Album Mini-review: My New Mixtape — Alone Together Forever
File next to: Owsley, Fountains of Wayne
Way back in 1968, in a gambit that was a combination poke-in-the-eye to their record company and artistic statement, the Turtles recorded Present the Battle of the Bands. The concept was deceptively simple: 12 song, each rendered in a different style, as if my a dozen separate musical entities. It’s an under-appreciated classic. Working mostly alone, Viginia-based Jarret Nicolay has crafted a similar (and simliarly effective) work in Alone Together Forever. His impossibly catchy tunes traverse a number of pop styles: powerpop, bubblegum, synthpop, singer-songwriter, pop-punk, and other radio-ready subgenres. Often as not, the songs tumble into one another, not unlike the approach used on Sloan‘s brilliant Commonwealth album from 2014. Nicolay’s sweet voice suits his catchy confections quite well, but even when he rocks out – as on the giddily crunchy “Selfie Stick” – he’s totally in command of the music, lyrics and arrangements. [Buy it HERE.]
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.