JANGLE ON! – December 2021

by Eric Sorensen

Christmas continues to come early for jangly music fans this year.  The past month has seen plenty of new CDs and releases of back catalog material feature chiming, jangly guitar riffs.  Jangleholics should seek out the following CDs and tracks:

            Chime School – Chime School.  This is a solo project from Andy Pastalaniec, who was/is the drummer for several other pop bands.  Pastalaniec shines on his Rickenbacker 12-string (pictured on his Bandcamp page).  Veteran jangle fans will hear references to the Byrds (particularly on the opening track “Wait Your Turn”), REM and other 80s jangle bands.  Standout tracks include “Radical Leisure,” “Gone Too Fast,” “Taking Time To Tell You,” “Dead Saturdays” and “Get A Bike.”  In spite of the retro references, this music is fresh and non-derivative.  I certainly hope that there is more material where this came from.  Long may you run, Sir Andy!

            Green Today, Gone Tomorrow – the Green Today.  This album (originally released in 1987) is available for free download on Bandcamp.  Imagine a combination of the Long Ryders and the Lears, and you have the terrific Rickenbacker-driven pseudo-60s sound of the Green Today.  “Flying Back Home” is a fabulous opener; “Stop, Look, Listen” has a chord progression similar to Roger McGuinn’s “Tiffany Queen;” and the rest of the twelve superb tracks are sure to please every jangly music fan!

            Modern Fiction – Ducks Ltd.  Back to the present – and another full-length CD by a contemporary band, with ten excellent jangly tracks – more reminiscent of the late 1980s (Smiths, Mighty Lemon Drops, Robyn Hitchcock).  Top tracks are “How Lonely Are You,” “Sullen Leering Hopes” and “Grand Final Day.”  This will be a great stocking stuffer for the jangly music fan on your Christmas list – or for yourself!

            854 – the Eyelids.  I have mentioned the veteran band the Eyelids in previous columns (there are clear references to Teenage Fanclub, Velvet Crush, the Feelies and REM).  This 2016 album features 13 solid tracks.  The Eyelids are now my biggest reason for returning to Portland, Oregon to enjoy the vibrant live pop/rock music scene in the Rose City.

            All We Have Is Ourselves – On The Runway.  Jangly and crunchy guitars, together with harmony vocals, evoke quick comparisons with Andrew Taylor, Dropkick and Teenage Fanclub.  This five-song CD-EP shines from start – “This Charade” – to finish.  The closing track “Stuck On You” is a terrific jangly ear worm.

            Drive In – Other Bright Colors.  “Someone Else’s Frown” exemplifies the influence that REM had on this 1980s pop/rock outfit from North Carolina.  The full-length disc, recorded in 1987 by jangle-maestro Mitch Easter, was previously unreleased.  Thankfully, this oversight has been corrected for jangle fans to enjoy in 2021!

            Notable singles from the past month include:  “I’ll Always Be Around” and “Transparent Day” by the Higher State – released in 2011 on the Get Hip label;  “Runaway,” “She’s My Kinda Girl,” “Close The Door and “Firing Line” by the See No Evils;  “I’ll Never Know” by Hi-Ranger; “Cut Knuckle” by Monnone Alone; “On Display” by Roslyn; “Empty Heaven” and “When You Come Back” by the Title Tracks; “Lift” by Stutter Steps; “Lolita” by the Ordinary 5; “Dark Side” by Roy; “D16” by 98 Camry; “On The Radio” and “Waiting” by Happy New Year & Jam; “So You Say You Lost Your Baby” by Spygenius; and “Lady Friend” by the Grip Weeds (from the outstanding two-CD DiG – that features 23 faithful cover songs of vintage pop/rock tunes, as only the Grip Weeds can record them).

            Until next time, enjoy the holiday season and jangle on!

ERIC