October 2002

Pop music fans in the know will tell you The Wondermints are simply one of the best pop groups ever. From their work as Brian Wilson’s backup band to their incredible—and often underrated albums—there’s nothing quite like the ‘Mints. That said, who could have predicted that they’d now release the best platter of their entire career? Featuring the undeniable pop talents of guitarists / songwriters Darian Sahanaja and Nick Walusko and drummer Mike D’Amico, The Wondermints scale new pop heights on their self produced and arranged 2002 release for the L.A.-based Smile Records, oddly titled Mind If We Make Love To You. It’s just a touch ironic that the band have released their new album on L.A.-based Smile Records, a label that takes it’s name from Brian Wilson’s unheralded ‘67 masterpiece! According to Sahanaja, “Our last album, Bali, seemed like sort of an artificial trip, hence the wave machine and all the electronica undercurrent. I don’t know what it is exactly, but being around someone like Brian Wilson these past few years, you definitely become less concerned with being ‘hip’. We must be in a sentimental zone these days because some of it borders on sappy, which is always cool when it’s real.” Real yes, and it’s also quite apparent that the twelve track Mind If We Make Love To You—featuring trademark backup vocals from Mr. Wilson himself—is easily up there among the most catchy and cool pop albums since Wilson’s own superb ‘98 comeback Imagination.
www.image-entertainment.com

Between 1968 and 1975 double albums were all the rage in the rock world. The Beatles, Hendrix, Cream and The Who—with their history making 1969 rock opera Tommy—took the double Lp set to new heights in the late ‘60s. The double (and triple in the case of George Harrison’s 1970 three Lp set All Things Must Pass) album concept was later revived in the mid ‘70s by groups such as Yes and Genesis as an expansive vehicle with which to deliver the maximum musical impact. One group that draws influences from both the sounds of late ‘60s Beatles and early ‘70s Genesis is America’s best current progressive rock group, Spock’s Beard. Although they’ve been making phenomenal prog-rock albums for the past ten years, the band’s 2002 release, Snow is clearly the most adventurous and elaborate Spock’s Beard recording to date. Led by singer-songwriter Neal Morse, the five piece group is impeccably balanced by Neal’s brother, Alan Morse on guitars, drumming wiz Nick D’Virgilio, Ryo Okumoto on keyboards and Dave Meros on bass. Bolstered by a complex story line, the 26 track, double disc Snow set takes the spirit of progressive rock to new heights. As the composer and lead singer of much of Snow’s material, Morse never falters and, in fact even sounds more inspired by the challenges posed by such a major musical undertaking. In the spirit of The Who’s Tommy, the ambitious Snow provides the perfect backdrop for Spock’s daredevil musical virtuosity and Morse’s catchy prog-pop tunes and intricate wordplay.
www.spocksbeard.com

For his 2002 solo release on Universal Records, Led Zeppelin founder Robert Plant unites with a fine new band and the results are quite startling. Mixing up a selection of vintage folk-rock, blues and psychedelia, Plant is in fine form on reworkings of vintage chestnuts like “One More Cup Of Coffee” (written by Bob Dylan), “Skip’s Song” (from Moby Grape drummer Skip Spence), “Hey Joe” (the Hendrix classic) and the Jesse Colin Young classic “Darkness, Darkness” to name a few. Plant’s latest band features guitarists Porl Thompson—who’s been working with Plant since 1995—and Justin Adams. According to Plant, “There is a good communion of souls, there’s a lot of great guitar-filigree going on, not on a blues base but in that kind of Indo-raga style of playing, somewhere between John Fahey, The Flaming Lips and The Electric Prunes.” Assisted by a band of gifted, young players, Plant nails the spirit of Led Zeppelin right on the head with Dreamtime..
www.universalrecords.com

Although Grace Slick is no longer in the group, it’s worth noting that Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner is still piloting his Airplane offshoot and the Starship are in fine form on their latest release—a 22 track double CD set that revives a number of vintage Airplane tracks (“Today”, “Mexico”, “Wooden Ships”), while even sprinkling in a track from the first Starship album Blows Against The Empire, from back in ‘71. With Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Cassady out of the picture, the current line-up’s freewheeling hippie spirit burns on thanks to the perennially great Jefferson Airplane legend Marty Balin, who revives his million selling FM smash “Miracles”. Slick’s vocals are supplanted here by Diana Mangano and fine guitar work of Kantner (on 12 string) and the electric guitar of Slick Aguilar propels the Starship into the new millennium in style. Recorded live on Long Island, NYC and Philadelphia in June, 2001, Across The Sea Of Time really rocks and even features track by track liner notes by Grace Slick.
www.zebradisc.com / www.jeffersonstarshipsf.com

Examining the roots of America’s glorious rock heritage, Back Porch Records have released a fine 2002 CD by London-based, New Zealand bred singer-songwriter Peter Bruntnell. The press hype compares him to Tom Petty and late, great Nick Drake but it’s clear Bruntnell is carving his own genre and is off and running with Ends Of The Earth. There’s also a mid period Byrds feel going on as well, with Bruntnell sounding like a young Roger McGuinn. A key point here is Bruntnell’s fine band which features his own fine guitar work and some moody, reverb-soaked pedal steel guitar work from James Walbourne. The album is so well recorded and—with it’s mix of inspiring pop and rock tracks—it’s a real windfall for fans of modern pop music.
www.backporchrecords.com

A sonic barrage of psychedelia, jungle and trip-hop beats, cutting edge rock and sonic electronica, the CD debut from A.I. is a good indication where rock is moving to these days. Brothers Nick Young (guitars, vocals) and Zack Young (drums) team up with keyboardist Pablo Manzarek (son of Doors legend Ray Manzarek) and the results are quite startling. With his vocals inspired by Prince and Rage Against The Machine, guitarist Nick Young confesses, “We wanted to have a huge palate of sounds. I ended up experimenting with effects on my guitar because Pablo was creating all these amazing sounds with the keyboards and Zack was coming up with all these fantastic drum sounds. It forced me to look at my instrument in a new way.” Experimental, yet accessible, A.I. is set to take rock music to the next level. www.aimusic.com