The Discordants

I've been reading Simon Reynolds' book Retromania (as I've mentioned at least once!) and I have a lot of fun doing YouTube searches on some of the old bands he writes about. Of course, so much of it is garbage -- like the Thamesbeat bands (like The Look) that were the UK equivalent of The Knack. And other stuff just isn't my style -- like the garage bands like Thee Milkshakes. But there is some good stuff in there -- some of the other Mod revival bands couldn't hold a candle to The Jam, but they weren't awful -- bands like The Chords and The Purple Hearts. But I found a genuinely good song in The Flamin' Groovies 1976 single "Shake Some Action." It's definitely pub rock -- and different from their earlier stuff (which sounded like the Rolling Stones) but you can hear the beginnings of Power Pop in there. And what's more, there's a nice jangly guitar riff that predates something similar by REM. Take a listen: