BEATFOR106 - December Singles Weekender I

The Dangtrippers were one of the few Iowa bands to play power Byrdsy-pop for a global audience. Their only album Days Between Stations remains an underrated classic of the genre with consistently fine songs. The songwriting team of singers and guitarists Devin Hill and Doug Robertson penned gorgeous tunes of guitars weave in and around each other over a sturdy rhythm section. Fantastic.

The Dangtrippers - Masquerade / Lover's Again [7' Dog Gone Records 1989]

Craig Hallsworth formed The Bamboos in the West Australian township of Collie. He’s an aussie legend, formerly of Zuvuya, The Bamboos, Healers, Outstation, and as solo artist. The band’s brand of raw guitar trash and country-swamp rock caught the attention of Citadel Records boss John Needham. Wonderful dust and liquor coated vocals, reminds me of Gurus Dave Faulkner singing. This song makes them sound like the great rock & roll band they always were, like most Australian bands creating a distinctly kitschy and catchy sound.

The Bamboos - With Which To Love You [7' Citadel Records 1987]


The Boston-based Dambuilders were a college radio staple for the better part of a decade, thanks to their noisy, chaotic take on guitar pop, in which melodies were laced with feedback and that distinctive, moaning violin played by Joan Wasser. Formed in Honolulu, Hawaii in the late '80s by Dave Derby and Eric Masunga, the band relocated to Boston early in their career, where they solidified their lineup and quickly found a place in Boston's then-thriving alternative music scene. While The Dambuilders are generally considered an "indie" band, they have received some commercial airplay with their single "Shrine" from 1994's "Encendedor". Although the song has no viable chorus, they manage to create an appealing and memorable single using a distinctly melodic verse and an innovative instrumental section used as an intro, outro, and bridge. In this section, the bass guitar plays a melodic riff using two bass strings simultaneously, as opposed to the more conventional method in which the bass player plays one string at a time. Wasser is now performing under the name Joan As Police Woman.

The Dambuilders - Shrine [7' Spinart Records 1992]

From London, an ephemeral quartet pop-rock band, The Passengers, leaded by Robert Randall. Just one single has gone down in history of the unknown, lost and crushed bands. Classic pop song, lively choruses. Enjoy it.


The Passengers - Hell To Heaven [7' True Pass Records 1988].

BEATFOR107 - December Singles Weekender II

The first single from The Shake Shakes, Beatfor97 for the second one. Classic pop, recalling the heyday of the British Invasion with their exquisitely crafted melodies and achingly gorgeous harmonies. One of the obscure great power pop singles of the 1970s.

The Shake Shakes - You Can Run [7' Notown Records 1979]

Another vintage favourite pop song. The Noogs were a power pop group from New York in the 80's, who were discovered by Bill Kern (Beat Bad Records owner label) in Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY. This first single by the Noogs, released in 1979, contains two of their best songs - the catchy "Everybody Loves You" and "Why Not," which has a reggae feel.

The Noogs - Everybody Loves You [Beat Bad Records 1980]

Guitarist Dean Chamberlain had been a founding member of the original Motels with Martha Davis. Moving to L.A. and leaving that band forming his own personal version of the great, American rock ’n’ roll band, with drummer Randall Marsh and bassist Gary Tibbs (Vibrators, Roxy Music) completing the Code Blue lineup. Despite three good musicians, some decent material and lofty artistic aspirations, the lack of any really killer tracks doomed their first LP to prompt oblivion. “Face To Face” was a touching memory of a high school girlfriend, without a doubt the best singalong.

Code Blue - Face To Face [ 7' Warner 1980]

What should be the disctinctive feature of a good song? This is a fine example : 1:54 minutes of catchy pop, punchy rock with copious hooks.
Four lads from the Netherlands released two singles in the golden age of powerpop : “Tomorrow”, “Bad Boy”, and the album “Bad Boy”. Ronald Welgemoed (singer/songwriter) is now the country-folk outfit Rebel.

Rotjoch - Tomorrow [7' Egmond/Polydor 1981]

BEST LPS 2 0 0 7

1- The Innits – Everything Is True [Sunday Service] http://www.theinnits.com/
2- The Enemy - We'll Live And Die In These Towns [Warner] http://www.theenemy.com/home.php
3- The View – Hats Off To The Buskers [1965 Records] http://www.theviewareonfire.com/
4- Wilco – Sky Blue Sky [Nonesuch] www.wilcoweb.com
5- Richmond Fontaine – Thirteen Cities [Décor] www.richmondfontaine.com
6- Loney, Dear – Loney Noir [Regal] www.loneydear.com
7- Midlake - Milkmaid Grand Army Ep [Bella Union] www.midlake.net
8- Grand Drive – Everyone [Loose] www.grand-drive.com
9- Softlightes - Say No to Being Cool Say Yes to Being Happy [Modular] www.thesoftlightes.com
10- The Rumble Strips – Girls And Weather [Island] http://www.myspace.com/rumblestripsuk
11- 1990s – Cookies [Rough Trade] http://www.myspace.com/1990sband
12- Hard-Fi – Once Upon A Time In The West [Atlantic] http://www.myspace.com/hardfi
13- The Shins – Wincing The Night Away [Sub Pop] http://www.myspace.com/theshins
14- Band Of Horses – Cease To Begin [Sub Pop] http://www.myspace.com/bandofhorses
15- Little Man Tate – About What You Know [V2] http://www.myspace.com/littlemantatemusic
16- Good Shoes – Think Before You Speak [Brille] http://www.myspace.com/goodshoes
17- The Basement - Illicit Hugs And Playground Thugs [Zealous] http://www.myspace.com/thebasementofficial
18- Edgar Jones – Getting’ A Little Help [Viper] http://www.myspace.com/edgarjonesandthejoneses
19- Shack – Time Machine [Sour Mash] http://www.myspace.com/shacktheband
20- The Right Ons – The Right Ons [2Fer Records] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=109356602

BEST SINGLES 2 0 0 7

1- Correcto – Joni [Domino Records] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4bYeb6lsRI
2- Frightened Rabbit – Be Less Rude [Fat Cat Records] http://fat-cat.co.uk/fatcat/release.php?id=234
3- The Long Weekend - Record [Mother Tongue] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xnYfVVpH7g
4- Alterckicks – Good Luck [B Unique] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-o6G9Do14w
5- Nine Black Alps – Bitter End [Island] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95gRVPmQ80o
6- Havana Guns – N.Y.C.S. [Cigarette Music] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0IayUIona0
7- The Enemy – It’s Not Ok [Warners] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o03awtSlbkY
8- Mumm-Ra – She’s Got You High [Columbia] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mZkYCbgxTo
9- The Thermals – A Pillar Of Salt [Sub Pop] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Iobo18U9w
10- The All New Adventures Of Us - St Crispin's Got Our Backs [The Mannequin Republic] http://www.myspace.com/tanaoumusic
11- Fanfarlo – Fire Escape [White Heat] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e6453HyewA
12- The Sweet Vandals – Too Much [Unique] http://www.myspace.com/thesweetvandals
13- The Fischers – Down The Days [Lost Music] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5k1kPK5C1U
14- Wake The President - Sorrows For Clothes [Electric Honey] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spQDwqXYfEE
15- It’s A Buffalo – Divorce Song [Akoustik Anarkhy] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gchQYxlXmf8
16- The Nightjars – Cease To Exist [Reveal] http://www.myspace.com/thenightjars
17- The Troubadours – Gimme Love [Mod Art Sounds] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=436hj5gE-zQ
18- The Brightlights – Inspired By [Distiller] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3xTk-5UWbY
19- Bedroom Eyes – Valentine Vacancy Ep [Clodberry Records] http://www.myspace.com/bedroomeyesosd
20- Stalkers - Let's Get It Together [Heron] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRSc0jPsuGg&feature=related
21- Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse – Valerie [All Do/Sony] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI_xYIxUTE0
22- Polytechnic - Cold Hearted Business [Shatter Proof] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXXKQOYHYJs
23- Shout Out Louds – Tonight I Have To Leave It [Merge] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MVlPV7AF7k
24- Andy Lewis & Paul Weller – Are You Trying To Be Lonely? [Acid Jazz] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DopJRqfJg8
25- Pete & The Pirates – Knots [Stolen] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfgmPqsJQj4
26- Herman Düne – I Wish That I Could See You Sonn [Source] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGAmnjZYxdU
27- Tuomo – Don’t Take It Too Hard [Jupiter] http://www.myspace.com/organkane
28- Buen Chico – Choosing My Religion [Faith & Hope] http://www.myspace.com/buenchico
29- The Shallow Call – Frank Bruno [Cherry Bomb Disco] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcq46xcRnxQ
30- Butcher The Bar – Get Away [Morr Music Germany] http://www.myspace.com/butcherthebarband
31- Scouting For Girls – Elvis Aint Dead [Epic] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFzREgP3RiU
32- Goodbooks – Passchendaele [Columbia] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SsIOWEWOfY
33- College Fall – Gravity [Ride] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=17464492
34- The Lionheart Brothers – Hero Anthem [Racing Junior] http://www.myspace.com/lionheartbrothers
35- My Psychoanalyst – We Disagree [Hungry Kid] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPk9WmxQcVA
36- Jersey Budd – Bright Soul [This Feeling] http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=99824484
37- Grandmagneto – Night Fever/Tainted Love [Big Single] http://www.myspace.com/grandmagneto
38- The Twilight Sad - Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters ep [Fat Cat] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFCanLfBuMY
39- Scouting For Girls – It’s Not About You [Epic] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5Tn4FE1i0U
40- The Bees – Listening Man [Virgin] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Opm-qsGxzNY