JANGLE ON!

by Eric Sorensen

May seems to have come and gone very quickly.  Even though there wasn’t a Rickenbacker guitar on the stage, it was fun to attend Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” show at Wolf Trap over the recent Memorial Day weekend.  I will return to the Memorial Day theme at the end of this column, but before I do, let me summarize some of the best chiming pop to catch my ear this past month.  Albums and songs that made my monthly “Jangle Pop Sampler” include….  (you can download the sampler – HERE)

We Get What We Want – Nelson Bragg.

I have always held Nelson Bragg in high esteem, but he has just raised the bar for all pop singer/songwriters with the release of We Get What We Want.  Forget about the 2012 Top Ten; this album is number one for the year unless someone else can surpass the craftsmanship that Bragg exhibits on this extraordinary album.  Even though it would be easy to synopsize We Get What We Want as a showcase for pseudo-60s (Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys) pop, the CD also incorporates elements from the 70s and 80s – with killer hooks and choruses.  One track may be slightly reminiscent of the Spongetones; another track sounds a bit like the Moody Blues; still another will remind one of Paul McCartney or David Graham.  To say “it’s all good” is an understatement; it’s all fabulous. My favorite chiming tracks are “You Could Believe,” “Trying Hard To Please You,” “I’m In No Mood” and “Welcome To Nowhereville.”  Long may you run, Sir Nelson!

ORDER AT KOOL KAT – HERE

Dan Kibler – Dan Kibler.

Veteran power pop fans will recognize the name of this gifted artist – who returns to the contemporary music scene with a top-notch self-titled album on the Kool Kat label (kudos to Ray Gianchetti!)  I became a fan of Dan Kibler when his first two albums were released on the Big Deal label.  Like Nelson Bragg, Kibler is improving with the years.  The album features excellent pop-rock tunes that are interlaced with jangle’n’twang and Kibler’s signature vocals (Russ Tolman and Jon Macey have similar authentic voices).  The standout jangly tracks are the very catchy “When Johnny Comes Home,” “Is It True” and “Never Good News.”  Kibler is a master songwriter who knows how to hold a listener’s ear.  When you order this disc from Kool Kat, you will also be treated to a bonus disc: a nine-track disc entitled What’ll It Be: A Dan Kibler Mixtape.  The two discs together represent a terrific compilation of two decades worth of excellent power pop!

ORDER AT KOOL KAT – HERE

Dream Mountain Dream – Dale Murray.

This album blends the Canyon Rock sound (from the Burrito Brothers to the Beachwood Sparks) with power pop and the results are very pleasing.  The jangly opening track – “Dream Mountain Dream” – even borrows a catchy guitar riff from Dwight Yoakum’s “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere.”  “The Grove” and “Song After The Storm” have some Byrdsian country-rock jangle’n’twang.  I predict that this album will stand the test of time.

In the “blast from the past” category are some very fine late 80s discs by the Cheepskates and some early 90s solo discs by Cheepskates member Shane Faubert.  The ‘skates were hailed as leaders in the east coast pseudo-60s garage movement – and their music was certainly more pop-oriented than the music of fellow New Jersey band the Feelies. There is a nice, clean jangly innocence to the tunes – favorites include: “When Patti Rocked,” “Anymore” and “Don’t Cry.”  These are gems from the same era that produced the Ghost Rockets (Gary Pig Gold and Buddy Woodward).  Hoboken must have been a fun music scene in the late 80s!

Filling out the 80 minutes on this month’s “Jangle Pop” sampler are some of the finest covers of Byrds songs ever recorded – from Craig T. Fall’s Blue Pacific 1 Downloads.  Fall’s guitarmanship, along with a JangleBox effects pedal, create a worthy homage to Roger McGuinn and the Byrds.  Even though the tracks are demos, they represent multi-track recording at its best.  Long may you run, Sir Craig!

Now back to the Memorial Day theme.  I mean no disrespect to Garrison Keillor’s patriotic sing-along with an audience of 6,000, but two very poignant live music experiences come to mind: Bruce Robeson singing a stripped down version of “Travelin’ Soldier” for a Birchmere audience, with wife Kelly Willis singing chorus vocals – several years before the Dixie Chicks turned the song into a mega-hit; and Radney Foster’s beautiful ballad “Angel Fire” performed last fall at the Barns of Wolf Trap.  Both of these songs are vivid reminders that music can stir strong emotions … as we honor those who have sacrificed their lives on our behalf.

Enjoy the summer months … and JANGLE ON!