The Many Fazes Of John Andrew Fredrick

 By Henry Lipput

The always prolific John Andrew Fredrick (although he prefers being called a ‘"fuzzy janglepop genius”) and his excellent band of cohorts the black watch have been creating new music for more than 30 years. Their great collection of past triumphs, 31 Years Of Obscurity, was released in 2019 and is a must have for both old and new fans of the band.

Last year the black watch released the sprawling double album For All The World, a collection that seemed at times difficult to navigate (and I've been a diehard fan since 31 Years). This year we have been gifted with a single album, the terrific Varied Superstitions (digital: ATOM Records/Vinyl and CD: Blue Matter Records) and while more straightforward it’s also sprawling in its own way. The new album is a combination of “Rain”-like drones and the purest of pop (because like Fredrick I am also a massive Beatles fan you’ll find more than a few references to that group within this review).

“Faze” a song Fredrick would refer to as a “pop drone” and what I might call (and he might agree with) as having the influence of shoegaze.  There’s, along with electric guitars the sound of Indian music that’s been filtered through the music of a certain foursome. 

“Some People Will Believe” and “Living Backwards” has Fredrick and the band leaning into their love of pop. His affection for The Beatles makes the guitar centric “Living Backwards” a brother to the songs on Side 2 of Revolver ("And Your Bird Can Sing" perhaps?), 

It’s hard to make sense of “No I Shouldn’t” unless you have the album on vinyl (let's move some units!) and can play the song backwards like you can when you listen to “Revolution 9” on a vinyl copy of 'The White Album.’  On the other hand the album’s final track “Your Clothes, Sir” is gorgeous and melancholy made even more so with its beautiful guitar solo which brings to mind “And I Love Her.”

Radio Days

By Henry Lipput

It’s been five years since California’s The Black Watch released 31 Years of Obscurity their amazing collection of what the band had been doing for the previous three decades (I know I’ve said this before but you really need to check it out). And in the last five years The Black Watch, rather than resting on their laurels, have given us five more albums not to mention multiple singles and EPs.

The latest from The Black Watch is weird rooms (ATOM Records) where they are again led by singer, songwriter, and guitarist (and novelist) John Andrew Fredrick. Leaving California for Austin, Texas, to record the new album, Fredrick brought his gear and his guitarist son Chandler on a road trip to producer Misa Bullock’s studio. (My imagined road trip is suggested by the brief bursts of radio stations along the way that pepper the album.)

The sessions became something of a family affair with Sara Minsavage-Bullock, the producer’s wife, providing backing vocals on a few songs. (In the Bandcamp notes for weird rooms, Misa is described as “carrying on more duties than most mortals can accomplish” as he was responsible for drums, bass, percussion, guitar, keyboards, and string arrangements. Slacker.)

The Black Watch is known for its dream pop sound and there’s plenty of that on weird rooms. And although it’s not always clear where Fredrick’s influences come from, it’s more than a bit obvious in the album’s first song “Myrmidon.” With its pacing, production, and hazy backing vocals it very much seems to be a nod in the direction of "Dear Prudence" (and at the end there are brief “Walrus”-like strings).  The dream continues with “Miles and Miles” with a spoken word foreign-language voice talking to you while you’re asleep and thinking about a place and a time you’ve never been.

On “Gobbledegook” the band gives us an example of a different kind of classic Black Watch pop gem. Sarah Minsavage-Bullock is heard for the first time as she adds wonderful backing vocals to Fredrick’s lead. Another Black Watch sound is Fredrick’s acoustic guitar and on the title song there’s a terrific interplay of electric guitars (John Andrew and Chandler?).

The dream and the pop are combined on “Swallowed” which highlights some high-quality drumming from Misa who also shines with his string arrangement for the lovely ballad “You’ll Get Over It.”

Don’t be a stranger to the black watch

By Henry Lipput

Since the black watch released their fantastic compilation 31Years of Obscurity in 2019, this overview of their career made them many new fans (including me). (As I mentioned in my review for CoolDad Music, I was surprised it had taken me some long to join the club.) In the intervening years, there’s been an explosion of activity as John Andrew Fredrick and company have given us 3 singles, 4 EPs, 1 reissue, and four albums (not counting the Magic Johnson album which came out around the same time as 31 Years and had a few songs on that collection.)

Last year’s the neverland of spoken things EP was a taster for the new album future strangers (ATOM records) and included the title cut and two non-album tracks. It also allowed the band to release some music as they waited for the album to be available on vinyl (there’s a backlog at pressing plants if you haven’t heard).

The fuzz, crunch and – especially – melodies that have become a trademark of music by the black watch are in full form on future strangers.  Joined by continuing members the producers and musical multi-taskers Rob Campanella and Andy Creighton, Fredrick adds to the fold the vocal stylings of Lindsay Murray of Gretchen’s Wheel.

Fredrick doesn’t scream in his vocals no matter how frustrated he is with the state of things. Instead, he allows his music to do the work. For example, he uses a glorious bank of guitars on the marvelous and moody title song and on “they may be grey” he and his follow riff masters bring on the pop. And although Lindsay Murray is listed as providing backing vocals for the album, her contribution on “the neverland of spoken things” is less of a support role than a partner to Fredrick’s lead vocal.

Over the last years there’s been a give and take with songs on albums and EPs by the black watch. “julie 3,” the last song on future strangers, is obviously not the first “julie:” “julie” and “julie II” were on the brilliant failures album. All three had different arrangements and different lyrics and on “julie II” the vocals were not by Fredrick but the Nico-sounding Julie Schulte (is she the julie in question?). As for “off you go redux!” it’s also on the white EP along with (the original?) “off you go!” They chronicle the future adventures of Mrs. Robinson, Elaine, and Benjamin in an arrangement that owes more than a bit to The Lemonheads’ cover of the Simon and Garfunkel classic.

 

A Few Of My Favorite Things, 2022 Edition – Part Two: The Singles, EPs, Live, Compilation, and Reissues

 By Henry Lipput

Part Two of my 2022 year-end review is for the singles, EPs, a live release, a compilation, and reissues that I've enjoyed over the course of the year. I hope you've enjoyed what I've been writing about throughout the year and I encourage you to buy a download, a CD, or a record to support indie music.

SINGLES

Peter Hall, "In Plain Sight" (Bandcamp)

Peter Hall continues to amaze and “In Plain Sight” is pop of the highest quality. It’s also included in his latest (mini) album About Last Night (Subjangle).

The Bablers, "You Are the One for Me" (Big Stir Records)

“You Are the One for Me” is a banger of a power pop track. It’s one of the songs from an album by this Finnish band yet to be released in the US.

The Boo Radleys, Keep On With Falling (thebooradleys.com)

“Keep On With Falling” is the second single and title song from the band’s first album since 1998. (The band is releasing a new album in June!). It’s a great, joyous slice of the Boos led by Sice’s always welcome vocals.

EPs

Theatre Royal, Beneath the Floor (Bandcamp)

Although “Ship Beneath the Floor” had a video made, “Talking to Tracey” is my favorite song from the band’s terrific Beneath the Floor EP. Reworking tracks not finished for 2020’s wonderful Portraits album plus another new track. Favorite track: “Talking to Tracy”

The Black Watch, the neverlands of spoken things (ATOM Records)

On the EP, with the title track of the black watch’s new album (to be released in March), John Andrew Fredrick and company are again plugged in and ready to bring on the fuzz and the crunch to the melodies. Favorite track: “the neverlands of spoken things”

The Magic Es, Talk in Tongues (Bandcamp)

I’ve been enjoying the indie rock sounds The Magic Es have been making since I reviewed their first album, It Goes On, back in 2017 for CoolDad Music. On their new EP they are back to being a trio and with songs like “Gone” are still making sounds I enjoy. Favorite track: “Gone”

LIVE

Silver Haar, Live (Bandcamp)

Silver Haar’s Light’s Out EP was a 2021 favorite for me and they’ve followed it up with a live set with many of the songs from that EP. Adding an extra guitarist they’re expanded their sound and also expanded the length of songs to bring new elements to the mix. Favorite track: "Lights Out"

COMPILATION

Various Artists, Have Yourself a Merry Indie Christmas (Bandcamp)

In 2021, the Welsh journalist Kevin McGrath but together, V4Velindre: Charity Mixtape for the NHS, an amazing 50-song collection of indie artists to raise funds for Cardiff’s Velindre Cancer Center. Last year he went even further and assembled a two-volume, 108 song mixtape to raise funds for Crisis, a UK-based charity the helps the homeless. Favorite track: “Snowboardin'” by The Pearlfishers

REISSUES

Blake Babies, Sunburn (American Laundromat Records)

One of the great things about reissues (if they’re done well) is that you hear things you didn’t hear before and that’s the case with this marvelous release. This reissue is for more than long-time fans of Sunburn; it’s a must-have for lovers of great pop music and is the first time the album has been available on vinyl for over 30 years. Favorite track: “Train”

Jon Brion, Meaningless (Jealous Butcher Records)

When is a reissue not a reissue? Jon Brion’s brilliant album Meaningless was released in 2002 only in CD and digital formats. Yeah, the CD has been gorgeously remastered and counts as a reissue, but the vinyl wasn’t available in ’02 which makes this an even more important release.  Favorite track: “Hook, Line and Sinker”

the black watch has pressing concerns

 By Henry Lipput

Deciding to wait until their new album, future strangers, was available on vinyl (sometime in early 2023) before releasing it on any format, the LA-based indie guitar pop band the black watch has treated us to a digital EP that includes “the neverland of spoken things,” a song to be included on the album, as well as two non-album tracks (ATOM Records).

John Andrew Fredrick and company (including this time around the backing vocals of the wonderful Lindsay Murray of Gretchen’s Wheel) are again plugged in and ready to bring on the fuzz and the crunch to the melodies.

“the neverland of spoken things” is a perfect example of the band’s dreampop sound. There’s a cool “Penny Lane”-style horn and Murray makes an appearance that’s more than a support role but instead a partner to Fredrick’s lead vocal.

The other two tracks, “precious little” and “living backwards.” aren’t demos or outtakes but fully formed songs that just didn’t make it onto the album. You can think of them as bonus tracks as well as yet another example of the creative geyser that is John Andrew Fredrick, allowing the band to release an album a year between 2019 and 2021 (actually there were two full-length albums in 2020).

On “precious” the guitars are upfront in the mix and the drums drive the song along; it ends with some terrific lead guitar work by Bernard Yin. “living backwards” is the kind of melodic gem for which Fredrick is known and he joins Yin by taking turns on the lead. Both songs would find pride of place on an album by any other indie guitar pop band.