Episode 32 of the ObviousPopCast is here!

We take a look back at the top songs of the year including Quiet Company, Fountains of Wayne, Fun. and other surprises!. Listen to the best songs of 2011 all in one high quality MP3 show! Release the confetti! We have narrowed down the best songs of the year and here they are, all in one show. You can stream or download it right now as a high quality MP3, and it's free!

To stream it now click play:

Download it now: ObviousPopCast Episode 32

(If you use the link to download it to iTunes, it may go into your podcast folder or possibly be listed in the main music library under the title: ObviousPop or the artist name: Dr. Tony Shore.)

THE EPISODE 32 TRACK LISTING COMING SOON! (We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!)--

2011 was a very different year in music for me. There were not as many strong contenders for my top 10 CD’s of the year. Not to worry though, there were still a number of great releases. I culled this list of 20 CD’s down from 25, which is down from about 50 last year. For the song category I started with about 60 songs and finally narrowed that down to 12 for my year-end podcast, which will also be posted soon.

 So without further delay, here is my ObviousPop Top 20 CD’s of 2011:

1. Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds - Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
2. Kyle Andrews - Robot Learn Love
3. Fountains of Wayne - Sky Full of Holes
4. Tally Hall - Good & Evil
5. Blue October – Any Man In America
6. Longplayer - Longplayer
7. Quiet Company - We Are All Where We Belong
8. M83 - Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming
9. Ian Tanner - Italian Waffles & Scotch
10. Portugal The Man - In The Mountain, In The Cloud
11. Beady Eye - Different Gear, Still Speeding
12. Jon Anderson - Survival and other Stories
13. Ian Axel - This Is the New Year
14. Kasabian - Velociraptor
15. Death Cab For Cutie - Codes and Keys
16. Cut Copy - Zonoscope
17. Awolnation - Megalithic Symphony
18. Greg Pope - Monster Suit
19. Jonathan Coulton - Artificial Heart
20. Hooray For Earth - True Loves

Honorable Mention and Stuff that doesn’t quite fit or qualify for the main list…

Rush – Time Machine 2011 – Live In Cleveland

Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross - The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo [Soundtrack]

Beach Boys - Smile [Box Set]

She & Him – A Very She & Him Christmas

Foster The People - Torches

Best Concert: Zappa Plays Zappa with Return To Forever at the Nashville Symphony Hall

Episode 31 of the ObviousPopCast is here! This is a whole new show with all new music! Dim the lights and chill the ham! We have been scouring the globe, the internet and the record stores (yes, actual stores that sell CD's and records) for new music and here it is... Featuring brand new tracks from Spacecamp, Greg Pope, Field Music, M83, Kassidy and more! Put on some pants and get ready for greatness! You can stream or download it right now as a high quality MP3, and it's free!

To stream it now click play:

Download it now: ObviousPopCast Episode 31

(If you use the link to download it to iTunes, it may go into your podcast folder or possibly be listed in the main music library under the title: ObviousPop or the artist name: Dr. Tony Shore.)

EPISODE 31 TRACK LISTING

Song Title - Album - Artist

Intro: Smile Intro [OPC Intro Mix] – edits from Smile Sessions Box Set – Beach Boys

(I Keep Thinking About) A New Thing – Plumb - Field Music

Synthesizers - The Spade - Butch Walker and The Black Widows

Miko D.T.B. – Alibi EP - Spacecamp

Bed Music: Aural Psynapse (Original Mix) - Aural Psynapse Single - deadmau5

Monkey - Hey There Golden Hair - Robbers On High Street

Fallen - Dad's Weird Dream - Silver Sun

Cellophane Sky - Drawn in Chalk - The Turnback

Bed Music: Klaus I Love You - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming - M83

If I Had a Gun - Self Titled. - Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds

1 - The Heartlight Set - Joy Zipper

We're Alive - You Will Live Forever - Sunbears!

Bed Music: You Will Live Forever - You Will Live Forever - Sunbears!

Soulless Heart - Monster Suit (Original Soundtrack) - Greg Pope

Stray Cat - Hope St. - Kassidy

Liner: Villainous [OPC mix] – edits from Smile Sessions Box Set – Beach Boys

Save World Get Girl - Kaboom! - I Fight Dragons

Bed Music: One Man, One Vote - Meets The Mothers Of Prevention - Frank Zappa

Raconte-Moi Une Histoire - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming - M83

Outro: Bye – I Have Hands – The Bran Flakes [mixed with ObviousPop - Ian Tanner]

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Episode 30 of the ObviousPopCast is ready for you! The Doctor was recruited for a super secret spy mission involving the CIA and NASA, but all is well and the brand new episode is brimming with new music from some of our favorite artists here at ObviousPop! There is brand new music from Jeff Lynne, Fun., Fountains of Wayne, Tally Hall, Noel Gallagher and more! You can stream or download it right now as a high quality MP3, and best of all it's free!

To stream it now click play:

Download it now: ObviousPopCast Episode 30

(If you use the link to download it to iTunes, it may go into your podcast folder or possibly be listed in the main music library under the title: ObviousPop or the artist name: Dr. Tony Shore.)

EPISODE 30 TRACK LISTING

Song Title - Album - Artist

Intro: OPC Mashup (using the Kaossilator, Garage Band & the AP Project)

Main Theme - Obvious Popcast Remasters - Ian Tanner

Bed Music: Bicycle Race (instrumental version) - Jazz (Deluxe Version) - Queen

Erase and Fall - Damien Lott - Damien Lott

Waltz - This Is the New Year - Ian Axel

Never Meant to Know - Good & Evil - Tally Hall

Bed Music: Backlight Sunflare - Lotus - Lotus

The Summer Place - Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne

Care About Us - Together We Were Made [Deluxe] - The Feeling

Ten Cartwheels - Italian Waffles & Scotch - Ian Tanner

Bed Music: Click - Bakin' @ the potato! - Mike Keneally Band

Make Me Feel Human - Robot Learn Love - Kyle Andrews

The Death Of You And Me - The Death Of You And Me (single) - Noel Gallagher

On the Ocean (Radio Edit) - On the Ocean EP - Guster

Bed Music: Bullys (sic) - Bakin' @ the potato! - Mike Keneally Band

Words of Love - Listen to Me: Buddy Holly - Jeff Lynne

We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) - We Are Young (single) - Fun.

When Reality Hits You - The Striped Album - The Genuine Fakes

Bed Music: The Naked Eye OPC Edit – Eye In The Sky [Deluxe] – Alan Parsons Project

Outro: OPC Mashup (using the Kaossilator, Garage Band & Grandaddy)

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Hey kids, just for fun (and as part of a marketing class I'm taking) I came up with this short survey on buying music. It's just 7 quick multiple choice questions. After a couple of weeks I will post the results here. Please take a minute to fill it out.

Kyle Andrews was all already a favorite here at ObviousPop. His Real Blasty CD and Kangaroo EP were fantastical adventures in modern alternative power pop. Now he's taken an amazingly artistic turn down a road of quirky electronic hook-filled fun. This is by far my favorite release of the year so far and I would not be surprised if it ends up at or near the top ten of 2011. Does the term "quirky keyboards" excite you or does it scare you? The answer to that question may determine just how much you will enjoy this record. On the opening track "Make Me Feel Human" there's a combo of a toy piano sound, quirky synths and hard guitar breaks with Kyle doing his best David Bowie style vocals. Every song is a feast for the ears and the songwriting is just as clever as the sound. You can get a free download of the first single "Lazer Tag with Imaginary Friends" via his website: www.kyleandrews.com

Robot Learn Love will be available on compact digital disc and via mp3 soon...

Power pop lost a legend this past weekend. Andrew Gold, best known for his 2 amazing hits “Lonely Boy” and “Thank You for Being a Friend,” as well as writing hits for Linda Ronstadt, passed away on Friday at age 59 due to complications from cancer.

One of my favorite Andrew Gold projects is his one-off side group “The Fraternal Order of the All.” I’m not sure how to describe the album but it is like a psychedelic, Beatle-esqe power pop wonder. On his solo records his lyrics about love and life always hit home with me. The song Lonely Boy was a big part of the soundtrack of my life growing up.

His album “What’s Wrong With This Picture” is one of his best and I have always loved the title and the album cover. It’s a classic. Click on the cover image above to see if you can figure out what's really wrong with that picture. Do yourself a favor and listen to some Andrew Gold today. I recommend "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You for Being a Friend."

Episode 29 of the ObviousPopCast is finally here! The Doctor was sick and ended up losing his voice, but all is well and we've got special guests filling in. This episode features brand new music from some of our favorite artists here at ObviousPop! There is brand new music from They Might Be Giants, The Feeling, Fountains of Wayne, The Cars and more! You can stream or download it right now as a high quality MP3, and best of all it's free!

To stream it now click play:

Download it now: ObviousPopCast Episode 29

(If you use the link to download it to iTunes, it may go into your podcast folder or possibly be listed in the main music library under the title: ObviousPop or the artist name: Dr. Tony Shore.)

EPISODE 29 TRACK LISTING (includes intro track and music bed songs)

Song Title - Album - Artist

The Burial - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club - Gangpol & Mit (intro)

ObviousPopCast Main Theme (Full Version) - Ian Tanner

The Enemy I Never Met - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club - Gangpol & Mit (bed music)

Sad Song – Move Like This - The Cars

C'Mon - C'Mon Single - Panic! At the Disco with Fun.

Cloisonné - Join Us EP - They Might Be Giants

1000 People Band Pt. 2 - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club - Gangpol & Mit (bed music)

Richie and Ruben - Sky Full of Holes - Fountains of Wayne

I Quit! I Quit! I Quit! - TCV - The Click Five

Set My World On Fire - Set My World On Fire Single - The Feeling

Softcore Tourist Pt. 2 - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club - Gangpol & Mit (bed music)

Finally See Our Way - The Experiment - Art vs Science

Like I Can - Like I Can / Terrible Light Single - Secret Machines

Up! – Patterns - The Black and White Years

Welcome - The 1000 Softcore Tourist People Club - Gangpol & Mit (bed music)

The Roller - Different Gear, Still Speeding - Beady Eye

The Messenger - Longplayer - Longplayer

All I Need - Megalithic Symphony - Awolnation

Go Check - Drop=Scene EP - Ms. John Soda

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Episode 28 of the ObviousPopCast is so good that I'm tempted to use words like "epic," "gnarly," and "radical," but this episode is all about *new* music so I will ease up on the retro. We have an exclusive premiere of a brand new track from Ian Tanner as well as new music from The Cars, Sloan, Panic! At The Disco,  and more! You can stream or download it right now as a high quality MP3, and best of all it's free!

To stream it now click play:

Download it now: ObviousPopCast Episode 28

(If you use the link to download it to iTunes, it may go into your podcast folder or possibly be listed in the main music library under the title: ObviousPop or the artist name: Dr. Tony Shore.)

EPISODE 28 TRACK LISTING (includes intro track and music bed songs)

Song Title - Album - Artist

Fibre (OPC Remix - Show Intro/Theme) – Caldo-Freddo – Airbiscuit

Theme from Glock's Corner (1^st Break Music Bed) – Glock’s Corner EP – The Candle Thieves

This Started Out a Love Song – Italian Waffles & Scotch – Ian Tanner

Follow The Leader – The Double Cross – Sloan

The Beat Goes On – Different Gear, Still Speeding – Beady Eye

Bigger Than Us (Walls Hold Me Remix) (2^nd Break Music Bed) – Ritual Box Set – White Lies

Silicone Sue – Longplayer – Longplayer

Generation Ship – What Every Rose Grower Should Know – Secret Powers

Big Celebrity – Solipsism – Skeleton Staff

Kitty Puppy (3^rd Break Music Bed) – Umlaut – Umlaut

The Ballad of Mona Lisa – Vices and Virtues – Panic! At the Disco

Link - Moog Madness Pain (OPC Charlie Sheen Remix) – Spazchow – Barnes & Barnes

Andy Warhol Is Gone – Hail the Conquering Fool – Lousy Robot

Where I'm Going – Zonoscope – Cut Copy

Living the Dream (4^th Break Music Bed) – Umlaut – Umlaut

Blue Tip – Move Like This – The Cars

Burn the Liars – The Enemy Chorus – The Earlies

War On Sound – Moonbabies At the Ballroom – Moonbabies

Kaa (outro music bed OPC mix) – Evidence of Humanity – Mike Keneally

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