Jim Basnight

Summertime Peculiar

Power Popaholic Productions

The latest album from this long running Pacific Northwest musician finds him still getting a mother lode from power pop – from old songs that sound new and brand new songs.

The album grew out of a 1995 children’s theater piece he co-wrote, named “Little Rock,” which played all over the US, and which The Seattle Times awarded Best Children’s Theater Event of the Year for 1995.

This album is also is something of a musical novel, the song lyrics portraying the characters in scenes from it. There are also nods to Alex Miller AKA Sonny Boy Williamson II, about whom Basnight wrote a book.

In all these ways, it does work, whether he’s playing the blues, playing songs like “Riding Rainbows,” which absolutely could be for kids, or the very novel-like song “Elma,” about being stuck in a small town with no way to leave and being sarcastic about it.

Both “Elma” and Rainbows” are old songs, but the addition of horns and strings makes them new again, and a delight to hear, as is the album as a whole. New songs like ”The Heart” are for grown-ups.

The supporting cast of musicians and guest vocalists, especially Suze Sims on vocals, really shines, and it’s easy to imagine this ensemble on stage playing these songs very well.

Every time someone stretches power pop it just shows how versatile and enduring it is. This album is a lot of fun, rocking little and big, and just a real joy to hear.

Andrea Weiss