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January 9, 2013

Sobsequy

Baseball, Power Pop, and Playing Against the Limits

by Adam Sobsey

Across the nation every sports bar turns the pregame on
And every regular is sneering like we don’t belong
No it’s not true I played a lot of baseball in my younger days
One day the diamonds were all gone.
--Game Theory, “You Drive” (1987)

Compulsive formalists can't fabricate meaning--by which I mean nothing deeper than extrinsic interest--without a frame.
--Robert Christgau, from a review of XTC’s Oranges & Lemons (1989)

January. Unless the fortunes of Kyle Lohse or the Hall of Fame bid of Alan Trammell have you riveted to the screen—fair enough—it’s time to let baseball breathe a little. Change the reels. Give it a soundtrack.

About two and a half years ago, I was reading through the transcript of a BP chat with erstwhile Editor-in-Chief Steven Goldman. Late in the chat, more or less out of nowhere, came this question:

casey (cal): your favorite beatles copycat/rip-off band is?

Goldman’s response:

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14 comments have been left for this article.

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Sammy30

(67833)

There is no reference to the great power pop band the Replacements. They were one of the only reasons to go into a record store in the mid 80"s. They also named a song "Alex Chilton."
I find your thesis interesting though. I think you can go both ways on this, both the power pop/ formalist vs the baseball americana.

Jan 09, 2013 09:15 AM

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rating: 7

Adam Sobsey

BP staff

(62996)

The 'Mats -- just ran out of room for them. "Unsatisfied"!

Jan 09, 2013 18:53 PM

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jfranco77

(64578)

awesome article. and a good list of recommendations for my spotify playlists :)

Jan 09, 2013 09:15 AM

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rating: 1

outdoorminer

(3621)

Holy cow, a Baseball Prospectus article that leads with a Game Theory lyrical quote. I think my head just exploded. Never have my particular tastes so come together in one package before.

Adam, I think you could find a home with us Scott Miller fans on Facebook or Google Plus (the former being far more active of course), or at the old-school e-mail list at loud-fans@smoe.org. Most of the best friends I've made as an adult have come from amongst those folks. Join us. Join us.

Jan 09, 2013 09:24 AM

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rating: 1

tmangell

(33575)

Good article (especially enjoyed the XTC reference), but I think you became too esoteric and got bogged down in your comparison. Did enjoy
comparing baseball to other mainstream culture sports, though.

Also, maybe because I'm cranky, but are we obligated to use tweets as definitive thoughts on any subject? Not familiar with this woman - is she a rock critic?

Jan 09, 2013 10:12 AM

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rating: 1

Adam Sobsey

BP staff

(62996)

No, I just thought the tweet was funny.

Jan 09, 2013 18:53 PM

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tmangell

(33575)

OK thanks for the response. Second the comment on the Replacements; keeping fingers crossed they reunite and tour in 2013.

Jan 10, 2013 15:25 PM

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Brnstrm1001

(4962)

Great column, Adam, pinpointing a connection I never thought of after decades of appreciating both "genres." This seems like a good place to test-drive a "5 All-Time Best Power Pop Songs" list, which I propose should go something like this:

In no particular order:

September Gurls/Big Star: as great as much of their other material is, this is the head-and-shoulders-above standout.

Couldn't I Just Tell You/Todd Rundgren: Unfortunately close to an anomaly for Todd, but irresistible.

A Million Miles Away/Plimsouls: Even more irresistible.

Baby Blue/Badfinger: Not necessarily their definitive moment, but certainly their most spectacular.

Tonight/Raspberries: I tend to wobble on the fifth slot, but today lean toward this to underscore the need in the genre for songs that put the power into pop.

Jan 09, 2013 16:48 PM

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Adam Sobsey

BP staff

(62996)

Thanks -- And as for this 5-spot: No argument from me, although there are probably dozens of top-fives I wouldn't argue with. All of the above are great songs. One can quibble about the "best" Big Star song for eons, but September Gurls is up there. I lean toward Back of A Car, very slightly. And Daisy Glaze is the most hypnotic.

If Todd wasn't so easily bored -- i.e. if he didn't basically abandon an approach as soon as he felt he'd mastered it (which took about two tries per genre) -- I think he could have made two or three albums' worth of great power pop. As it was, he was always onto the next before anyone could catch up with him.

Jan 09, 2013 18:52 PM

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NoHRTyner

(1105)

Loved this article but I kept looking for a Nick Lowe and/or Rockpile mention.

Jan 09, 2013 22:10 PM

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rating: 2

Adam Sobsey

BP staff

(62996)

I kept having to admonish myself that this was a baseball article and keep the name-checks in check. "She was a winner / Who became a doggie's dinner / She never meant that much to me / Poor Marie."

Jan 10, 2013 19:25 PM

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Ben Lindbergh

BP staff

(37618)

The only solution to this problem is to start Power Pop Prospectus.

Jan 11, 2013 16:39 PM

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brucegilsen

(999)

I'm looking forward to HARV: Hooks Above Replacement Value.

Jan 12, 2013 20:23 PM

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mrflak

(30258)

I remember reading about "Kon Tiki" YEARS ago and had a couple tracks downloaded (Audiogalaxy!)--had "Camp Hill Operator Woman" in my head intermittently through the last ten+ years. Luckily these fine days of Spotify has given me full access. Thanks for helping bringing back some great tunes to memory!

Jan 10, 2013 12:33 PM

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rating: 0

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