Thursday 26 November 2009

The Return of Pop Music

Pop music is a music genre that developed from the mid-1950s as a softer alternative to rock 'n' roll and later to rock music. It has a focus on commercial recording, often orientated towards a youth market, usually through the medium of relatively short and simple love songs. While these basic elements of the genre have remained fairly constant, pop music has absorbed influences from most other forms of popular music, particularly borrowing from the development of rock music, and utilizing key technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.

Does this sound like it describes 99% of the 'music' that your ears are subject to these days on the radio?

Well this all might be about to change thanks to a small up rising of bands who truly are 'pop' and are doing the term and genre justice.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart
http://www.myspace.com/thepainsofbeingpureatheart

Hailing from New York, this outfit are 'pop' but remain raw with the hook of each song differing showcasing each band members musical talents whether it is Peggy Wang-East's keyboard and complimentary harmonising vocals behind Kip Bermans vocals and shoe gaze-esque guitar riffs that are none more so evident than on 'Young Adult Friction'. Some choruses even boldly touch the mildly anthemic sound and feel totally comfortable doing so notably on 'Come Saturday'. Pains bring glistening melodies with an undercurrent of despairing and sometimes sombre tones.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Come Saturday

exlovers
http://www.myspace.com/weareexlovers

Perhaps Britains closest counterpart to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart having released singles through Chess Club records and Young & Lost, exlovers might just be the finest the British shores have to offer in terms of 'pop' music. Dreamy vocals and snappy hooks all contribute to the brilliant innocent, shy and coy indie sound that is exlovers.

exlovers - Just a Silhouette

The Drums
http://www.myspace.com/thedrumsforever

Back over to New York for what is the unexpected welcome return of a yester year mid 90's genre of surf pop. A genre that wasn't really ever due for a come back for understandable reasons has been done excellently by The Drums. Contagious and energetic pop numbers such as 'I Felt Stupid' have secured this band a slot on the forthcoming NME tour for 2010. It's easy to see why this band are bound for a blitzkrieg on the pop charts over the next 12 months.

The Drums - I Felt Stupid

Help Stamp Out Loneliness
http://www.myspace.com/helpstampoutloneliness

Rising from the ashes of the twee outfit 'Language of Flowers', think The Passions - In Love with a German Film Star meets Au Pairs - It's Obvious and you have the excellent Help Stamp Out Loneliness. Their modern day unique sound is a delightful and most welcome addition to music. You would be hard to pushed to find better vocals than this.

Help Stamp Out Loneliness - I'm on Fire

Standard Fare
http://www.myspace.com/standardfare

This Sheffield trio are all about honest pop music with jangly guitars under Emma Kupa’s unusual, gorgeous and simultaneously sad but danceable vocals. This is best heard on single 'Dancing' released on Thee SPC records earlier in the year. Citing a range of influences from Blondie to Fleetwood Mac and in modern day reference could be likened to Sky Larkin, the arrival of there album penned for early in 2010 is a very exciting prospect.

Standard Fare - Dancing