Further Observations of a Jangly Music Fan

It has been two months since I last wrote about the latest jangly releases, and there are plenty of recommendations to share with www.fufkin.com site readers. I hope that everyone enjoyed their holiday season … and had fun digesting the "Best of 2003" lists that were featured in last month's website update. Without any further delays, here are some of the new discs and new songs that have been receiving lots of play on my home stereo:

The Action Musik reissue of Ric Menck's The Ballad of Ric Menck. This soon-to-be-released reissue of a jangleholic's feast, originally released on the Summershine label, contains five bonus tracks. That means that listeners are treated to 16 pure pop tunes that are overflowing with chiming riffs and melodies that will stick like glue. This pre-Velvet Crush material often sounds like the work of 80s popster Jimmy Silva and the more contemporary work of Jeremy (Morris). Classic pop references abound in these songs. Byrds fans will note a pronounced similarity between the chord progression in "Delaware Rain" and the late Gene Clark's "Won't Let You Down." Like many other pop luminaries, Ric Menck does far more than just mimic tunes of the past; he builds on that foundation with a melodic originality that adds significantly to pop music's legacy. Long may you run, Sir Ric!

Red Light Fever - by Jackson Rohm. I found this disc on CDBaby, and once again the "jangly" word search led me to another prize! The opening track, "Bleeding," has chiming riffs and a jangle'n'twang vibe that would make Walter Clevenger and Vic Della Pello both proud. Rohm's vocals on his cover version of the Concrete Blonde song "Joey" remind me of Paul Carrack. Other pop highlights include "Three Miles To Lexington" and "Anchor."

Blueprint to Obscurity - by Michael Holley. This album is a showcase for jangly mid-tempo pop tunes that deserve notice from fellow artists. Holley, who has a husky voice by pop standards, has penned some very appealing Pettyesque tunes - among them are "Still Alone," "Reconcile," "In One Day" and "James." On the last of these songs, Holley's vocals sound a bit like Charlie Sexton and Iggy Pop.

The self-titled full-length (15 songs!) disc, The Gurus, by the Gurus. This may be sounding like a cliché, but if Rainbow Quartz has signed this band and released this disc, you should have tremendous confidence that it's good! Tracks like "It's Only Love" and "Feeling Afraid" display the group's crisp Beatlesque harmonies, while the rest of the material exhibits their power pop/psychedelic pop skills. This album is a great listen from start to finish for fans of pseudo-60s pysch/pop.

The self-titled CD-EP, Change To The East, by the band of the same name. This is another CDBaby "find;" fans of the late 80s Wisconsin band Firetown will delight in how similar the jangly tracks on this disc are to the tunes on Firetown's first LP. Jangle enthusiasts will enjoy "Victoria Secret," "Never Again" and "Wide Awake."

Yet another CDBaby "find" is The Nixties Sound by Girardi (Steve Girardi and bandmates). As the album title implies, this is 60s pop with a contemporary spin. It sure sounds like a Rickenbacker 12-string is accompanying many of the tracks - notably "Take A Look In The Glass," "Begin Again," "It's Been Awhile" and "A Hard Time With Time." This 14-track disc reminds me of the early 90s solo/band material that was recorded by Ted Holden - and that's a very good thing!

The self titled disc, The Syrups, by the California quartet of the same name. Many of the pop tunes on this disc have the same sweetness that one would expect from syrup - making this an interesting contemporary blend of jangle-pop, sunshine pop and Mersey pop from past decades. My favorites include "Human Sympathy", "Strawberry," "If I Don't Love You Girl" and their cover of "Man With Money." If you're looking for smiles - rather than angst - with you pop music, look no further than the Syrups.

Let The Echo Decide - the soon-to-be-released new disc from Chris Church. Tim Anthony and Jealousy Records are doing pop fans a big favor by releasing this terrific new power pop disc to cheer everyone in the middle of winter. Comparisons with longtime indie pop fave Tommy Keene are well-deserved … as are comparisons with Matthew Sweet and Todd Rundgren. "Oh So Gone" features the most chiming guitar riffs, but "You Better Move On Now, Baby" and "Julie, I Probably Shouldn't" also get a nod from this jangle enthusiast. When December rolls around, I will have to remember that this is the first album in 2004 to impress me as a candidate for Top Ten honors. Long may you run, Sir Chris!

Sunday Fables - the first solo disc by veteran indie musician/songwriter Edward Rogers. This one is hot off the presses - and it lives up to Not Lame Recording's high standards for indie pop. Rogers is joined in the studio by a talented cast that includes NYC pal George Usher and noted guitarist Marty Wilson-Piper (on two tracks). Jangly music enthusiasts will definitely dig "In The Garden Of Who You Were" and the ringing guitars on "Innocent Times" and "Laughing Ghost" will also satiate their listening desires. Not surprisingly, the entire album has the feel of a George Usher Group album … and some Todd Rundgren references as well. Sunday Fables will stand the test of time, and it will get pulled off my music shelf for years to come.

Speaking of Not Lame, Bruce Brodeen's online catalog has unearthed another gem - the 2001 release, Stumble And Fall, by Cordalene. This Philadelphia-based band mixes Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush influences - so much so that "Everyone Turn" could pass as a very jangly Velvet Crush tune. Cordalene band member Jim McGuinn also has more in common with the Byrds than just the name of the Hall of Fame band's former lead vocalist. With the lap steel guitar, there's even an upbeat Jayhawks vibe in Cordalene's sound. I certainly hope to hear more from this band.

It's Not Enough To Love - by Denise James. This full-length disc, released by Rainbow Quartz, features some excellent pseudo-60s "girl pop" by a contemporary singer with a strong voice and a taste for classic pop melodies and production. "Come Home To Me" is my favorite jangly track. From start to finish, this disc showcases some mighty fine retro-pop.

Shake Some Action Volume 7 - USA. Yet another great compilation of obscure pop tunes from the late 70s and early 80s. There's something for everybody on this disc - skinny tie pop, Mersey pop, power pop and jangly pop. My favorite track: "Soldier Of Love" by Beatles Costello. I am certain that I have heard Marshall Crenshaw perform this song in concert!

That does it for individual albums. Here are some of the individual tracks that have also captured my attention during the past two months:

"You Wanna Go" - a GRRREAT jangly Beatlesque tune featured on Tiny Volcano's recent album.

"I Need You" - by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and featured on the Concert For George disc. I wish that more of the songs on this tribute disc had jangled like this one!

"Poor Little Girl" - by Eric Marcos. This song features a nice acoustic lead-in to a very Beatlesque tune.

"Everything In Between" - by the Golden Apples. This is truly a pseudo-60s jangly gem. The song opens with the pronounced drumbeat from the Beatles "Look What You're Doing" and segues into a tune with the chords from the Byrds' "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better." Add lead vocals that sound a lot like Walter Egan and you've got one fine song!

"I Never Told You" - by Terry Eason. Imagine a jangly upbeat tune by the Feelies or Wake Ooloo and you've got it.

Before closing, I must also mention the wonderful collection of nine songs that jangly pop artist Bobby Sutliff shared with me recently. Three of the songs were penned by Sutliff and eight of them feature jangly, chiming guitar riffs. With a little luck, all will be released for the general public to enjoy on Bobby's next solo disc … or on his next "All Sorts" compilation. Long may you run, Sir Bobby … and thanks for the early Christmas gift!

Until next month, jangle on!

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