PEZBAND
COVER TO COVER (REMIXED)
(Jem Records)
4.5.19
Power Pop.
Before social media, Power Pop
was a genre that wasn’t always spoken about by the media but was certainly
beloved by music fans. The ‘Power’ was created by guitars and the ‘Pop’ was nestled
in the harmony-laden melodies. From Buddy
Holly to The Beatles, The Raspberries to Shoes, Power Pop has always existed in some form during the Rock
era but wasn’t given a proper classification until the late ‘70s. In fact, some
folks have been listening to Power Pop for years without knowing that the bands
in question were often classified as Power Pop (Badfinger, Squeeze, etc.). However, since the dawn of social media,
Power Pop has been under attack by artists, the media, and fans of the genre
itself. Instead of just enjoying the music, social media has opened up the
floodgates and allowed trolls to change the direction of the conversation. Now,
everyone is an expert and everyone else is wrong. Yes, even fans of the genre
fight amongst themselves! A word to the wise guy: this isn’t politics, it’s Pop
Music.
Let’s set aside all of the
infighting and focus on the music again. In fact, let’s turn the clocks back 40
years and rediscover a classic album that defines the term Power Pop. And when
I say ‘rediscover,’ I mean that literally because Pezband’s 1979 album COVER TO COVER has been remixed and
brought back to life thanks to Jem
Records. If anyone wants to know what Power Pop was – and is – all about
need to look no further than this classic slice of Rock ‘n’ Roll history. COVER
TO COVER was the third album from the Oak Park, Illinois-based quartet. Originally released by Passport Records, the album followed up the band’s beloved first
two albums (1977’s PEZBAND and 1978’s LAUGHING IN THE DARK) and was
expected to be the album that would push them to the next level. Sadly, it
ended up being their final full-length album and the band went on a
decades-long hiatus a few years later.
COVER
TO COVER, despite its original tinny mix, was filled to the brim with
wonderfully crafted melodic Pop songs that recalled beloved artists like The
Beatles and especially The Raspberries. Working outside the restrictions
of the major label machine, Pezband was able to create some of the most
spirited melodic guitar Pop of the late ‘70s. The band personified all that is
great about Power Pop: melodic Rock ‘n’ Roll with plenty of heart. There’s a
reason that Pezband is now referred to as legends, trailblazers and icons. COVER
TO COVER had a lot to do with solidifying their place in Power Pop
history. Now, it is reborn with a dynamic new remix that takes the album to new
heights. With more crunch, more sweat, and way more POWER, this is POP at its
best! Songs like “Back In The Middle,” “Full Power,” “Stella Blue,” “Make Me
Happy,” and “Meika” jump out of your speakers and pummel your senses… with love.
Even with more thrust, “Didn’t We” sounds even more tender than ever before
(not to mention the ‘acoustic’ version added as a bonus track, which sounds
more Badfinger-esque than the regular version). While the initial release was
pretty damn impressive, this remix adds a few extra layers of emotion and makes
it pretty damn essential. This release reminds us that the band was/is just as
vital as contemporaries like The Beat,
20/20, The Plimsouls, The Flashcubes, and Fools Face. It is time to rediscover the majesty of COVER
TO COVER!
Keep on truckin',
Stephen SPAZ Schnee
Keep on truckin',
Stephen SPAZ Schnee
3 comments:
Thanks, glad you like the remix. It took me hundreds of hours to get those tracks (the basics of which were recorded in a house in LaGrange, IL) to sound like a modern, powerful record.
And it does! It really sounds stunning! Nice job.
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