PPC BOXING DAY (2009)

You may know what "Boxing Day" is, but you might not know what "PPC Boxing Day" is. So, on the 26th of December, it is time to open some old boxes and grab what's inside. Here are the surprise gifts.

For the ones who could have previously missed something, here's the
The Complete Advent Wall of Sound 2009
(text link with the 25 A.W.o.S posts + Bonus CDEP)

For everyone, read below and grab what you want or need.
# 23
# 25
# 105
# 170
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Enjoy until December, 31st.

THE KAVANAGHS - CHRISTMAS AGAIN (2009)

A special Xmas Gift for all the Power Pop addicts. This brand new single has been sent by The Kavanaghs. By listening to these two Christmas songs, you can feel all the fun the band had while recording them. All the influences (Beatles, Beach Boys et al...) you've have heard on their first album (still available) are all over the place. The spirit of Power Pop Christmas is here to stay with jingle bells, glockenspiel and good vibrations...Merry Christmas. Great artwork too.

You can download it here or directly from the Kavanaghs official website. You also can listen to it on the Kavanaghs myspace page.

CHRISTMAS DAY (The Advent Wall Of Sound Bonus)

clue: read here


Merry Christmas

THE ADVENT WALL OF SOUND 2009

Here we go again, you liked the first two editions of advent wall of sound, so this year it's gonna be the advent v.3 and from the 1st of December to the 24th of December, everyday you'll have to click on one slice of the image. Everyday, each compartment will show a new album never posted before on this blog. Each post will be available for just one day (or maybe two). Don't click on a part before the day or somebody could be hurt. Now you can enjoy the spirit of powerpop.

Clues

Day 1 : # read here
Day 2 : # 175
Day 3 : # 149
Day 4 : # 130
Day 5 : # 182
Day 6 : # 178
Day 7 : # 192

Day 8 : # read here
Day 9 : # 33
Day 10 : # 122
Day 11 : # 184
Day 12 : # 18 (remastered & expanded 2000)
Day 13 : # 55 (remastered 2007)
Day 14 : # 197 (remastered & expanded 2008)

Day 15 : # read here
Day 16 : # 173
Day 17 : # read here & there
Day 18 : # 139 [Japan 2CD Edition]
Day 19 : # read here
Day 20 : # 34 (remastered & expanded 2004)
Day 21 : # read here (remastered 2007)

Day 22 : # 186 (remastered 2008)
Day 23 : # read here
Christmas Eve : # 103

I hope you've enjoyed the 2009 wall of sound...as much as i have.

VARIOUS - SANTA CLAUS & THE POWER POP CRIMINALS (2009)

Before i even started my collaboration with a sadly defunct Powerpop blog, i had made a couple of Christmas compilations for my personal use, some of my closest friends got their copy as well. But, if you're familiar with the PPC blog i guess you all know the previous collections "A Christmas Blog Gift For You" (2006), "Another Christmas Blog Gift For You - Born To Greet" (2007) or even "Dreamland With The Pop Snowflakes" (2008). Soon, it will be another Christmas and what could be worse than a Powerpop Criminals Blog without a brand new Christmas compilation...The crew of PPC (indeed, that's me) wishes you all the best for the holiday season. Thanks for visiting, and have a cool yule!...Enjoy the spirit of Christmas and see you next week.

ZS (184 mb)

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

PARASITES - SALA MATISSE (2009)

Parasites, one of the longest running Pop Punk bands ever, are back with “Solitary”, their first new album in over a decade. '"Solitary" is a smorgasbord of short sharp songs played with precision and power that not only evoke the spirit of the Descendents and the Ramones, but also adds a generous helping of powerpop sensibilities to the mix. The result is a sweet as sugar, yet tough as nails concoction that goes down easy but still packs a punch. Touring Spain in November, Dave Parasite backed by Second Saturday performed a la Sala Matisse.

Special note: I got the show from a spanish mate at the Alta Tension and i made a special artwork for the PPC blog.

Songs
All The Time In The World / Stuck On You / Waiting Game / When I'm Here With You / Young And Stupid / Top Secret / The Next Time / Make You Mine / Make Up You Mind / What Should I Do / Someday / Never Giving Up On Vou / Really Really / Say It Again / Real Real Good Time / Hanging Around / Fool For You / Ronnie Is A Psycho / You're Gonna Be Mine / Letdown / Please Come Back / Hang Up / Refuge / Crazy

VARIOUS - MIDNIGHT CHRISTMAS MESS AGAIN (1986)

In the late fall of 1984 Midnight International, an NYC based record label which catered to the growing Garage/Psych movement released its first Christmas compilation LP featuring thirteen different acts on fifteen cuts. The compilation proved to be so successful two more volumes were later released. "Oh No, Not Another Midnight Christmas Mess Again" was the second one featuring the outstanding Cheepksates, the Vipers, the Slickee Boys and more.

Bands (Songs)

The Slickee Boys (Hazy Shades Of Winter) / The Vipers (Christmas I'll Be Home) / Cheepskates (Star) / The Psycho Daisies (Santa Is Comin' Down Again) / Woofing Cookies (Santa Ain't Santa) / The Love Pushers (Jesus Christ) / Das Furlines (O Tannenbaum Now) / The Ravens (Blue Christmas) / Howard & Jag's Xmas Vacation (Wreck These Halls) / The Holidays (Sleighbell Bop) / The Backbones (Coal In My Stocking) / The Iguanas (Christmas Eve At K.N.I (Kansas Neurological Institute) / Dementia 13 (Snow Is Falling)

CHEEPSKATES - SONGS VOL 1 & 2 (1989-1992)

After their live album "Waiting For The Unta" (1988), the Cheepskates' next release was "Songs Volume One - Perry Como", a five-song curio that finds Faubert wrapping his pipes around such standards as "Catch a Falling Star" and "Dream on Little Dreamer." Strange, yet somehow fitting — and not nearly as strange as "Songs Volume Two", which contains Cheepskates interpretations of six Residents tunes. Trouser Press.

Special note: Rips 320 mp3, but these are not my rips - that means there's no artwork included.

Songs Volume One — Perry Como (1989)
Catch a Falling Star / Dream on Little Dreamer / Maybe / Round and Round / One Little Candle

Songs Volume Two — The Residents (1992)
Loneliness / When We Were Young / Mahogany Wood / Boy In Love / Semalina / Plains To Mexico / God In Three Persons Theme

THE LEFTOVERS - SALA MATISSE, VALENCIA (2009)

The Leftovers formed in 2002 and road tested a sound over 350 dates and two continents that successfully combines the classic vibe of The Beatles (their favorite band) and the Beach Boys with the power pop of Elvis Costello, The Romantics and the Rubinoos, while keeping the upbeat energy of the Ramones and The Queers.

The Leftovers successful full length "Eager To Please" was produced by Linus Dotson (of Hollywood) and features Kim Shattuck (The Muffs), Brett Anderson (The Donnas), Parry Gripp (Nerf Herder), Coz Canler (The Romantics) and Jon Rubin (The Rubinoos).

The massive 2009 Fall Tour took the band from all the corners of the USA to Europe (United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany). So, Friday 6th November The Leftovers stormed Valencia (Spain) and performed a stunning 70 minutes show a la Sala Matisse.

The second leg of the USA tour (with The Queers) will start on November 27 in North Carolina.

Special note: I got the show from a spanish mate at the Alta Tension and i made a special artwork for the PPC blog.

Songs
Untouchable / Can't Stop / Telephone Operator / Run Away / Lose Your Head / She's The One / The Only One / Lost & Found / Adding Up / Nothing To Do / Get To Know You / Do You Wanna Dance / She She She / Girlfriend / Back In The U.S.S.R / Please Tell Me / Pick & Choose / Camel / Walking Out On Love / Dance With Me / Party 'Til We Die / Real Run Fast / You Know What To Do / Please Please Me / Woolly Bully /Gotta Go

VARIOUS - POPGUN 2000 (2000)

This German-import, 24-track power-pop compilation features previously available material from bands like DM3, Waking Hours, the Double Naught Spies, and the Krispies, but the majority of "Popgun 2000" consists of then unreleased songs. Artists present in that category include the Shazam, Paul Collins, Martin Luther Lennon, the Chevelles, the Yum Yums, the Barracudas, and many more. It's a solid addition to the collection of most power-pop fanatics. AMG

Click on pix for details of bands involved

FLESHTONES - HOUBA HOUBA TV SHOW (1982)

The Fleshtones live for the "Houba Houba" TV show in 1982. The performance was filmed at Le Palace in Paris.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 12'51 - Size: 151mb

Set
Shadow Line / All Around The World / Cold Cold Shoes / Ride Your Pony

LENE LOVICH - HOUBA HOUBA TV SHOW (1982)

Lene Lovich guests in the "Houba Houba" TV show hosted by Antoine DeCaunes. Subtitled in french, DeCaunes takes a singing lesson with Lene Lovich who will sing "Bird Song" with Les Chappell playing guitar.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 7'06 - Size: 83mb

JOHN FOGERTY - FRENCH TV (1995)

Promoting the release of "Blue Moon Swamp", John Fogerty performed acoustically live "Proud Mary" and "Joy Of My Life" on the french TV show "Nulle Part Ailleurs" in 1995.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. Time: 6'17 - Size: 73mb

TRIBUTES OR NOT TRIBUTES.... STRIKES BACK (2009)

In 2006, i made my first "Tributes or not Tributes" compilation and until august 2008 two other collections were added. So, after an overlong 15-month hiatus, "Tributes or not Tributes" strikes back with plenty of great covers performed by some of the best power pop acts we all dig.

CD1 + CD2

Links are independent. Previous collections are still available.
2006 - Tributes or not Tributes2006 - Tributes or not Tributes Rewind
2008 - The Return Of Tributes or not Tributes

Click on pix for details of the 49 bands involved

THURMAN - THE READING FESTIVAL (1995)

Thurman performing live at The Reading Festival in 1995. The show was aired on cable TV a few years before i could digitally record it in the PC. Thurman opened for Teenage Fanclub.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. You need both parts of the video file to unrar. A sampler can be watched on the PPC Channel.
Time: 23'29 - Size: 275mb

Set List (1 + 2)
Talk To Myself / English Tea /Cheap Holiday / Lewis Brightworth / Famous / This Way / Benny

TEENAGE FANCLUB - THE READING FESTIVAL (1995)

Teenage Fanclub performing live at The Reading Festival in 1995. The show was aired on cable TV a few years before i could digitally record it in the PC. Thurman opened for Teenage Fanclub.

Special note: The video was transferred from the original VHS to DV and then converted from the uncompressed video to DivX 6.8 PAL with a two-pass compression. You need both parts of the video file to unrar. A sampler can be watched on the PPC Channel.
Time: 26'37 - Size: 312mb

Set List (1 + 2)
The Cabbage / Radio / About You / Mellow Doubt / Star Sign / Don't Look Back / Sparky's Dream / I'll Make It Clear / The Concept

THE MOP TOPS - INSIDE (1995)

Link removed. The album is now available thru CD Baby

Hailing from Sweden, The Mop Tops was formed in 1985. In the beginning of 1990 they released their first record, "Run Away". It was a four-song extended play which was very well received by the press. Later that year the group released their second record, "Everybodys´Girl. In 1991 the group disbanded but reunited again in 1993. Now the group had more than 200 songs. 1995, a demo was sent to Velodrome Records, a small record-company in Gothenburg, which led to the recording of their CD debut "Inside".
"Inside" was released in November 1995 and was received with fantastic rewievs all over the world, the music magazines compared the group with Plimsouls, Tom Petty, Matthew Sweet and The Beatles. The french radiostation "Pop Dreams" in St.Etienne voted "Inside" to the best record of 1996. Featured on some of the best Power Pop compilations, the band released a second masterpiece "Ground Floor Man" in 2008 available thru CDBaby., Kool Kat, Jam Records, Not Lame or Amazon.

Songs
Plastic Moon Rain / Inside / Sending Letters / Sweet Dreams / Love On A Carousel / I Want To Tell You / The Loner / Melancholy / She's So Fine / I Wish I Knew You / Whenever I'm Alone / I Won't Give It Back

THE DENVER MEXICANS - THE DENVER MEXICANS (1988)

Aaron Price formed the Denver Mexicans with his drinking buddy, bassist Dave Provost (of Droogs fame); on drums was Steve Bidrowski, who also played with Bruce Joyner in the Unknowns.
Sometime in 1986, the trio recorded 8 tracks produced by Billy Bremner (ex-Rockpile). Billy fitted in neatly with the Denver Mexicans take-it-as-it-comes attitude. All the tracks were original band compositions, except a cover of "John Coltrane Stereo Blues" - a song that Dave Provost was very familiar with as a former member of the Dream Syndicate himself, and one that should have give you more idea of where the combo draw their inspiration from. Presenting a very "live" sound, the record was released as an 8 track mini album in the USA. In Germany, Still Sane Records picked up the scent via a review in "Option" magazine. Due to pressure of other commitments with the Droogs, Dave Provost quit the Mexicans and was replaced by Marco Fox. The revised line-up cut three new tracks (same studio, same engineer) that were added to the German issue with a revised cover art which shows the shell of a Mexican church, one of the oldest buildings in downtown L.A. Jon Storey B.o.B #31.

The Denver Mexicans recorded a second album "Empire Town" available on CD (1990).

Songs
Denver Mexican Theme / Rain / Lonesome Road / Cold Steel / Down / Too Far Gone / Dogs Of Surf / John Coltrane Stereo Blues / Restless / Car Crash Salvation / Ezras Parade

CHEEPSKATES - SECOND AND LAST (1986)

Led by the monstruously talented Shane Faubert, the Cheepskates began life as an anomaly to NY's garage rock scene in the mid 80's. They always were scouring for vintage paisleys and deeper, more intelligent accomodations of a derivative sound. They crafted pure pop, clear expressive, refreshing timeless pop treasures. They first released the classic "Run Better Run" in 1984 (reissued in 2005). Then, the original lineup split while recording the follow-up (hence the title "Second And Last"). After losing Keith and guitarist David John Herrera (who went on to release "A Handout From a Cheepskate" in 1989), the Cheepskates continued on as a trio of Shane Faubert, bassist Tony Low and new drummer Jeremy Lee and they released "Remember" (1987), "It Wings Above" (1988), "Waiting For Unta" (1989), and "Confessional" (1990) all available in CD format. Opting out of the Cheepskates in 1992, bassist Tony Low and drummer Jeremy Lee formed their own group, which became, by mid-decade, a tuneful hard-rock quartet named Static 13. Tony Low released "Dandelion In The Year Of The Rooster" (2000), "Sleight Of Hand" (2002), and "Time Across The Page" in 2007. Shane Faubert released three solo albums, the stunning and visionary "Kalkara" (1990) plus "San Blass" (1993) and "Squirrelboy Blue" (1997) and should release his fourth album very soon. So, Along the "Songs Volume One" (1989) and "Songs Volume Two" (1992), "Second And Last" is the only Cheepskates album not available on CD .

Click here to order the Cheepskates and Shane Faubert albums.

Click here to download some Shane Faubert demos. Visit also his blog here.

Songs
Turn Around / Everything / Yours and Mine / Reel Dreams / Good Life / You Don't Belong Here / Every Man's a King / About You / Kustom Shuffle / Tell Me I'm Wrong / Around Here / Too Tired / She Comes Back / Only Grey

VARIOUS - POPCAN (A REFRESHING TASTE OF PURE CANADIAN POP) (1997)

This 1997 compilation features some of Canada's finest indie pop bands, from Vancouver to Halifax. "Popcan" is an exemplary collection that showcases a just fraction of Canada's incredible indie pop scene.

Click on pix for details of the bands involved

VARIOUS - WE WANT THE AIRWAVES (1999)

Another excellent Power Pop compilation released in Spain by Munster Records with bands from the U.S.A, Canada, Spain, Sweden, Denmark and Australia.

Click on pix for details of the bands involved