JANGLE ON! – July 2022

by Eric Sorensen

The jangly pop music scene is not suffering from any supply chain issues this year; more terrific chiming, jangly tracks rolled off the assembly line in June.  Many of the new albums and individual songs give a pronounced nod to jangle pop predecessors (Beatles, Byrds, REM and others) of earlier decades.  Notable jangly albums and songs from the past month include:

Again, Somewhere – Beausage Brothers.   The new full-length CD from contemporary folk-rockers Charlie Everett and Donnie Challenger, and a supporting cast.  Many of the tracks (e.g., “The Opposite Is True”) feature the classic compressed sound of Everett’s Rickenbacker 12-string guitar, but the album also showcases Challenger’s songwriting skills – along with the duo’s vocal and instrumental unison.  Jangly music enthusiasts and folk rock fans should not hesitate to add Again, Somewhere to their music libraries, and they shouldn’t overlook the Beausage Brothers’ back catalog of similar material.  Long may you run, Sir Charlie and Sir Donnie!

            Jangle – Fernando Perdomo.  The album title says it all and Fernando (mentioned in previous columns) is pictured on the cover with a Mapleglo Rickenbacker 12-string guitar.  Every track is shimmering with chiming 12-string riffs, and the instrumental track “Jangle” adds an exclamation point with more great compressed riffs.  Long may you run, Sir Fernando.

            Faded Scrapbook – West Coast Music Club.  The latest full-length CD from an upbeat band that enjoys adding lots of jangle to their psych-pop tunes.  “Here It Comes Again” and “Faded Scrapbook” may be the standout jangly tracks, but many of the other songs also feature chiming guitar riffs.

            Guv IV – Young Guv.  I have become a fan of this Toronto-based artist who continues to release well-crafted songs that are complemented by chiming guitars.  “Too Far Gone” is my favorite track from Guv IV, but the entire album is worthy of repeat listens.

            Songs About Girls – the Wilmas.  Kudos to the folks who resurrected this late 1980s material by a Lawrence, Kansas band and brought it into the digital age.  REM and other period influences can be heard in the 22 tracks – with “Summer” making my current playlist.

            Favorite new singles from the past month include:  the very Byrdsian “It Won’t Hurt You”  – with a “So You Want To Be a Rock’n’Roll Star” intro – by the L.A. based psych-pop band the Triptides; “Aventurine” and “The River Highway” from the latest Ashenden Papers CD-EP; “Wishes and Kings” and “Seasons of Childhood” by Mike Browning (I hear faint echoes of the Cheepskates and Shane Faubert); “Summertime” and “Merry-Go-Round” by Buddhist Bubblegum; “Write It In The Sky” and “I’ll Never Understand” by the Umbrellas; “I Need Her” and “I’m In Love” by the Beatlesque band Cherrystone; “Everything That I See You See Better” by Portland’s the Eyelids; “Chocolate & Cars” by Leaking Machine; “Tell Me Your Secrets” by Arts & Letters (hints of 80s shoegaze jangle pop); “According To You” by In Deed; “You’re On The Line” by the Laundromat Chicks (hints of 80s Brit jangle pop); and “Think It Over” by Light of Day.

            Not to be overlooked are a number of jangly, chiming tracks included in the excellent three CD, 66-song Pop Geek Heaven The Best Power Pop of 2020 compilation.  In addition, I offer my continued thanks to fellow Byrds enthusiast Ray Verno for sharing the always jangly contents of Byrdsian Volume 150 with me.

            Until next time, jangle on!

ERIC