JANGLE ON!

SEPTEMBER

by Eric Sorensen

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The mid-Atlantic climate gave us summer in reverse – treating us to some mild, dry days in August and now some very hot and muggy days in early September.  The low humidity and an evening breeze made sitting outdoors for a Shenandoah Run (a nine-person folk ensemble in the tradition of the New Christy Minstrels) concert very pleasant.  We also enjoyed an indoor show by singer/songwriter Dan Navarro – that featured his trademark unplugged encore while he stood in the middle of the audience.  We are flying to Seattle and Portland in several days – alas, just after International Pop Overthrow (IPO) events are held in both cities.  While visiting the Pacific Northwest, I will touch base with power pop artist Rich Arithmetic, who mentioned that he recently began recording a new track.  Well – enough of this rambling.  Here is a rundown of the latest power pop and jangly music to catch my ear:

International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Volume 18.  Once a year, I get to be a shill for Bruce Brodeen’s Pop Geek Heaven/Not Lame label by pointing out that you just cannot beat the quality/value of this annual three-CD compilation that is released to coincide with the IPO music festival in Los Angeles.  Although I have never attended an IPO event, I have purchased every volume in the IPO series.  There is no better audio history of the power pop community than these IPO compilations.  Long may you run, Sir David Bash and Sir Bruce Brodeen!

When there is a shortage of new material, I often revisit compilations that I made in previous decades.  Fifteen years ago, my monthly pop samplers featured: “She Said” by Hello Helen; “Head vs Heart” by Trolley; “Emmaline” by the Lilybandits; “Neither Lost Nor Stayed” and “Peace And Rest” by Saturnine; “Simply Yours” by Matt Bruno; “Guess I Got A Girl” by Adam Daniel; “Glastonbury Revisited” by the Cosmic Rough Riders; and “Girl” by the Retros (sadly, every great Retros track is a reminder that Jeff Glenn is no longer with us).  Fifteen years later, all of these tracks have stood the test of time.

Another “oldie” that has been getting lots of play is Craig T Fall’s unreleased Blue Pacific 1 Downloads.  I learned about Craig through Jangle Box entrepreneur Steve Lasko, since Craig had recorded some demo tracks using the original Jangle Box effects pedal.  The Blue Pacific 1 Downloads features Craig as a multi-track artist on 21 cover songs – many that were originally performed by the Byrds.   In my book, Craig is the Byrdsian counterpart to Jeffrey Foskett, who covers Beach Boys material so well.

The best new disc in my play stack is Southern Gothic by the Shore Birds.  The title of this eight-song CD is a big hint that one will find plenty of REM references in this duo’s album. Open the bi-fold sleeve and there are two Rickenbacker guitars pictured.  The tracks “Life On The River,” “Old Man” and “Gravity” reminded me so much of REM disciples Three Walls Down that I checked the liner notes to see if there were common members in the two bands (there aren’t). Norman Adcox, Scott Copperwood and bandmates exhibit their REM influences on many of the tracks – and some of the guitar lead-ins remind me of the late, great Sidewinders/Sand Rubies – and some of the vocals (“Life On The River”) remind me of Songbird-era Jesse Colin Young.  The sum of the parts adds up to a disc that will vie for Top Ten honors in 2015.  It is nice to note that over thirty years since REM first formed, contemporary artists are still incorporating elements of REM’s music into their original songs.

Other new discs (and my favorite tracks) that I am enjoying include: Lost Hits of the 80s – a terrific concept album by Dan Pavelich; the CD-EP Five Dimensional Man by Herb Eimerman (Herb’s chiming Rickenbacker can be heard on “Live To Tell” and “Believe That I Do”); Long Story Short by George Prentice (“Overwhelmed” and “Wear My Ring”); and The Dark Beautiful Sun by William Duke (“Just Lookin’ For Some Sleep” and “The Summer Side Of Life”).

“Byrds brother” Ray Verno has not let up in his search of the INTERNET for jangly tracks, and Byrdsian Volumes 112 and 113 feature some excellent Rickenbacker 12-string tracks.  Standout tracks on the two volumes include: “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” by the Young Sinclairs; “And Your Bird Can Sing” and “Fragile Flowers” by Marc Sheppard and Heather Ann Schmidt; “There You Go” by Rodney Auld; “White Lies” by the Dreamboys; “Fall Back” by the Junior League; “My Best Friend” by John Robin; “Starling’s Song” by Steve Domer; and the very cool instrumental track “Wild Boars at Pian Valdez” by Marco Zanzi.

Until next time, jangle on!

ERIC