JANGLE ON!

AUGUST

by Eric Sorensen

The summer heat has kept me indoors more than usual for the past two months; the silver lining in this situation is that I have had more time to enjoy the latest in power pop and jangle pop CDs and song.  As summer nears its end, I look forward to taking in a Bangles show at the venerable 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. – with fellow power pop enthusiast and Pop Geek Heaven guru Bruce Brodeen.  I mention this because after a twenty-year friendship, this will be the first time that Bruce and I have attended a live music show together.  Two months later, I will attend yet another “Parthenon Huxley & Friends Perform the Songs of the Beatles and ELO” show in Northern Virginia.  The D.C. area is very fortunate that Parthenon (one of power pop’s finest singer/songwriters) makes Bethesda, Maryland his home.  When Parthenon is not touring with the ELO tribute band Orchestra, he treats local music fans to terrific shows that feature his exceptional original songs as well as his excellent covers of Fab Four and ELO tunes.  The encores at these shows have included memorable versions of “Stairway To Heaven” and “Born To Run.”  Another favorite local pop/rock ensemble – the Jelly Roll Mortals – just released their self-titled first CD.  Bill Kirchen and other guitar virtuosos may argue that D.C. is a Telecaster Town, but it is also home to some of the finest power pop artists on the east coast.

Having said this, it is time to mention recent finds (many thanks to Kool Kat Musik, the Powerpopaholic web site, CD Baby and Ray Verno’s Byrdsian compilations) that I highly recommend to fellow jangleholics:

Letter From Liverpool CD EP – the Floor Models.  The title song is the standout among the five tracks featured on this CD EP.  It’s hard to beat the appealing combination of Andrew Pasternack’s Rickenbacker 12-string guitar and Gerry Devine’s lead vocals.  Twenty years ago, I found the Gerry Devine & the Hi-Beams Fire Lane CD at Olson’s Books and Records shop in Old Town Alexandria.  That disc also featured Rickenbacker 12-string riffs and catchy melodies.  Long may you run, Sir Gerry!

International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Volume 19 – various artists.  The annual CD compilation that is released in conjunction with the IPO event in Los Angeles is a highlight every year for power pop fans. This year’s three-CD, 65-song compilation is no exception … and there are jangly tracks aplenty: the chiming “When You Call My Name” by the Viewers; “Sunny Day” by Steve Ramone; “Love Letter” by Richie Parsons (listen carefully and you will hear the  same chord progression from “He’s So Fine” and “My Sweet Lord” in this catchy tune); “Hummingbird Today” by the Satisfied Minds; “Take It Slow” by Steve Rosenbaum; “Winter Song” by Trip Wire; “Winter” by the Swedish Polarbears (a terrific band mentioned in my last column); “Linda’s A Maybe” by Dave Birk (a fabulous throwback to the pop music of 60s AM radio); “Summertime” by Ships Have Sailed; and “On My Way” by the Forresters.

Speaking of the Forresters, seek out their four-song CD EP that features “On My Way” and three other excellent Gin Blossoms-inspired guitar pop.

No Promises – Chris Bolger.  Bolger is joined by an all-star studio cast and instrumental flourishes that include mandolin, mandocello, dobro and saxes to fill out a terrific 13-song disc.  Tracks that feature chiming guitar riffs include “She Might Look My Way,” “What’s It Got To Do With Me” and “Everything.”

Comes And Goes – the Well Wishers.  There may be no standout jangly tracks on this disc, but this album is a strong contender for 2016 Top Ten honors.  From start to finish, this disc is a gem that features classic, mid-tempo power pop music – ala the Shoes.  The Well Wishers is in a league of its own.  Long may you run, Sir Jeff Shelton!

Recent singles that merit jangleholic attention are: the extremely Byrdsian song “There Is A Reason” by Brooklyn’s The Above; an equally Byrdsian version of “Soldier of Love” by the the late great Canadian band the Blue Shadows; a superb jangly cover of Guided by Voices’ “Now To War” by Preoccupied Pipers; “Child Bride” by Cotton Mather; “Working Girl” by Cupid’s Carnival (with a lead in that could be mistaken for Diesel Park West); “What If She Loves You” (a Byrdsian tune with a Mighty Lemon Drops flair) by the Top Boost; “Perspective” by the Midnight Callers (another tune with a strong nod to the late 80s); “She Loved Her Jangle Pop” by Erik Voeks (a hum-along song that mentions Bobby Sutliff in one of the verses); “I’m In Love With Your Wife” by David Brookings (inspired by celebrity musician events that occurred in the late 60s); “Get It Right First Time” by the Jeremy Band; several new tracks by the Jangle Band (featuring one of Rickenbacker’s best 12-string guitar ambassadors, Joe Algeri); “A Fool Without Your Love” by Ray Paul; “Firing Line” by the See No Evils; “Things Will Eventually Backfire” by the Lazy Lies; “I’m Stranded” by Papernut Cambridge; and any of the seven Apex Willie tracks (e.g., “Ching Li” and “Rodeo Clowns For Peace”) available for download from CD Baby.

In the “blast from the past” category, I keep re-visiting “Into The Light” by Alfa 9, “I’m Not Following” by the Seven O’Clock Junkies and “What’s The Good Of Knowing” by the Bears (a tune that adds a Rickenbacker 12-string to the melody of “Inside Out” by the Mighty Lemon Drops).

Until next time, jangle on!

ERIC