Further Observations From A Jangly Music Fan

February proved again how fickle mid-Atlantic weather can be: one day, I was washing my car; two days later I was shoveling snow. In spite of the varying climate conditions, a steady stream of jangly pop music found its way to my stereo. In addition, my JangleBox pedal/compressor arrived … and I am enjoying the Byrdsian and pseudo-60s sound that it produces. Visit www.janglebox.com to learn more about this nifty product! Listed below are some of the recent additions to my music library that may interest the rest of you jangly music enthusiasts:

Lost In The Dream - by the Edisons. Okay, I mentioned this disc in last month's column … but this superb disc merits an encore endorsement. If I had heard this disc last year, it would have been a solid Top Ten contender in 2004. From start ("The Start") to finish ("Leaving" a terrific finale with a pumped-up "Heart Full of Soul" riff), this is one fine pop album. When tracks don't glisten with jangly guitar riffs, they still chime and overflow with catchy melodies and hooks. "Just For You" may be the most notable of the chiming tracks, but every track is a winner. I hear occasional references to the Rumors, Dom Mariani and DM3 and Diesel Park West - that means that this disc will stand the test of time.

Several months ago, I also mentioned the self-titled Spring Collection CD that features Joe Mendoza and a supporting cast that includes his brother, Bart. The album renewed my correspondence with Bart … and Bart sent me a very cool compilation of recordings that he has been a party to. In addition to some excellent original material (which may appear on a forthcoming Shambles album), the compilation CDR includes wonderful covers of "Different Drum," "Mr. Spaceman," "For Your Love" and "We've Got A Groovy Thing." Bart and the Shambles have appeared on many tribute discs … and I am pleased to report that the Shambles have joined the lineup for the Not Lame Recording Buffalo Springfield tribute disc that will be released in late 2005. I have only seen the Shambles perform live once, and Bart and the band honored my request to play a garage band version of the Byrds' "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better." Long may you run, Sir Bart!

Steady Freddie Krc and Cam King have been pals for years; I had the good fortune to spend an evening with them when they were doing a short acoustic tour of the northeast last fall. Among other things, Cam filled me in on the nuances of maintaining and tuning a Rickenbacker 12-string guitar. Krc, who spent a lengthy stint as the drummer for the Jerry Jeff Walker Band and was also the front man for his own pysch-pop band (think Buffalo Springfield), the Shakin' Apostles, has just released a terrific two-CD compilation, The Explosives: KaBOOM!, of studio and live material from his days together with King in the Explosives. The power pop trio applied their energy to music very akin to the skinny tie, punk-pop, Brit-pop music of the early 80s. My favorite jangly track is the Mersey Beat-influenced song "I Won't Go Back To Work." The trio has reunited for gigs in the Austin, Texas area … and they will perform at the International Pop Overthrow festival in Chicago this April.

Steve Barton, formerly of Translator, has released a terrific solo disc, Charm Offensive, that should appeal to many pop fans. "Hold A Shadow Down" is a strong contender for my Song of the Month honors - it features jangly guitars and a melody that could have blended in very well with the British Invasion hits of the mid-60s. "Shy" also gives a nod to the Beatlesque pop of that era.

Jalopy Pop - by Sparkwood. Classic pop references abound in this new album. My two favorite tracks, "Wishing You Well" and "Miles Away," are chock full o' jangly guitars and vocals that remind me a great deal of the Greenberry Woods/Splitsville.

Kyle Vincent is highly-regarded for the primo pop he has been recording; Don't You Know is the latest in a succession of superb releases. The title track is vintage Kyle Vincent/vintage power pop. This track should certainly sneak on to a few radio station play lists!

The Apricots EP - by The High Caliber. There may be some darker, heavier influences on the middle tracks on this CD-EP, but the opening track, "Can't Resist," and the closing track, "Apricots," are about as bright as pop songs can be. Lots of jangle accompanies the first track - which reminds me of Velvet Crush/Teenage Fanclub.

In a departure from the more upbeat music that was featured on his earlier albums, Marc Carroll has strengthened his pop credentials with the more serious, ballad-oriented World On A Wire. "Together We're Strong" is a catchy mid-tempo song, but most of the tracks favor a Dylan/Neil Young solo approach. Something in the melody of "Till These Bars Break" reminds me of "Helpless" and "Ohio." This disc is already an early favorite for Top Ten honors in 2005.

Our Love Will Change The World - by Outrageous Cherry. These stalwarts of the Rainbow Quartz label have done it again! The disc features twelve more psych-pop tracks ("Calling" is a short and sweet chiming number that finishes the disc on a very upbeat basis). I now regard Outrageous Cherry as the psych-pop cousins of the alt-country/pop band, the Volebeats.

Uncut Magazine's Eight Miles High compilation from several years ago … and Diesel Park West's cool version of "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

Lisa Hayes' alt-country/pop album, entitled Sweet Forgiveness. Lisa (once the lead vocalist for the Los Angeles rock band, Rebel Train) now hangs her hat in Austin, Texas. She seems right at home with a different genre of music, and the songs sparkle with her strong voice and a strong studio supporting cast. Some jangle - ala guitar and pedal steel guitar, along with chiming riffs, accompanies these songs. What you appreciate most is Lisa's voice - akin, to say, Maria McKee and Kris McKay … and very capable of belting out a heartfelt tune like " 'Cause Of Faith." Her Rebel Train repertoire and this new disc make a nice "set of bookends" for a talented singer/songwriter who I hope has more to share with the public. To learn more, check out Lisa's website at www.lisahayesmusic.com.

"Generation" - the theme song from hit TV show "American Dreams," sung by Emerson Hart. This tune (which jangles during the bridge) ranks right up there with the great theme song from "Friends" - "I'll Be There For You" by the Rembrandts.

Double CD release from Steve Wynn - What I Did After My Band Broke Up: the Best of Steve Wynn - 1990-2004 and Visitation Rights (14 songs reinterpreted for piano and vocal - featuring Chris Cacavas). Folks, this isn't a repository of jangly songs (although "Tears Won't Help" is very chiming) … but it is a small glimpse of what this Paisley Underground veteran has been doing for the past fifteen years. To really appreciate Steve Wynn, though, you've got to see him perform live!

Last but not least, I've been listening to the unreleased demos of Mark Helm. I first saw Mark in 1991 when he was a member of the Washington, D.C.-based power pop band, Radio Blue. I ran into him eight years later as a solo artist with a backlog of wonderful original tunes. He subsequently recorded a terrific album on the Not Lame label, and spearheaded the Friends of the Earth-sponsored Byrds Tribute Show at the Birchmere in September 2000. Mark left the D.C. area last fall and moved to Oregon to be near his children. I miss running into him at live music events in this area … but I've got his original material ("Here Comes Alison!" is my favorite of his upbeat tracks) and his excellent cover of "Wear Your Love Like Heaven" to keep me company … until I hear from him again!

Until next month, jangle on!

_________________________________________________________

To reach any other page contained in this month's update on Fufkin.com, read the home page for the appropriate link and click on it. You can also search the site from any page using the search box located at the top of each page. Merely type in the word, phrase, name of the band, recording, name of the Fufkin writer that you are looking for or Whatever in the search box, and then click on "Search". If you would like to e-mail us, go to the About Us page for a list of e-mail addresses.

Go back to the home page by clicking here

________________________________________________________________