Anton Barbeau is a cult-hero’s cult hero. He is known for combining surreal lyrics with pop melodies, and is often described as being in the songwriting tradition of Robyn Hitchcock, Syd Barrett, and Julian Cope. He is similar to Todd Rundgren, in that his fan base can get frustrated looking for his greatness, and often getting it in eccentric compositions. His last album, In The Village Of The Apple Sun is a trippy Sgt. Pepper influenced pop pastiche, so this one is closer to his White Album I guess. Opening with the psyche-folk pop of “Bending Like A Spoon”and “Plastic Guitar” kind of recalls The Flaming Lips a little and it features strong repeating choruses and dissonant beats. The theme of this album is mortality, pronounced on songs like “Doctor Take Care” and the ballad “Boat Called Home.” Lots of odd percussion starts many songs, like “Dear Miss” and sometimes it goes to a chorus, or like “Raino Disco” it builds into a looping hypnotic melody. “Quorn Fingers” and Banana Song” have that Lennonesque experimental quality that could fit comfortably behind The Beatles “Revolution #9”. The straight pop tune here “Better Drink Your Water” is pretty accessible and you’ll find yourself clapping along. Be warned it’s not for everyone, and entering the universe of Barbeau is sometimes more about the journey than the result.

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The general reaction to the new Ok Go album has been mixed, but there is plenty here that is interesting to listen to. Band leader Damian Kulash goes out of his way here to explore sounds that are nothing like the last two high energy albums. In fact, bassist Tim Nordwind told me the band doesn’t think about the “power pop” label that much at all. Opening with the funky and alien “WTF?” it is very much influenced by Prince. The sound of producer Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev) is stamped on this album as well. Recorded in seclusion it creates a big arena sound from the tinkling piano, buzzing bassline and echoing percussions in “All Is Not Lost.” What is missing here are the melodies that get lost among the reverb and distortion on tracks like “Needing/Getting.” The best tracks here fall into the lonely grooves of “Skyscrapers” and awesome guitar licks on “White Knuckles.” It’s bound to make the purple one envious he didn’t write it first. Also we get a nice Beatlesque dreamscape in “Back From Kathmandu” that’s got these great strings for a juicy effect here. They even try a heavy vocorder tune “Before The Earth Was Round.” Another point is that the bass fuzz on some tracks distorts to the point of annoyance (“In The Glass”). Fans of Beck may also like the heavy funk, but others will like the lighter touch toward the albums end on tracks like “Why You Were Asleep” which is closer to Godley and Creme in style. Overall a good album, but if you wanted a more formulaic sound you’ll be disappointed.

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So what does this have to with power pop? Well Cheap Trick’s “Surrender” helped bring Conan to L.A. – maybe his next show will use “I Want You To Want Me?” Anyway, here is a look back at Conan’s tenure on The Tonight Show.