JANGLE ON! – January 2022

by Eric Sorensen

2021 finished on a very high note for jangly music fans.  The pandemic has given musicians more time to spend in the studio – recording new songs and dusting off back catalog material that features chiming, jangly guitar riffs.  New jangle pop discoveries in December include the following CDs and tracks:

            Live For Today – Jeremy.  Ever-prolific Jeremy Morris released yet another 2021 CD that is filled with catchy pop rock tunes that are often inspirational.   Posies alum Ken Stringfellow produced this album, and Stringfellow adds vocals and instrumentation to the tracks.  Although Live For Today is not as jangly as previous Jeremy releases, it features twelve well-crafted pop tunes that all clock in at under four minutes, and leave the listener smiling.  Long may you run, Sir Jeremy!

            “Shakespeare In The Park” and “All Fall Away” – recent tracks by Charlie Everett and Donnie Challenger, the Delaware-based Beausage Brothers.  I first discovered the Beausage Brothers on the Bandcamp website several years ago, and I have added a number of their jangly tracks to my digital music library.  Everett readily admits the influence of the Byrds, the Beatles and Tom Petty on the duo’s music.  The Beausage Brothers website features a Mapleglo Rickenbacker 12-string, so Jangleholics know they have found kindred spirits! CLICK HERE to listen.

            “Fixed Hearts” (a 2014 demo track) by one of my favorite Bay area bands, the Bye Bye Blackbirds.  This track channels the Byrds as well as any of the chiming neo folk-rock tunes that the Bye Bye Blackbirds are known for.

            “It’s Not Her” from the Let’s Live Underground album by the Warmbabies.  Another terrific find on Bandcamp; the group’s album cover even features a Fireglo Rickenbacker 12-string.  This power pop band hails from Nice, France and the twelve track album showcases snappy power pop tunes reminiscent of the Stems, the Barracudas and the Kwyet Kings. CLICK HERE to listen.

              “Octagon,” “I Been Thinking ‘Bout You” and “One Of Her Super Powers” by Anton Barbeau – who has a knack for just the right mixture of chiming guitars and catchy melodies.  Long may you run, Sir Anton!  http://antonbarbeau.com/index_new.html

            Other notable singles from the past month include:  “Strawberry Window” and “Here It Comes” by East Village; “Don’t Call Me Out” by Bridge Dog; “Piccadilly Sunrise” by the Ruby Tears; “Dead End Dreaming” by Jerry Popiel; “She’s Gone” by the Mystic Eyes; “Wood And Smoke” by the Mystery Machine; the very catch pop tune “Love Will Lead The Way” by Wyatt Funderburk; “Happy To Know Her” by the Wind; the folk-rock tune “King Of Three Streets” by Fine Lines; “Almost” and “People” by Nobody’s Flowers; “The Dark Inside” by Doublepluspop; and the catchy pseudo-60s tune “Five Star Diary” by Sweet Nobody.  I am also happy to report that Starbyrd is composing new material, while Starbyrd frontman Horst-Peter Schmidt continues to remaster tracks for a forthcoming Starbyrd box set.

            Until next time, enjoy the holiday season and jangle on!  ERIC