JANGLE ON!

 JULY

by Eric Sorensen

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Although very little new material surface in the past month, some terrific compilations – featuring vintage jangly power pop – did find its way to my CD library.  I have Pop Geek Heaven web master Bruce Brodeen to thank for the twenty-one This Is Power Pop Grab Bag Rare and Vinyl CDRs; and I have fellow jangleholic Ray Verno to thank for Byrdsian Volume 92.   These two sources of obscure pop music were able to fill out the track listing for my own most recent monthly Jangle Pop compilation.  The following discs and tracks should interest fellow jangly music enthusiasts:

Such A Thrill – the Bottle Kids.  This nifty CD, released on Ray Gianchetti’s Kool Kat Musik label, features some excellent power pop that draws quick comparisons to primo power pop bands like the Knack and the Rubinoos.  The title track, “Revisit The Past” and “Where Is Sara Tonight” are also overflowing with chiming guitar riffs that will make jangleholics very happy.  Like so many other Kool Kat discs, Such A Thrill is a delight to listen to from start to finish.

Graham Alexander – self-titled.  Alexander (who portrays Paul McCartney with a Beatles tribute band) shows off his McCartney chops on this superb solo disc.  Fans of the Beatles, McCartney and Emmitt Rhodes should be thrilled with this release.  Enough said!

Byrdsian Volume 92 has a number of appealing tracks, but my favorites are the pseudo-60s track “I’ll be Your Mirror” by House of Fire, “No Substitute” by the Shivvers and “Kernersville” by A Fragile Tomorrow. Thanks, Ray, for continuing to mine the INTERNET for these contemporary and vintage jangly nuggets!

The twenty-one This Is Power Pop Grab Bag discs that I encountered from Pop Geek Heaven also have many chiming, jangly tracks(less than 20 of these were made up).  I encourage Pop Geek Heaven site readers to take advantage of any future “Grab Bag” offers from Bruce Brodeen.  The quality and variety of tracks available on these compilations remind me of the fabulous Lost Jukebox releases that pop music archivist and pop musician Jeffrey Glenn used to painstakingly compile.  When Bruce Brodeen says that these discs feature rare and unreleased gems, he means just that!

Until next time, jangle on!