I have an educational interview with Leslie Bohem and David Kendrick of The Gleaming Spires. We discuss how the band became part of Spark and how their side-project Gleaming Spires came into being.
The Gleaming Spires were a new wave band in the early 1980s that has an interesting history. It starts where Leslie Bohem, David Kendrick, and Bob Haag of the band Bates Motel get recruited by brothers Ron and Russell Mael to be a part of the 1981–85 incarnation of their band, Sparks. They made Sparks sound like a rock band again after years with an electronic disco sound. This was Sparks’ “most commercial” period where they finally broke into the US singles chart with “Cool Places.” Gleaming Spires was a side project that didn’t get as much attention at the time, and the band’s three studio albums were never reissued on CD, until now. Thanks to Omnivore Recordings, this new discovery can be absorbed properly.
Don’t let the staid cover art fool you, this is as close to the sound of Sparks you can get without the brothers Mael. The heavy synths, electronic drums, and arty guitar compositions would fit in well as a companion to Spark’s ‘Whomp That Sucker.’ The big hit from this album proved to be an unexpected B-side “Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?” which ended up on the Revenge of the Nerds soundtrack in 1984. Amazingly, it is the massive bonus tracks that are even better, featuring Bates Motel originals (produced by Andrew Gold) “The Way Marlena Moves” and “Dedication” as power-pop standouts! The punkier “Only The Young Die Young” is another winner. Like two albums from two different bands in one package. Get it on Amazon.
At this point, the band has a more distinctive new wave sound. And with better support in the studio (and additional players, like Jim Goodwin) the band further sets itself apart from Sparks, as it moves into more conventional music territory. Plenty of goodies here; “Mining” has a bit of Tears For Fears vibe, and the title track was similar to what Bowie was doing at the time rhythmically. “A Christian Girl’s Problem” was a controversial subject with killer hooks, and again the bonus tracks reveal some great stuff like the Oingo Boingo-like “Brain Button” and the power pop of “Christine” and “Does Your Mother Know.” Get it on Amazon.
The “bigger” sound on the opener “Mercy,” follows similar bands in that era, like The Alarm and Big Country. Their label was faltering, so the boys decided to self-finance and with that, it allowed more experimentation with sounds and styles. The jangling guitar of “No One Coming Over” and country violin of “Secret Room” couldn’t be more different. The band still appeared on movie soundtracks; the big rock sound of “Here Comes Mr. Funhog” fits the chaotic teen movie, and the dissonant mess that is “Harm” feels like a David Kendrick’s jumping-off point to Devo. A mixed bag, but still interesting. Get it on Amazon.
Oklahoma duo Connon Anderson and Jared Lekites are The Lunar Laugh and they offer up a live concert album with a pair of studio tracks on Nighthawks! The band tends to cover the musical spectrum from power-pop to folk-rock, and country. Opening with the studio tracks “I Wanna Know” and the spawling “It’s Okay,” it showcases their smart melodies and stylistic range (especially on the latter.) From here the live concert begins. Starting with “On The Road” it’s an excellent song with palatable energy that draws the audience to clap along.
The solid performances of “Winsome” and “Living A Lie” soon expand to other tracks, like bass player Campbell Young’s “Alive,” Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man,” and Death Cab For Cutie’s “Soul Meets Body.” While these are well received, they don’t fit the band’s identity as well as a “Mama’s Boy” and “Old New Kid In Town.” With 18 songs it would’ve been a little better to get a few more studio tracks instead of covers, but nevertheless, this album is a pleasant diversion and deserves to be heard.
Once again the prolific Dana Countryman is back. The unapologetic “One-man Brill Building” delivers a knockout pop punch where his meticulous production details enhance everything he does. The terrific “Mrs. Sunshine” is a collaboration with Klaatu’s Terry Draper and Scott McPherson. It sounds like a lost track from classic ’70s Klaatu mixed with ELO and Queen; it’s simply great (we need a whole album of this!) But Dana is never stuck to a single style or genre, and the classic hook of “My Little Caroline” follows in the Neil Sedaka tradition.
The breezy light jazz-pop of “City Life” and the bossa nova “Sunday Comes Along” is an idyllic slice-of-life guaranteed to lighten your mood. Dana also isn’t afraid to take chances, as the mini-musical “Record Store Employees” is a medley of melodies all dedicated to crappy customer service. It’s another winner here, and “Brand New Feeling” is a country ditty with a really nasal vocal. The shmaltz level remains high on the other songs, but nothing here is cringe-worthy (although “Butterflies” comes close). So if you love retro pop get this – it’s highly recommended.
September isn’t over yet, and neither are the new singles and EPs from great power pop artists. The Amplifier Heads signed with Rum Bar Records and Sal “Shag 72” Baglio (The Stompers & The Peppermint Kicks) rocks out with this new Glamtastic single “SaturmalienS”. It’s also so nice to hear Shake Some Action! again and “Break It Down” mixes psych-pop and jangling rhythms to perfection. Nashville’s The Nobility gives us “The Sweetest Sound” and it is indeed a great tune — let’s hear more of this! With the end of the season, The Cheap Cassettes make it official with the slow R&B rocker “Endless Summer Ends.”
A few EPs here are also worth a download; Richard Turgeon gets reflective with a series of Campfire Songs. The buzzing anthem of “Be Who You Really Want To Be” and “Line of Sight (Tahoe Song)” recall classic-era REM. Memphis-based On The Runway is a new band created by Randy Norris and John “Boz” Boswell (Crash into June) with help from Neilson Hubbard, and Will Kimbrough. The easy-going mood of “This Charade,” and “Stuck On You” lifts you up and sticks with you. Alex Dominish is the guitarist for the Showboat Branson Belle (Branson, Missouri) and he’s got a bouncy, poppy sound guaranteed to put a smile on your face; be it first romance (“Rockin’ Steady”) or first job (“Desk Job”). Finally, a video from the upcoming band Meyverlin is here. The LP is out next month, they have a distinct ’80s influence, fans of the Cure will like this one.
I have a short chat with Bob Burger of The Weeklings and then Glen Burtnik joins in halfway through. We discuss some obvious truths, and how the band formed, plus a little about the new live album “In Their Own Write.” Please forgive some of the technical difficulties, and see if you can find all the “easter eggs” about The Beatles in all their music.