THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD TO FLATTERY

by Jaimie Vernon

There has been much made about The Beatles being the greatest single pop music force in the last century (Irving Berlin, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, and Jonas Brothers detractors would be the first to argue). To that end, the band's influence has been stamped on nearly all musical styles (except maybe Klezmer music) coming out of the West for the last 40 years.

Recently Paul McCartney himself finally acknowledged the band's multi-generational grip by declaring war on the very acts paying homage to the Fab Four. Fed up with acts lifting every over-used Beatle cliche to earn a place on the British Top40 (where McCartney has failed to chart in a decade), he's vowed to give the fans 'the real deal' on his next solo album. Until then, here's the best heirs to the thrown so far.
[click on images to see the videos].

1) Cheese & Onions THE RUTLES	2) Voices    CHEAP TRICK	3) Go Let It Out OASIS	4) Mr. Blue Sky   ELO	5) Can't Go Back MICHAEL CARPENTER
6) Closest Thing To Heaven TEARS FOR FEARS	7) Time Machine THE VINYL KINGS	8) New Mistake JELLYFISH	9) Generals & Majors XTC	10) Life In A Northern Town DREAM ACADEMY

MICHAEL CARPENTER'S "REDEMPTION #39"

Michael Carpenter is a record producer/engineer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/solo artist from Sydney, Australia. And in June of this year he released his 38th solo album called "Redemption 39".

Readers have probably never heard of Michael Carpenter but that isn't because he hasn't been trying. In fact, he keeps on making hooky, ear candy despite the fickle finger of a music industry that would prefer a pre-fabricated sound to the Fab Sound.

Michael is one of many independent artists struggling worldwide to make a name for himself with music that harkens back to a time when harmonies, jangly guitars and the 3-minute pop tune dominated the airwaves.  In Power Pop music circles the root of this schooling comes from "The 4 B's Of Power Pop": The Beatles, The Byrds, Badfinger and The Beach Boys.

Carpenter is an unapologetic fan of The Beatles and wears his influences on his (record) sleeves. And as part of the under-discovered world of Power Pop, Carpenter is a one-man music and promotion machine carrying his own torch...and music gear.

"Redemption #39" comes on the heels of a global economic crisis, and with it was Carpenter's battle to carry on writing, recording and performing to a minimal, albeit niche, audience or pack it all in and flip burgers for a living. Worst still has been the indifference from a world music landscape that has more window shoppers than actual purchasers. At a time when music has been the cheapest and most accessible it's ever been, Carpenter has struggled to get his voice heard despite his reach expanding through the advent of Social Networking.

Check out the songs for yourself and see why Michael Carpenter needs to continue making great pop records.

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