HAIM goes above the rim with a slam dunk of pure pop perfection:
Post ‘em if ya got ‘em, Agonistas (Oh, and an extra jam-packed Around the Internets is a-comin’ — mea culpa for somehow letting Friday’s edition slip away from me…)
Editor in Chief: Michael Collins
Editorial Team
nymole, Raja, Numerian, Lex, Actor212, Graham, steeleweed
Contributing Authors
Brian Downing, Jillian, Cliff Schecter, Nat Wilson Turner, Don Henry Ford, Jr., Jack Cluth,
Rook
Three gorgeous Irish sisters, great pop music and a gratuitous Matt Damon cameo at 3.20. What’s not to like?
There’s a lot not to like – manufactured femininity. Patriarchy compliant – women must wear skimpy clothes while singing.
Are you afraid of real, natural women, alpha macho man?
LOL, obviously you’ve not met my wonderful, beautiful, wise and strong wife.
(sigh) back to the ’80′s pop “girl groups”
when the Pointer sisters in their ’40′s dresses made fun of all sex stereotypes but had everybody up and jumping
When I saw them live, back in the seventies, they were four. Amazin’ ladies, then and now.
I am not as hip as Matt, as he seems to know just a ton of new bands, but here is one of my favorite girl bands, doing a great Prince song:
The incredibly sexy Susanna Hoffs, leading The Bangles through Manic Monday. [By the way, Steve beat me to The Corrs - nice touch....]
The perception that Hoffs “lead” the Bangles is partly what led to the eventual dissolution of the group. There was never (supposed to be) a frontperson; all 4 members sang lead on various tracks and, at least initially, operated as an equal collective (until success and the conventions of the corporate recording industry invaded).
This live Big Star cover (also featured on Different Light) featuring bassist Michael Steele (ex-Runaways) on lead vocals is my all-time fave tune from the former Bangs:
…and here’s one featuring drummer (and co-founder) Debbie Peterson on lead vocals:
The original version by Katrina and the Waves — written by guitarist and former Soft Boys member Kimberly Rew — is also worth checking out:
What’s ultimately more noteworthy — a top-ten smash hit single:
Or winning mother-luvvin’ Eurovision (mother-luvvers)?
Matt – you’ll note that I only said Hoffs lead the group through that particular song. If you thought I said Hoffs was the “leader” of the band, you misread my post. I love the jangly, unmistakeable Rickenbacker guitar work on September Gurls, by the way.
When I grow up I want to be Robyn:
Meanwhile, in the garage…
All hail Canuckistan’s finest:
Warm & sweet like mint hot chocolate:
Not really what I’d call “pop” in any sense of the word (except perhaps the very broadest) but this sumptuous track from Toronto singer-songwriter L CON is irresistibly epic, brimming with atmospheric, wide-screen expansiveness:
Lest anyone erroneously conclude that this is a gendered theme (“pop” being paramount — if deliciously and deliberately subjective):
I may have posted this one before, but it’s well worth a second (or third, or forth, or…) view:
One of my fav singles of 2012, bar none.
not pop-pop, and undoubtedly posted before-
but I use Dave Brubeck (Take Five) to clear away the Saturday late afternoon winter foggies
RIP Dave.
Legendary Jazz Musician Dave Brubeck Dies