Approved Men (Quite Like You Ep)

   Here's a sparkling example of everything right with British Powerpop, from the late 70's through the early 80's. Super catchy, well crafted songs; under produced, just enough to make them really pop. This charming record deserves to sit among any of the best Powerpop records from the era or any era for that matter.
   The amazing My Life's A Jigsaw Blog, posted this gem back in 2010. I want to thank it's curator Bruce, for being kind enough to email me info on the band to help with my post! If your not aware of his blog, you really owe it to yourself to check it out!
   Approved Men were a Guildford, UK five piece, that formed in 1979. This self released Ep appears to be their only record. Per guitarist Ross Brown, 250 copies exist. Although most copies are sleeveless, there are a few with a screen printed sleeve. You can see the sleeve, as well as a few different label variations Here. 

Line Up

Ross Brown - Lead Guitar
Charlie Rashbrooke - Lead Vocals
Colin Short - Bass
Dooley Robinson - Guitar
Herbie Williams - Drums

Self Released 1980

1. Quite Like You
2. So Sad
3. Somewhere To Run

♫♫♫►►I Couldn't See That I Was In The Wrong◄◄♫♫

The Fad ( Run On Back To You Single)

a re-post, originally posted 3-09-2011, new rips and scans, enjoy!
   The Fad were a short lived Austin, Texas three piece, that formed in 1979. This was their only record and it was self released. If interested in reading up on The Fad, The Cheap Rewards Blog did a nice piece on them a while back.

Line Up

Tom Grula - Guitar, Vocals
Bruce Henderson - Bass, Vocals
David Dage - Drums

Self Released 1979

1 Run On Back To You
2. Think

♫♫►►The Harder I Try The More That I Lie◄◄♫♫

Mammals (Look Around You Ep)

   This ones been in my queue for a while now. Mammals are a Chicago three piece with three releases to their credit, ( two 7" singles and a fairly new 7" E.p). They describe themselves as being garagey power pop, delivered with heart and soul. I agree with that assessment; although I think they lean more towards power pop. One thing I love about these guy's is a real sense of sadness that shines through their music. I purchased all three records. They wrote me a hand note, thanking me. That sort of thing is a rarity now days. I hope they come east one day; would like to catch them live!

Line Up

Dan Wendt - Drums
Crawfie Ward - Bass
Brian Demski - Guitar, Vocals

Links

Mammals
Facebook
Bandcamp

The Montycoats (You're Mistaken Single)

   The Montycoats were a Dutch four piece that were around in the early 80's.This appears to be the bands only release. I couldn't find much else. I first heard this on the great, seemingly now defunct, Sing Sing blog about ten years ago. What little info I was able to find came from there.

Line Up

Simon Dekker - Bass
Martin De Buger - Drums
Jan Betlem - Vocals, Guitar
Guus Houtzager - Lead Guitar

Polydor Records 1981

1. You're Mistaken
2. Where Are You Tonight

♫♫►►I'm Scratchin' My Head◄◄♫♫

The Hi-Fi's (Look What You've Done Single)

a re-post, originally posted 2-12-2011, new rips and scans, enjoy!
The Hi-fi's were a Toronto, 4 piece that formed around 1977 or 78. I believe this was their only single. They were approached by Ready Records with a deal; but for what ever reason, it never materialized. Eventually The Hi-fi's disbanded, and Keelor, and Cuddy went on to form the groups: Fly to France, and the one their most known for, Blue Rodeo.

Line Up

Greg Keelor - Vocals, Guitar
Jim Cuddy - Vocals, Guitar
Malcom Schell - Bass, Vocals
Jim Sublett - Drums

Show Time Records 1980

1. I Don't Know Why (You Love Me)
2. Look What You've Done

♫♫►►I'm Thinking Of You◄◄

The Joneses (Jonestown Single)

a re-post, originally posted 11-26-2009, new rips and scans, enjoy!
The Joneses were an LA four piece that were, (for the most part) around from 81-87. This was their first single, with a pressing of under 1,000 copies."Pillbox", from Someone Got Their Head Kicked In is another one of my favorite Joneses tunes. There have been a number of reincarnations, reunions and members. Looks like there's still some form of the band around.

Line Up

Jeff Drake - Vocals, Guitar
Steve Olson - Vocals, Bass
Steve Houston - Vocals, Guitar
Mitch Deaner - Drums

Links

Wikipedia
Facebook
SugarBuzz Magazine

Not On A Label 1982

1. Jonestown
2. Criminals In My Car

♫♫►►Baptise Me In The Name Of The Lord ◄◄♫♫

The Heartbeats (The Sun Won't Shine Single)

a re-post, originally posted 3-6-2011, new rips and scans, enjoy!
   The Heartbeats were five piece from Halifax, Nova Scotia. This appears to be their only record and I've never seen a picture sleeve for it. I couldn't find much about them the first time I posted this and unfortunately, nothing's changed.

Line Up

Mark MacMillan - Guitar, Vocals
Paul Smeets - Lead Vocals, Guitar
Morrow Scott-Brown - Bass
Ian O'Donnell - Drums, Vocals
Bill Donnelly - Guitar

Unity Gain Records 1984

1. The Sun Won't Shine
2. She Won't Talk

♫♫►►What More Can A Man Do◄◄♫♫

The Heartbeats (Go Single)

   The Heartbeats were an Orpington, UK three piece
that were around from 1979-80 till 1982. Their recorded output was: this single, a track "Funny Anymore" on the East Of Croydon comp and a few cassette tapes. The comp track's included with the download.

Links

Bored Teenagers

Line Up

Colin Donaldson - Bass and Vocals
Kevan Willison - Guitar and Vocals
Chris Westerman - Drums

Nothing Shaking Records 1981

1. Go
2. One Of The People
3. Funny Anymore

♫♫►►You Could Be Popular◄◄♫♫

The Heartbeats (Don't Tolerate Single)

   The Heartbeats were a Munich, Germany four piece garage outfit, that formed in 1983. They released four full lengths and two singles. Their last offering was in 2001. That said, along with the lack of info on these guys; I'm guessing they're probably gone.

Line Up

Frank Bergmann - Vocals, Guitar
Harry Vogel - Vocals, Guitar
Sebastian Pfundstein - Bass
Steve Dengler - Drums

Universe Records 1989

1. Don't Tolerate
2. I'm Walkin'

♫♫►►The Dark Of Night◄◄♫♫

The Reflectors (First Impression Lp)

Here's a great new full length from La's, The Reflectors. Loaded with more hooks than your Grandfather's tackle box; First Impression is a top notch Rock-N-Roll influenced, Powerpop barrage. It's already sold out on their Bandcamp page but you can still pick up a copy on colored vinyl over at the Burger Records Site. I wouldn't waste much time though, it says they only have 50 left!!

Contacts

Bandcamp
Facebook

Lemonheads (Laughing All The Way To The Cleaners Ep)

   The Lemonheads, (originally called The Welps) were a Boston three piece that formed in 1986. This, their first record was self recorded and released the same year. Although I do enjoy some of their later releases; this and Hate Your Friends are my favorites. It looks like there's some form of the band still active. As you might imagine, there's tons of info out there. I posted a few links below to get you started, if interested.

Line Up

Evan Dando - Guitar, Drums, Vocal
Ben Deily - Drums, Guitar, Vocal
Jesse Peretz - Bass, Tunas

Info

Wikipedia
Lemonheads.net
Facebook

Amory Arms / Huh - Bag Records 1986

1. Glad I Don't Know
2. I Like To
3. I Am A Rabbit
4. So I Fucked Up...

♫♫♫...I Said I Was Sorry...♫♫♫