The Pure Pop 4 Now People Singles Club Volume 2: The Big Stir Edition

By Henry Lipput

Unfortuately, the brain fog continues (or the blog fog as I've started to refer to it because it just seems to affect my ability to wrtie a full album review [see Volume One of the Singles Club for more info]).

So today we dedicate Volume Two to the California-based label Big Stir Records. They've been releasing terrific singles on nearly a weekly basis (and excellent albums almost as often), some in connection with albums and some that they compile on their Wave collections which is currently out as number twelve in the series.

Here are three recent singles from Big Stir tbat were released in anticipation of forthcoming albums. All of them are available on Bandcamp for a mimimal cost for a download so you don't have to empty your digital wallet to support indie music.

LANNIE FLOWERS

Big Stir started releasing music by Texas-based singer-songwriter Lannie Flowers when the label began a collaboration with Syderpop Records earlier this year. Flowers is a real find and his Home album is wonderful. The "Home" single's B-side is the "Nashville version" of the album track "My Street." (Big Stir Single No. 141) 

 

ANTON BARBEAU

After releasing albums on a number of labels, Anton Barbeau seems to have finally found a permanent home with Big Stir. He has a unique, "Lucy-in-the-sky" view of the world and his music has a quicky yet very melodic sound. His single "One Of Her Super Powers" (Big Stir Single No. 138) is a song from his  Oh The Joys We Live For album. Describing the song Barbeau has said: "You know, 12-string guitars and Hofner bass -- the stuff of life." (Beatles '65!) And, like Barbeau, we all love a nice jangle. 

 

SORROWS

Love Too Late...the real album (released today!), is the album the power pop band Sorrows wanted to make in 1981 but couldn't because of label interference (by, among other things, replacing the lead singer), Now after four decades and a prolonged legal battle the band, three of the four original members, went into the studio to make the album they always wanted. "Christabelle" is the lead-off single from Love Too Late...the real album.