The Falling Wallendas-Belittle (1997)

CD Design: Jimmy Olson; Photography: Mary Osmundsen

This interesting alt-rock disc came across my desk awhile back (and by "came across my desk" I mean "I ordered it on Amazon and it eventually showed up"). It's a nice companion to VPN's "Small Wire" (a few posts back)- a good album for those looking for clarity and punchiness with just a touch of experimentalism in the melody department, and some esoteric lyricism. "Captain Beefheart" is one of a few stunners here- showcasing the tightness of the band's attack (precision bass riffing and driving percussion dissolving into a sunshiney chorus hook). Don't expect many echoes of the actual Beefheart though- this isn't as avant-garde or abrasive (and I like it all the better for that). Still, be prepared for the unexpected; for sharp melodic detours like the chilled-out block party verses of "Porn" dissolving into blasts of amp-testing evil.    

https://www.allmusic.com/album/belittle-mw0000907856
Available on iTunes

The Merrymakers-Bubblegun (1997)

Design: Nancy Brennan, Kato-Chin Club, Pelle Hokengren. Photos: Megumi Seki, Miharu Saito/ City Publication 

Inc, Anders Hellgren

As a massive powerpop fan, and a frequenter of powerpop/ 90's rock blogs, I am angered and dismayed that it took so long for this album to appear on my radar. In the end, it was the ever reliable "Dig Me Out" podcast crew who alerted me to the existence of this group. Perhaps they were better known in their native Sweden?
The Merrymakers will, perhaps, never escape comparisons to Jellyfish...and that group's Andy Sturmer gets a couple of writing and production credits...but that comparison never hurts! The Merrymakers' approach is perhaps a bit more straightforward and a bit less theatrical than the aforementioned group--but they always deliver on their implicit (and explicit, for that matter) promise: to "make merry".








Saltwater Drinks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XS5NZDRcia8

April's Fool:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbOp3QQW4-U