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 Sessions – Kevin Robertson.  This CD-EP comes on the heels of Kevin’s superb full-length CD Sundown’s End and the CD single “In Your Own Dreams.”  As I mentioned in my last column, Kevin is one-fifth of the jangly psych-pop band the Vapour Trails, and Kevin combines Beach Boys-styled harmonies with 12-string guitar riffs that remind me of the Cosmic Rough Riders and the Someloves.  The standout chiming track on the CD-ep is “Rather Hide” but every track is further evidence that KR is a master of contemporary pop/rock.  Long may you run, Sir Kevin!

            Uncommon Weather – the Reds, Pinks and Purples.  Although the jangle factor is a bit muted (flirting with shoe gazer pop), it is present in many of the tracks on this disc.  This is an excellent CD to play in the background while you are reading.   My favorite tracks are “Record Player” and “Sing Red Roses For Me.”

            Lost Illusions – Benjamin Belinska.  Some very cool power pop with an undercurrent of chiming guitars – on tracks like “Disappearing,” “Don’t Turn Away” and “Wrong Place At The Wrong Time.”  Check this disc out on Bandcamp.

            Campfire Songs – Richard Turgeon.  This is the latest release from the very talented San Francisco-based indie pop artist Richard Turgeon.  “Promised Land” is the jangliest track in the bunch – reminding me of classic Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers.  I encourage readers to visit Richard’s site at www.richardturgeon.com and check out his back catalog of original material and covers.

            In-Flyte Entertainment; A Tribute To The Byrds – the Floor Models.  The Floor Models have always worn their Byrds influence on their sleeves, and now they devote an entire CD to twelve covers of songs popularized by the Byrds in the 1960s.  While you track this CD down, don’t overlook the 2019 release by this group – Esprit de Floor.  The standout track on that disc was the very Byrdsian “3,000 Miles.”

            Often In The World – the Laundromat Chicks.  This group channels the strummy and jangly aspects of the Feelies very well on tracks like “Might Explode” and “Catch It.”

            Steadman’s Wake – the Connells.  Yes – the Connells are back after a long hiatus with more of the pop/rock that made them darlings of the mid-Atlantic club scene in the 1980s and 1990s.  “Really Great” features some chiming guitar riffs along with the usual crunch that Connells tracks featured.

            In the coming soon department is the much-anticipated new full-length CD from Starry Eyed And Laughing – Bells of Lightning.  I cannot wait to hear the latest group of songs by 12-string maestro (and Byrds disciple) Tony Poole and his band mates.

            Notable singles from the past month include: “It’s My Time” by the Viewers; “Melodies” by the Incurables; “As Much As I Apologize” by Xray Dress; “Tomorrow’s Yesterday” by Lucas Aaron; “Next Best Thing” and “Long Time Coming” by the James Clark Institute; two new singles by the Librarians with Hickeys – “I Can’t Stop Thinking About You” and “Stumbling Down Memory Lane;” “18 Cigarettes” by Ducks Ltd.; “Span” by the Angles; “Choices We Make” by Richard X. Heyman; “Sunny Skies” by Russell Henderson; and “Sounds Like You To Me” by the Smug Brothers.

            Until next time, jangle on!
ERIC