Album Review: Bargain Music — American Born
To a rock and roller’s ears, it’s often difficult to discern the difference between an earnest effort from a singer/songwriter and parody or mockery. In perhaps the same way that fans of pap-pop might have screened This is Spinal Tap and come away nonplussed, saying, “I don’t know. They aren’t a very good band,” this reviewer wasn’t sure what to make of American Born, the latest from Bargain Music. So a bit of Googling was in order.
Said search revealed that Bargain Music is “quirky and eccentric.” Oh? Well, Captain Sensible this is not. One suspects this material could have worked in a live setting: a café full of in-the-know scenesters, obligingly chuckling at every inside joke…that would have helped the uninitiated listener.
For a band-credited release, American Born sounds curiously like a solo effort. But within the disc’s high concept (acoustic guitar and lone vocal) there simply isn’t anything for Josh Fischel’s bandmates to do. One hopes they spent the session time doing something worthwhile, like hanging outside the studio doing Jay and Silent Bob impressions.
As music as it pains to say so, eclecticism does not always equal cleverness. Covering The Who, Peter Tosh and Tears for Fears might look like a good idea on paper; on disc the songs are mostly stripped of whatever made them wonderful.
Certainly not awful in any way, American Born might hold appeal for fans of campfire singalongs, or for followers of Bargain Music. For the rest of us it falls flat.
About the Author

Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.