BUTTERFLY JONES
Napalm Springs (Vanguard)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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"I've got an inclination to spend the best years of my life in Napalm Springs. If love don't tear me apart, if I'm not feeling quite enough pain, if love don't tear me apart I'll do it myself." Guess he wants to break a butterfly on a wheel or something. Ex-Dada dude Michael Gurley (with Dada drummer Phil Leavitt along for the ride) takes power pop to places it's not accustomed to being heard. "Alright," for instance, starts as a sultry blues bubbling up from the darkness before exploding into what can only be called a sultry power pop bubbling over into the light, all harmonies and uptempo stick work. The blues still glides across it in the most electrified way, but the message is clear: it's alright. From there, the power is loosed and that's fine by me. "Are We In Love Again" is not being pushed as a single because someone who makes such decisions apparently is clueless. The single? "Anywhere But Now," which is almost as good, so I guess you can't bitch. That's what they pay me for. There are times when Butterfly Jones is all about whining along with the throng, and there are times when they are about playing the retro game. When they're at their best is when they land in the middle of the two and it feels like they mean it and they're not aping anyone or anything. In terms of pure talent, there's enough to fuel ten bands here. In terms of creativity it's looking promising. Keep an eye on Butterfly Jones. Forgive the few miscues and, assuming they hold it together, see where they take it. Betcha it's gonna be good.

© 2001 - DJ Johnson