Listening Post

I realize I posted something from these guys last week (or one guy really, Tommy Walter, formerly of the Eels). But I truly have loved this band for years and want as many people to hear them as possible.

The new Abandoned Pools album is available beginning today. Do yourself a favor and pick it up.

From Sublime Currency, this is Unrehearsed.

Listening Post

I've raved about Abandoned Pools pretty much since the beginning of this little experiment of mine. They're one of a handful of bands that I've said deserve to be huge but strangely aren't. Well, their new record hits iTunes, stores, etc. next Tuesday and this is the title track from it.

Here's Sublime Currency.

By the way, I'll be catching them at the Roxy here in L.A. on September 15th. If anybody local feels like showing up, I'll buy you a drink.

Listening Post

I'm going to keep pushing these guys -- or this guy, really, Tommy Walter -- until everyone I know has bought everything they've done.

The new Abandoned Pools record should be out soon and their debut album -- the excellent Humanistic -- is finally available on iTunes as of yesterday.

Here's the band's new single, both live acoustically and as it appears on the album.

This is In Silence (the working title of which was We Can Be Quiet Now).

Pools Party

For quite some time now I've raved about Tommy Walter's bloody brilliant band, Abandoned Pools. They're one of those under-the-radar groups I've been a fan of for several years and whom I wish more people would pick up on.

Well, I feel like a really lousy hardcore fan because even though I've prided myself on trying to keep up with Tommy on Twitter and check every once in a while for new material from the band, I completely missed that after a long absence Abandoned Pools did finally release a new single -- about nine months ago.

Regardless of my unfortunate oversight, take a listen, "like" them on Facebook (where you can download the single for free) and show a little love for a good guy making good music.

Here's new Abandoned Pools -- Legionnaire.

Listening Post

Because I just got the outstanding news that Abandoned Pools are in the process of recording a new album -- their first in five years -- here's one of my absolute favorite tracks ever: Goodbye Song.

Seriously, listen to this and explain to me why these guys aren't huge.



Do the world of good music a favor and follow them on Twitter.

(Update: There's a really fantastic tribute to Big Star and Alex Chilton right now over at CNN.com; it was put together by Nick Lusk. While reading it, I kind of noticed the accidental irony of my putting a song by Abandoned Pools up today. Like Big Star once was, the Pools are an excellent power pop band that by all accounts should be massive, but, like Big Star, they were mishandled and neglected by their record company to the point of laughable incompetence. Pools frontman and chief songwriter Tommy Walter -- who used to play with the Eels -- may or may not be on par with Alex Chilton, but he's absolutely following in Chilton's very impressive footsteps when it comes to his pop sensibilities. That's probably why I love this band so much and want to see them succeed.)

Listening Post

In an alternate, far more just universe, ex-Eels bassist Tommy Walter's Abandoned Pools are hugely popular and the Jonas Brothers are blowing guys for bus change at Port Authority.

Here's Armed to the Teeth.