FIRE TOWN - IN THE HEART OF THE HEART COUNTRY (1986)

Fire Town arose out of the ashes of an indie band called Spooner (first album was produced by Gary Klebe of Shoes' fame) with this, their first effort, full of light pop tunes and wonderful sing-along choruses. But today Fire Town is mainly remembered because of the band's relation to Garbage. Comprised of Doug Erikson (vocals, guitar), Phil Davis (vocals, guitar) and Butch Vig (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Fire Town's light, jangly pop fed college radio with another dose of ringing guitars and folk-rock harmonies in the late '80s. After Spooner broke up, Davis, Vig, and Steve Marker (guitars) formed the short-lived First Person in 1986. A year later, Davis, Vig, and Erikson collaborated again as Fire Town, releasing the LP "In the Heart of the Heart Country." The album received praise from Rolling Stone magazine; however, it was too tame even for pre-grunge alternative radio. The video for "Carry the Torch" briefly snared MTV's attention, but Fire Town was lost in a downpour of similar-sounding artists. Fire Town recorded another album, 1989's Good Life, before calling it quits. In the early '90s, Vig's production work on albums from Nirvana, the Smashing Pumpkins, and L7 heightened his status within the alternative rock community. After the brief Rectal Drip episode (1989), Erikson, Vig and Marker became Garbage in 1993, adding vocalist Shirley Manson in 1994. (AMG)

ZS (283 mb)

Songs

Places to Run / Carry the Torch / Secret Heart / Rain on You / Heart Country / Favorite Song / There's a Fire / One More Reason / Mystery Field

Day 32: Spooner Or Later

SPOONER - WILDEST DREAMS / EVERY CORNER DANCE (1988)

Originally posted in 2011 (November 15th)

full details here

SPOONER (1979-1980)

Recorded in Northern Illinois with advice and assistance from Zion's finest Shoes, the band's first record was released in 1979: "Cruel School", a seven inch EP containing four songs written by Doug Erikson. A DIY project all the way, Boat Records was christened to serve their growing local and regional following.

Another single ("Where Are You Gonna Run"/"You're The Lucky One") was followed two albums "Every Corner Dance" (1982), and "Wildest Dreams" (1984) . Source.

Special note: An excellent contribution from bluesatmidnight, a blog reader.

Cruel School EP (1979)
Dancing Dolls / Working Girl / Member Of The Family / From My Head To My Toes

Where You Gonna Run? (1980)
Where You Gonna Run? / You're The Lucky One

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS BLOG GIFT FOR YOU - BORN TO GREET (2007)

So this is Christmas (...soon). Last year, there was "A Christmas Blog Gift For You" available on the PPL Blog, Now it is time for me to bring to you another annual exclusive Christmas compilation. But, why one more Christmas compilation , well just because I wanted to share a Powerpop Christmas with all the readers, and it was the right time of the year to release it. So, I've tried to give you "la creme de la creme" of christmas powerpop. Have a Merry Christmas, enjoy. Listen the snow is falling, thanx for Christmas.

ZS (182 mb)

 

Bands

AlternativA / The Jigsaw Seen / The Montgomery Cliffs / Redd Kross / Sugarcult / Fountains Of Wayne / The Raveonettes / Nourallah Brothers / OK Go / Imperial Drag / The Richies / Joey Ramone / Lisa Mychols / The Malibus / Bill Retoff / Corey Leland / Doug Powell / Matt Bruno / Cheepskates / Cowboy And Spingirl / Spooner / The Del-Lords / XTC / Primitives / T.. P....