Title:	I'm In Love With That Song
Band:	V/A
Label:	Antfarm/Tomboy Records
Released:	1997
Highlights:	Alex Chilton - Brad Shephard Left Of The Dial - Challenger 7 Swinging Party - Icecream Hands Aching To Be - Golden Rough Rock 'n' Roll Ghost - DM3
Rating:	8/10

The Replacements were a legendary American band during the eighties that lasted long enough to release eight albums. Despite being relatively ignored at the time, The Replacements are now name-checked by many musicians and were notoriously better known as the most drunken band in the world. It should therefore come as no surprise that they were a strong influence on many Australian musicians, as evidenced by the tribute album, I'm In Love With That Song - 23 Australian Bands Pay Tribute to the Genius of the Replacements.

The compilers (Stu, Mark, Laura and Ian) have done a really good job of ensembling a great bunch of bands who encompass a wide variety of musical styles, including rock, pop and alternative country. For tribute albums like this to be successful it is imperative that the bands are fans first. Reading the liner notes it is immediately obvious that all the bands are proud to be given the opportunity to pay tribute to the Replacements rather than be included in order to look 'cool'.

There are many highlights including Challenger 7's Left Of the Dial and Brad Shepherd's version of Alex Chilton, which not only are the albums opening two songs but are perhaps the albums two strongest cuts. Other highlights include DM3's poignant version of Rock 'n' Roll Ghost, Icecream Hands peaceful Swinging Party and You Am I's really dirty and bluesy version of White and Lazy. Perhaps it is a testament to Paul Westerberg's songwriting ability that his songs sound great when either played as full on punk rock (Brother Brick) or gentle country (Love Me & Golden Rough). If you've never heard of the Replacements, I'm In Love With This Song may well be the best place to start.

Title:	The Lost Weekend
Band:	V/A
Label:	Tomboy/Pure Pop Records
Released:	2001
Highlights:	Sleepin' In - P76 Rock n Roll Sound - Challenger 7 Just Like Nancy - DM3 The B-Side - Innocents Up To You - Finkers
Rating:	9/10

The Lost Weekend CD is a celebration of contemporary Australian pop music and was released as a companion to a festival of the same name. Over the last 20 years, Australia has been the breeding ground to some of the world's best power pop bands, especially if you look at in on a per capita basis. Unfortunately, while bands like The Innocents, DM3, Chevelles and Pyramidiacs are able to tour internationally they still remain largely unknown at home. Hopefully The Lost Weekend CD will help rectify the situation. Featuring 23 bands from all over the country, it not only includes such legends but also the current contenders like Finkers, Michael Carpenter, P76, Challenger 7 and Superscope. Other bands to watch out for include The Richies, Quick 50, Dreamdayers and The Scruffs. The Lost Weekend easily achieves it's aim, that is to highlight the quality and diversity of the Australian power pop scene.

Title:	Yellow Pills Vol 4
Band:	V/A
Label:	Big Deal Records
Released:	1997
Highlights:	Playing With Jack - Plimsouls Circles - Chris Von Sneidern You Mighta Made The Sun My Home Is Not A House - Jason Falkner Show You - DM3
Rating:	8/10

Yellow Pills is a world famous series of power pop compilations that are compiled by Jordan Oakes, who also runs a fanzine of the same name. Volume 4 is a good mixture of new up-and-coming bands, forgotten obscurities as well as some more famous bands. Although this is a power pop compilation, there is a lot of variety as well, with the bands cover all aspects of 'pop music', which makes for more interesting listening.

Perhaps the most famous band on this compilation is the Plimsouls, whose Playing With Jack is classic power pop played with raw abandon. Not only is it one of the better songs on this album but is also one of the most rocking. Circles by Chris Von Sneidern perfectly mixes Who/Big Star guitars and Beatlesque harmonies to be another highlight of this compilation. Joe, Marc's Brother insanely upbeat She's Gonna Be My Girl will have you singing along in no time while David Grahame's I Love You Better could be accused of being a Ben Folds Five ripoff, with its rollicking piano and sing along feel, if only it hadn't been recorded back in 1981. The Nines's I Would Never would be another pop masterpiece with its pleading vocal and Beach Boy harmonies if only the recording and mix was better and less muddy. John McMullin's lilting The Thought Of Your Name is simply beautiful as is Dan Markell's You Mighta Made The Sun with its Lazy Sunday feel. Jason Falkner's previously unreleased My Home Is Not A House sounds not at all like an outtake and another strong cut by one of power pops leading artists. Finally, DM3, fuse sparkling guitars and sweet harmonies in Show You.

Yellow Pills Volume 4 maintains the high quality set by previous volumes. As Jordan Oakes says in the liner notes 'I can define one thing about pop: I know it when I hear it - and love it when I hear it again' and no doubt you'll be listening to this compilation over and over again. I know at least I will.

Title:	Zipped Up And Down Under
Band:	V/A
Label:	Zip Records
Released:	2001
Highlights:	Step On The Gas - Orange Humble Band Stan & Rocky - Scruffs Matchbox Cars And Marbles - Shouties Shivers - Spurs For Jesus
Rating:	5/10

Zipped Up And Down (Under) is an interesting double CD release from Zip Records Australia that is both a label sampler and pop compilation that features bands from all over the world.

Disc One showcases the label's artists, who alternate between power and commercial pop. As such, it's a bit patchy but it's a great introduction to the label and bands like Dorian Gray and The Merrymakers (who both incidentally are Swedish). However, for my money the strongest cuts come from the Australian artists such as Superscope, P76, Chevelles and the legendary (but not forgotten) Innocents.

Disc two is a compilation of non-Zip artists and as with disc one, it is a bit hit and miss although there is no way you can miss the killer pop sensibilities of artists like The Rubinoos, Michael Carpenter, Jack & The Beanstalk, The Finkers and Challenger 7. And, even for someone like myself, there is still a lot to be discovered. Artists such as Kyle Vincent, Farrah, Quick 50 and Flavour Of The Month, all of whom were previously unknown to myself, display more than enough potential to warrant further investigation.

Zipped Up and Down (Under) is one of those compilations should cater for everyone's taste, whether you're a casual pop fan or a fanatic like myself. And who knows, you might discover a cool band that has existed all this time under your nose without ever you realising.