MR. SMOLIN
At Apogee (Nomenclature Records)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Fans of his LA radio show, The Music Never Stops on KPFK, call him Barry, but the English classes that occupy his day job hours call him Mr. Smolin. He often calls himself Shmo. Some of LA's best pop musicians call him a friend, and many of them show up on his debut CD, At Apogee. Among the rosters represented are members of the Wondermints, Double Naught Spy Car, Ruby Flux and The Negro Problem, with LA popmaster supreme Stew overseeing the assembly from the producer's chair. With that kind of talent assembled, you know the songs will be presented as well as they can be, but what of the songs themselves? Well, they're as lyrically rich as you'd expect from an English teacher with a penchant for poetry, but much better than you might think that sounds. They're melodically complex but invariably accessible, with enough hooks to outfit a fishing fleet, tap your toe beats and singalong choruses aplenty. They cover subject matter ranging from the personally wrenching to the comically absurd. And they're terrific, every one of them in its own way. This is a repeat button special, with each song revealing new secrets and joys as you listen again and again. With At Apogee, Barry Smolin kicks off his recording career at an appropriately high point. Check out his website at www.mrsmolin.com.

Track List:

At Apogee * Angels * The Rodeo * Casper * The Earth Keeps Turning On * Every Shepherd's Tongue * Lost In You * The Shaming Of The True * Dad Is Dead * Way Back In * I Will Be Home Soon * Take Me To The Wind

© 2003 - Shaun Dale