VELVET CRUSH
In the Presence of Greatness (Action Musik)
A Single Odessey (Action Musik)
Illinois-to-Rhode Island's intrepid trio Velvet Crush has for at least a decade consistently kept the power pop faith in the face of failed record deals and commercial indifference. Jangly guitars, lush harmonies, sugared-up rhythms, touches of psychedelia and country rock, smart lyrics and, of course, bags o' hooks—these are things bandleaders Ric Menck and Paul Chastain champion with passion and craft in equal measure. All the elements that make the band great have been present since the beginning, as this remastered reissue of their debut album In the Presence of Greatness (on the group's own Action Musik imprint) clearly reveals. Aided by producer Matthew Sweet on lead guitar (the first of several unofficial fourth members in that slot—other notables that have had the post include Tommy Keene, Mitch Easter and the Gigolo Aunts' David Gibbs), bassist/singer Chastain, drummer Menck and guitarist Jeffrey Underhill (né Borchart) prove their love for energetic melody (or is it melodic energy?) over and over again. "Drive Me Down," "Ash and Earth," "Window to the World" and "White Soul" are dictionary-perfect examples of power pop, not because they're formulaic, but because they represent everything good about the genre (see list above). The title of this remarkable debut proved prophetic. This edition includes a trio of bonus tracks taken from singles: the giddy but lovely "Circling the Sun" and faithful renditions of Teenage Fanclub's "Everything Flows" and Jonathan Richman's "She Cracked."

The perfect companion to Greatness, A Single Odessey collects the material on their many 45s into one convenient package. Power pop is naturally suited to the single format, so naturally this compilation is one of the band's strongest, most consistent albums. The record starts with a bang (or perhaps a pop) with "If Not True," the trio's first release, and proceeds through a comfortably diverse set of songs that displays the band's taste, breadth and songwriting acumen. The Crush augments its sterling pop tunes ("Atmosphere," "Be Someone Tonight," the close harmony ballad "On My Side") with lilting country rock ("Don't You Slip Away From Me"), pastoral folk pop ("Gentle Breeze"), a loud, Who-like basher ("Butterfly Position"), 60s-styled garage rock ("The Thing That You Do") and even a lugubrious, strings-enhanced instrumental ("Leisure 40"). There's also a sweet acoustic take on "Drive Me Down" and a generous helping of covers (the Byrds, 20/20, the aforementioned Teenage Fanclub and Jonathan Richman) that neatly aligns some of their primary influences. Much of this material is the band's strongest ever, and it's impossible to walk away from this disk without humming at least a couple of the tunes. If you're already a fan of the band, these records are essential. If you're a new visitor to the world of Velvet Crush, this is the perfect entry point. Michael Toland

For fans of: Matthew Sweet, Teenage Fanclub, Sloan

In the Presence of Greatness

A Single Odessey

Copyright © 2001 High Bias