Emotional Listening #47

Vee Vee - Archers of Loaf (Alias, 1995)
I think I can say with confidence that Vee Vee has become my favorite Archers of Loaf record. 1993's Icky Mettle surely has some jams, mainly in "Web in Front," which is their second best song. And, I will forever love 1996's All the Nation's Airports, which is excellent for its own reasons ("Scenic Pastures" being the main one) for getting me into the band in the first place. Vee Vee has "Harnessed in Slums," though, which is not only the best Archers song, but, is one of the greatest songs of the past 20 years. Overall, this album maintains a similar sense of urgency and intensity as Icky Mettle, but, with a slicker sound, thanks to Bob Weston's production work (not TOO slick, of course). Here, the band is tighter and playing with a little more pop sensibility, which, in combination with with their innovative and gnarly guitar work (think Pavement, but, heavier and weirder), makes for an incredibly enjoyable, original sound. I totally get it if you can't get into Eric Bachmann's voice, however, Vee Vee is great enough that one should be able to get around that.
Top jams: "Step Into the Light," "Harnessed in Slums," "Nevermind the Enemy," "Greatest of All Time," "Underdogs of Nipomo," "Floating Friends," "Let the Loser Melt," "Death in the Park"




Hermit of Mink Hollow - Todd Rundgren (Bearsville, 1978)
Todd Rundgren, baby. My first experience with him was the amazing placement of "Can We Still be Friends?" in Cameron Crowe's Vanilla Sky. It has been an all-time favorite song of mine ever since. Next came his production work on XTC's Skylarking, which is wonderfully appropriate. 1978's Hermit of Mink Hollow is my first foray into a solo record of his. First, I'd like to draw attention to that album title. It is so bad, it's good. Now we can move on to the music, which is a unique combination of 70s power pop and forward-thinking space age prog. The song structures are definitely of the pop variety, but, the instrumentation and some of the intricate twists and turns bring to mind the poppy side of, say, Yes. "All the Children Sing" is a pretty bad ass opener. "Determination" and "Out of Control" are more straightforward power pop rockers, which, I sort of wish there were more of. I would consider "Onomatopoeia" the only real misstep due to its overt childishness. But, I even have a hard time admitting that because I kind of like it? Everything comes back to "Can We Still be Friends?," as it is not only the album's best song, but, it is one of those untouchable all-time greats. Where should I go next with this guy?
Top jams: "All the Children Sing," "Can We Still be Friends?," "Determination," "You Cried Wolf," "Out of Control," "Fade Away"




Heartbreak's Got Backbeat - Six Going on Seven (Some, 1999)
This little known, underrated record packs quite a wallop. Six Going on Seven were a Boston band that existed in the late 1990s and very early 2000s. They put out three records, and as I recall, there wasn't a ton of fanfare for these guys, which is unfortunate, because they totally rule. Heartbreak's Got Backbeat was the band's sophomore LP, and I had discovered the album's opener, "Portsmouth," on some Doghouse Records/Big Wheel Recreation compilation CD I had in high school. I liked this song then, but, now I really love it, and it is the best song on the record. "How to Sell the Brooklyn Bridge" and "Reverse Midas" are almost as good, but, not quite. I've never listened to the band's 1997 debut, Self-Made Mess, or their 2001 swan song, American't (Or Won't). On Heartbreak's Got Backbeat, there is a nice mix of melodic punk and classic 90s alternative rock, with some truly memorable bass playing and a lot of awesome emo chords thrown in for good measure. The songs are super good, the musicianship is top notch, and this is totally a record worth checking out.
Top jams: "Portsmouth," "Southbound," "03:12:05," "How to Sell the Brooklyn Bridge," "New/Improved!," "Reverse Midas," "Proof Positive"