Great piece on a great band/musician/melody maker. Longtime fan. Would also include Fountains of Wayne in your 90s power pop revival group. And I am the Cosmos always get's me.
In the Valley of Dying Stars is electric from start to finish. “True Believer” is an all-timer purpose built for airplay. How this song—and this album— weren’t bigger is beyond me.
Saw Superdrag in Knoxville a few weeks ago at Lost and Found Records parking lot. A great warmup show for Chicago....they haven't missed a beat. They killed it at The Subterraneannin Chicago. I'm a huge Nada Surf fan as well! JD's "Arrigato" is a fine rocking record, too.
Matt, great that you're remembering these guys and John Davis in particular. I first discovered "Sucked Out" on Respectfully Yours and then found "In the Valley of Dying Stars" (someone also mentioned "True Believer" on that record which still holds up today!). I've created the playlist in your notes and am digging into Lees of Memory, which I love so far. Sort of a psychedelic version of the Smithereens. Will also be curious to hear the upcoming John Davis solo record.
Thanks so much for this! I was a rabid power pop fan in the 1990s (and still am,) but somehow missed Head Trip In Every Key. You've inspired me to include it in the Spotify playlist I use to deep-dive into four albums I want to know better. This week it includes alternating, interleaved tracks from four albums released in 1998-99:
My pleasure, Lee! The Superdrag is def my fave of those you have in heavy rotation right now. The first Nada Surf I would highly recommend is Let Go if you don’t already know it. And Velvet Crushes Teenage Symphonies…is godlike.
Not sure I know that Connells album. Will have to check it out.
Saw Superdrag in Knoxville a few weeks ago at Lost and Found Records parking lot. A great warmup show for Chicago....they haven't missed a beat. They killed it at The Subterraneannin Chicago. I'm a huge Nada Surf fan as well! JD's "Arrigato" is a fine rocking record, too.
Great piece on a great band/musician/melody maker. Longtime fan. Would also include Fountains of Wayne in your 90s power pop revival group. And I am the Cosmos always get's me.
In the Valley of Dying Stars is electric from start to finish. “True Believer” is an all-timer purpose built for airplay. How this song—and this album— weren’t bigger is beyond me.
Saw Superdrag in Knoxville a few weeks ago at Lost and Found Records parking lot. A great warmup show for Chicago....they haven't missed a beat. They killed it at The Subterraneannin Chicago. I'm a huge Nada Surf fan as well! JD's "Arrigato" is a fine rocking record, too.
Matt, great that you're remembering these guys and John Davis in particular. I first discovered "Sucked Out" on Respectfully Yours and then found "In the Valley of Dying Stars" (someone also mentioned "True Believer" on that record which still holds up today!). I've created the playlist in your notes and am digging into Lees of Memory, which I love so far. Sort of a psychedelic version of the Smithereens. Will also be curious to hear the upcoming John Davis solo record.
Thanks so much for this! I was a rabid power pop fan in the 1990s (and still am,) but somehow missed Head Trip In Every Key. You've inspired me to include it in the Spotify playlist I use to deep-dive into four albums I want to know better. This week it includes alternating, interleaved tracks from four albums released in 1998-99:
- Superdrag: Head Trip in Every Key
- Nada Surf: The Proximity Effect
- The Connells: Still Life
- Velvet Crush: Free Expression
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/59ZhsPokbgCSUSw1Y0eK3i?si=d269774f4c5543ee
Thanks again for the inspiration and for helping me correct the oversight of that fantastic Superdrag album.
Great piece about John and his work. I'm looking forward to his upcoming solo album.
My pleasure, Lee! The Superdrag is def my fave of those you have in heavy rotation right now. The first Nada Surf I would highly recommend is Let Go if you don’t already know it. And Velvet Crushes Teenage Symphonies…is godlike.
Not sure I know that Connells album. Will have to check it out.
The fact that I didn’t even mention that track is further proof of the album’s greatness. Thx for singling it out.
Can’t believe I forgot about Fountains of Wayne. Love!
Saw Superdrag in Knoxville a few weeks ago at Lost and Found Records parking lot. A great warmup show for Chicago....they haven't missed a beat. They killed it at The Subterraneannin Chicago. I'm a huge Nada Surf fan as well! JD's "Arrigato" is a fine rocking record, too.