Further Observations From a Jangly Music Fan

While I experience a lull between houseguests (our home has accommodated from two to six visitors on a steady basis since the third week in May), this is an opportune occasion to share recommendations about newly acquired jangly (and not so jangly) music. Here is a summary of June’s top picks:

German singer/songwriter/12-string guitarist Horst-Peter Schmidt just sent me an advance copy of Signature - the new Different Faces disc. This will be the band’s third full-length release and Horst-Peter assures me that the release of this new disc is imminent. All you Byrds, McGuinn, Petty and Dylan fans should be drooling over this twelve-song album! The excellent assortment of original tunes includes a song contributed by Different Faces devotee Dave Lewis, and a nifty cover of Chris Hillman’s “Have You Seen Her Face” - which has a shuffle beat akin to Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon.” Most of the songs feature pronounced 12-string and 6-string Rickenbacker riffs, and a fair number of songs also showcase some terrific acoustic guitar work by Schmidt and bandmates. It’s hard to escape the 60s/70s folk-rock influences in this material … but that makes it all the more enjoyable for those of us who are long-time jangle enthusiasts! Long may you run, Sir Horst-Peter! I’ll keep fufkin site readers informed when the disc is released.

Marc Carroll (whose Ten of Swords disc was mentioned in this column only two months ago) has wasted no time in releasing another primo assortment of pop tunes. His latest disc, All Wrongs Reversed, is a strong candidate for Top Ten honors in 2003. The opening track, “Mr. Wilson” (an homage to Brian Wilson), sounds like it could be an Adam Schmitt song. The “acoustic” version of “Crashpad Number” still has chiming 12-string riffs throughout its catchy melody. “Don’t Let Them Get You Down” could pass for a mid-tempo Teenage Fanclub song, and two of the three final tracks have an infectious Paisley Underground-inspired psych-pop flavor. From start to finish, this is one superb power pop album.

Although the Chicago area band, Paper Airplane Pilots, may not favor jangly guitars in their pop/rock tunes, their material has a timeless power pop appeal. Their debut album, The History of Flying, features 16 songs that are full of crunchy guitar hooks and excellent vocals. It all adds up to an album that merits comparisons with Cheap Trick, the Chevelles, the Shazam and Myracle Brah. Many thanks to the folks at Spade Kitty Records who sent me a promo copy of this top-notch disc.

Our pal Bruce Brodeen at Not Lame Recordings continues to cull through the high volume of indie pop to find the select discs for his pop music online catalog. Jangle music enthusiasts and pop music fans alike should snap up a copy of Steve Pearson’s Battles & Ballads. This album deserves Top Ten accolades. Pearson’s high nasal voice reminds me of Tommy Keene, Mitch Easter and that other Steve - Little Steven Van Zandt. The guitar work reminds me of Tommy Keene, Lynard Skynard and Crazy Horse. The final track, “One Step Closer,” even showcases Beatlesque qualities. Few artists can demonstrate their musical talent as skillfully as Pearson has on this twelve-song album. This is pop/rock at its finest. Long may you run, Sir Steve!

Yet another disc that will deserve Top Ten consideration is Summerman by the Scandinavian band American Suitcase. I became a fan of this band when I acquired a copy of their CD-EP with the song “The Ballad Of Gene Clark.” Summerman is stunning from start to finish - with songs that will remind listeners of the Pernice Brothers, Mayflies USA, Teenage Fanclub and Velvet Crush. If you just want to seek out the jangly, chiming tracks - look no further than “Change” and “Million Dollar Man.” My, how this band has matured!

The Los Angeles-based band, the Tyde (a Beachwood Sparks side project), just released a full-length disc for summer play - entitled Time. The first two tracks feature jangly, strummy guitars that will warm listeners further during this top-down season.

Australia’s Laughing Outlaw Records has compiled a 20 song, 20 artist tribute to Let’s Active - Every Word. Standout jangly tracks include “Talking To Myself” by the Saving Graces, “Crows On A Phone Line” by Trolleyvox, “Too Bad” by Girls Say Yes and “Badger” by Bobby Sutliff. It is now easier than ever to learn why so many contemporary artists owe a debt of gratitude to the Mitch Easter-fronted mid-80s band Let’s Active: Collector’s Choice Music has combined the band’s Cypress and Afoot albums (along with bonus tracks) onto a single CD.

While I am singing the praises of 80s Southern jangle-pop, it is quite appropriate to also mention that Collectables Records has just released Guadalcanal Diary’s Walking In The Shadow Of The Big Man and Jamboree on a single disc. Lead vocalist Murray Attaway had a distinctive voice that made it easy for Guadalcanal Diary to mimic their fellow Athens, Georgia band REM. Jangly tracks abound on this “two-fer;” look no further than “Trail Of Tears,” “Fire From Heaven,” “Pray For Rain,” “Fear Of God,” “Jamboree” and “Lonely Street.” Popular DC area DJ Weasel turned me on to Guadalcanal Diary when I heard “Litany” on WHFS back in 1987. This is post-REM and pre-Gin Blossoms pop that belongs on your music shelf!

On the occasion of the Searchers’ 40th anniversary, Castle Music has released a 56-song retrospective, The Searchers 40th Anniversary Collection, that features a George Harrison model 360-V64 Rickenbacker 12-string guitar on the jewel case cover. For the very first time, Searchers hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s are all together in a single compilation. The two-CD set brings back many fond memories - most notably, seeing the band perform “Hearts In Her Eyes” as part of a British Invasion tour that performed at a small club in San Diego in the spring of 1987.

Raven Records has come up with another compilation of Byrds-related out-takes, obscure songs and unreleased tracks that feature the original members - Byrds Parts 2. The collection has “nuggets” that will appeal to fans of all members of the Byrds, but Gene Clark fans should be particularly pleased by the track selections. Check out the demo recording of Gene Clark’s “Why Can’t I Have Her Back Again?” and then compare it with the Dillard & Clark single “Why Not Your Baby.” Clark’s strong voice is evident again on the final two songs featured on this compilation. A close read of the liner notes indicates that Byrds Parts 3 is already in the works.

Speaking of the Byrds, I finally acquired Golden Earring’s 19 minute-long version of “Eight Miles High.” The song soars through power pop and pysch-pop stretches, and also segues into other snippets of 60s psychedelic tunes (Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly and the MC5 come to mind). If you seek out cover versions of Byrds songs, this is a very worthy addition to your collection. Just don’t expect to hear a Rickenbacker 12-string guitar!

Last, but not least, I would like to mention recent discs by two other indie artists. First is the impressive CD-EP debut disc by Pamela Richardson - Spaghetti Midwestern. This is contemporary pop with a strong dose of 60s folk-rock. Pam, who organized the Chicago area Gene Clark tribute concert last year, exhibits some of Clark’s songwriting influence in her own material. Second is the latest full-length disc from the Villas - AKA Angie and Bill - Set For Life. Like their first disc, it features tunes that straddle several genres (folk, pop, rock) and demonstrate their fine musical, vocal and production skills. Fans of (Lauren) Agnelli and (Dave) Rave, Girls Say Yes and the Heymans (Richard and Nacy) should dig Set For Life.

There are several more discs in this month’s stack, but I will save them for next month’s column. Until then, jangle on!

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