JANGLE ON – August Column

Posted on 31 July 2012

 

JANGLE ON!

 by Eric Sorensen

            New material was slow in coming over the past two months, but a surfeit of great jangly pop … and power pop … has arrived recently.  The majority of these primo tunes and discs are the work of veteran power pop artists – providing evidence that these well-known artists have not lost their chops.  Here is a summary of the best chiming pop to catch my ear in recent months.  Albums and songs that made my monthly “Jangle Pop Sampler” include:

 

Ignition – the Shoes.  Although this group first ignited the indie power pop scene back in the late 70s, their contemporary work is every bit as appealing as their 30+ year catalog of material.  Re-ignition might be a more appropriate title – given that the band hasn’t released a studio album in nearly a decade.  This disc is in heavy rotation on my home stereo, and Ignition will appear on my 2012 Top Ten list.  From the riffs on the opening track “Head vs Heart” (which is also the opening track on this year’s 67-song, three-CD International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Volume 15 compilation) through the closing “Only We Remain,” this is a tremendous disc with fifteen songs that feature classic Shoes harmonies, choruses, hooks and superbly-crafted pop tunes.   The most chiming tracks are the Beatlesque “The Joke’s On You,” “I Thought You Knew,” “Nobody To Blame” and “In On You.”  Long may you run, Sir Jeff, Sir John and Sir Gary!

 

Don’t Go Away: Collected Works – the Primitons.  This obscure southern indie pop band had a devout fan base back in the 80s, but this is the first time that the group’s recordings have been released on CD.  The band’s jangly sound represents a blend of early REM and the New Age/Mod schools of pop that were popular during that era. “You Are Leaving” is the most jangly track, followed closely by “All My Friends” and “Something On My Mind.”  When you order this disc from Kool Kat, you will also be treated to a downloadable bonus disc of material.  Thanks to Ray Gianchetti for carrying this disc in the Kool Kat catalog … and making us aware of yet another nugget from a bygone period.

 

Falling Off The Sky – the dB’s.  Veteran pop artists Chris Stamey, Peter Holsapple and Will Rigby (along with the studio wizardry and supplemental musicianship of Mitch Easter) reunite to treat pop fans to the first dB’s disc in many moons.  The group’s signature sound is still there – with plenty of jangle on tracks like “Write Back” and “Remember.”

 

Do Come In Excuse The Mess – Diesel Park West.  John Butler is the lead vocalist for this group that has incorporated elements of the best in pop/rock from previous decades into all of its albums.  Do Come In Excuse The Mess is no exception.  Butler and his bandmates shine throughout this disc (their first in ages); fans of chiming power pop will be drawn to “Arthurs Song” (a terrific homage to the late Arthur Lee of Love), “Last Show In Town” and “Real Good Life.”  If I haven’t mentioned this in an earlier column, check out Diesel Park West’s YouTube video clips of their covers of Buffalo Springfield songs … and other 60s tunes.   Long may you run, Diesel Park West!

 

Someday – Susanna Hoffs.  The ten tracks on Someday are a strong nod to the Burt Bacharach/Hal David pop of the mid-60s, filtered through Susanna’s contemporary arrangements.  It was quite a treat to see Ms. Hoffs several years ago when she toured with Matthew Sweet as the Sid & Susie duo – performing their favorite 60s and 70s tunes together.  Hoffs shines on her latest solo disc, and some jangly flourishes sneak into tracks like “Raining” and “True.”  Long may you run, Ms. Hoffs!

 

The Tarnished Gold – the Beachwood Sparks.  The veteran darlings of the Canyon Rock school of pop return (after a decade) with an excellent thirteen-track disc.  While the 12-string guitars may be muted, the pedal steel is not … and tracks like “Sparks Fly Again,” “Tarnished Gold” and “Earl Jean” prove again why this band was compared to the Sweetheart of the Rodeo-era Byrds.  The Tarnished Gold was worth the wait; the members of the Beachwood Sparks can take another ten years if the results are as positive as this album!

 

Songs Of Other People (SOOP) #5 – Michael Carpenter.  On SOOP #5, veteran Aussie indie pop singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer Michael Carpenter continues to cherry-pick tunes from the past five decades and give them a fresh interpretation.  Carpenter favors  jangly guitars, and they are pronounced on his treatments of “Look Through Any Window,” “I’ve Been Waiting,” “I Don’t Wanna Know” and “Thorn In My Side.”  Whether Michael Carpenter is treating pop fans to cover songs or his original material, it is always top-notch power pop.  Long may you run, Sir Michael – you are a permanent member of my Power Pop All Star Band!

 

The World Over – Jeff Larson.  Last but not least is the latest disc from veteran pop tunesmith Jeff Larson – who has given the pop community an outstanding body of work over his solo career.  The World Over is every bit as listener-friendly as Jeff’s earlier releases, and the jangly “Midhaven Getaway” is one of those aching for airplay songs that is a perfect top down, sing-along summer pop/rock tune.  The chord progression in this song even reminds me slightly of the more rocking “Shadowless Heart” by the late great Dramarama.  Long may you run, Sir Jeff!

 

“Passing Strangers” – Billy Sullivan.  Many thanks to CD Baby for making this song available for download.  Sullivan is a master at pseudo-60s pop/rock – and there’s plenty of chiming guitars in this song.

 

JANGLE ALERT!!  Over the past several years, my friend Ray Verno has shared numerous tracks by the catchy Australian folk-rock duo, Penny Davies and Roger Ilott, in his Byrdsian CD compilations.  The 12-string guitar riffs in Penny and Roger’s songs are eerily reminiscent of Roger McGuinn’s Rickenbacker sound, and the songs follow a blueprint very similar to the Byrds’ and McGuinn’s repertoire.  Standout tracks from Penny and Roger’s five albums include “Rusty Dusty Days,” “Listen To The Wind,” “Pushing It Down,” “Must Have Been The Moon,” “Silverwood Dam,” “Peaceful,” “Brisbane Girl,” “Turn Again,” “The Lighthouse,” “We’ll Meet On The Shore” and “The Long Haul.”  You can contact Penny and Roger at restless@halenet.com.au and visit their website at www.restlessmusic.com.au.

 

I made reference to International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Volume 15 earlier in this column.  It’s available from the Pop Geek Heaven (www.popgeekheavenstore.com).  There are several jangly gems in the 67 tracks … and an excellent cover of Gene Clark’s “So You Say You Lost Your Baby” by Fireking.  Many thanks to Pop Geek Heaven guru Bruce Brodeen for continuing to release the annual compilations associated with the L.A. IPO Festival.

 

Enjoy what remains of your summer … and jangle on!

One Response to “JANGLE ON – August Column”

  1. Bruce Brown says:

    So, bitchin’, as it seems I always do when a new column gets published. PLEASE, at least give us a hot link to the artist’s web site, if not a place where the music can be bought. Your job is only half-done without that info.