BLOODY RED BARON
January reviews
by Mike Baron
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GREG POPE: Pop Motion Animation
Greg Pope, the former Edmond’s Crown member, released his one-man thermonuclear bomb Popmonster in 2011. The record was a tour-de-force of jangle, smart hooks, and riveting guitar. Since then Pope has gone the solo route releasing one CD a year. He has never made a bad record and Pop Motion Animation is no exception, a power pop primer covering an astonishing range of style and mood, from the Wellwishers/Westerbrook/
“Cloud and Thunder” is a heartbreaking ballad about a woman giving up, followed by the haunting “The Yeti.” Traces of Michael Penn and Springsteen gleam from “Rebel Inside,” with its killer bridge. “Meanwhile” sounds like Frisbie and Field Music got together. Finally, “She Might” ends on an ELO epiphany.
Five stars.
VEGAS WITH RANDOLPH: Rings Around the Sun (Caged Giant)
The five skinny-tie wearing Vegans wear their influences on their sleeves: Monkees, Cars, Turtles and a thousand other sweet chiming heartland rockers, two lead guitars that sizzle as on “You Set the World On Fire,” and the classic, Knickerbockers-like “Salt Water Taffy.” “Cool Things,” an ode to stuff, could have come off the Greasesoundtrack. “Empathia” is a Randy Newman-like sardonic portrait with a touch of Nashville twang, while “Everybody Wants an Atom Bomb” is both Cure-like and Shazam-like, and no, not because of the Shazam’s “I Got the Bomb.”
“Julianne” has soaring, Hollies-like harmonies while “Snow Day” is a sugary winter surf song and homage to rock. “Late June” merges American Graffiti with Beach Boys harmonies and roller rink organ.
Four stars.
THE TOR GUIDES: Lots of the Pops! (Dig It!)
The Tor Guides is mostly Torbjorn Pettersson who cites Mike Viola, The Wellingtons and Michael Carpenter as influences. This is an extended elegiac take of a golden sunset on a California beach drawing from the same inspiration as The Sunchymes or Laurie Biagini but with unique, caramel-colored results. Keyboards are Pettersson’s main ax and he uses them to supreme effect. He does all the vocals and there is no harmonizing, only a single voice set against a lush background. Pettersson is very good at evoking that bittersweet Pet Sounds atmosphere and the songs are deeply emotional and satisfying.
“If I Didn’t Love You” cops a lick from The Temptations’ “Just My Imagination,” while “Sentimental Fool” is pure Tor Guides while evoking a thousand other bands. Highly recommended.
Four stars.
