Velvet Crush

Mid-1990s Power Pop faves Velvet Crush earned a loyal British following on the success of their Matthew Sweet-produced debut In the Presence of Greatness. Sweet's participation made sense: the band's syrupy-sweet, endearingly ramshackle pop songs charm in a similar fashion to those of Sweet with their perfectly noisy, hyper-melodic guitars, simple drumming, and roots-riding bass. Such simplicity works for this sound -- Velvet Crush's heart-on-their-sleeve hooks write their checks. For those whose favorite sound is that of Big Star as channeled through a Marshall stack on eleven, look no further.