Further Observations of a Jangly Music Fan

Well, it had to end. The mid-year surfeit of jangly pop discs and tunes finally wilted in the August heat. Some fine new discs were added to my music library this month - they just don't feature the abundance of jangly, chiming and ringing guitar riffs that discs acquired in recent months possess. Hence, after discussing the latest in pop finds, I will dip into the archives and share with fufkin readers some of my favorite jangly tracks. Here, then, is a snapshot of discs and tunes that have been spending time on my CD player:

Miscellaneous Heathen - by John Hoskinson. This one is a Top Ten disc - hands down! Hoskinson has masterfully woven eleven tracks together with pop listener appeal from start to finish. Eugene Edwards, Joe Ongie and several others lend their studio talents to this disc. Bruce Brodeen at Not Lame hears Crowded House/Finn Brothers references in this material; I hear some Beatles, Nillson, Squeeze and Marshall Crenshaw references also. Whether he's slowing things down with a ballad - "Thanks For Nothing" - or adding some jangle to a mid-tempo tune - "She Still Plays Around" - Hoskinson understands the devil in the production details and he delivers the goods. Miscellaneous Heathen showcases a pop singer/songwriter/musician that major label artists should learn to emulate. Long may you run, Sir John!

No Discretion - the latest solo disc by Tim Lee. The Paisley Pop label has released another gem from veteran guitar-pop performer Lee. This disc has more of a roots-rock and roots-pop feel to it than 2003's Under The House, and the vocals and songs remind me of Russ Tolman's early 90s work. The song with the most jangle, "Sure Bet," opens with a McGuinn-styled riff and then quickly sounds like a classic Long Ryders tune. Pop fans won't be disappointed by this thirteen track album that Lee labored over for eighteen months with some talented producers and sidemen. Long may you run, Sir Tim!

NOTE: Tim Lee and Bobby Sutliff occasionally reunite and perform and record as the Windbreakers. The forthcoming Buffalo Springfield tribute disc (to be released by Not Lame Recording in the spring of 2005) will feature the Windbreakers' excellent version of "Expecting To Fly."

Best + - a two-CD compilation of Dillon Fence's late 80s/early 90s material. After listening to these songs again after almost a decade, I highly recommend this disc to fans of guitar-pop music. This material has stood the test of time quite well … and now I regret that I did not go and see the reunited band three weeks ago when they performed in this area. Best + is top-notch power pop replete with Teenage Fanclub, Tommy Keene, Gin Blossoms, Apples In Stereo and Gigolo Aunts references. Need I say more? If you're seeking jangle-pop tracks, look no further than "Sad Inheritance," "Lisa Marie," "Why" and "Hey Mockingbird." If you missed their excellent albums a decade ago, you should consider yourself fortunate to have Best + as the next best thing.

For Almost Ever Scooter - a sixteen-song compilation of mid-80s material by the Mice. The Mice blended pseudo-60s pop with some garage rock and punk. Their songs remind me of the Plimsouls - without the textured, wall of guitars sound and with a little less urgency. The jangly tracks like "Little Rage," "When Tiffany Cries" and "Crystal Silence" have held their appeal well since their original release in 1986/1987.

Two Suns/Dos Soles - the two-CD studio collaboration between Jeremy Morris and Guill Cazenave. Twenty-three tracks and eighty-six minutes of tunes that are a pistache of pop/rock music from the past five decades. On one song, you'll hear Fab Four influences; on another, you'll hear 80s Arena Rock references. Not surprisingly, there are many bright, jangly riffs in the Jeremy Morris-penned tunes. I've lost count - but I think this may be the sixth release from the prolific Jeremy Morris in 2004. Pop fans should add this to their list of Jeremy CDs that ought to be in their collections!

Twenty-three is a good number - it matches the number of tracks on the new Cloud Eleven compilation of outtakes, tribute songs and demos - Terrestrial Ballet. Rick Gallego made his pop debut in 1996 as Jiffipop, and he continues to compose and record pseudo-60s gems as Cloud Eleven. If you're already familiar with Gallego's works, you'll want to keep your collection current by adding this disc. If you are unfamiliar with Cloud Eleven, snap this disc up and enjoy hearing songs that are a testament to two other pop artists with the initials "JL" - John Lennon and Jeff Lynne. This is timeless pop music for all pop fans. Jangly music enthusiasts will be drawn to "Things Will Work Out Fine," "Super Sun," "The One" and "Ain't That Enough."

MOJO Magazine's latest issue has a 40th anniversary 20-page feature on the Beatles' first North American tour in 1964. The magazine also features two different 15-track Beatlemania compilation CDs. I acquired the Volume One disc that has "I'm Looking Through You" by the Posies and two of my favorite cover songs from the golden era of mid-60s pop - "I'm Happy Just To Dance With You" by the Cyrkle and the very Byrdsian version of "If I Needed Someone" by the Cryan' Shames.

On The Other Side Of Mad - by Starbyrd, mentioned in earlier columns, has finally been released. Fans of chiming Rickenbacker 12-string pop songs will want to order this disc from the band's website - www.starbyrd.org. The Starbyrd collaboration between Horst-Peter Schmidt and Graham Allman-Talbot reminds me of the recording collaboration between Roger McGuinn and Tom Petty on the great song "King Of The Hill" that was featured on McGuinn's 1991 Arista album, Back From Rio. Play those Ricks, Horst-Peter and Graham!

Now, on to that discussion of hit tunes from the Jingle Jangle Hall of Fame archives:

"Space And Time" - by the Fraternal Order Of The All (AKA Andrew Gold). I know I have said this before, but it bears repeating - no pop artist other than Andrew Gold could single-handedly sound so much like the Byrds! The production, the instrumentation (including the snap, crackle'n'pop from a vintage Rickenbacker 12-string guitar once owned by Roger McGuinn) and the eloquent emulation of the McGuinn-Clark-Crosby vocal harmonies is dead-on. Sir Andrew is in a league of his own!

"I've Been Waiting" - by Matthew Sweet. Matthew may still be releasing excellent pop music twenty years from now, but this radio-friendly track from his Girlfriend album will always remain my favorite song by him.

"Is This Her Day?" "Her Magic Smile," "I Won't Remind You," "Then You Want," "Candle & Birds," "Annabel Lee," "Walking Around" and "Words Weren't Said" by the Lears. If one album is all we will ever be treated to by the Lears, jangleholics should be forever grateful that we were treated to a grand slam by Dennis Dalcin and Paul Mutchler when they released The Story So Far … These guys nailed the sound of the Byrds.

"Nearly In Love" and "Dead Man's Handle" by Richard Thompson. Thompson is the British counterpart to America's Roger McGuinn - he started his musical career in the 60s in folk-rock and today he's still churning out primo guitar pop. What a treat it was for me back in 1992 to see Thompson and McGuinn perform solo and duet numbers in the intimate confines of the Barns at Wolf Trap.

"Life Is Large" by the Kennedys. This is just one of many tunes on the Kennedys' fine albums that showcases Pete Kennedy's lust for those bright Rickenbacker 12-string riffs. This track even featured a guest appearance by Roger McGuinn - who also played Rickenbacker 12-string solos (ala "She Don't Care About Time") between verses. Long may you run, Pete and Maura!

Until next month, jangle on!

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