Review: Scott Gagner “Rhapsody In Blonde”

Singer/songwriter/Power pop
We were first introduced to Scott Gagner as part of Town and Country, then through his solo effort under the name Cartographer. Both EPs made quite an impression back in 2008 (read reviews here and here). Now Gagner is back with his debut full-length record, “Rhapsody In Blonde”, and no longer hiding behind the name Cartographer.

“Rhapsody In Blonde” begins with one of the most instantly likeable guitar riffs you’re bound to hear all year – a snappy little riff that reminds me of a beach party for some reason. Hand claps and harmonies decorate this power pop confection called “I Hate To Say” but, to be to fair, this sunny treat is not representative of the rest of the album. Most of the other tunes are considerably mellower, but that is not to say that they are boring by any means. “Speak and Spell” is a delightful mid-tempo treat with a clever melodic line from the Todd Rundgren songbook. “Laura No. 1” combines classic doo-wop chord progressions with modern power pop sounds – a unique ear worm. With the rugged “Take Two”, he channels Jason Falkner during his Grays days.

“Houdini” is another favorite of mine, showcasing Gagner’s remarkable talent for phrasing – people who can sing, “How can you realistically expect to win - it only took one punch to do Houdini in” with such finesse don’t come along every day. Folks who want to hear the coffeehouse side of Gagner will enjoy the gentle finger-picking on “Right Before My Eyes” and his downshifted version of the Guns N’ Roses hit “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.

With exception of “Golden Mean”, a murky six minutes to wade through, there really isn’t a bad tune in the bunch, and if it didn’t grab you on the first spin, chances are it will on the second. Gagner stands a cut above the rest thanks to an abundance of clever songwriting, with an attention to detail that should be the envy of any inspiring musician.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 14

Scott Gagner - Official site. Facebook.

Check out the video for “I Hate To Say”

Review: Cartographer “Cartographer” (EP)

Minnesota native Scott Gagner is a cog in the great melodic machine that constitutes Town and Country, whose spectacular debut was reviewed here not long ago. But he has also released an excellent solo effort under the name of Cartographer that is worth your attention.

Cartographer does not stray too far from the familiar Town and Country terrain. Like Town and Country, the lyrics and witty and fun, but the music is more on the folk rock side than alt-country. While based on acoustic guitar, the songs are vivaciously fleshed out with rich harmonies and piano; on top of this are tasteful accessories that include glockenspiel, mellotron, Moog synthesizer, and hand claps. Scott’s vocals are perfectly suited to this genre, which he plays expertly. He has captured a bit of a Sister Hazel (particularly Drew Copeland) meets The Grays feel.

We begin with a rather subtle opener, melancholy to match the lyrical epiphany that “the trouble with you is me”. It is a moving track that gently grabs you so that the following song, “I’m Not Following You” can shake you. This upbeat and snappy number is going to make Jason Falkner wonder if he’s been cloned. “Love Triangle for Two” (love that title) has downright groovy verses that almost make even me want to get up and dance. But don’t get me wrong – the song is still grounded in roots rock. “Waiting” is another highlight, a pleasant and breezy acoustic driven song featuring those bright and crisp guitar tones that I praised in the Town and Country review. “Suburban Girl” is a fun pop rocker that pulls out the distortion and has Scott doing his best Dave Grohl.

In a perfect world, the music of Cartographer should put Scott Gagner on the map.

iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6

Cartographer on MySpace. Official site.

Review: Town and Country "My Blue Heaven" (EP)

Wow. WOW! There is a new alt-country band in town...and country. "My Blue Heaven" is the new EP from a San Francisco band called Town and Country. Actually, alt-country may be a slight misnomer. While there are hints of The Jayhawks, the softer side of Wilco, or even the Eagles, there is plenty of straight-up pop rock here too (Finn Brothers come to mind, but Town and Country have a much better sense of humor). Outstanding, lush harmonies permeate this release, which also boasts some top-notch songwriting and smart, amusing lyrics.

Every song is memorable, blowing gently into your ears to set up permanent residence. The acoustic guitars are bright and crisp, building up to climatic choruses that will have you singing along in no time. The clever "Daytime Emmy" is an instant favorite, better than anything on TV. "Variation on a Theme By Mo" is a song we all have someone to dedicate to...just be careful where you are when you start singing, "First you lie, then you suck." The harmonies on songs like "Bella Vista" and "Better Than That" are simply gorgeous, somewhere between the quality of the Eagles and Partridge Family - did you ever think you'd read references to those two bands in the same review?

Get in your flatbed Ford and head out to Town and Country. Bring your own porch swing and summer lager and let their harmonious breeze blow through your hair. Outstanding stuff...I can't wait to hear more.

iPOD-worthy: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Town and Country on MySpace.

Fans of Town and Country might want to check out Dan Weir's studio project called Orphan Town, featured on this blog previously.