The Explorers Club have released two records this year. There is an album of covers titled, "To Sing And Be Born Again" which features straight readings of the songs by the bands that inspired their original material. It's pleasant enough, with some versions working better than others, especially their takes on Herb Alpert's "This Guy's In Love With You" and Orpheus' "Can't Find The Time." But nothing is really better than the original takes.
It's their self-titled collection of originals that really knocked me out. "The Explorers Club" is, as one friend put it, a "hit machine." Every song feels like a tribute to the great AM hits of the 60's and 70's. And while it's easy to dismiss it all as pastiche, the songs and production are so good, it really doesn't matter if you think you've heard it before. It's not easy to make records that so perfectly evoke the summer sounds of The Turtles, The Buckinghams, and of course, The Explorers Club's biggest influence, the Beach Boys. Try it. Jellyfish sealed their fate in pop history doing it. They just tapped different bands.
If their debut leaned a bit too much on the Beach Boys side, at times sounding more like The Rutles doing the Wilsons, the new record plays like a more mature band who have used their time wisely, writing songs that are fresh enough to jog the memories without feeling like full on parodies. I played this album twice yesterday and I am looking forward to another few go arounds today.
Check them out.
13 comments:
This is excellent! Thanks, Sal!
Oh, and I just noticed the S.O.T.D. was by one of my faves...Young Marble Giants! Colossal Youth is a MUST!
I’m glad you mentioned Jellyfish. As I was listening to the album I was thinking that it was pop at that same level. The production and arrangements are stellar and the songs would have been chart toppers in the 60s. It’s more than pastiche. The artistry is evident on each track and was only hinted at on the only other record of theirs I’ve heard, Freedom Wind. My favorite album of the year and recommended as highly as possible. Thanks for the recommendation. BTW Amazon has the vinyl at $15
Explorers Club albums have always been faves over here. Glad to see them getting some love!
All new to me - but good new. Well worth exploring (see what I did there?). Cheers!
Hey, Sal. For some reason the YouTube links have not been showing up in your posts when I view BW on my phone. The last one that worked was 11/24 (Frankie S.). I can still access the ones on and before 11/24. Any ideas? Thanks!
DaViDz,
If you scroll to the very bottom of the page, there is a link to view "web version" that will give you the whole shebang, even the sidebars.
Gee, I think Ruby is swell
Thanks, Sal. Looking forward to catching up. Cheers!
Of the three earlier albums I heard, the debut was the keeper for me. Yes, it out Beach Boyed the Beach Boys, but they picked the prime period to emulate. I had it for a few weeks, then deleted it, but couldn't get it out of my mind, so got it again and stuck with it. No such luck with the next two releases, which weren't offensive but didn't buzz me particularly. I'm looking forward to hearing what you've got up here, as I wanna believe.
A song I've put on innumerable tapes/CDs for others is Young Marble Giants' "Salad Days", albeit the version by Drunken Boat. What a sublime, wistful piece of music!
C in California
Good group, been liking and following them for a while. Nice post!
The new album is on pretty constant play here at Casa COVID. What a wonderful record!
I know what you mean about the covers record. Still I really dig the Steven Page song.
Very Nice -- thanks Sal.
JAYESSEMM,
Yeah, that Steven page track is a highlight, for sure.
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