Not Near Enough

Powerpop fans have lost an icon today. Not Lame Recordings is officially closing up shop on November 24. Not Lame released many albums by powerpopsters and sold many other albums that would appeal to similarly-minded folks like us. The highlights for me have to be the box sets for Jellyfish and The Posies - both classics from classic artists. Not Lame always felt like a makeshift community in a way; like we had secret insight into the powerpop world thanks to Not Lame guru Bruce Brodeen. Bruce knows his powerpop and was always responsive whenever I'd email him - talk about incredible customer service. But in a post-Napster world, the model simply didn't work anymore. Bruce promises to stay involved in music and encourages us to sign up for Rock and Roll Tribe, a social network he created with a partner earlier this year, and the upcoming Pop Geek Heaven, which seems to hold some promise for those of us feeling a void where Not Lame once held its place. Sign up at those sites to learn more.

Not Lame was indeed never lame. We'll miss it and wish Bruce the best of luck.

We'd All Love to See the Plan

Earlier this week Bruce, the Not Lame guy, sent out a cryptic message about the future of his passion project.

So let me cycle back to the beginning of this message. In 2010, some big events coming from me. Huge, in fact. One of them, transformational for many thousands of music fans far beyond this Not Lame world(but you will be the first to know). Quote me. Haunt me with that boldness, I'm game. I'm a fighter and I love a challenge. At the least, I've got skin in the game of my life and pushing to new challenges always. But changes are.....afoot and well under way. Not easy ones but necessary....and still awesome, exciting ones. Keep on supporting what Not Lame is doing *now* and in the coming months. Why? Because....it matters.

No idea what any of this means. I've always been impressed by how Not Lame somehow keeps afloat, but something's obviously going on. Hope it's all good news.

Go

Not Lame is offering a special deal with the purchase of Bleu's new album A Watched Pot:

[R]eceive a super cool, exclusive 3 song CD-R EP that contains the following songs:

1. Go (Acoustic)
2. Come N Go (Acoustic)
3. The Blame Game (A Watched Pot B-Side)

THIS IS A LIMITED OFFER and only good until August 15, 2009. You will, also, receive an another exclusive. An MP3 audio of an interview I am going to be doing with Sir Bleu next week.

Nice. Not Lame Guy Bruce Brodeen is soliciting questions from you for the interview. Just email him here ASAP.

Check out samples and pre-order right here from Not Lame. If he's not careful, he's going to have to change the name to Way Not Lame.

Perfect

I should do a count of how many times I've said something like this on Too Poppy: "Not Lame does it again!"

In its undying quest to put cool music in our hands, Bruce and the rest of the Not Lame team have compiled 22 choice tracks from their top picks for a free download! Bryan Scary! Brandon Wilde! P. Hux! Michael Carpenter! Andy Bopp (of Myracle Brah)! And more.

Get the full track list and the links to download each track here. For the sake of convenience, I've zipped the whole compilation as well, which you can download here.

Happy popping and thanks Not Lame!

Look to the Heavens

The Not Lame blog continues to rave on and on about Bryan Scary. The latest is an interview with Scary.

Note: the new album Flight of the Knife, which Not Lame deemed a "good ear worm," is now available for purchase. To buy from the source of such praise, go here. To download from iTunes, go here. To read my meandering thoughts on his first album, go here. To download a delicious tune from the album, see below!

MP3: Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears - The Zero Light (via Spinner)

Maybe You Think I'm Lucky

Our favorite pop-centric online record store is giving away music today! Over at the Not Lame blog, you can freely download the aptly-named NOT LAME BLOG Soundtrack, Vol. One, complete with 15 nuggets of power-pop goodness. Bleu, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Myracle Brah, need I say more? No, I don't. Those three are good enough for me, but I'm sure I'll enjoy at least another ten of them.

For the full tracklist, head on over.

I've made it a bit more convenient for you Not Lame lovers by zipping all the files. I hope they don't mind.

MP3s: NOT LAME BLOG Soundtrack, Vol. One (zip file, tracks via Not Lame Blog)

In Their Quest For Buried Treasure

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. announces an all new album on 19 March 2008. Curiously named "Catnip Dynamite", it will only be released in Japan. Roger finds himself without a label in the United States and is looking for suggestions. I suggested NotLame of course!

And Yet I Ache to Feel the Flame

Not Lame has a blog.

Very Highly Recommended!!

I'm On My Way

Not Lame continues living up to its name by offering the new self-titled Wisely album nearly a month before it's released!

BRAND NEW 2008 release!! IN STOCK AND SHIPPING NOW!! Due for release on January 15th, but we have it early for you all to ship right here in the present

And, in your best Popeil voice, "but wait, there's more"...

orders until January 15th, 2008 will ship with a 2-song CD-R (no download link!) of two unreleased songs from Willie, exclusive to Not Lame. They are: "Automaton" (unreleased). NOTE FROM WILLIE: "Pardon me if it sounds like I'm "Goin' Mobile" from The Who." "Complicated Friend" (written for the Turbosherbet album in 1997) NOTE FROM WILLIE: "I rewrote some lyrics , shortened it. Always thought this song shoulda gotten more love from people - maybe now with this new clarity."

Happy happy, y'all.

Buy here.

Previously...

Why don't you, wake me, shake me

We've mentioned NotLame on here time and time again, so why stop now? NotLame has released a book focused entirely on Power Pop, Shake Some Action. The book is jam-packed with Power Pop goodness. A definitive history of the genre from the early 70's to today, interviews with artists and rare photographs are just a sampling. There's also a 24 track CD loaded with rareties. But it's only available for a limited time so act now. Might be a good gift for the power pop fan in your life. Or blog (hint hint).

Good Music for Good People

Feeling adventurous? In a characteristically generous move, Not Lame has made 22 not lame tunes available for free download. You are bound to find at least a few gems in here that you've never heard.

Going Numb

SXSW is overwhelming. It's a dream to someday go to Austin and submerge myself in the countless awesome shows, but until then, I have to try to dissect all the reports I read. This year, Not Lame is making it a bit easier by releasing a free album via download of their highlights at this year's SXSW. The album will only be posted for a few days, so get it now.

Here's the tracklist:
1. "Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer)" The Young Knives
2. "Dullsville" The Novaks
3. "Better Than This" Jeff Finlin
4. "Going Numb" Tin Cup Prophette
5. "Eyes Have Spoken" Sproll
6. "Basis Of Everything" Delorentos
7. "Houses " Estates
8. "Artists Are Boring" Kingdom Flying Club
9. The Rumble Strips on WOXY
10." Medicine Man" Y O U

Waiting for a Knock on the Door

Crap! Not Lame has another spot-on recommendation. Mike Ruekberg, formerly of Rex Daisy, has released a compilation album of sorts called Acrimony and Cheese.

Via arrangements that employ seductive rhythms,keys, strings, tasty guitar lines and subtle rhythms abetted by classic-pop styled vocal harmonies, Ruekberg creates an immediate, striking and seriously awesome treasure steeped in introspection and obsession with perfection. The results speak for themselves. Truly kaleidoscopic pop experience that refreshes the pure pop soul.

From what I've heard so far, I'd have to agree. I hear a lot of Crowded House, Michael Penn, and Jon Brion in this. Very cool. Buy it from Not Lame and get plenty of cool extras. Listen to the album here.

Ruekberg is also involved in The Red Button, a band that hits the British Invasion sound hot and heavy. This has plenty of potential too! Buy it at iTunes.