JANGLE ON! – August 2022

by Eric Sorensen

2022 has truly been a banner year for jangly pop/rock music.  With the assistance of the Bandcamp, Powerpopaholic and Kool Kat Musik sites, I continue to discover some excellent new material and unearth some “nuggets” from prior decades.  Albums and singles that have been getting my attention over the past month include:

            First Prize For Everyone – Marc Andersson.  This excellent digital pop album can be downloaded from the Bandcamp site for 1 Euro!  Standout jangly tracks include “I Remember” and “Turn Back Time.”  Seasoned listeners will hear Byrds, REM and Teenage Fanclub references in Andersson’s well-crafted tunes.  I look forward to hearing more from this German pop musician!

Pop Aid – A Power Pop Compilation to Benefit the Citizens of Ukraine.  Kudos to Ray Gianchetti at Kool Kat Musik for putting together a 63 song, 3 CD compilation of all new and previously unreleased material by some notable indie pop artists.  100% of the proceeds will go the World Central Kitchen.  An early favorite track of mine is “Stop This War” by the contemporary folk rock band Starbyrd, fronted by longtime Roger McGuinn acolyte Horst-Peter Schmidt.  Long may you run, Sir Ray … and all of the artists who unselfishly contributed their songs to this humanitarian project.

            International Pop Overthrow: Volume 23.  For the twenty-third year in a row, this compilation (to be released in early September on the Omnivore Recordings label) will celebrate the power pop music scene and the International Pop Overthrow music festivals that are held in multiple cities.  There are bound to be some chiming, jangly tracks in the 60+ songs spread over the three CDs.

            Thanks go out to fellow Pop Geek Heaven columnist Mike Baron, who turned me on to the Emperors of Wyoming self-titled 2015 CD and the more recent Ghost Particles self-titled CD (2022).  The latter band includes former members of Firetown (I just missed seeing them in 1987 at the great Georgetown club the Bayou), Spooner and the Emperors of Wyoming.  Although neither CD features chiming guitars, both CDs showcase some great pop/rock from veteran artists who have been a part of the Wisconsin pop music scene since the 1980s.

            I have spent much of this summer enjoying cover tunes – across a variety of musical genres.  As a result, I have really grown to appreciate the contents of David Heselden’s Acoustically Yours (mentioned in an earlier column).  I was first drawn to Heselden’s many fine electric and jangly covers of 60s pop and folk rock tunes, but these acoustic tracks – which include some original Heselden tunes – have improved with age.  I hope there are more where these came from.  Long may you run, Sir David!

            Favorite new singles from the past month include several artists from the terrific Action Weekend Records label (Spanish label that features many contemporary garage rock and folk rock bands).  Heading up the Action Weekend Records crop is the very Byrdsian band the Kryng; check out “So Many Girls” and “Chyld” and you will be transported back to 1965.  Other great Action Weekend tracks include “Let Me Meet You Again” by Los Cids (some Love references), “I Want Her To Be Mine” by the Right Nows, “Weather With You” and the excellent cover of “So You Want To Be A Rock’n’Roll Star” by the Trouble Couple; and an excellent cover of “Why Not Your Baby” by Los Pebbles.  Speaking of cover tunes, fans of 60s music should check out “It’s Cold Outside” and “She Comes In Colors” by the Dark Marbles.  Other favorite chiming singles include: “Be Glad” by Sad About Girls; “Summer and Light” and “Do You Know What The Smart Folk Know” by the Smart Folk (shades of the Barracudas); “Summer’s Coming Back” and “Known Outsider” by the Attic Lights; “Look At You,” “Let Down” and “I’m Trying” by Slack Times; “Sirens” by John McCabe; “Your Bright Future” by Bill Mallonee (REM influences); “Ghost Heart” by Pop Co-op; and an overlooked cover of “Here Without You” by the Reigning Sound.

            Last but not least, a heartfelt thanks to Donnie Challenger, one half of the Beausage Brothers and a fellow jangly music enthusiast, who sent me a very kind email recently.  As mentioned in last month’s column, jangly music fans should seek out Again, Somewhere  – the latest album by the Beausage Brothers – to place alongside their Starry Eyed And Laughing and Starbyrd CDs.

            Until next time, jangle on!

             ERIC