The Explorers Club - S.T. / To Sing And Be Born Again (Album Review)
As the modern world seemingly goes from bad to worse, wouldn’t it be fantastic to fire up the DeLorean and disappear to some other time and place? I’m not naive enough to expect things to be all sweetness and light in my chosen destination, but a change is as good as a rest, or so they say. In the meantime - while I’m inventing my take on a flux capacitor - I’ll let The Explorers Club aka Jason Brewer magically transport me back to the classic pop sounds of the sixties/seventies via two albums that luxuriate in the sweet, summery sounds of yesteryear. Two albums that should put a smile on the face of those in need of a little pick me up as the nights draw in and, for many of us; hibernation is starting to look like a sensible option.
The roots of The Explorers club date back to 2005 and, over the years, Jason has enlisted a seemingly endless cast of like-minded musicians to bring his musical vision to the world. For his latest album, he’s doubled the pleasure with a new self-titled album and a covers album released simultaneously. Thankfully, there are no signs of Guns n’ Roses style ‘Illusions’ overindulgence here. The covers record is the perfect companion to the self-penned material, offering musical signposts to Jason’s influences while shining a welcome light on a few more obscure artists ripe for rediscovery.
The self-titled album of original material is the obvious starting point. Recorded (amazingly) live in the legendary Studio A in Nashville with Matt Goldman overseeing the production in association with Jason and Shane Tutmarc the album crams twelve tracks into thirty-five minutes with perfect pop precision. Essentially a love letter to classic 60s pop - or as Jason puts it “I’m a lifelong retrophile” - The Explorers Club deliver their take on the decade perfectly via beautifully produced pop creations overflowing with gorgeous vocal harmonies; sweeping strings, tasteful horn inflexions and joyous keyboard textures. If you’d shut Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Herb Alpert in a room, and refused to let them out until they had come up with an album, then The Explorers Club might well be the result.
Picking highlights when the material is this good is pretty much impossible and special moments are plentiful. The first breakdown, during the unexpectedly punchy ‘Somewhere Else’, as the vocals come to the fore, is wonderfully inventive while the addition of a rockin’ guitar is bordering on genius. ’One Drop Of Rain’ is lounge perfection and possibly my favourite on the album thanks, in no small part, to those harmonies and a glorious string arrangement while the first single ‘Say You Will’ is a bouncy, singalong pop masterclass. Chase Johnson’s keyboard contribution to album opener ‘Ruby’ had me instantly smitten, a feeling reinforced by the contribution of Joel Parks’ (bass) and Matt Goldmann’s understated percussion as they join in support of the vocal. Elsewhere ‘Dawn’ could make the hardest heart melt as could ‘Look To The Horizon’ which closes proceedings in a wash of perfect harmonies, brass and what sounds suspiciously like a Tubular Bell.
The Explorers Club is a terrific record that maintains an identity and wears Jason Brewer’s musical influences on its sleeve comfortably. Speaking of those influences, let’s take a look at ‘To Sing And Be Born Again’. The Explorers Club have dabbled in cover tunes over the years so when Jason found he had some spare studio time, and a team of quality musicians at his disposal, he took the opportunity to reinterpret ten pop classics from 1965-68. Jason and his cohorts manage the impossible as they make the overtly familiar ‘Quinn The Eskimo’ enjoyable through sheer attention to detail, while a sumptuous ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore’ could well be the perfect Explorers Club song. Their take on the Walker Brothers classic is a solid gold slab of Spectorish brilliance. I’m pleased to see a couple of songs included here that are among my all-time favourites in ‘Can’t Find The Time’ - with Steven Page of Barenaked Ladies helping out on vocals - and a lovely take on the timeless Bacharach/David composition ‘This Guy’s In Love With You’. Originally a massive hit for Herb Alpert it remains the perfect combination of sweeping strings and tasteful brass. A good covers album should always make you want to dig deeper into the original artists back catalogue so, it’s the likes of some less familiar (to me anyway) material that shines here. The Zombies ‘Maybe After He’s Gone’ is quite lovely with gorgeous multi-layered harmonies to die for and you’ve gotta love those Timpani drums while Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers fame helps out on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s ‘Didn’t Want To Have To Do It’.
If you’re a fan of The Explorers Club, you won’t need me to tell you how good both of these albums are, and I’m sure you will already by wallowing contentedly in their sumptuous, musical goodness. If, on the other hand, The Explorers Club is a new name to you, and you’ve even the slightest interest in classic 60s pop then both albums deserve to find a home in your collection.
From his self-titled, triple platinum-selling debut album in 1987 to ‘Limitless’ in 2020, Richard Marx has had an unerring knack for a melody (not to mention a pretty wonderful voice). Marx's songwriting skills have enabled him to stay relevant throughout his nearly forty-year career. His sound has evolved over time, with the punchy guitars of the late 80s replaced by a smoother, more R&B/pop sound tailored to radio and streaming services. Along the way, his song craft has been in high demand, co-writing and/or contributing songs to a startling array of artists from Kenny Rogers to Keith Urban via NSYNC, Luther Vandross and Vixen. An impressive CV, but where does that chameleon-like ability to pen hit songs come from? How does he do it? Hopefully, ‘Songwriter’ might give us a bit of a clue as we take a journey through twenty tracks encompassing four genres; pop, rock, country and ballads.