[.ca] So Far

From Amazon.com:
With their snappy power-pop melodies and a warm studio sheen, the Orange Peels frequently sound like the Hollies fronted by a post-Wham! George Michael, with occasional input from Burt Bacharach. For the record, that's not a bad thing. The band's bordering-on-slick production and flirtations with Top 40 styles of years gone by let them overcome the typical problem with power pop--although it's often catchy, it's usually just the sum of its parts (sunny 4/4 rhythms, jangly/crisp guitars, sing-along bap-bap-ba's, handclaps). The San Francisco-based Orange Peels, led by scene veteran Allen Clapp, use these tools, but their best songs ("So Far," "Lost in You/I Can See the Planets," "Every Single Thing") rise above the typical with expansive structures, lush arrangements, and Clapp's melancholic-but-wise vocal delivery. Admittedly, the band generally still colors within the pop-formula lines, but So Far makes formula-breaking seem overrated, at least while it's on. --Lisa Gidley

Terry Hall meets Burt Bacharach?:
Sweet and upbeat, a mix of Beatles, Byrds, Burt Bacharach and Belle & Sebastian, with a lead singer who sounds a bit like Terry Hall (Specials, Fun Boy Three, Colourfield).

Priveleged to get a preview:
I had the recent priveledge to preview this album. Allen Clapp's musical talent is incredible. The music is upbeat and fun. It is a shame that the west coast is the only place that really gets to enjoy this band.

Orange ya glad I didn't say "Very a-Peeling"?:
I promised myself I wouldn't use that dreaded reference that seems to get tossed out a bit too readily (and oh-so trendily) in music reviews these days, but let's go ahead and get it out of the way: The Orange Peels are (gulp) "Brian Wilson-esque". THERE, I SAID IT! (I couldn't help it!). How about a new one? The Orange Peels are also a bit "Roddy Frame-ish" (bet no one's used that one yet!). Yes, there's a bit of the early 80's Aztec Camera mixed in with the usual Beach Boys-Beatles-Bacharach-Rundgren touchstones that seem to inform most denizens of the new millenial "indie pop" genre. And when I say that this album "breezes" by, I mean it quite literally...11 songs in a scant 40-odd minutes (not that that's a bad thing, because there isn't one dud on the album--too many new bands are adding needless ho-hum "filler" to shore up up those 74 available minutes anyway). This one will fit nicely alongside your Wondermints, Pernice Brothers and Shins discs if you are so disposed.

Nostalgic Britpop (ok, not British, but still...):
The year's most charming piece of Britpop came, not from the UK, but from San Jose, California. A simple, lightweight, chiming slice of retro-pop, the Orange Peels remind me of British bands like the La's (and maybe even Oasis or the Stone Roses), but with a healthy dose of Burt Bacharach thrown into the mix. It's tongue-in-cheek and borders on juvenile in it's simplistic approach to jangle-pop, but never quite crosses the line into banality. In other words, this is guilt-free fun for the lover of pure pop, with no noise and (almost) no irony. It's a short album, and when it's over it's pretty easily forgotten, but a few days later you'll stumble across it in a pile of cd's and feel this huge craving to hear it again. Or maybe that's just me.

Classic Guitar Pop:
The song "Something Strange Happens" (from their debut album, "Square") alerted me to the Orange Peels, so I was ready for "So Far" when it came out. I was not disappointed. "So Far" has a lusher, more atmospheric sound than the first album, with no shortage of catchy guitar hooks. The music is a Byrds-influenced style that is usually described as "power pop," although Allen Clapp's vocals push it in the direction of twee. This will make the album especially delightful to fans of bands like Belle and Sebastian, but may be a turnoff for those who are expecting pure power pop along the lines of Shoes or the Raspberries. Personally, I think it's a great sound, reminiscent of early 70s AM radio. "Back in San Francisco" is a delight, right up there with "Something Strange Happens." The title song is more of a rocker, with pounding drums and a melody line that ascends in stages, like a fast car shifting gears. Some of the songs in the middle are somewhat obscure lyrically. I once heard that "Redwood City" is about a landlord, while "The Pattern on the Wall" may be about a friend's drug addiction. But I don't remember where I read this, so don't take it too seriously. One thing that sets this album apart from most is that it has a strong sense of place, as the music seems to shine like the rain-soaked vegetation of northern California. A sense of place is common in folk music, but rare in pop music, so I always appreciate it when I find it. Contrary to what a previous reviewer wrote, I've found that many of these songs stick in my head long after the album has ended. If you like classic guitar pop that is polished but not too commercial, I recommend you give this album a try.

• Back in San Francisco - Allen Clapp, John Moremen, Jill Pries, Larry Winther
• So Far - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Bob Vickers, Larry Winther
• You're So Clever - Allen Clapp, John Moremen, Jill Pries
• Mazatlan/Shining Bright - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Bob Vickers
• Redwood City - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries
• Pattern on the Wall - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Bob Vickers, Larry Winther
• Mystery Lawn - Allen Clapp, John Moremen, Jill Pries, Larry Winther
• Girl for All Seasons - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Bob Vickers, Larry Winther
• Lost in You/I Can See the Planets - Allen Clapp,
• Every Single Thing - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Larry Winther
• West Coast Rain - Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, Bob Vickers, Larry Winther