A whole lot news to report this week so let’s run through it all in rapid-fire manner!  Follow the links for more details, as always.

TWO MUSIC RELATED GOOD-BYES THIS WEEK:

LOSS OF A POWER POP TALENT – Moogy Klingman from Utopia and Todd Rundgren has died, sadly.  More info – Here and  Here

Very Sadly, Doyle Bramhall passed away this past week – Info at this link

Great Article and Review on The Beach Boys’ “Smile” – Here

David Bash, Founder of the International Pop Overthrow festival and PGH contributor has a really great, informative Facebook page – friend him and enjoy a constant stream of unusual finds that will make the pop geek smile – FB David here

The dB’s are back! A new album is coming – and check out a new song and video – Here

THE MOCKERS – gather up some free music courtesy of the band and the excellent Power Pop Criminals blog – from their rare EP, “Smells Like Spain” – download HERE

Power Pop Fves THE JELLYBRICKS are back on the radar – a new EP is coming – Check It Out HERE

Nice Find – a band too few are aware of – TOM FULLER BAND – Here

Fun Diversion – “The 10 Heaviest Albums Of All Time – Here

CHERRY TWISTER & STEVE WARD Return?  Well, it appears he may be returning and doing some live dates…can’t confirm this but I’ve now heard this mentioned by three people in the last 10 days – Stay tuned.

THE MONKEES – Geek Obession?  Will Harris thinks so.  Fun article at AV CLUB by Harris – Here

Power Pop Superstar(well, to me he is..) – Greg Pop not only has a new album out, he has a new MOVIE out – Check out the details at this link

THIS is SO funny and SO true – Bands: Never take band photos by train tracks – find out why when you go to this link

THE DEATH OF MUSIC RETAIL – Or Its Next Evolutionary Step – Legendary music retail chaing Newbury Comics looks to their customers for a path to take – excellent article HERE

I want to make sure you are aware of two cool power pop related power pop pocastss, both hosted by Well Wishers frontman, Jeff Shelton. THE POWER POP SHOW – Here  and  Her

COOL NEW POWER POP BAND I Just “Discovered” – The Wandas – Check ’em out at this link

PETE TOWNSHEND Talks About John Peel – Full text of his speech a few weeks ago is HER

BUTCH WALKER – I’ve mentioned his new book, “Drinking With Sttrangers” a few weeks back – here’s a related article on his music business experiences at The Hollywood Reporter – check it at this link

THERE OUGHT TO BE A LAW – Okay, this is worth of an extended article in and of itself – the bastardization an dmis-application of the term ‘power pop’ to music that is not even remotely in harmonic(sic) convergence with the genre.  I came across this artist on CDBaby this past week who describes her music as ‘power pop’.  Be forewarned – the music at this link is going to yield a combination of seething, wretching and laughing.