Brightest Young Things

It has been about a year since we last featured the Secret Pop Band, and since then, they have recorded the songs that were to become their new album, Pardon the Solar Interruption. With their CD release party coming up THIS SUNDAY at the Velvet Lounge, we decided that it was time to put their writing skills to the test once again. So without further ado, I give you the Secret Pop Band (applause)

"Your New England Winter"

J: This is a tale about a suburban boy and a country girl coming to terms with the conflict that often arises between personal ambition and relationships. Like a lot of the songs on the record, this tune features a lot of overdubs; there are probably 4 or 5 tracks of guitar in various places. While we're a three-piece, we don't necessarily want to sound like one on our recordings. During the bridge (2:40) I do a little "Immigrant Song" impersonation (in a lower register of course!).

Greg Gendron: When getting ready to write and record this album, I thought it would be fun to pick another band or musician who is important to me and throw in an Easter egg or two in their honor on the drum part for each song. As I type, I don't think I ever even let J. or Ody know I was doing this. Because I grew up in New England, when J. told me the name of this song was going to be "Your New England Winter," I immediately flashed back to memories of early teenage winter afternoons playing along to old KISS tapes in my bedroom. I decided right then that this song needed to have a nod to Peter Criss. Listen for the infamous "Strutter" fill at 0:59. Then listen carefully at 3:03 for a "Love Gun"-inspired fill, which ultimately ended up being played by everyone.

"Week Old Beer"

J: This song, a think piece about my single days, is literally about what the title implies - finishing off a forty-ounce Budweiser bottle I had opened the previous week. I did consider writing some more serious lyrics for this, but once I come up with an idea I have a hard time letting go. The harmony guitar solo is a nod to Iron Maiden guitar heroes Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. When not making pop music together, the members of Secret Pop Band can usually be found bonding over 80's metal icons such as Judas Priest, Megadeth and Dokken.

G: It usually takes me a while to listen to the actual words, but I always need to know the song titles for the set list. I asked J. what this one was going to be called when we first started working it out, and for months I thought the song was titled "Weak Old Bear" and assumed it was about an American Indian elder.

"Listening to the Tiger"

J: This is our homage to the high art form known as the power ballad. The "Tiger" in this song refers to the album "Seven and the Ragged Tiger," by Duran Duran, my first musical crush. The lyrics follow the life-cycle of an aspiring musician: becoming a music fan, pretending to be a rock star, making music, and ultimately giving up on the rock-n-roll dream. The tune is a bit sad, so during the bridge (2:48) I try to get up high and emulate falsetto god Brian Wilson.

G: When J. said he was writing a power ballad I thought, "oh, you mean like 'Home Sweet Home' meets 'November Rain'." Ah, maybe not so much. I went for it anyway.

"Solar Interruption"

J: This song is notable for my discovery of the joys of the Danelectro Dan-Echo guitar pedal (see outro guitar solo). The lyrics are tricky to explain, but it's essentially about a nice, sunny day at the beach that turns into a heated debate about mortality and religion. This is probably my fave tune on the album.

G: I know it probably does not sound anything like it, but the drums in the chorus were inspired by Make-Up's Born on the Floor verse.

"First Time Radio"

J: Bands have been addressing the topic of the rock-n-roll business for over 40 years (See the Byrds' "So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N' Roll Star," etc...), but we thought we'd put in our two cents anyway! While lamenting whether they have the right look or sound, the protagonists of this tune ultimate find success on the radio, and this song celebrates the feeling of hearing your music over the airwaves for the first time. Yup, we're old-fashioned in a 20th century sorta way. It seemed fitting this was the last song we recorded for the project; it was nice to go out on a positive vibe.

If you like what you just heard, check out the Secret Pop Band THIS SUNDAY JUNE 28 at the Velvet Lounge.
CRUCIAL DETAILS

Velvet Lounge Sunday June 28, 2009

Sugarplums, Puffy Areolas, Nun Party, SECRET POP BAND

Doors 7:30pm/Show 9pm/18+/$8