Years ago, I decided that I didn't like doing year-end Top 10 lists of favorite records. When it comes to pop music, I'm more of an all-day-and-all-of-the-night kind of celebrant. Trying to corral my thoughts into a cohesive idea of what I think was the year's best 'n' brightest...well, frankly, that sounds too much like work to me.
But many of my friends and fellow unlicensed pundits do mark the calendar's final page by assessing the year's bounty of pop music and summarizing its wonder. For their consideration, the mighty pop label Big Stir Records has crafted a pitch on its own behalf, and I'm pleased to share that pitch here. Big Stir releases a lot of very fine stuff, and if I did year-end lists, my coronation of 2019's most worthy would surely include a little Big Stir.
My version of a year-end summary is This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio's annual countdown show, which is scheduled to air its 2019 edition on December 29th. As always, that will reflect the songs Dana and I played the most over the last twelve months, without regard for what year each song was released. You'll hear gems from this year alongside gems from the '60s, '70s, yadda yadda. And I betcha there'll be a Big Stir release or two on this year's countdown. We have ears. And we like Big Stir Records.
If you don't know Big Stir, I encourage you to investigate the matter further at https://www.bigstirrecords.com/ Go! Tell 'em This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio sent you. Meanwhile, here's what the folks at Big Stir Records have to say about their 2019 releases, for your consideration.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: BIG STIR RECORDS 2019 RELEASES
(Part 1: full length albums)
It has been a busy, banner year for Big Stir Records! Christina and Rex would like to thank everyone who's supported the label, the live series, the magazine and all of our other endeavors this year. We'd also like to highlight our major releases (all on CD or vinyl) for your consideration on any Best of 2019 list you may be compiling! We are proud of them all and would prefer to let the music speak for itself. And here are our contenders!
KAI DANZBERG: Not Only Sunshine
“To say that Not Only Sunshine is a triumph for Kai Danzberg would be putting it mildly. There is something for all pop fans on this album, and I strongly recommend that you add it to your collection.” - Adam Waltemire, Pop Garden Radio, USA
“To say that Not Only Sunshine is a triumph for Kai Danzberg would be putting it mildly. There is something for all pop fans on this album, and I strongly recommend that you add it to your collection.” - Adam Waltemire, Pop Garden Radio, USA
TRIP WIRE: Once & Always
“On Once & Always the band has really buckled their seatbelts and made it to their destination... It’s a terrific collection of songs.” -Tim Hinely, Dagger Zine, USA
“On Once & Always the band has really buckled their seatbelts and made it to their destination... It’s a terrific collection of songs.” -Tim Hinely, Dagger Zine, USA
AMOEBA TEEN: Medium Wave
“Confidently demonstrates the superb songwriting skills of Mark Britton and Mike Turner... musically a fine work of art and a joy to listen to. Album of the Month!” - Ryan's Gig Guide, UK
“Confidently demonstrates the superb songwriting skills of Mark Britton and Mike Turner... musically a fine work of art and a joy to listen to. Album of the Month!” - Ryan's Gig Guide, UK
IN DEED: Everest
“Guitar pop fans rejoice! With delicate but powerful vocals and guitar jangle to spare, In Deed’s Everest is one of the year’s best surprises... go get your copy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” - Richard Rossi, Power Pop News, Canada
“Guitar pop fans rejoice! With delicate but powerful vocals and guitar jangle to spare, In Deed’s Everest is one of the year’s best surprises... go get your copy. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” - Richard Rossi, Power Pop News, Canada
THE ARMOIRES: Zibaldone
“The concoction that The Armoires serve up is a bewitching brew of harmonic psych pop that is as pleasing as it is infectious... a fine recording full of energy, humour and life.” -Ian Canty, Louder Than War Magazine, UK
“The concoction that The Armoires serve up is a bewitching brew of harmonic psych pop that is as pleasing as it is infectious... a fine recording full of energy, humour and life.” -Ian Canty, Louder Than War Magazine, UK
SINGLE ARTIST COMPILATION:
SHPLANG: Los Grandes Excritos (1994-2019)
“The world is Shplang’s oyster, where anything can happen, and it usually does…repeatedly, unexpectedly, and gleefully. The album is a sonic stew of power pop, psychedelia, surf, soul, folk, Mariachi music, and more.” - Mike DeAngelis, “There Once Was A Note”, USA
“The world is Shplang’s oyster, where anything can happen, and it usually does…repeatedly, unexpectedly, and gleefully. The album is a sonic stew of power pop, psychedelia, surf, soul, folk, Mariachi music, and more.” - Mike DeAngelis, “There Once Was A Note”, USA
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: BIG STIR RECORDS 2019 RELEASES
(Part 2: compilations, EPs, magazines, singles and more!)
(Part 2: compilations, EPs, magazines, singles and more!)
Wrapping up what Big Stir Records did in 2019 in addition to the albums... and it's rather a lot, all worthy of your attention as you prepare those Best of 2019 lists! Take a look, and thank you, friends!
COMPILATIONS (Multiple Artists):
BIG STIR SINGLES: THE FIRST WAVE
“Big Stir Singles: The First Wave is jammed to the proverbial rafters with wonderful tunes and is more than worthy of repeated exploration. God bless the good ship Big Stir!” -John Borack, Goldmine Magazine, California
“Big Stir Singles: The First Wave is jammed to the proverbial rafters with wonderful tunes and is more than worthy of repeated exploration. God bless the good ship Big Stir!” -John Borack, Goldmine Magazine, California
BIG STIR SINGLES: THE SECOND WAVE
“This is music that truly lifts the soul, makes you feel that life can still be fun, that anything is possible. That is something you can’t put a price on, that leap of your heart and a touch of romance that makes it feel so good to be alive, something only quality pop music can do. Big Stir gift you tonnes of the stuff. Like a welcome breeze on a boiling hot day, The Second Wave is a pure burst of cool.” - Ian Canty, Louder Than War Magazine, UK
“This is music that truly lifts the soul, makes you feel that life can still be fun, that anything is possible. That is something you can’t put a price on, that leap of your heart and a touch of romance that makes it feel so good to be alive, something only quality pop music can do. Big Stir gift you tonnes of the stuff. Like a welcome breeze on a boiling hot day, The Second Wave is a pure burst of cool.” - Ian Canty, Louder Than War Magazine, UK
BIG STIR SINGLES: THE THIRD WAVE
“The diversity and scope of these releases is a prodigious tribute to the taste and effort of Big Stir Records founders Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome, so here's to The Third Wave and all who ride her.” - Henry Hutton, SHINDIG! Magazine, UK
“The diversity and scope of these releases is a prodigious tribute to the taste and effort of Big Stir Records founders Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome, so here's to The Third Wave and all who ride her.” - Henry Hutton, SHINDIG! Magazine, UK
BIG STIR SINGLES: THE FOURTH WAVE
“Every A and B Side earns its place. All four Singles Collections wipe the floor with any compilation that you'd care to mention. This fourth volume underlines the strength of the label and I know there are many more surprises to come your way in 2020.” - Don Valentine, I Don't Hear a Single, UK
“Every A and B Side earns its place. All four Singles Collections wipe the floor with any compilation that you'd care to mention. This fourth volume underlines the strength of the label and I know there are many more surprises to come your way in 2020.” - Don Valentine, I Don't Hear a Single, UK
E.P.s:
THE ARMOIRES: Side Three
“All of The Armoires' best traits are engaged, the most piquant being the contagious attitude in Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome's co-singing... and Larysa Bulbenko's sprightly, wild viola. Side Three is a happy pocket.” -Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover Magazine, New York
“All of The Armoires' best traits are engaged, the most piquant being the contagious attitude in Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome's co-singing... and Larysa Bulbenko's sprightly, wild viola. Side Three is a happy pocket.” -Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover Magazine, New York
KAI DANZBERG: Euphoria
“Ever sharper in the handling of the arrangements, with each record Danzberg rises one level. Working his orchestral pop as an artisan, carving beautiful melodies and adorning them with heavenly harmonies, Kai's euphoria is contagious.” -Paolo Milea, Power Pop Station, Brazil
“Ever sharper in the handling of the arrangements, with each record Danzberg rises one level. Working his orchestral pop as an artisan, carving beautiful melodies and adorning them with heavenly harmonies, Kai's euphoria is contagious.” -Paolo Milea, Power Pop Station, Brazil
PERIODICALS:
BIG STIR MAGAZINE #3
BIG STIR MAGAZINE #4
BIG STIR MAGAZINE #4
Our lavishly illustrated twice-yearly print-only full color magazine features insights and interviews with the who's who of the global pop world in a whimsical format that's like nothing else out there. Back issues can be ordered at:
Big Stir Digital Singles at www.bigstirrecords.com/big-stir-digital-singles has presented a new A- and B-side pairing every week throughout the year. Highlights have included co-releases from our partners at Futurman Records (The Hangabouts, The Vapour Trails, The Tor Guides) and friends at SpyderPop Records (Lannie Flowers) and The Beautiful Music (Armstrong), the debuts of The Brothers Steve, great young pop heroes The Reflectors, LA supergroups The Kariannes and The GoAllTheWays, and new exclusives from rising stars Librarians With Hickeys, Dolph Chaney, The Walker Brigade, Joe Normal & The Anytown'rs, and more. Fresh tracks from BSR mainstays Spygenius, In Deed, The Armoires and Blake Jones & The Trike Shop complete the picture. All of the digital singles have found physical homes on the CDs of our acclaimed BIG STIR SINGLES compilation series!
LIVE CONCERTS:
Big Stir Burbank continues into its fourth year as the monthly must-attend event for the LA pop scene and a tour stop for the likes of In Deed (Sweden), The Lunar Laugh (Oklahoma City), Lannie Flowers and Danny Wilkerson (Texas), Bill Lloyd (Nashville) and much more. Big Stir Britannia, caretaken in Croydon South London by Spygenius continues to keep the UK scene alive. Pop-up Big Stir events in San Diego, Orange County, and the San Francisco Bay Area have kept the label's live music roots at its focus and become essential destinations wherever the pop rock scene is alive.
LABEL OF THE YEAR
We worked hard. We're proud of all that we've achieved in a very short time. It's been widely recognized in much that's been written about Big Stir Records during this watershed year. We work from a place of passion and community that's reflected in our collaboration with the other labels on the pop rock scene. It's a labor of love and we've been humbly gratified to see it grow by leaps and bounds in 2019. We aren't in this for recognition... the work and the results are their own satisfaction. But if this honor is up for grabs, we feel this might be our year.
“Big Stir Records goes from strength to strength. They're the best thing to happen in the scene in decades and long overdue. There are many kindred spirits around, but the success and growth of Big Stir makes me stand back and applaud the most.” -Don Valentine, I Don't Hear A Single, UK
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Fans of pop music will want to check out Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, a new pop compilation benefiting SPARK! Syracuse, the home of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. TIR'N'RR Allstars--Steve Stoeckel, Bruce Gordon, Joel Tinnel, Stacy Carson, Eytan Mirsky, Teresa Cowles, Dan Pavelich, Irene Peña, Keith Klingensmith, and Rich Firestone--offer a fantastic new version of The Kinks' classic "Waterloo Sunset." That's supplemented by eleven more tracks (plus a hidden bonus track), including previously-unreleased gems from The Click Beetles, Eytan Mirsky, Pop Co-Op, Irene Peña, Michael Slawter (covering The Posies), and The Anderson Council (covering XTC), a new remix of "Infinite Soul" by The Grip Weeds, and familiar TIRnRR Fave Raves by Vegas With Randolph, Gretchen's Wheel, The Armoires, and Pacific Soul Ltd. Oh, and that mystery bonus track? It's exquisite. You need this. You're buying it from Futureman.
(And you can still get our 2017 compilation This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4, on CD from Kool Kat Musik and as a download from Futureman Records.)
Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 100 essays (and then some) about 100 tracks, plus two bonus instrumentals, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of records can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (Volume 1).
Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 100 essays (and then some) about 100 tracks, plus two bonus instrumentals, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of records can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (Volume 1).
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