Further Observations of a Jangly Music Fan

June give me the opportunity to make a visit to the San Francisco area, and it was a blast to drive past Candlestick Park and the Cow Palace (sites of Beatles concerts held in the mid-60s) and the Fillmore West. It was also fun to share a picnic dinner and a Mary Chapin Carpenter concert at the Mountain Winery in the hills overlooking the South San Francisco area. Thanks to friends, Mike and Emily, for arranging this very enjoyable evening. While summer may be the season for families to vacation, pop artists don't seem to be taking any vacations of their own. June brought a very healthy "crop" of new discs for this writer to review, and here is my summary of the new discs and songs that should keep fellow Boomers and the rest of you jingle-jangle enthusiasts entertained:

Graham Allman-Talbot and Horst-Peter Schmidt were kind enough to send me an advance copy of their forthcoming Starbyrd album - On The Other Side Of Mad. Byrds fans and Roger McGuinn fans should not miss this disc when it is released later this summer. Graham, a Brit who records under the moniker GAT, and Horst-Peter, who fronts the German band Different Faces, are both disciples of McGuinn and his Rickenbacker 12-string playing style. As those old Wrigley gum ads used to say, "Double your pleasure, double your fun!" On The Other Side Of Mad features 17 songs that are overflowing with chiming, ringing and jangling Rickenbacker riffs - including a cover of the Travelin' Wilburys' "Handle With Care" and a terrific cover of McGuinn's "The Tears." The latter song was performed frequently as part of McGuinn's mid-80s concert repertoire, but Roger never recorded the song. I can't think of a better artist to tackle and record this song than Starbyrd! In fact, Graham and Horst-Peter received some long-distance advice on how to record the song from Roger himself. A month ago, when Roger was touring Europe, Graham and Horst-Peter attended Roger's concert in Belgium and socialized with him after the show. Long may you jangle, Sir Graham and Sir Horst-Peter!

"The Tears" took my "Song of the Month" honors, but "Here She Comes Again" by the Stands is a close second. This song, which is very Byrdsian and also very reminiscent of a similarly-worded REM song, is featured on the Stands' cool album - All Years Leaving. The album showcases a fresh take on the "Canyon rock" sound that has been blending folk, rock and country since the days of the Buffalo Springfield, the Sweetheart-era Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. My thanks to our www.fufkin.com website host, Casey Fundaro, for turning me on to this band!

When you've been listening to popular music as long as I have, it's very difficult not to make reference to an earlier song/artist. "Wasn't It You," one of the jangly tracks on Universal Honey's new disc - Vicious Circles - opens like a cover of Fleetwood Mac's monster hit "Go Your Own Way." Universal Honey's male/female tandem still manage to take their song into unique territory … and yet there is no escaping the Fleetwood Mac reference on several other songs. Lead vocalist Leslie Stanwyck also sounds like Aimee Mann and Shania Twain on a few tunes, and the duo sounds like Wilson Phillips on "Afraid Of My Heart." Fans of the Kennedys should dig this latest pop gem from Universal Honey.

Paul Chastain and Ric Menck (AKA Velvet Crush) are about to release their latest VC album, Stereo Blues. With the help of producer Adam Schmitt, Velvet Crush has changed the setting on their guitars from chiming to crunchy. "The Connection" is a terrific seven-minute tune that features Neil Young & Crazy Horse-inspired riffs, and a great chiming "wall of guitars" three-minute finale - ala any of the Rich Hopkins-fronted bands (Sidewinders, Sand Rubies, Luminarios). "Great To Be Fine," which shares a Byrds and Connells sound, will keep jangle enthusiasts pleased, but this album marks a return to the "heavier" sound of the band's early albums. Stereo Blues has something to appeal to all Velvet Crush fans - but mostly it restores the "rock" element to their pop/rock music.

Outside Guiding Lights - by Paisley Pop artists the Saving Graces. After last year's CD-EP, this full-length disc ought to put this band on the map! The disc is produced by Jamie Hoover, and there are jangly guitars throughout the tracks. Lead vocalist Michael Slawter's voice reminds me of Evan Dando of the Lemonheads; hence; the songs have a Lemonheads' ring to them. "Southern Gothic Sound," like other tracks, pays a nod to REM - the band that put 80s Southern pop on the map. With the talent they display on Outside Guiding Lights, the Saving Graces ought to keep Southern pop on the map for another decade!

Hit The Hay Volume 7 - another excellent double CD compilation from Jerker Emanuelson and his Sound Asleep label. This latest collection features 47 tracks of Americana, folk-pop, roots-rock, power pop and jangle'n'twang pop by an assortment of artists. My favorite jangly tracks are ""Hold A Shadow Down" by Steve Barton, "Paris Museum" by Barry Mauer, "On The Bus" by Charley Dush " and "Girl From Surry" by David Byron Ragsdale.

Sepia - by Jeff Larson. Jeff Larson, alone, is a very talented singer/ songwriter/musician. When you add studio assistance from the likes of Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (America) and Randell Kirsch and Jeffrey Foskett, you know you've got something special. Sepia is a solid contender for Top Ten honors in 2004! Larson's penchant for "70s soft rock" is evident throughout the album - and songs occasionally sound as if they were studio out-takes by America. You'll also hear some Dan Fogelberg, Firefall and Karla Bonoff references in Larson's material. Larson also showcases his instrumental skills on "Suburban Lawns." This is one album that you will play over and over; I certainly have!

Lady Friend - by Kenny Howes. The latest disc from Kenny features more crunch than jangle on the twelve songs - except for the title cover song (originally performed by the Byrds). Howes does a splendid job on "Lady Friend" - and lets the treble setting on his Rickenbacker guitar jangle profusely! Byrds fans will find this song worth the price of admission.

Fifteen Minutes Of Shame - by the quartet, Deluxe Leisure King. This is a solid album from start to finish, with lots of chiming guitars … and a very strong likeness to the work of the mid-90s pop band Javelin Boot. That makes this one a keeper!

Stutter - by Scott Murray. The album has plenty of power pop mid-tempo tracks, but "Shine" adds enough jangle to warrant replay by jangle enthusiasts.

Until next month, jangle on!

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