"Happiness Is" by The Verve Pipe

When most people hear The Verve Pipe, they usually remember one of two things. They correctly remember their monster hit called "The Freshman," which graduated to #5 in 1997, or they mistakenly remember the Verve's hit, "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Both are one-hit wonders from the 90s with similar names, but very different bands!

Led by a masterful singer and songwriter, Brian Vander Ark, The Verve Pipe hails from Michigan and scored a lesser-known chart appearance before "The Freshman." Their single, "Photograph," reached #53 in 1996. Both come from their most successful album, "Villains."

The Verve Pipe could not maintain their momentum, and their follow-up singles floundered. The group retooled a bit with 2001's record, "Underneath." It's a shame this record did not spark a comeback for the band. Produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), "Underneath" was considerably lighter, energetic, and radio-friendly. "Happiness Is" serves as a fine example.  

In 2004, Brian Vander Ark struck out on a solo career, but reunites with the band to beef up their catalogue with more records, two of which were family-friendly and geared towards children.

"Nothing To Me" by Tinted Windows

It's hard to believe that a rock and pop outfit like Tinted Windows didn't get more attention when they formed in 2009. The group consisted of members from hit-making bands Hanson (vocalist Taylor Hanson), Smashing Pumpkins (bassist James Iha), Fountains of Wayne (guitarist and more Adam Schlesinger), and Cheap Trick (drummer Bun E. Carlos).

Tinted Windows ended up releasing only one album (self-titled). If the group is ever revived, it will sadly have to be without Schlesinger, who passed away from COVID-19 in 2020.

The record remains a power pop fan's dream, filled with energetic and sunny tunes that have you singing along in no time. 

  

"There Goes My Baby" by Kelly Jones

A brilliant little record called "SheBANG!" was released in 2008 by independent artist Kelly Jones. Power pop god Mike Viola had his capable hands all over this project, co-writing many of the songs, playing several instruments, producing, and arranging the record. Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Tinted Windows) also co-wrote one of the tracks ("Crazy Talk").

The result is a treasure of a power pop record that should have seen mainstream success. Jones has a sweet and beautiful voice that carries these catchy tunes to lofty heights. Check out "There Goes My Baby" as a sample, but do yourself a favor and listen to it all!

"Troubled Times" by Fountains of Wayne

Named after a lawn ornament shop in Wayne, New Jersey, the Fountains of Wayne began as a powerpop and rock duo consisting of Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger. They had a minor hit right out of the gate in 1996 with "Radiation Vibe" cruising to #71. A devoted and loyal fanbase of powerpop junkies started to follow the band, which reached new heights in 2003 with the amusing "Stacy's Mom," which went to #21.

The first three Fountain of Wayne albums are like a holy trinity of pop rock masterpieces. What a roll these guys were on, yet hardly anyone but hard core fans knew of them. Take the wonderful song "Troubled Times" for instance, from their second album, "Utopia Parkway." The melodies, the harmonies, damn near perfection!

The band's music has been featured in tons of films and TV shows, but they never really got the attention they deserved. Their last album came out in 2011 and it appears they won't be doing anymore in the near future.

"Sink" by Big City Rock

Big City Rock had all the makings of a hit-making group for the new millennium, but their self-titled major label debut released in 2006 got no traction. The record was met with solid critical acclaim, including an endorsement from Adam Levine of Maroon 5, a band with whom Big City Rock toured.

In addition to boasting a collection of top-notch pop rock songs, the record features co-production from Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne. The band sounds quite a bit like The Killers and should have matched their success. Check out the lead-off track, "Sink": 

Following the breakup of the band, some members went on to form another notable outfit called The Remainers. More on them when I get to the "R's"!