Broken Promise Keeper

Great Powerpop Sites

If you're here, you probably already know where to go to find out what's new in the world of powerpop — the genre's popularity waxes and wanes but never seems to grow much beyond a small but fanatical fan base.

With more and more bands today willing to have the adjective "pop" used in a description of their music, the genre is sorta going through a renaissance right now, like it does every ten years or so. However, it's still way under the radar for most folks — but you can be part of the cool and in-the-know crowd by visiting on-line sites like these:

Absolute PowerPop
Well-written reviews and great taste

Art Into Dust
Eclectic and in-depth coverage of powerpop artists and more

Bill's Music Forum
If it's melodic, Bill covers it

Dr. Bristol's Prescription
The best of both worlds — comedy and music

PowerPop
Funny with good top ten lists

PowerPopaholic
I'd love it for the name alone

Too Poppy
News, reviews, and all kinds of poppy goodness

Press Clips

Poptimized

"Old school DIY power pop played with conviction... the legacy of the Athens, GA sound that made it 'the Liverpool of the South' lives on here with Broken Promise Keeper... Highly recommended!" (read entire review)

"Broken Promise Keeper cranks out his annual slab of 80s-influenced power pop with the usual fine results — no-nonsense, no-let-up dB's-styled pop."(read entire review)

"A one-man band recording all the instruments himself in his basement lab, BPK is a master of pop dynamics and his records are perpetual motion machines, employing every trick, hook, and change in the book to maintain a propulsive forward dynamic." (read entire review)

"Poptimized" makes every effort to incorporate all of the criteria that make wonderful and memorable pop... another infectious record by BPK."(read entire review)

"This is classy and beautifully rendered power pop — the songs are as great as the very best of them, witty, smart, melodic and imbued with pretty twists of melody...an individualistic take on the classic power pop template"(read entire interview)

"Melodic upbeat pop, catchy and delivered simply... refreshingly unpretentious music created for all the right reasons." (read entire review)

Top Powerpop Albums of 2010 — #4 "Atlanta-based powerpop master Rob Stuart got to the top of everyone’s best of list with his previous outing Ice Cold Pop and for his latest Poptimized he delivers another master class in everything that makes the genre so beloved. He hits every target he aims for with dazzling ease and has melody and classic pop riffs in endless supply it appears."(read entire article)

Top Powerpop Albums of 2010 "Wish we'd thought of that title... one of our favourite albums of 2010 and recommended to any discerning fan of powerpop." (read entire article)

Ice Cold Pop

Top Powerpop Albums of 2009 — #4 "Straight-ahead pop rock as addictive as crack. Not only does he sound effortless, he sounds unique in a way I haven’t heard since the first Marshall Crenshaw album. He defines his territory — the half acoustic straight ahead rocker (Tom Petty, Crenshaw, Billy Joel) and hits you with a triple combination that leaves you dazed and wanting more. 'Directions,' 'Worship From Afar,' and 'Kristine' constitute three of the most killer first songs I’ve heard in years. Effortless ass-kickin’ mastery."(read entire article)

"Good pop that goes down smooth... a retro-80s power pop sound, bringing to mind Shoes, Let's Active, R.E.M. and adds a level of wit and whimsy to the proceedings."(read entire article)

"The tracks here are full of rich effortless hooks... this one is worth the effort to track down and listen to." (read entire article)

"Ice Cold Pop" is a startlingly good album... one of those bewildering discs that is so full of sound and harmonies that you find it difficult to believe that a single guy is behind it all... one hell of an addictive cocktail."(read entire article)

"Seldom have I heard such a strong debut of songs... [BPK] possesses an effortless musicality that affords his songs good bones-the changes, choruses and bridges are both surprising and inevitable... one listen and you’re hooked."(read entire article)

"His love for powerpop radiates from every hook, harmony, and guitar jangle, giving the album a sense a pureness rarely found elsewhere. This is required listening in the powerpop universe."(read entire article)

"Pulls out all the stops and highlights a special light side of pop that most reminds me of early Shoes. Old school, good school. VERY highly recommended!"(read entire article)

"Super hummable upbeat pop tunes... not only does this guy write some great tunes, but he has a nice understated voice that really gives these tunes their necessary kick."(read entire article)
"A one-man juggernaut... the songs are well-crafted... doing a worthy job of carrying the powerpop genre’s torch into the 21st century"(read entire article)

"Good solid powerpop from this one-man band" (read entire article)