(note:  I posted this a wee bit early – but sooner than later is always better, yes?!)

JANGLE ON!

 JUNE

by Eric Sorensen

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            The theme in recent weeks seems to be tributes.  Three weeks ago, my wife and I drove to Bath, Maine to hear the Don Campbell Band give an inspired Dan Fogelberg tribute concert at the iconic Chocolate Church.  Pop Geek Heaven readers may recall that Maine singer/songwriter Don Campbell released a two-CD tribute to Dan Fogelberg – entitled Kites To Fly – last November (reviewed on this site).  Since returning from Maine, several excellent tribute discs have joined my play stack, and a number of the tracks feature jangly guitar riffs.  As a result, this month’s Jangle Pop compilation disc includes some catchy new material as well as some cool cover versions of “old friends.”  The following discs should interest fellow jangly music enthusiasts:

            On Sunset Lake and Songs Before Sunset – Kontiki Suite.  If Benjamin Singh (the mastermind singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist/producer behind Kontiki Suite) only releases this single album (and its demo track predecessor) he has earned a place in the Jangly Music Hall of Fame.  Both discs celebrate the canyon rock sound of the “Wasn’t Born To Follow”-era Byrds and the more contemporary works of the Beachwood Sparks and Maplewood.  “Watching Over Me” is the perfect marriage of power pop and country pop.  “See You In The Morning,” “In My Head,” “Autumn Fields,” “Me And You Against The World” and “Maybe It’s Right” are all just as catchy.  Twelve-string guitars and lap steel guitars chime throughout many of the tunes.  Buffalo Springfield fans will revel in “She Gets High.”  As Tony the Tiger would say – it’s great!  Both discs can be purchased as a package from primo power pop purveyor Ray Gianchetti of Kool Kat Musik.  Long may you run, Sir Benjamin!

Life and Rhymes – Phil Angotti.  Veteran indie pop musician Phil Angotti (I became familiar with Phil when he fronted the band the Idea) shines on his latest solo release that showcases his pseuo-60s/Mersey-influenced pop.  My favorite track is “I See Spaceships” – which will have listeners confused whether they are hearing Phil Angotti or Richard X. Heyman (another veteran power pop artist).  Long may you run, Sir Phil!

Tone-wah – Tony Low.  This six-song CD EP features the solo work of former Cheepskates member Tony Low.  Listen carefully to “Bass Guitar” and you will hear some of the chiming guitars that the Cheepskates were known for.

Cool Cats for Pop Dogs – the Pop Dogs.  This disc is straight-ahead power pop, with some nice ringing guitar riffs on “High Time.”

            Skrang: Sounds Like Bobby Sutliff – various artists.  Eighteen songs by eighteen different artists – who all lovingly contributed their tracks to this disc that is intended to be a fundraiser for Bobby Sutliff, who nearly lost his life in an automobile accident last year.  My favorite tracks include “Sceond Choice” by Velvet Crush (with Matthew Sweet), “Girl From Washington” (a power pop classic first recorded by Sutliff when he was in the Windbreakers) by John Stirrat, “Same Way Tomorrow” by Bill Lloyd (I first met Bobby Sutliff and Bill Lloyd in person when Bill hosted a Gene Clark tribute concert in Nashville in 2000, and Bobby was one of the guest artists), “Bitter Fruit” by Tom Stevens (formerly of the Long Ryders), “Elam Bridge” by Jeff Lewis and “Long Red Bottle of Wine” by the talented and prolific indie pop musician Michael Carpenter.  If you are unfamiliar with Bobby Sutliff’s rich repertoire of pop material, this excellent tribute just scratches the surface.  Seek out Bobby’s work with Tim Lee in the Windreakers and Bobby’s body of solo releases.  Tim Lee, who compiled this disc, reports that Bobby has made remarkable strides since the accident.  Long may you run, Sir Bobby!

            Starry Eyed: The Records Tribute – various artists.   Even though I have all of the Records material on CD, a surfeit of unreleased material by John Wicks (who lived and performed in the Washington, D.C. area back in the mid-late 90s) and an earlier Records Tribute disc, I never tire of hearing their tunes.  Zero Hour Records released this latest compilation, which features a cross-section of power pop artists – including Bill Lloyd.  My favorite jangly cuts are “”Up All Night” by Lannie Flowers, “Hearts In Her Eyes” by Donovan’s Brain, “”Hearts Will Be Broken” by Bill Lloyd, “Not So Much The Time” by Vex and the Voxtones and “Your Own Soundtrack” by the Popdudes.   Although the Records never achieved widespread commercial success, they continue to garner respect from their power pop peers and successors.  In fact, janglemeister Mitch Easter and several other North Carolina pop artists occasionally perform as Guitars In the Sky – a Records tribute band.

Drink A Toast To Innocence: A Tribute to Lite Rock – various artists.  Two CDs with 27 tracks by contemporary pop artists (including Michael Carpenter) covering the “lite rock” sound of the 70s.  I love the concept, but found the title (lyrics taken from Dan Fogelberg’s “Same Old Lang Syne”) to be a tease since there are no Dan Fogelberg tunes in this compilation.  Chiming tracks are few and far between – the best one is “Shake It” by Cliff Hillis.  Even without jangly guitars, it is fun to hear so many cover versions of 70s Top Forty songs.  NOTE: Dan Fogelberg fans will be repaid for their patience when a Dan Fogelberg tribute disc (featuring arists who were affiliated with Fogelberg during his music career) is released later this year.

Last but not least, I have revisited the legacy of Jimmy Silva by playing the twenty-three track compilation Heidi by Jimmy Silva and the Goats.  Songs like “Tin Whistle And A Wooden Drum,” “I Don’t Remember How,” “Hand Of Glory,” “Through A Faraway window,” “Fair Exchange,” “City of Sisterly Love” (one of the finest pop tunes to combine a 12-string guitar with a mandolin riff) and “Where Do You Go” have all stood the test of time.  Although Jimmy Silva was taken before his time, he has a permanent place in my Indie Pop All Star Band.  Freddie Steady Krc honored Silva’s place in indie pop history by releasing a gem of a tribute disc – Through A Faraway Window: A Tribute To Jimmy Silva – on his Steady Boy Records in 2010.  Jangleholics should seek out this tribute disc … and seek out Silva’s original material.

Until next time, jangle on!