Jim Basnight “Jokers, Idols and Misfits”
Jim Basnight has been a rock and roll survivor, from his days with The Moberlys in the ’80s, to The Rockinghams in the ’90s to today. Power Popaholic is proud to debut his new full-length LP Jokers, Idols, and Misfits with our digital distribution on Bandcamp.
Jim has gathered together a series of covers over the course of his musical career that mean something to him personally. Some will be familiar (The Who’s “I Can See For Miles”) but many are not. Obscurities like The Cowboys, Mike Czekaj, and The Sonics are alongside the well-known rockers here. The Kinks “This Is Where I Belong” opens a sprawling 21 track journey into rock, pop, and punk. The performances are top-notch, as “Rock and Roll Cowboy” showcases the energy of The Rockinghams, while the excellent covers of Marc Bolan’s “Laser Love,” The Sonics “Cinderella” and “New Guitar In Town” demonstrate just how freaking tight The Moberlys were.
Basnight also arranges the music to best effect with his vocal style, like on The Turtles “You Showed Me” with an emphasis on its percussion and horns. The bluesy approach on “Princess In Rags” with strings and trumpets shows Jim’s range and flexibility. This is one album that defies predictability, and for every familiar tune, you get something you’ve likely never heard before. I have to admit my bias here, but overall this is a terrific mix of songs with something for everyone. CD version is expected in a month or so. Highly Recommended.
