R. Stevie Moore “Afterlife”
R. Stevie Moore isn’t exactly a household name, but he might just be the most prolific musician in America. With a career spanning 50 years and over 400 albums, Stevie is a pioneer of DIY low-fi bedroom pop and is finally starting to be recognized for his innovative music.
Pulling some of his best work from his massive catalog, Afterlife is an upgrade from the original lo-fi recordings, as they are re-recorded in a full studio. All recordings were made in the past 15 years, some compositions date from the 1970s to the 1990s, and there are a few new songs. This is the closest thing RSM has to a “Greatest Hits” album. And some famous fans help contribute; Ariel Pink, Jason Falkner, Lane Steinberg, and Chusid.
The studio polish really shines these old melodic gems, like “Irony” with its wonderful jangling rhythm and overdubbed harmonies. “Pop Music” and “The Winner” all maintain their subversive humor and are darn catchy too. Jason Falkner fans will recognize his touch on “National Debate” and “Another Day Slips Away.” In addition, Lane Steinberg’s “What Will I Do With The Rest Of My Life” is enhanced by RSM’s chorus and his Beach Boys tribute “Here Comes Summer Again” could’ve been part of their 20/20 album. Highly Recommended.
Screen Test “Through the Past Brightly”
When The Flashcubes split in 1980, bassist Gary Frenay, guitarist Arty Lenin, and drummer Tommy Allen continued making music as Screen Test. The band had plenty of music left in them and released Inspired Humans Making Noise a year later. And while central New York was a loyal fan base, it couldn’t help the band get signed to a national label. But like their previous band, it was music too good to be buried in the past for long.
Through The Past, Brightly serves up some of the band’s best music, starting with a standout “Notes From Trevor,” a power pop gem with plenty of riff muscle. “Best Seller” is another great tune that layers guitars and thick percussion, with an Elvis Costello-like lead vocal. This is terrific power pop in its 80’s prime, and add to this covers of Emitt Rhodes “Fresh As A Daisy” and Greg Kihn’s “Hurt So Bad.” Occasionally the excesses of the 80’s production conventions on “My World” and “There’s No Place Like Work” make it dated, but most of the music is timeless, especially the standout “Make Something Happen.” For fans of 1980’s power pop, this is a no-brainer. Highly Recommended.