The new album “Tower City” available Now
It is well noted that I am an Andy Bopp fan and he has never been afraid to push the envelope. His fans follow him through these adventures, out of both loyalty and how interesting his work is. Primarily he is noted for Power Pop, but that genre became so confused that he stepped out of it.
However, for someone noted to be so Electric, this album is a major change. He doesn't plug in once and the music is not only acoustic, but arranged wonderfully in a manner more fitting to Americana, Country and Folk. All are areas that I don't venture into much.
It is not because I'm not an admirer of the genres, I once was, but Americana in particular became awash with songs that all sounded the same, not helped by popular artists who all followed a similar mediocre path. However this is wonderful and not really at all because it is Andy Bopp.
The space provided by the instrumentation allows the songwriting to shine and Bopp is an underrated songwriter. This is a singer songwriter album and a fine one. Beautifully played, arranged and lyrically adept. The songs seem to come from the heart.
That is probably because the album is about his Father in the 1935 American Depression and the songs are largely done in a style that is nearer that year than this. The fiddle accompaniment on the jaunty railroad vibe of House Call is just perfect.
The Yee Haw feel of Willow Cry is a real altogether now hillbilly affair with added Pedal Steel. Home is melancholic, part Country, part Dylan Folk. Brookside Mining Company is similarly moody and works just as well,
There are two songs that sound more modern, if the 70s Singer Songwriter feel is modern. Lost Napoleon is another beautifully written story song and A Child Of Innocence, haunting yet incredibly melodic. This set of songs makes me wonder how some of Bopp's Back catalogue would sound in this style and vice versa, how these songs would sound rocked up.
As well as the instrumentation, the main take is how easily Bopp's voice suits these songs. His vocal performance is an absolute tour de force, befitting the songs, but adding another dimension to his work. He is such a fine Guitarist that you forget how easy to listen to his, his singing is. Tower City Vol. 1 caught me completely by surprise and I am full of admiration.
The Space Camp EP is probably his poppiest offering yet. Five songs, every one offering something different. The lead track, Same Old Love Song is really close to Modern Pop until it breaks out. Quite close to the intentions and vibe of the Maker album, but still offers up a more traditional Bopp chorus and solo.
Roger gets all piano pop in quirky Village Green style, a Glam riff dominates, bordering on 60s quirky Pop. Poison Girl heads into classic UK 70s Pop Rock with a storming an appropriate guitar solo. Princess Faith is splendidly anthemic and what a sing along chorus enhanced by some stunning Guitar work.
King Of The Day is an alternate version to the single and recent appearance on that excellent compilation. This version is an ace popped up version, but I do miss the Guitar Twang on the original, However this would be a chart hit in more decent times.
I seem to spend my time banging my head against a brick wall in frustration at great artists who don't get the attention they deserve whilst mediocre peers or pretenders do. This month, I look at the 10 most popular posts on IDHAS thus far and there is some real hope in their variety. Andy Bopp should be a name on the tip of everyone's tongue. I'm doing my bit. How about you?
Andy Bopp enjoys a stellar career from his part in Love Nut, Myracle Brah and Alto Verde to his splendid solo career. Nick Bertling is a solo artist and fellow member of Alto Verde. Even more relevantly, he is a producer and engineer of repute and involved in far more than you realise with IDHAS's favourite albums, particularly with the Futureman Records label.
So there is no better match than Berling revisiting and reimagining a Bopp compilation. For my part, I was an early adopter of Myracle Brah and after those first two albums, catching up on Love Nut. An Eight album career made Myracle Brah the darlings of the Power Pop scene on two really influential labels, Not Lame and Rainbow Quartz.
The band were always a bit more than just Power Pop, true they were anthemic, but nearer the likes of Badfinger or a rocked up Jellyfish with a lot in common with Brit Pop. There was also a Beatles feel at time, particularly with Bopp's vocal which was somewhere between Harrison and Lennon.Much as though the MB years were, a testament being their continued fan following, the solo years have been far more inventive and satisfying.
Bopp isn't afraid to take chances solo wise. He can do the straight ahead at will, but there are bigger hints at Psych Pop, inventive twists and turns instrumentally and unexpected arrangements. The man can still write a killer chorus and his Guitar work is still jaw dropping. Plus one of his best solo albums contained little Guitar. Bertling revisits 15 Bopp songs, 8 Solo offerings including a new song and 7 from Myracle Brah's output. The results are truly outstanding.
Myracle Brah wise, the songs sound as good as ever, but sharper and a little more focussed. Song 37 is wonderful Psych Pop and Eleven's chorus is still celebratory and glorious and I still think The Way You Are out Weezer's Weezer at times and you get the bonus of Simplified, a fantastic slice of Guitar Power Pop that only appears on a Not Lame compilation and deserves greater attention.
But if you haven't caught up with Andy Bopp since those Myracle Brah years, now is time to catch up. Shadow is pure George Harrison and Maker's Push And Pull is very Berlin Bowie. The other track from Maker is its closer, Lights And Saviors out of kilter with the rest of that album, it is pure Bopp in its melodic joy.
Minneapolis sound like an 80s Soundtrack's stand out song and Maybe Just Maybe proves that the man doesn't always plug in and can do sensitive. The new song is King Of The Day and is splendidly moody with an outstanding Twang. Proof that Bopp is still at the top of his game. Look out for the upcoming EP. Bertling has done a fantastic job here. As someone is always about the new, it was a thrill to be reminded how ace Myracle Brah were and returned me to the albums.
