Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" (Korda Records) No one is more Jeff Kearns than Jeff Kearns. When you first meet him, the odds are pretty good that your initial take on him will prove more than true: he just might be a genuine original in a world all too full of phonies and opportunists, as well as those music folks, like many of us, that mean well but get lost in musical time-machine-land; operating too frequently in homage mode, they/we/us sometimes wear obvious musical influences like someone wears a ratty old thrift store sweater that's torn at the elbows and pockets, with every other button missing, worn way past any reasonable expiration date. No sweater on Jeff. In years past, you've likely been intuitive and open enough to the pop music atmosphere to peg Jeff as ingenious guitar player (and bass player), inventive songwriter, and terrific but too- rarely-heard singer, through his work on the brilliant albums by The Hang Ups, one of the all time great pop/rock/peerlessly-melodic-and-heartfelt bands of all time. Maybe by way of offthe-cuff chit chat with him--maybe you two ran into each other at some rock show or St. Paul bistro and you thought, who is that cat-- you zeroed in and locked on to the fact that Jeff's a guy who doesn't take any high, low, or previously traveled road through either music or life-he takes his own road at all times. Not because he's into any contrived eccentricities or wants to come across as something he's not; he just does his thing. And it turns out that his thing is a pretty great thing. Jeff's been an exceptional songwriter and singer long before now: just listen to the song entitled "Deep Pool" (a song title fittingly carried onward and living to see another day as a band name for the new CD) on The Hang Ups' last album-it's so beautiful in it's sweep that it'll transport those that are open to such things to some glorious planet on each listen. Even if you dug his songs before, you'll still be surprised at how good the songs are on the new Deep Pool CD, "Something In the Eye." The album started as an attempt to put together an honest-to-god rocking band. Over time it's become something that's not quite a permanent band lineup and not quite a solo album. With a lineup of musicians such as the players on the Deep Pool CD, anyone inspired to make their own music and records will be forgiven for their envy: Freddy Votel, of Cows and Seawhores fame; Brian Tighe, who's been the guiding light/partner-in-crime in The Hang Ups, The Owls, and The Starfolk, three of the best bands not just around Minnesota but around anywhere; Aaron Lundholm, Chadwick Nelson, Dave Boquist, Marcel Galang, Maria May, Matt Gerzema-put a check mark next to all those names when you're making a list of most favorite and crazy-good musicians and singers. Jeff's been working on this collection of songs for a fair amount of time. Let's just say that it's been less than 50 years but more than a couple of months. That's enough to tell you that this is no grandma's done with her paint-by-numbers picture and I'm releasing it as my album thing, or a let's just get some product out and see if it sticks affair, and certainly not a kabooooom, here it is, I apologize in advance, welcome to my half-assed record kind of deal. Through twists and turns, some arising from an obvious obsession with detail (obvious from the beautifully intricate and pretty much genius guitar parts all over the record), Jeff's proceeded with an overwhelming desire and sense of purpose to "get it right" and make something worthwhile and lasting, all the while negotiating the happy/sad/catastrophic/redemptive/nutty currents that move through any segment of a person's life during any given period of time (especially someone in tune with that mysterious higher power of art and inspiration). And he's finally put it to bed, put his signature on it, and sent it off. Done. Listeners are guaranteed a delightfully rough go deciding on favorite songs: the myriad surprising musical moments, popgasmic hooks, the joyously cool lyrics, the transcendent guitar parts happening everywhere, and the superb playing by all involved on "Something In The Eye" are overflowing, like water spilling over the brim of a cup. It's an emotional ride, and it works it's magic in ways you won't easily understand-that's what art, musical or otherwise, should be all about. "Fresh Country": gorgeous guitars, vocals, melody, and hypnotic and strangely poignant in some mysterious way you can't quite put your finger on. "Suits": genius guitars, serious rev- it-up-and-drive urgency, push and pull emotional peaks and valleys, and again, that mysterious poignancy. "Jasmine": what insane radio station would not have this gem in heavy rotation? Are all other songs on the CD as good as these? Yes. Is there musical goofballery to be found, are there novelty-shtick time-waster throwaway brush-it-off-the-lapel-of-the-suit-jacket type tunes on the CD? No, none to be found. Do the arrangements and guitar chords on all these songs make you think, I never would, or maybe even could, have thought of those but I wish I had? Yes. Does it all soar? Yes, most certainly, yes. A collective of musical mojo played by some of the Twin Cities' most talented musicians; one songwriter's journey artistically and compellingly expressed by way of music, which always has had and will have the power to change and enrich the lives of the writer and the listener: well, it's both of those things, none of those things, maybe something else entirely. If you were to ask Jeff about the release of the Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" CD after his having worked on it for so long a time, he might say something about honoring the songs enough to release them; he might say, with a wry smile, something about closure. But what it all might really mean, maybe what it's really all about, is an auspicious new start and an expanding, beautiful horizon.
Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" (Korda Records) No one is more Jeff Kearns than Jeff Kearns. When you first meet him, the odds are pretty good that your initial take on him will prove more than true: he just might be a genuine original in a world all too full of phonies and opportunists, as well as those music folks, like many of us, that mean well but get lost in musical time-machine-land; operating too frequently in homage mode, they/we/us sometimes wear obvious musical influences like someone wears a ratty old thrift store sweater that's torn at the elbows and pockets, with every other button missing, worn way past any reasonable expiration date. No sweater on Jeff. In years past, you've likely been intuitive and open enough to the pop music atmosphere to peg Jeff as ingenious guitar player (and bass player), inventive songwriter, and terrific but too- rarely-heard singer, through his work on the brilliant albums by The Hang Ups, one of the all time great pop/rock/peerlessly-melodic-and-heartfelt bands of all time. Maybe by way of offthe-cuff chit chat with him--maybe you two ran into each other at some rock show or St. Paul bistro and you thought, who is that cat-- you zeroed in and locked on to the fact that Jeff's a guy who doesn't take any high, low, or previously traveled road through either music or life-he takes his own road at all times. Not because he's into any contrived eccentricities or wants to come across as something he's not; he just does his thing. And it turns out that his thing is a pretty great thing. Jeff's been an exceptional songwriter and singer long before now: just listen to the song entitled "Deep Pool" (a song title fittingly carried onward and living to see another day as a band name for the new CD) on The Hang Ups' last album-it's so beautiful in it's sweep that it'll transport those that are open to such things to some glorious planet on each listen. Even if you dug his songs before, you'll still be surprised at how good the songs are on the new Deep Pool CD, "Something In the Eye." The album started as an attempt to put together an honest-to-god rocking band. Over time it's become something that's not quite a permanent band lineup and not quite a solo album. With a lineup of musicians such as the players on the Deep Pool CD, anyone inspired to make their own music and records will be forgiven for their envy: Freddy Votel, of Cows and Seawhores fame; Brian Tighe, who's been the guiding light/partner-in-crime in The Hang Ups, The Owls, and The Starfolk, three of the best bands not just around Minnesota but around anywhere; Aaron Lundholm, Chadwick Nelson, Dave Boquist, Marcel Galang, Maria May, Matt Gerzema-put a check mark next to all those names when you're making a list of most favorite and crazy-good musicians and singers. Jeff's been working on this collection of songs for a fair amount of time. Let's just say that it's been less than 50 years but more than a couple of months. That's enough to tell you that this is no grandma's done with her paint-by-numbers picture and I'm releasing it as my album thing, or a let's just get some product out and see if it sticks affair, and certainly not a kabooooom, here it is, I apologize in advance, welcome to my half-assed record kind of deal. Through twists and turns, some arising from an obvious obsession with detail (obvious from the beautifully intricate and pretty much genius guitar parts all over the record), Jeff's proceeded with an overwhelming desire and sense of purpose to "get it right" and make something worthwhile and lasting, all the while negotiating the happy/sad/catastrophic/redemptive/nutty currents that move through any segment of a person's life during any given period of time (especially someone in tune with that mysterious higher power of art and inspiration). And he's finally put it to bed, put his signature on it, and sent it off. Done. Listeners are guaranteed a delightfully rough go deciding on favorite songs: the myriad surprising musical moments, popgasmic hooks, the joyously cool lyrics, the transcendent guitar parts happening everywhere, and the superb playing by all involved on "Something In The Eye" are overflowing, like water spilling over the brim of a cup. It's an emotional ride, and it works it's magic in ways you won't easily understand-that's what art, musical or otherwise, should be all about. "Fresh Country": gorgeous guitars, vocals, melody, and hypnotic and strangely poignant in some mysterious way you can't quite put your finger on. "Suits": genius guitars, serious rev- it-up-and-drive urgency, push and pull emotional peaks and valleys, and again, that mysterious poignancy. "Jasmine": what insane radio station would not have this gem in heavy rotation? Are all other songs on the CD as good as these? Yes. Is there musical goofballery to be found, are there novelty-shtick time-waster throwaway brush-it-off-the-lapel-of-the-suit-jacket type tunes on the CD? No, none to be found. Do the arrangements and guitar chords on all these songs make you think, I never would, or maybe even could, have thought of those but I wish I had? Yes. Does it all soar? Yes, most certainly, yes. A collective of musical mojo played by some of the Twin Cities' most talented musicians; one songwriter's journey artistically and compellingly expressed by way of music, which always has had and will have the power to change and enrich the lives of the writer and the listener: well, it's both of those things, none of those things, maybe something else entirely. If you were to ask Jeff about the release of the Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" CD after his having worked on it for so long a time, he might say something about honoring the songs enough to release them; he might say, with a wry smile, something about closure. But what it all might really mean, maybe what it's really all about, is an auspicious new start and an expanding, beautiful horizon.
Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" (Korda Records) No one is more Jeff Kearns than Jeff Kearns. When you first meet him, the odds are pretty good that your initial take on him will prove more than true: he just might be a genuine original in a world all too full of phonies and opportunists, as well as those music folks, like many of us, that mean well but get lost in musical time-machine-land; operating too frequently in homage mode, they/we/us sometimes wear obvious musical influences like someone wears a ratty old thrift store sweater that's torn at the elbows and pockets, with every other button missing, worn way past any reasonable expiration date. No sweater on Jeff. In years past, you've likely been intuitive and open enough to the pop music atmosphere to peg Jeff as ingenious guitar player (and bass player), inventive songwriter, and terrific but too- rarely-heard singer, through his work on the brilliant albums by The Hang Ups, one of the all time great pop/rock/peerlessly-melodic-and-heartfelt bands of all time. Maybe by way of offthe-cuff chit chat with him--maybe you two ran into each other at some rock show or St. Paul bistro and you thought, who is that cat-- you zeroed in and locked on to the fact that Jeff's a guy who doesn't take any high, low, or previously traveled road through either music or life-he takes his own road at all times. Not because he's into any contrived eccentricities or wants to come across as something he's not; he just does his thing. And it turns out that his thing is a pretty great thing. Jeff's been an exceptional songwriter and singer long before now: just listen to the song entitled "Deep Pool" (a song title fittingly carried onward and living to see another day as a band name for the new CD) on The Hang Ups' last album-it's so beautiful in it's sweep that it'll transport those that are open to such things to some glorious planet on each listen. Even if you dug his songs before, you'll still be surprised at how good the songs are on the new Deep Pool CD, "Something In the Eye." The album started as an attempt to put together an honest-to-god rocking band. Over time it's become something that's not quite a permanent band lineup and not quite a solo album. With a lineup of musicians such as the players on the Deep Pool CD, anyone inspired to make their own music and records will be forgiven for their envy: Freddy Votel, of Cows and Seawhores fame; Brian Tighe, who's been the guiding light/partner-in-crime in The Hang Ups, The Owls, and The Starfolk, three of the best bands not just around Minnesota but around anywhere; Aaron Lundholm, Chadwick Nelson, Dave Boquist, Marcel Galang, Maria May, Matt Gerzema-put a check mark next to all those names when you're making a list of most favorite and crazy-good musicians and singers. Jeff's been working on this collection of songs for a fair amount of time. Let's just say that it's been less than 50 years but more than a couple of months. That's enough to tell you that this is no grandma's done with her paint-by-numbers picture and I'm releasing it as my album thing, or a let's just get some product out and see if it sticks affair, and certainly not a kabooooom, here it is, I apologize in advance, welcome to my half-assed record kind of deal. Through twists and turns, some arising from an obvious obsession with detail (obvious from the beautifully intricate and pretty much genius guitar parts all over the record), Jeff's proceeded with an overwhelming desire and sense of purpose to "get it right" and make something worthwhile and lasting, all the while negotiating the happy/sad/catastrophic/redemptive/nutty currents that move through any segment of a person's life during any given period of time (especially someone in tune with that mysterious higher power of art and inspiration). And he's finally put it to bed, put his signature on it, and sent it off. Done. Listeners are guaranteed a delightfully rough go deciding on favorite songs: the myriad surprising musical moments, popgasmic hooks, the joyously cool lyrics, the transcendent guitar parts happening everywhere, and the superb playing by all involved on "Something In The Eye" are overflowing, like water spilling over the brim of a cup. It's an emotional ride, and it works it's magic in ways you won't easily understand-that's what art, musical or otherwise, should be all about. "Fresh Country": gorgeous guitars, vocals, melody, and hypnotic and strangely poignant in some mysterious way you can't quite put your finger on. "Suits": genius guitars, serious rev- it-up-and-drive urgency, push and pull emotional peaks and valleys, and again, that mysterious poignancy. "Jasmine": what insane radio station would not have this gem in heavy rotation? Are all other songs on the CD as good as these? Yes. Is there musical goofballery to be found, are there novelty-shtick time-waster throwaway brush-it-off-the-lapel-of-the-suit-jacket type tunes on the CD? No, none to be found. Do the arrangements and guitar chords on all these songs make you think, I never would, or maybe even could, have thought of those but I wish I had? Yes. Does it all soar? Yes, most certainly, yes. A collective of musical mojo played by some of the Twin Cities' most talented musicians; one songwriter's journey artistically and compellingly expressed by way of music, which always has had and will have the power to change and enrich the lives of the writer and the listener: well, it's both of those things, none of those things, maybe something else entirely. If you were to ask Jeff about the release of the Deep Pool "Something In the Eye" CD after his having worked on it for so long a time, he might say something about honoring the songs enough to release them; he might say, with a wry smile, something about closure. But what it all might really mean, maybe what it's really all about, is an auspicious new start and an expanding, beautiful horizon.
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