Who is the greatest POWER POP band of all time ?

DdBob

DdBob

Dogue in teh desert
As nmuch as I want to say Big Star or Teenage Fanclub the true answer HAS TO BE teh Cheap Trick...fackin' hell, what a sound....a truly glorious hodgepodge of power and pop. Also it's clear that Mr. Zander had a ruly idiosyncratic vocal style and octave range.....

case in point






so who's yer dawg in this fight :mad:
 
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I have to go with Cheap Trick as well. Bought their Live at Budokan album when it first came out and was like damn, Neilsen kills.
 
I guess you'd have to define "Power POP".

I don't consider The Who, etc.....Power Pop. The Beatles, maybe........

The first group I thought of for "Power Pop" would be Duran Duran.
 
Having to dive into teh interwebz to get a full handle on what bands fall under this myopic description, it's hard to say who the greatest is. Based on this list, I'd go with either XTC and Squeeze for English representation and the Cars for American representation.

My justification is that these artists had a sustained period of quality output, while many of the others were one hit or (if lucky) album wonders.

I think the Beatles created the template for this subgenre and most of the notable names int eh genre have been (rather obviously) highly influenced by the Beatles. While I know they get categorized in the Glam realm (more about their look I think), Queen would probably be the greatest in my mind. When did "pop" it was some of the best music of that extremely broad category.

Cheap Trick is great too, just not as good as the ones I've listed.:thu:
 
Power Pop sounds like Weezer to me. And Green Day and Blink 182. You know, that early 90's sound that wasn't grunge. The Beatles, etc. seem more broad, according to my understanding of Power Pop. So, basically Weezer for me. But Cheap Trick could also be the answer.
 
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Power pop to me is mostly Beatles/British Invasion influenced melodic guitar music. Even though I don't hear a British Invasion thing I'd include The Cars in power pop. I wouldn't count Queen or Duran Duran as power pop.
 
Chad said:
I have no idea what "Power Pop" is, so I'm out.
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Yeah, I looked it up and found Wikipedia's write-up...which I merely skimmed. The original search had a wiki list of the "genre's" bands/artists that I used as a basis to play (i.e.: contribute to this thread).
 
Devil is Dill said:
Power pop to me is mostly Beatles/British Invasion influenced melodic guitar music. Even though I don't hear a British Invasion thing I'd include The Cars in power pop. I wouldn't count Queen or Duran Duran as power pop.
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Elliot Easton is a massive Beatles fan. His guitar parts in Best Friend's Girlfriend are pulled near directly from "I Will", played after a few espressos.

I'd disagree with you about Queen and Duran Duran, but the wiki list doesn't include, so I can't. :thu:
 
Dogsinotpalc said:
Yeah, I looked it up and found Wikipedia's write-up...which I merely skimmed. The original search had a wiki list of the "genre's" bands/artists that I used as a basis to play (i.e.: contribute to this thread).
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I just took a look. They have Bob Mould (and Sugar) and the Old 97's on their list of power pop. Now I am more confused than ever :grin:

Since Bob and the 97's don't seem to fit with the other bands on that list that I know, I am going with Matthew Sweet or Sloan.
 
Coralkong said:
I guess you'd have to define "Power POP".

I don't consider The Who, etc.....Power Pop. The Beatles, maybe........

The first group I thought of for "Power Pop" would be Duran Duran.
Click to expand...


Yeah I don't consider the Beatles power pop either. They clearly tinfluenced the genre but that's it. In the Beatles case I think of them as a rock and roll band early and then an experiemental / psychedelic group.


Same goes for Duran Duran ...not power pop


I think Cheap trick is THE definition...it's those melodies, the hooks, the hummable/singable chorus...


wiki defines it as ....

Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, clear vocals and crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are usually kept to a minimum, and blooze elements are largely downplayed.
 
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