JANGLE ON! – March 2021

by Eric Sorensen

The past month featured a very steady stream of pop/rock tunes with jangly and chiming guitar riffs.  2021 is definitely off to an impressive start.  Jangleholics should seek out the following albums and singles:

Savage Young Krayolas – the Krayolas.  Early 1980s power pop that has stood the test of time, and is now available on CD.  Standout jangly tracks include “Three Girls Flying In From Mexico City” (with hints of Jimmy Silva’s “City of Sisterly Love”),  “All I Do Is Try,” “I Just Wanna” and “Sunny Day.”  Thanks go out to Ray Gianchetti at Kool Kat Musik for turning me on to this band and this CD.

Another Bandcamp find is the Ohio-based band the Laughing Chimes.  The full-length CD In This Town features plenty of excellent jangly tracks like “Your Paisley Rug,” “Try To Change My Mind,” “Guess You’ll Never Be The Same,” “House Painted White,” “Patchwork Eye” and “Back To My House.”  This Midwestern jangle pop reminds me a bit of Fire Town.

Also found on Bandcamp is the latest full-length CD from the Umbrella Puzzles – A Slowly Dawning Realization.  Like the band’s earlier releases, this new album is chock-full of

jangly ear worms like “Slip Through The Cracks,” “It’s Perfect As It Stands,” “This Could Be The Worst Time” and “Sinking Ground.”

Come Back From the Sun – the latest release (20 tracks!) by 3 A.M. Again (formerly Night Heron), on the Subjangle label.  Although chiming guitar riffs do not jump out at the listener, this is more well-crafted pop from a band with strong songwriting chops. Thanks to Darrin at Subjangle for keeping me in the loop on this under-the-radar band!

Jangle Gems – by the Unswept.  This five song EP, released in conjunction with Bandcamp Friday, features Charlie O’Brien on his chiming Rickenbacker.  The Unswept – a trio of cousins – has truly mastered the pseudo-60s sound with their very appealing approach to jangly pop.  So much ear candy, so little time!

Fellow jangle enthusiast Ray Verno continues to unearth Byrds-inspired “nuggets” from obscure sources.  Byrdsian Volume 145 features: the latest releases by the BellTowers; “My Back Pages” by the Thorns (with Gary Jacob); a cool cover of “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better” by Harry Stout; and “Lovestruck Daze” by the Cosmic Raspberry Morning.

Notable singles from the past month include: “These Are The Days” and “Hazel” by Trip Wire; “Outlaws & Lovers” by Belles Will Ring” (great chiming guitar riffs);”Anywhere You Run” and “Turning” by Doug Tuttle (some pseudo-60s pop/rock with psychedelic and 12-string elements); “Echoes In Time” by the Marshmallow Overcoat; “The End Of The End” by Rob Clarke & the Wooltones; “Early Morning Days” by Top Boost; “Up All Night” by Aaron Lee Tasjan (a very Tom Petty-like track); “Like The Tide” by Zach Jones; “The Endless Road” by Mark and the Clouds; “Wrong” by Young Scum; “I Fell In Love” and “Old Fashion Virtue” by the EggS; “Jamie” by the Hummingbird Sydicate; “I Want You Back” and “Heathens Of Love” by the Peaces; and “Tomorrow” by the Stan Laurels.

Until next time, jangle on!

ERIC