-->
(Gangreen Records)
Chicago-based Indie Rock band Green
is so underrated. They may often times be raw and loose, but their Pop
smarts shine through. Like an inspired blend of Ray Davies and Prince banging
out T.Rex songs in a garage on a hot summer’s day, Green is unique and unclassifiable.
Anyone that thinks Green is Power Pop doesn’t understand Power Pop and they
certainly don’t understand Green. However, the band’s melodic sense is undeniable.
With releases that stretch back to the late ‘80s, Green may be ignored in their
home country but they are Rock stars in Holland. Yes, really.
And it all boils down to the talents of singer/songwriter Jeff
Lescher.
Green may not be the most prolific
and high profile band in the U.S., but every release truly matters. While it has
been a few years since the band’s last studio release, Lescher has been busy
crafting his first solo album. ALL IS GRACE may have taken awhile
to get here, but the wait for new Lescher material has been worth it. At times,
ALL IS GRACE is exactly what you expect – a stripped down Green –
but for the most part, this album is surprisingly different in many ways. With
very little outside help, Lescher handles most of the instruments on the album.
From tender guitar strums to crunchy power chords, this is a raw and revealing
listen. Add in some ivory tinkling (and pounding), some rough drumming, and
Lescher’s vocal range that can go from calm and reassuring to manic – yet controlled
- falsetto at the drop of a beat.
ALL IS GRACE is very
much a DIY album. It is rough and ramshackle in spots, but never short of
inspiring. Those looking for something clean and polished may be disappointed,
thought. In some spots, it sounds like classic R. Stevie Moore trapped inside
Neil Young’ Tonight’s The Night sessions. To say that these songs sound fragile,
raw, and honest is an understatement. Often beautiful and haunting. Lescher’s
songwriting is just as daring as it has always been. “You Make Life Sweet” is
one of his finest songs. “She’s A Good Woman” sounds like it was pulled from
the first Green album. “Can’t Do It Without You” is one of those great Lescher
falsetto songs that he is known for. Not everything on the album is great – “#1
Record” sounds like a drunken Green rehearsal gone wrong – but it is an emotional
experience that only Lescher can bring to the table. He even sneaks Nick Drake’s
“Place To Be” onto the album, and it fits beautifully. There’s so much great
material on ALL IS GRACE yet it isn’t always immediate - the melodies
and textures reveal themselves over repeated listens.
Overall, ALL IS GRACE
is a revealing and honest – and sometimes challenging - look into the heart,
mind, and soul of a very gifted artist. It may not be a smooth and easy listen to
some, but it offers so many rewards to those that open themselves up to the
album’s undeniable charms. Green fans will understand…
(Kool Kat Musik)
Moving from genre to genre might
be easy for singer/songwriter Jim Styring (The Pop Dogs/Ego
Ritual/B-Leagures), but he always manages to bring a crispy Pop edge to
whatever musical project he infiltrates. With his latest outfit, It’s Karma
It’s Cool, he’s streamlined his Pop magic into something that is instantly
lovable and ultimately timeless. While certainly ‘Pop’, It’s Karma It’s Cool’s
sound stretches across a few different boundaries, never standing still long
enough to be classified as one specific genre. Yeah, it’s Power Pop, but there
are also huge dollops of Britpop, Twee, Jangle, Merseybeat, and other subgenres
thrown in for good measure
Like Buddy Holly fronting The
La’s or Peter Noone forming a new Tremblers line-up using
Britpop veterans, HIPSTERS AND AEROPLANES is a sharp collection that is
short on time – only six songs – but filled to the brim with delicious hooks. Pulling
influences from over 50 years of British Pop, It’s Karma It’s Cool have fun
mixing decades of music together. On the surface, the songs are immediate, but they
also reveal a true understanding of the Pop art form. Writing a good song might be kind of easy but
writing a great song that will stand the test of time takes skill. And there are six skillfully written songs to
enjoy here on this release.
It is hard to write more about
the album when the liner notes offer more depth and details. So, buy the CD and
read the liner notes while you spin HIPSTERS AND AEROPLANES.
Seriously.
(Full disclosure: I wrote the
liner notes to this release)
SLUMBERJET/World Of Sound
(Broken Lullaby Records)
Houston, we have a problem.
While portions of the Power Pop
community continue to argue about the true definition of the genre, the world
continues to spin on its axis. Arguing about music is about as productive as
writing poetry about onions. In the end,
nobody will care. You can’t feed the homeless with Power Pop definitions.
Presidents aren’t voted into office because of their insanely cool Power Pop
collections. The world’s economic balance isn’t reliant upon a Power Pop poll. The
most important thing about the genre is the music – duh! And I can assure you
that the new Slumberjet album will comfortably sit well within reach of many
of your definitions of Power Pop… yet it is really much more than that.
WORLD OF SOUND
is jam packed full of gooey Pop greatness yet I am skeptical about calling it
Power Pop. Singer/songwriter Barry O’Brien offers up some astonishingly
catchy songs that are filled with influences ranging from the gentle melodies
of Neil Finn to the Psychedelic sounds of The Beatles. There are
also hints of The Merrymakers, Jellyfish, Dan Wilson (Semisonic/Trip
Shakespeare), later period Squeeze, and Elliott Smith. This is music that is warm, melodic,
heartfelt, and even haunting. More importantly, it has plenty of heart and
soul.
But is it Power Pop? (stop
snickering at the back!) In all honesty, Power Pop is just one part of the
make-up of this immediately lovable album. While their self-titled was
impressive, this album adds maturity, skill, and more personality to the mix. WORLD
OF SOUND is also a more confident album. If you thought the debut was
good, just prepare for something far more special.
Again, is it Power Pop? Perhaps the
question should be re-worded: ‘Is it powerful Pop?’ In that case, the answer
would be a definite yes!
JOHNATHAN PUSHKAR/Straighten Up
(Jem Records)
A man of many talents,
singer/songwriter Johnathan Pushkar’s debut album STRAIGHTEN UP
is a Pop feast. While the term has been used way too many times in this post,
it can be said that this album is – unequivocally – Power Pop. Like all of your
favorite records, STRAIGHTEN UP mixes Merseybeat, Jangle, and
Power Pop with a hint of smarmy ‘90s Indie Pop. The album is jam-packed full of
hooks, joyful rhythms, and just about everything you’d want in a Power Pop
platter. With ringing Rickenbackers and a solid backbeat, Pushkar uses The
Beatles as his musical foundation but there are also hints of The Byrds,
Cherry Twister, and The Weeklings. Songs like “The Girl Next Door”,
“We Could Be Together”, and “Boyfriend” are prime examples of the PP genre but
Pushkar shows his tender side on “Hackensack” and “Don’t Leave Me”, revealing an artist that has more than one trick up his sleeve.
While a short review like this may
seem like I’m selling Pushkar short, the complete opposite is the case. Power
Pop lovers are going to embrace this release while the more skeptical listener
will be won over by the album’s jubilant spirit. It is obvious that Johnathan
Pushkar had a great time making STRAIGHTEN UP and once you slide
this into your CD player, you’ll discover just how infectious his passion is!
Yours in Pop,
STEPHEN SPAZ SCHNEE
No comments:
Post a Comment