Yellow Pills

The Yellow Pills: Prefill [Numerogroup 004] compilation has been on my 'to buy' list for a while with the only thing holding me back being the price that hovers around the $35.00+ mark. Long story short, I won the 50/50 draw at work so I would like to thank my co-workers for their help in expanding my music collection.

Jordan Oakes compiled this double disc set of obscure power pop recorded (primarily) between 1978 - 1982 and it's a great collection that plays like a mixtape from a friend. Not every track is a winner of course, but the parade of breezy jangly pop and snappy vocal harmonies makes for a very enjoyable listen. Standouts (for me) include the Toms' "Sun" and the Tweed's homage to buying vinyl "I Need That Record" as well as the tracks by LMNOP, Speedies and the Shoes, the latter being probably the best known act on the collection. Special mention should be made regarding the first rate packaging from Numerogroup with excellent liner notes and documentation, something I've come to expect after buying the label's Grand Bahama Goombay set.

I have to admit that I'm a recent convert to power pop. Sure I remember the white shirts and skinny tie bands of the New Wave era and I liked some of the music well enough at the time, but it was always a minor interest at best. A few years ago I finally took the plunge and bought Big Star's #1 Record and Radio City and slightly later, The Raspberries Capitol Collectors Series disc [CDP-592126]. Both have been steady residents of the CD player, at home and in the car. Now that I think of it, power pop sounds best while driving. Try it, you'll agree with me.