Ridiculously over-productive, stupidly catchy and archly clever, Swansea's Pooh Sticks were one of the indie scene's greatest mirror images, a reflection of itself and, as the All Music Guide called them, "rock's most inside joke".
Formed in late 1987 by Huw Williams (the son of ex-Man and Dire Straits drummer Terry Williams), it was almost as if The Pooh Sticks were a reaction against the studied misanthropy of The Smiths and their depressing ilk. They brought jangly bubblegum pop to the indie party, plus uncomplicated three-chord punk and a certain cutesy girlishness.
Debut single On Tape poked good-humoured fun at indieboy-fandom, released on the Fierce Records imprint (run by their own manager, but with a reputation in the indie leftfield second to none with such notorious releases as a recording of Jesus And Mary Chain's North London Polytechnic crowd bust-up from 1986, and a recording of various interviews and random noises from the Stone Roses' Spike Island show in 1990).
Fierce, in keeping with its tradition of bizarre publicity stunts, in 1988 released the box set of one-sided 7" singles featuring the infamous I Know Someone Who Knows Someone Who Knows Alan McGee Quite Well track.
These tracks ended up on their first, self-titled LP, around which they toured the UK. They slotted into an indie framework in which The Beach Boys were held in as much esteem as Sonic Youth and this nod towards Americana saw them tour the States in 1990.
A slew of albums, singles and collections were released on a number of labels, but they always made friends in good places: they had a relationship with top US indie Sympathy For The Record Industry for instance.
The Great White Wonder LP in 1991 was expansive and inventive, bringing together all sorts of genres from 70s AOR to punk. Times were tough, though, and although they appealed to late-night Radio 1, most of the world was choosing between The Stone Roses or Nirvana. Although they shared influences with both, The Pooh Sticks didn't share the success.
1993's ironically-titled LP Million Seller and 1995's sign-off Optimistic Fool, were both critically-acclaimed by those in the know, but most commentators agree with the benefit of hindsight that The Pooh Sticks were perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Their legacy, however, is a series of great pop records that are, as The Rough Guide To Rock puts it, "to be reassessed as... overlooked gem[s] sometime in the [21st] century." (BBC Wales)
How are you doing? Japan is hot and terrible humid season still now.
Today, I'd like to introduce my favorite Swedish indie artist "Peace in Our Time". Peace In Our Time is running on by a Swedish singer / songwriter "Johan Regner". His new full length album "A Glimpse Of Happiness" has been released by US indiepop CD-R label "Series Two Records".
The album has wonderful heartwarming acoustic sound and funny electronica popbeats tunes. As soon as you listen to the album title song "A Glimpse Of Happiness", you will fall in love with his tunes. But first of all, you need to listen to his 4 songs on his MySpace page. Because the album is including the 4 songs. Maybe, if you listen to the 4 songs, you will want to listen to more his songs.
His gentle singing voice wraps you soft. His beautiful melody makes your heart warm. His funny electronica popbeats give you tiny pop feelings. And when we listen to the album can share love of music with him. It's just "Peace In Our Time" !!!
I think we are happy. We can listen and enjoy his songs.
Thank you for joining HIROHO music friend group!! First of all,please please introduce yourself by short message in topic of "Hello friends" if you joined with this group, please. And check "all" groupmembers page out. If you will do it, you can find more wonderful groupfriends!! The group members are really music lovers!! I wish we keep on sharing wonderful music friendships!!
And then if you have new information, please write in it at a topic which I made.
HIROHO music friend wants more groupfriends! Please invite your woderful musicfriends to the group!!
Thanks for adding me to your friends!! I love your sounds!! Your rock sounds are making me happy-pop smiles!! I'm so glad to be your friend! So I want to invite you to my MySpacefriends group. Can you join my group "HIROHO music friends"? Do you have any informations or news? If you join to the group, please post it at the group Forum please!! And then we can share the informations or news of group members!!
Ridiculously over-productive, stupidly catchy and archly clever, Swansea's Pooh Sticks were one of the indie scene's greatest mirror images, a reflection of itself and, as the All Music Guide called them, "rock's most inside joke".
Formed in late 1987 by Huw Williams (the son of ex-Man and Dire Straits drummer Terry Williams), it was almost as if The Pooh Sticks were a reaction against the studied misanthropy of The Smiths and their depressing ilk. They brought jangly bubblegum pop to the indie party, plus uncomplicated three-chord punk and a certain cutesy girlishness.
Debut single On Tape poked good-humoured fun at indieboy-fandom, released on the Fierce Records imprint (run by their own manager, but with a reputation in the indie leftfield second to none with such notorious releases as a recording of Jesus And Mary Chain's North London Polytechnic crowd bust-up from 1986, and a recording of various interviews and random noises from the Stone Roses' Spike Island show in 1990).
Fierce, in keeping with its tradition of bizarre publicity stunts, in 1988 released the box set of one-sided 7" singles featuring the infamous I Know Someone Who Knows Someone Who Knows Alan McGee Quite Well track.
These tracks ended up on their first, self-titled LP, around which they toured the UK. They slotted into an indie framework in which The Beach Boys were held in as much esteem as Sonic Youth and this nod towards Americana saw them tour the States in 1990.
A slew of albums, singles and collections were released on a number of labels, but they always made friends in good places: they had a relationship with top US indie Sympathy For The Record Industry for instance.
The Great White Wonder LP in 1991 was expansive and inventive, bringing together all sorts of genres from 70s AOR to punk. Times were tough, though, and although they appealed to late-night Radio 1, most of the world was choosing between The Stone Roses or Nirvana. Although they shared influences with both, The Pooh Sticks didn't share the success.
1993's ironically-titled LP Million Seller and 1995's sign-off Optimistic Fool, were both critically-acclaimed by those in the know, but most commentators agree with the benefit of hindsight that The Pooh Sticks were perpetually in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Their legacy, however, is a series of great pop records that are, as The Rough Guide To Rock puts it, "to be reassessed as... overlooked gem[s] sometime in the [21st] century." (BBC Wales)
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