Vanilla “Pish Posh”
Pacific Northwestern power poppers Vanilla have finally completed their massive Pish Posh album project. Jayson Jarmon (Liar’s Club), Sean Gaffney, Mark Simmons, Scott Warfield, James Peterson started laying tracks down in 2023 as a song-a-month project. Ending with a massive pile of 36 songs, you are guaranteed to find more than a few gems here. In fact, the batting average is very high. While some songs are interesting, like “S1 E1” with its Russian klezmer style, I tended to stick with more traditional power pop oriented tracks like “Situtation Change,”“Fine Line,” and “Shuttlecock.”
There is some fun experiments that I also found compelling, like the dichotomy of “Second String” with its light jangling guitar with heavy deep chorus and the very Penny Lane flavored “Pancake Hat.” Another gem “Coil Memory” boasts a great brass introduction and recalls late period John Lennon. The light Bossa nova beat “She Loves Me Not” is a breezy duet with Jessica Van Horn and a very XTC-like “Solar Plexus” loads it up with some great chord shifts in the verses. So many different subjects are here, like the political “Blame the System” is almost an American protest in the spirit of 80’s band Midnight Oil or the poignant “The Hunger Artist” opining on the struggling state of the average musician. You will find a lot of variety stylistically too. For the equivalent of a three-album set, this is definitely a highly recommended box of assorted chocolates. Indulge yourself!
The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco “Are You Sure?”
These guys are like Steely Dan from an alternate universe, lead by musician Malcolm Moore and with lyricist David Myers, and multi-instrumentalists Paul Mason and Patrick Duffin. While they may sound similar to the famous Becker-Fagen duo, they are decidedly unique with strange stories and offbeat wonderfulness. “Strictly Hickory” will just stick with you like a commercial for an Alabama pork belly rub. It’s all light fun with some really serious musicianship. In fact it does take a few spins to stick, since each composition is loaded with melodic twists and turns. “Happy Couple” has some great bits and a fantastic guitar solo, but the ever repeating chorus does wear out its welcome.
“Bench Warmers” has a retro fifties rhythm and a smooth chorus and is another big highlight, and “Do You Think I Might Be Jesus?” has an interesting analogy in the story and its got some great sonic details. However, the formula here doesn’t always work and the stream of consciousness song structure can get frustrating for some listeners. But if you are looking for something left of center the 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco might be your cup of tea. Check it out.
