PowerPopSquare

As reported today, Will Owsley passed away on April 30, 2010. It's sad to hear. R.I.P. Will. We will miss you. I normally don't post official material, but if you don't know him, you should listen to the little compilation I did of this great musician who died too early: RIP Will Owsley

While listening to Rooney - a band formed in Los Angeles in 1999 - you will rediscover a lot of Jellyfish or The Beatles sound. Discography: 2003 Rooney 2007 Calling the World 2009 Wild One EP 2010 Eureka Listen to their last EP - Wild One You can order the new album "Eureka" (incl. autographed CD + T-Shirt) here: http://rooney.hasawebstore.com/

Will Owsley - or Owsley - an american songwriter & producer released two CDs in 2000 und 2004, both have written powerpop all over: Owsley - listen @ amazon.com The Hard Way - listen @ amazon.com Sadly he stopped with his own music career and is now supporting other artists like Amy Grant. Here's a little something to cheer those up who hoped for new material (like me) - a recording of a live performance from 1999: Owsley - Live (1999)

Last week (while expecting our baby any day...) there was an internet-stream of a Bleu gig. You still can watch it here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bleu-is-live For all who haven't got the chance to see Bleu live (like me from Germany), I converted & cut the concert into a live album - here it is: Bleu - Live 2010 @ Ustream

Another fav of mine: William James McAuley III, or short Bleu , is an american songwriter and musician. Besides his solo work (he has released three CDs: Headroom, Redhead and A Watched Pot) there are collaborations with Mike Viola (ELO, The Major Labels). Bleu - No Such Thing As Love Bleu - Come 'n' Go A Watched Pot - Listen & buy at amazon.com Official Website Listen to new songs from his upcoming CD FOUR (Ya Catch More Flies With Honey Than Vinegar, How Blue!)

Eduard Khil is now 75 and has become a star - 30 years after his actual performance. The Russian sang a song without words (because of soviet censorship). Now he has a hundred thousand of fans, a bunch of remixes and an iphone app: Trololo! And here's the remix! Listen!

There are so many awesome artists - I will start with my current favorite: Mike Viola. Most people will know him by the soundtrack for the movie "That Thing You Do" and the song of the same title. What you SHOULD know about him (besides this great song) is his music as The Candy Butchers , his collaborations with another fav of mine - Bleu - in bands like LEO and The Major Labels , as well es his solo stuff. I suggest you start with Mike Viola - Hair Of The Dog (Live) Mike Viola - Official Site

Where to start? Some years ago, while I started to discover new musicians and bands by this new thing named ... internet, I found a lot of similar music I could not sort by a genre. The songs where very melodic, pop-like and beatlesesque but anyhow different. Years later I learned the genre was named PowerPop. So, for everyone who is into this music and especially for those who still are not - I created this blog. I will talk about my favorite artists like Mike Viola, Bleu, Owsley, Ben Folds (Five), The Nines, Ben Kweller, Jason Falkner, Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time, Brendan Benson, David Mead, Jim Boggia, Nik Kershaw and more. And I will post rare stuff by these artists (and I hope that's okay for them), but no official released songs or albums.