JANGLE ON!

By Eric Sorensen

Instead of my usual trip to New England, I’m going to travel to Europe this fall to visit many historical sites in the Mediterranean and Aegean region.  I just wanted to share a few recent musical “discoveries” with fellow jangleholics before I depart.  Albums and songs that made my monthly “Jangle Pop Sampler” include:

Paper Trails – Dropkick.  This group’s latest album – on the excellent Sound Asleep Records label – really delivers.  When melody and harmony are at the forefront, Dropkick reminds me a great deal of fellow Scottish band Teenage Fanclub.  When the band opts for a more fuzzed-out rock sound, they remind me of Neil Young & Crazy Horse.  When they want to jangle – as they do on the superb pop tune “Annabelle” – they remind me of the Byrds.  For a Baby Boomer like me, that’s not a bad combination of musical references!  Standout tracks include “Until I Fall Away,” “Going Where You’re Going,” “Paper Trails,” “Taking My Cue” and the very catchy and upbeat “Annabelle.” Paper Trails is yet another Dropkick album that is a delight to listen to from start to finish.  If you are unfamiliar with this band, I encourage you to check out their back catalog.

BUY Dropkick at Kool Kat – HERE

In the “blast from the past” category are three excellent discs: The Skeptics: The Complete Early Years 1965-1969; The Roosters: All Of Our Days; and True Hearts.  The first two discs feature garage bands from the mid-60s; the Roosters material features a prominent Rickenbacker 12-string guitar on many of the tracks (e.g., “One Of These Days,” “Deep Inside,” “Ain’t Gonna Cry Anymore,” “You Gotta Run,” “She Sends Me,” “Rosebush”).  The True Hearts disc, on Ray Gianchetti’s Kool Kat Musik label, features some terrific previously unreleased material by one of the best unheralded power pop bands of the early 80s. “Talkin’ Bout Girls” and “I Need You All The Time” are both achin’ for airplay tunes that synopsize the power pop genre of music.

BUY at Kool Kat – HERE

Diesel Park West continues to release CDR-only discs of its strong, previously unreleased studio material.  What Kept You? (available from Kool Kat Musik) contains 15 more tracks from a veteran band that leaves other pop/rock bands eating their dust.  Diesel Park West has always maintained a high standard and What Kept You? is no exception.  The most chiming track in this latest release is “People Need Hope.”  If power pop fans need hope, Diesel Park West certainly knows how to deliver it!

BUY at Kool Kat – HERE

A couple of other power pop veteran singer/songwriters shine on their latest efforts.  Andy Goldberg is the driving force behind Moonlighting by the Honeymoon Stallions, and Rick Hromadka is a key contributor to Introducing Ruby Free.  Both of these albums showcase Goldberg and Hromadka at their best.  Power pop owes a debt to each of these artists – for their entire bodies of work.  Chiming guitars are prevalent on “A Little Love Tonight” by the Honeymoon Stallions and “Slow Parade” by Ruby Free; the rest of the tracks on each album are melodic bliss.  Long may you run, Sir Andy and Sir Rick!

BUY at Kool Kat – HERE

In the “best of the rest” category are: New Songs Old Stories by Lannie Flowers and Honeywagen’s Big Star Columbia Black & Gold Tribute.  Flowers recored one of the finest jangly tracks of 2008 – “Give Me A Chance.” “Come On Girl” and the other tracks on Flowers’ latest release deserve the attention of avid power pop and Gin Blossoms fans.   Honeywagen sparkles on its Big Star tribute disc (available only from Kool Kat Musik) – giving reverential and chiming treatment to 14 Big Star songs.  While it is sad that Alex Chilton is no longer with us, his music legacy lives on and continues to inspire succeeding generations of power pop artists.

Another great track from several years ago – “I’m Not Following” by the Seven O’Clock Junkies – has crept back into my CD play rotation.  The more I listen to this killer jangly track, the more it reminds me of the Mighty Lemon Drops string of commercial hits in the late 80s.

Until next time, jangle on!