I do think that every once in awhile even a power pop album can be a coherent whole.  For me a good example would be Adam Schmitt's "World So Bright."  What holds it together is a shared sound which was totally unlike anything else out there AND which he didn't repeat later on.  Other great lp's of this type would include such different things as Graham Parker's "Squeezing Out Sparks," 10cc's "Sheet Music," Marshall Crenshaw's "s/t," Matthew Sweet's "Girlfriend".  All of these had their well known singles, but the albums really hold together as a collection.  And you dont need to be a "themed" album to do that (ala Who's "Tommy" or something by The Alan Parsons Project.) 
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