V/A - Powerpoppers Vol. 1 LP 

Label: On The Run Records (Unofficial); Year: 2001; Format: Vinyl LP

I've always had a hard time warming up to the Powerpop genre, maybe because I always thought that there was just too many one hit wonders and not much more to it. But those one hit wonders can truly be hits and this bootleg LP has quite a few brilliant tracks. First off though let me tell you though that the person behind this boot never made it to Vol. 2 so this remains to be the only one in this "series". Fourteen tracks from the late '70s and early '80s are to be found on this platter and while three to four of them are lame and weak the rest of them are good if not outstanding. To me the track that stands out the most is Toutes Les Nuits by all female French band Les Calamites. Said track was originally released on a single on New Rose Records. On the punkier side of Powerpop on this Compilation are The Donkeys with What I want and The Clerks with No good for me. The Donkeys material has been compiled on Detour Records and might very well be checking out while The Clerks hailed from Birmingham and it just might be one of those one offs but above mentioned track is a truly great Punk Pop smasher. Definitely worth mentioning are The Boys from Australia, yes not the much better known band from the UK. Hurt me babe is a truly great Powerpop hit and I wonder if the rest of their material is as strong. Some of the tracks to be found on here are major record releases, such as Keep in Touch by Low Numbers produced by Jimmy Pursey of Sham 69 fame. All in all this is an enjoyable compilation if you can find it cheap sitting around collecting dust in a record store. Whether you like your Powerpop on the punkier side or more on the Mod side you'll find stuff on here you will dig.