Short Shelf Life
Late 70s power pop is one of my favorite pockets of music — punk energy grafted onto perfect bubblegum hooks, bands playing like they had something to prove and three minutes to do it. Some of these you've heard, some you probably haven't. All of them are worth your time.
-
01
Fast Cars — "The Kids Just Wanna Dance"
Fast Cars put out one 45 on Rabid Records and then that was it. Which is a shame, because "The Kids Just Wanna Dance" is absolutely perfect — it makes the entire case for power pop in under three minutes. The title says exactly what the song is, and the song delivers exactly what the title promises. I love this one and I think you will too.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
02
The Nerves — "Hanging on the Telephone"
You probably know this from Blondie, but the original Nerves version is something else entirely — scrappier, faster, more urgent. The Nerves were Peter Case, Jack Lee, and Paul Collins, all three of whom went on to make amazing records. This is where it started, and it still sounds electric. Even if you love the Blondie version, give this one a spin.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
03
Rubber City Rebels — "Childeaters"
Akron in the late 70s was genuinely one of the most interesting places in American music — Devo, Pere Ubu, and the Rubber City Rebels all came out of the same scene. "Childeaters" sounds like the Stooges trying to write a radio hit and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. Catchy and weird in equal measure. Clone Records out of Cleveland — this is a great little regional scene document.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
04
The Incredible Kidda Band — "Everybody Knows"
Newcastle produced some great punk bands, but the Incredible Kidda Band were doing something different — pure Raspberries-influenced power pop played with real conviction. "Everybody Knows" is the track that got them reissued years later when people started hunting it down. It's easy to hear why. The hooks are just tremendous.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
05
Pointed Sticks — "I'm Numb"
Vancouver in 1979 had a fascinating little scene — DOA and the Subhumans on the punk side, the Pointed Sticks on the melodic end. "I'm Numb" has this irresistible nervous energy, like a song written fast and recorded faster. It works completely. If you haven't explored the Vancouver scene from this era, this is a great place to start.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
06
The Modernettes — "Teen City"
More Vancouver! The Modernettes featured John Armstrong (Buck Cherry) on guitar and a bassist who performed under the name Mary Jo Kopechne. "Teen City" leads off their EP and it's just a blast — melodic and punchy, like the Buzzcocks decided to lean harder into the pop side. The whole EP is worth finding.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
07
The Gooses — "Just a Tailor"
Not much is known about the Gooses — private press 1977, origin uncertain. But "Just a Tailor" has this wonderful late-bubblegum feel that went slightly sideways in the best way. The melody is genuinely beautiful and the rough production just adds to the charm. This is exactly the kind of thing I love stumbling across — something small and unexpected that turns out to be completely wonderful.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
08
The Atlantics — "Television Girl"
Boston had a genuinely great scene in the late 70s and the Atlantics were one of its best bands. "Television Girl" is the kind of song that sounds immediately familiar even if you've never heard it — that's how strong the hook is. They put out a full album on MCA and it deserved way more attention than it got. Start here and then go find the rest.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
09
The Outlets — "Knock Me Down"
The Outlets came out of the same Boston scene and "Knock Me Down" was their signature — a regional hit that never made it out of New England, which is genuinely baffling because it's so good. Produced by Richie Parsons of Unnatural Axe, released on a split EP with Boys Life. Rick Barton later joined the Dropkick Murphys. This song deserved a much bigger life.
▶ Watch on YouTube -
10
The Shake Shakes — "You Can Run"
The Shake Shakes pressed this on their own Notown label in 1979 and it basically disappeared. Someone dug it up and posted it online years later and it caused a small stir among people who love this kind of thing — rightfully so. "You Can Run" is a genuinely great power pop track and I'm so glad it survived. (Bonus footnote: bassist Richard Snyder later played with Captain Beefheart's band, which has nothing to do with why this song rules, but is a great fact.)
▶ Watch on YouTube