I associate with the absolute worst types as a known music pirate and mp3 blogger. Especially the kind that push rare, rare power pop. I found what I assume is a hand-compiled -- out of love, naturally -- bittorrent out there in the aether: "The tracks compile the choicest songs from the 10-Disc Powerpearls Comps, 8-Disc Shake Some Action Comps, 7-Disc Teenline Comps, and the Yellow Pills Comps, amongst others."

Naturally, it's an amazing collection, and thanks to the anonymous fellow/lady out there who put it together. I instantly fell in love with the Riff Doctors, The Speedies, The Monroes (hey wait, I remember this song!), The Nerves, Excel, Protex, and The Pop! -- And this is just from the first disc, even -- I haven't listened to the second disc yet ...

And so, here's a smattering of other power pop gems for your Monday. (BTW, did I mention that it's going to be 100 degrees here in Austin today? Perfect power pop weather, or something...)

Riff Doctors -- Turn Me On
Excel -- Rock Show
The Pop! -- Down On The Boulevard
Protex -- A Place In The Heart
The Monroes -- What Do All The People Know?

Strangely enough, not one but two of the songs in the compilation have recently been used in TV ads -- The Speedies' "I Want to Take Your Foto" (HP digital cameras) and The Nerves' "Hanging on the Telephone," popularized by Blondie and covered by Cat Power for a Cingular ad. That link is to the ad and not an audio file, btw, because I've never seen one anywhere, and according to TRGAW friend-of-a-friend & Jane blogger Arye, Ms. Chan Marshall claims the song will never be released. However, it shows up on last.fm, so if anyone out there has the full version as an mp3, now would be the time to share it! Hint, hint.

The Speedies -- I Want to Take Your Foto (original version, not the iTunes Music Store remix...)

The Nerves -- Hanging on the Telephone
Blondie -- Hanging on the Telephone

And, as a complete bizzare aside, here's some various uh, string versions of popular favorites:

Malibu Middle School Orchestra -- Different Names For The Same Thing (What that adorable orchestra of middle-schoolers from the Autumn De Wilde-directed video from Death Cab for Cutie's Directions DVD were actually playing; they're pretty good! The only thing missing is the adorable little girl's vocals -- this will make sense if you have seen the video -- but perhaps she was just lip synching...)

The String Quartet Tribute to Mariah Carey -- Heartbreaker (Don't tell, but I really, really love this song. I know, but it's just so sparkling and adorable...)

Orchestre National de Jazz -- Kashmir (Yes, the National Jazz Orchestra of France recorded an album of repositioned Led Zepplin covers. Kind of reminiscent of the Gold Sounds album of jazzed-out Pavement covers, only a lot grander in scale, natch.)

Ok, I'm outies. Somehow this post grew into something a lot larger than I expected...