Listen to clips on player below, or download mp3 samples under tracklisting:
The incredibly talented singer-songwriter
for the Model Rockets during the 90s, John Ramberg has
also been known as the Minus 5's "Secret Weapon" on
lead guitar and lead and backing vocals working along side
Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, Robyn
Hitchcock & The Venus 3, R.E.M.) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.).
Ramberg has also written, recorded and toured with country
chanteuse Neko Case.
Between four studio albums and many tours of Spain with
the Model Rockets, Ramberg began work on a solo album
with the help of drummer Bill Rieflin (R.E.M., Ministry,
Minus 5). Those sessions evolved into the formation of
the group The Tripwires with his pals, Johnny Sangster
(noted engineer for Mudhoney,The Posies), Jim Sangster
(Young Fresh Fellows, Sgt Major, The Picketts) and
drummer Mark Pickerel (Screaming Trees, Mark Pickerel
and His Praying Hands, Neko Case).
The group finished the album with a little help from
the ubiquitous Scott McCaughey (organ, piano, bass
harmonica, vocals, etc) and Kurt Bloch (Fastbacks,
Mudhoney, Supersuckers), who mixed and mastered it.
The group has honed its live
show with regular gigs at Seattle’s clubs as well as the
SXSW Music Fest in Spring of 2007.
"makes you look around" is a rock & roll record, but it isn't
all down and dirty; it' bright, propulsive, and poppy, filled
with big melodic hooks with polish that glistens at
the all right moments. It's a masterful fusion of pub rock classicism,
new wave pop,and pre-Beatles rock & roll - particularly
Chuck Berry and The Everly Brothers, that bristles with
energy.
From the opening rocker Lessonpony thru the the glorious
pop perfection of Big Electric Light, the honky tonk thunder
of Monument, a barnstorming version of Chuck Berry's
Tulane to the loose-limbed snap and up-beat rockabilly of
the closer, Sold Yer Guitar Blues, Ramberg and co. have
created a brilliant modern rock & roll album inspired
and informed by the past. Albums this effortless sounding
are rare jewels. If you're an aficionado of this style of
buoyant Brit Pub rock, "makes you look around" is
absolutely indispensable!
WOULD SOUND GOOD ON A MIX TAPE WITH: The Minus 5, The Model Rockets, NRBQ, Nick Lowe, Brinsley Swartz
The second in our compilation series for Paisley Pop. 15 tracks from our family and friends including The Windbreakers, Sex and Reverb, brand new Crack City Rockers, Huw Gower, Ray Mason, The Lonesome Brothers, Tim Lee, Girls Say Yes, The French Broads and more! Only a couple of bucks, that's less than 13 cents a song!
