Here's a few comments about recent purchases + some questions....

1. Barely Pink - "Last Date of Summer" - this is a great unheralded (ie not
much pre-publicity) album, chock-full of crunchy melodic pop-rock.  Esp.
strong vocals

2. Lost Weekend (Vols 1 & 2) - Bought "Lost Weekend 1" recently and was
told by Michael Carpenter it was "a pretty good comp.  He's a master of the
understatement obviously, cos every track leapt out the speakers like a
slavering tiger!  Vol. 2 keeps up the high standard.  Things are obviously
looking healthy in the Australian pop underworld.  Both of these are great
and you should seek them out.

3. Pop Is Art "Pop Is Art" - Picked up a short sampler of this in Chicago a
couple of months back (which, hilariously, had a guy who sounded like the
gravelly-voiced man who does voiceovers for movie trailers, waxing lyrical
about the album, quoting Bruce B, Dave B etc).  Anyway, the bits in-between
Mr. Macho-Voiceover-Man sounded so good so I ordered the album.  It is
actually a self produced CDR with home-made insert, but VERY polished
sounding pop.  Great singing, full-on production, very lush orchestrated
70's vibe.  Does anyone out there know any background on the guy behind
this release (one Scott McGinley)??  And does anyone know who they got to
do the talking on the sampler?!

4. The 45's - This is a budget UK release by a defunct British band, one of
whom is now in Aqualung (?).  Pretty good modern pop sound, but nothing
special to my ears.  I am sure I noticed a release by a band called the
45's in Chicago ... I am guessing they were a different band?  Are they
power-pop too?  Does anyone know (or care)?

5. Rooney (s/t) - This is a wee belter of an album.  Bought on basis of
several favourable comments on Audities, thanks again folks!

And that's all for now....

B^)