Power Pop

Emerging as the post-Beatles pop of the early 1970s, Power Pop is driven by infectious melodies and strong, bright guitars. Its archetypal artists include Big Star, Badfinger, and the Raspberries, although none of them knew it at the time. In the late '70s and early '80s, bands like Cheap Trick, the Knack and the Plimsouls -- whose amazing single "A Million Miles Away" brightened the Valley Girl soundtrack -- wore skinny ties and had a handful of hits before fading quickly from the mainstream. But the Power Pop tradition continued in the '90s with acts like Teenage Fanclub, Matthew Sweet, and the Posies, as well as a host of cult favorites. The impact of Power Pop can be felt especially on the regional bar band circuit, where armies of up-and-comers pay inadvertent homage to these masters of the 3 1/2-minute pop song.