Sparklers & Bottlerockets, with fifteen radio friendly songs, clocks in at just under an hour. I suspect some GMR regulars might read 'radio friendly' as 'damning with faint praise' which is definitely not my intent. The San Francisco based Tijuana Strip Club essentially appears to be Randy Cordera (producer, words & music, vocals, guitars, synths, etc.), with able support, especially from Gary Myrick (co-producer & multi-instrumentalist). Sparklers & Bottlerockets offers a well produced, solidly professional, listening experience with the potential to appeal to a large and varied audience.
Cordera's vocals sound a bit like Bryan Ferry channeling Leonard Cohen. Which is to say, he's often recorded with a close mic while reciting/chanting in a fairly quiet, husky, voice more than truly singing. But he can and does sing... and does so with a comfortable, pop friendly, panache. Others might find different examples, but you get the general idea.
The material is good, even if it sounds at times overly familiar. The opening tune, "Turnstile," recalls a Traveling Wilburys' tune by Tom Petty. The next tune "Mercy Springs" is where the Leonard Cohen reference comes from and so on. Despite this, Cordera is enough his own man that these discernible influences never become overwhelming. And there are enough different threads of influence that, taken as a whole, no one or two dominate. The third track, "Hapless Suitor," has a damped down fire that is allowed to flare up on the instrumental break. This is one where Cordera's vocal and acoustic guitar are augmented by a very full band sound, all instruments and 'sounds' courtesy of Myrick.
"Ghostride" tosses into the musical Cuisinart a tune that sounds like it was written by Rickie Lee Jones collaborating with Jazzy Jeff, then performed by Roxy Music. "Being in Love" and, to a certain extent, "Bottlerocket" sound a bit like they were written for Phish.
I won't continue to make comments about each track. I've tossed out enough points of reference that you should've gotten a good sense of whether or not Sparklers & Bottlerockets might appeal to you. I suspect it will be in regular rotation on my CD changer for a while. About the only aspect of Sparklers & Bottlerockets I'm not yet sure will wear well is Tijuana Strip Club's predilection for 'cool' production touches... 'sounds' buried in the mix, swirling effects, the odd rapid stereo pan. Then again, that's the stuff that made Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band both absolutely of its moment and a timeless classic. In the great scheme of things Sparklers & Bottlerockets is unlikely to rival Sgt. Pepper, but like that recording its eccentric flourishes might well become endearing rather than annoying.
