Pop Geek Heaven

    October 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron   SCOTT GAGNER: Blood Moon Blood Moon is a deeply personal tone poem born aloft on diaphanous clouds of synthesized strings, performed mostly by Scott with assists from Ken (Posies) Stringfellow and Jesse Chandler on flute. Reminiscent of Lannie Flowers’ Home, it’s emotional and heartfelt, as on “My Shadow,” whose […]

JANGLE ON! – October 2021 by Eric Sorensen 2021 continues to be a banner year for jangly pop music – and power pop music in general.  Tons of catchy “ear worm” tunes have been added to me digital library over the past month.  Standout pop/rock albums and tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs include: […]

JANGLE ON! – August 2021 by Eric Sorensen  Once again, it has been almost two months since I wrote my last column, and, once again,  there has been no interruption in the steady stream of pop/rock tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs.  Here are my latest recommendations for fellow jangly music fans:             The Four Walls […]

    August 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron SORROWS: Love Too Late (Big Stir) The Sorrows were a popular late seventies/early eighties band in New York who made a splash with their first album. They cut a deal with a major label to record their follow up, Love Too Late, and the producer replaced the […]

JANGLE ON! – JULY 2021 by Eric Sorensen   Time flies.  It has been two months since I wrote my last column, and there has been no interruption in the steady stream of pop/rock tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs.  With most of North America dealing with record early summer heat, there is greater […]

    July 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron   RICHIE MAYER: The Inn of Temporary Happiness Power pop is a big tent and Richie Mayer visits all the tables in this expansive set. “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” starts like a Rolling Stones song but breaks for daylight in the bridge and chorus. “Love Will […]

    May 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron CHRIS CHURCH: Game Dirt (Big Stir) Chris Church’s Backwards Compatible landed last year like a thermonuclear bomb, melding power pop hooks to hard rock to create ear-bending fusion. Church wisely does not go down the same path with Game Dirt, which finds him dipping more into rockabilly, Americana and roots rock, as in the opener, […]

JANGLE ON! – May 2021 by Eric Sorensen   The pandemic hasn’t kept artists from recording and releasing that steady stream of pop/rock tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs – that I mentioned last month.  The azaleas are in full bloom here in the Washington, D.C. area – and jangly songs seem to be […]

JANGLE ON! – March 2021 by Eric Sorensen   The past month featured a very steady stream of pop/rock tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs.  2021 is definitely off to an impressive start.  Jangleholics should seek out the following albums and singles: Savage Young Krayolas – the Krayolas.  Early 1980s power pop that has […]

    February 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron MY LITTLE BROTHER: Howl  (Big Stir) East Cumbria quartet incorporates every Laurel Canyon band that ever lived with a hint of acid, from Jefferson Airplane to Country Joe and the Fish, beginning with “Play Hard.” “Janey” uses the same harmonies favored by the Mamas and the Papas. It’s […]