PETER CASE
Flying Saucer Blues (Vanguard)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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"The road I've been on since I was two - well I just found out that it don't go through." With these words begins another enchanting visit with Peter Case, a folk artist of such talent that his legendary status as leader of the 80s power pop gods, The Plimsouls, is almost becoming a footnote.

In 1986, Case gave me, and a few hundred other lucky souls, an evening we'll never forget when he performed for nearly three hours in a smokey Seattle nightclub, no band behind him, armed with only his guitar and harmonica and that incredible voice. We all felt like we knew the man by the end of the first song. The point to this story is that two ingredients are required for such a performance to be a success: sincere delivery and extremely strong, well written songs. While Case still hasn't ever achieved the mass audience his talent deserves, those who are aware of him have never doubted his abilities in either of those skill areas. After all, this is the man who wrote "A Million Miles Away," possibly the most perfect power pop song of all time.

On Flying Saucer Blues, Case has a full band that backs him perfectly on his blues, folk and Americana tunes, each one strong enough that he could easily have performed them all by himself and they would have stood up just fine. Greg Leisz, in particular, is responsible for some of the most exquisite sounds and moods, with his backbone-tingling Dobro slide work and tasteful mandolin decoration. Icing on a cake that's already very tasty, packed with clever, deep lyrics, hummable melodies, nifty rhythms and that voice! Once again, Peter Case has given us something to remember.

© 2000 - DJ Johnson