Pop Geek Heaven

    December 2021 REVIEWS by Mike Baron   THE FOREIGN FILMS: Starlight Serenade Like Michael Brown, John San Juan, or Marshall Crenshaw, Bill Majoros has an instantly identifiable sound, born of rarefied chords and voice. He sings in hushed urgency, with stacked harmonies and lush arrangements that never approach saccharine. Starlight Serenade begins with “The Fortune Teller,” hitting the bullseye with […]

JANGLE ON! – November 2021 by Eric Sorensen Christmas came early for jangly music fans this year.  New CDs from Starry Eyed And Laughing and the Belltowers – two bands who wear their Byrds/McGuinn Rickenbacker influences on their sleeves – were both released in the past month.  In addition to these “must have” CDs for […]

    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 […]