release
was decent, this one is good start to finish.
http://www.myspace.com/fmstatic
14. Magneto - Resistance Is Futile
I hate to pigeonhole this one because it deserves better, but when I think
of Australian pop, this is it. Could be a new Danny McDonald or Orange
Humble Band release.
http://www.magnetoband.net
15. My So Called Friend - My So Called Friend
This may be a little higher than it should be, but it's a great pop record.
It's burned itself into my head based on the song "Date A Model".
http://www.myspace.com/mysocalledfriend
16. The City Drive - Always Moving Never Stopping
Sometimes I think this is pop-punk, sometimes just ballsy pop. Maybe at
times that other three letter word.
http://www.myspace.com/thecitydrive
17. The Goldbergs - Hooks Lines And Sinkers
Were it not for that misplaced country song in the middle, this would have
been in my top 5. Some bands can pull it off, but not here. It's too
twangy and soooo out of place. A complete momentum breaker.
http://www.myspace.com/thegoldbergs
18. Head Automatica - Popaganda
Much much better than their first, and that one had some great songs.
http://www.myspace.com/headautomatica
19. As Fast As - Open Letter To The Damned
See Superbeing, I'm getting tired of writing these things.
http://www.myspace.com/asfastasmusic
20. Ben Kweller - Ben Kweller
Surprise. Never really liked this guy, but this one is damn good.
http://www.myspace.com/benkweller
21. Gin Blossoms - Major Lodge Victory
It took a few listens before I realized this one is really good.
http://www.myspace.com/ginblossoms
22. Hawk Nelson - Smile It's The End Of The World
Less pop-punk and more rock than usual from these guys.
http://www.myspace.com/hawknelsononline
23. All Star United - Love And Radiation
I don't know why, but I thought they had broken up. Good news, a new CD.
http://www.myspace.com/allstarunited
24. Making April - Runaway World
Is it emo? Who cares, another good rock band making use of a piano.
http://www.myspace.com/makingapril
25. Aaron Durr - Another Long Semester
This is what Ben Folds used to do when he was fun. Too bad this guy has
some moments when he doesn't sing very well.
http://www.myspace.com/aarondurrmusic
26-50, not in numerical order. It was hard enough to do the top 25!
American Heartbreak - American Heartbreak Andrew LeDrew - Ladies Lookout
Army Of Freshmen - Under The Radar Ashbury - Complacency Blackpool Lights -
This Town's Disaster Drake Bell - It's Only Time Gregg Swann - Everybody's
Got To Be Somewhere Jim Cuddy - The Light That Guides You Home Kevin Reeves
- It's About Time Lee Harding - What's Wrong With This Picture LEO - Alpacas
Orgling Less Than Jake - In With The Out Crowd Lost Prophets - Liberation
Transmission Mains, The - The Higher You Get The Higher You Get Matt Willis
- Don't Let It Go To Waste Mugshot - Pause And Reflect Onestop - Pop Shop
Plain White T's - Every Second Counts Pop Is Art - Epiphany The Blank Stares
- All Blown Up The Fags - Light 'Em Up The Nines - Calling Distance Stations
The Skies Of America - Shine The Summer Obsession - This Is Where You Belong
The Winnerys - Daily Urban Times
Top EPs
Amory - Better Days
Bob Haley - Bedroom Belongings
Building Rome - Second Chance For Worst Impressions Casino 66 - Deliver
Light Colin Munroe - Colin Munroe Deas Vail - Collapse Freefall - Road Trip
I Hate Kate - Act One In Stereo - Death Before Emo Ingram Hill - Why The
Wait Kira's Rage - Kira's Rage Limbeck - The Limbeck Band Tour Lucky Boys
Confusion - How To Get Out Alive New Years Day - New Years Day Say No More -
The Transition The Big Tease - Paper Symphony Time Tells All - Spread The
Word Winter Circle - The Huge And Hopeful Zac Clark - Ellipsis
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