Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Texas based  singer/songwriter Nourallah was always a superior ballader, but on Hit Parade he hits paydirt. It sounds as if Ray Davies had joined The Beatles on a new White Album. It made the Absolute Powerpop #1 pick for 2012 and I’d squeeze it into my top ten at seven and a half. “38 Rue de Sevigne” opens slowly but expands with backing harmonies, guitars and drums into a rich tapestry.

It’s a concept album along chronological lines, when you’re young you feel “Unstoppable” but soon it becomes “This Goddamn Life.” While mostly downbeat, the album has some brilliant set pieces like the catchy “Channel 5” and the awesome title track with its rolling drum and bass line where Salim “used to be…”  Thinly disguised humor of “Travolta” reveals tragedy and “The Quitter” shows a maturity and humility that is rarely visible in music today. I’m grateful to those who brought this album to my attention.

Every now and then a band with a power pop or indie streak, wises up and “goes commercial,” leaving behind some of the cult audience to experience mass audience acceptance and adulation. The best example of this was a little known L.A. band called Kara’s Flowers, who in 1997 wowed me with their debut The Fourth World on Reprise Records. Like most new “star” talent it had great songwriting and massive hooks on the single “Soap Disco.” But it wasn’t until lead singer Adam Levine ditched the tight group harmonies, and started emulating Stevie Wonder’s soulful approach he was able to breakout as the band Maroon 5.

This year the new “breakout” band to reach mass popularity is the Fun. While Aim and Ignite was one of 2009’s best power pop LPs, the band then moved away from those classic power pop influences (Beatles, Queen, ELO). Nate Ruess (vocal), Jack Antonoff (guitar) and Andrew Dost embraced popular hip hop culture and style for Some Nights. They even used Auto-Tune and had Janelle Monáe assist on their breakout hit “We Are Young.“ Thankfully, the band’s core strengths stay intact: uplifting melodies and emotional lyrics have made this one of the best releases for a pop band.

It’s not in my main list this year because its not really a power pop band anymore, but its mainstream success should be applauded.