Aural Fixations

DOUG POWELL
Day For Night
(Parasol)
Nashville's Doug Powell has existed on the periphery of the pop world for almost a decade, beloved by hardcore power pop cognoscenti, but known to the rest of the universe, if at all, as part of the short-lived supergroup Swag. While it's a shame his music hasn't gotten the mainstream acclaim it deserves, it also means he's been able to develop his talents as he sees fit, without outside pressure. He's made some excellent records in the past and continued to develop his own take on power pop, borrowing bits of Todd Rundgren, XTC, Cheap Trick and ELO and using them as nuts and bolts in his own distinctive construction. His last album The Lost Chord (which also folded a few ounces of—gasp!—progressive rock into his batter) indicated he was about ready for a breakthrough; lo and behold, here it is. Day For Night puts Powell's best set of songs into a one-man-band setting that makes the most of traditional tools to make a very contemporary sounding record. Subtle electronics add some spice the usual guitar-oriented arrangements, but never come close to dominating the sound. Powell's singing, always the most instantly appealing thing about him, has gained resonance and soul over the years; coupled with a lyric like "My eyes have spoken/And they love to say your name" in the edgy "Beautiful," the effect is genuinely moving. Of course, this being a pop record, all the filigrees and progression in the world mean nothing unless the hooks are there, and, brother, there are plenty of them here. "Big Blue Sky" and "Unmeaningless" grab the ear and tweak the pleasure centers immediately; "Goodbye Lady Godiva" and "Stanislaw Smith" (which boasts the witty lines "And he's unique/But only in the way that/Every other unique thing is unique") have choruses that just beg for amateur accompaniment. If there's any justice in a universe ruled by Clear Channel, "Invincible" will find itself conquering the airwaves; it's got such an indelible hook and radio-ready sound that you'd think it would be inevitable. Regardless of whether or not Day For Night results in stratospheric popularity or continued obscurity for its creator, it's a masterpiece that puts Doug Powell in the pantheon right next to his heroes. Michael Toland [buy it]