Music Blurbs, Vol. 6

More of my capsule commentaries.

Jonathan Richman
Whether he meant to or not, Jonathan Richman became one of the most influential figures in alternative rock. Leading his band The Modern Lovers, he recorded a seminal, self-titled and proto-punk album in 1971-72. Though The Modern Lovers wouldn’t be released until 1976 – punk’s heyday – the album inspired a generation of indie- and punk rockers. But by the time of the record’s release, Richman had moved on to what would become his signature style, a winsome and observational kind of pop. That music would be characterized by song with titles like “Hey There Little Insect” and “Ice Cream Man” plus oddball covers of the kiddie classic “Wheels on the Bus” and the like. Richman scored some mainstream exposure when he played the Greek chorus character in the Farrelly Brothers’ 1998 comedy There’s Something About Mary, but his guileless and idiosyncratic approach to music has kept him something of an underground (if celebrated) figure in popular music. His most recent studio album is 2021’s Want to Visit My Inner House?

W.A.S.P.
Hair metal, glam rock, shock rock: choose your sub-style of over-the-top rock associated with the 1980s, and W.A.S.P. fits into it. Formed in 1982, the four-man outfit from Los Angeles has found widespread success with its brand of bombastic, theatrical music. Staking out a polarizing image, W.A.S.P. – especially in the person of lead vocalist and guitarist Blackie Lawless – has successfully tapped into the rebellion of teenage rock fans. Deliberately courting controversy has long been one of the band’s calling cards: they memorably butted heads with morality lobbyists Parents Music Resource Center in 1987. Yet for their trouble, the group has earned critical praise and an ardent following. While the band’s live presentation draws from rock’s tradition of shock (see also: Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson), W.A.S.P. has often swung for the fences with its music, crafting rock operas like the two-part The Neon God (2004). More typical of the band’s oeuvre, though, is a release like 1989’s The Headless Children, their highest-charting release to date. Sixteen studio albums in, W.A.S.P. continues to provoke and entertain in equal measure.

Supersuckers
The Supersuckers claim to be The Greatest Rock and Roll Band In the World. Who are we to disagree? Even though they jest (a bit), the group founded in Tucson, Arizona in the late 1980s has as legitimate a claim to that title as anyone else. In practice, the group fronted by bassist and lead vocalist Eddie Spaghetti combines c&w with roaring punk. So while audiences might do some boot-scootin’, the rip-roaring songs keep things rooted in the rock idiom. These days the Supersuckers are closer to “outlaw country” than anything else, but applying any label sells the group short. Razor-sharp wit and irreverent humor are at the core of the band’s music: song titles on their latest studio set (2020’s Play That Rock N’ Roll, recorded at Willie Nelson’s home-based studio in Austin) include titles like “Getting Into Each Other’s Pants” and “You Ain’t the Boss of Me.” One can’t go wrong with most any of the Supersuckers’ fifteen-plus albums — especially the live ones — but there’s really no equivalent to catching them in the flesh.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Every year when the holidays roll around, pop culture watchers can count on a few things: decorations appear seemingly overnight, Santa Claus sets up shop at at the local mall, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra begins a whirlwind schedule of live concert dates across the country. Launched in 1996 by Paul O’Neill, TSO combines the power and spectacle of an arena-scale rock show with the pageantry and sentimentality of a Broadway extravaganza. The TSO concept developed from an unlikely source, beginning as a side project by members of progressive metal band Savatage. After a Christmas song by that group caught the public’s imagination, producer Paul O’Neill was inspired to start the Holiday-themed production. Guitarist Al Pitrelli became its musical director, a role he still holds today. Founder O’Neill passed in 2017, and since that time the TSOs focus has been on its elaborate stage show. While the touring season is short (mid-November to the end of December), TSO works nearly year-round to hone its thrilling onstage presentation. In addition to annual tours – requiring two troupes to satisfy demand – Trans Siberian Orchestra has released nine albums and several DVDs.

JD McPherson
The best retro-minded music is made when the artist has a genuine feel for the style; there’s no substitute for having a real and abiding understanding of the music. JD McPherson is a genuine practitioner. He writes his own songs in the here-and-now, but those songs are imbued with the character and sonic qualities of classics of the past. The Tulsa native was raised on a diet of Buddy Holly, and his own early forays into music were in the punk idiom. Those twin influences would eventually yield McPherson’s own distinctive sound. His debut album, Signs & Signifiers was released on a small label in 2010 and then picked up and reissued two years later by prestigious roots label Rounder Records. That release soared to the #1 spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart. His second album, 2015’s Let the Good Times Roll repeated that feat, and soared to the #17 spot on the Rock Albums chart. With equal parts raw energy, songwriting smarts and nuance, Let the Good Times Roll could have been a career peak. But McPherson’s subsequent releases – including the brand-new Nite Owls – demonstrate that his good times continue to roll.