The Young Fresh Fellows – The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest – 2 CDs
This must be the season of double CD issues & reissues since I’ve had quite a lineup of these sets. This one is interesting since it’s a reissue of a melodic pop-in-hyper drive developed conceptually by the pre-grunge Seattle’s Scott McCaughey & Chuck Carroll (1981). The group became darlings of college radio with a generous following. This double CD is a celebration of sorts.
There are 29 remixed tracks spread over The Fabulous Sounds of the Pacific Northwest – 40th Anniversary Special Edition (Drops June 28/Omnivore Recordings/2 CDs) to help relaunch the band as they embark on a 2024 tour with original members & the addition of John Perrin (NRBQ). It’s an entertaining set with a punky edge & pop confections. Everyone has a sweet tooth, don’t they?
Produced/engineered by Conrad Uno it sounds recorded yesterday. It’s retro in its fever but not in its showcase. That’s probably because the vocals are pristine & the majority despite their pop pedigree have an arrangement tightly engaged.
I found many possessing a steady & catchy base. Despite the juvenile judicious topics & display of skill, each piece inhabits a generous serving of indulgent musical properties (“View From Above”). This is progressive for a pop song. Lots going on in a wacky mid-career Beatle “Revolution #9” way.
The band easily falls away from their Beatles ideal & drops into the raw primitive dazzle of Velvet Underground (“Big House”). I get a whiff of Lou Reed-type vocals & it works. From raw material to sparkling instrumental (“Gus Theme”) since the band has many gears.
Despite the varied sound the set doesn’t feel cluttered. However, this music shouldn’t be embraced as individual songs but as a concept of sound. The music’s fired from a Gatling gun of notes & chords in rapid order. Like returning a ping pong or tennis ball. Fast & furious.
With “A Humble Guy,” YFF almost explores a cross-breed between Belgian rocker Plastic Bertrand (“Ca plane pour moi”) & the Anti-Nowhere League. Then they lay out a Brinsley Schwartz/Nick Lowe-type pub rocker “That Letter,” quite effectively.
CD # 2 has additional songs from a party-in-the-studio 1984 cassette release. It may interest completists but it’s a little more unfinished.
Highlights – CD #1 (34:18) – “Teenage Dogs In Trouble,” “You Call That Lonely?” “View From Above,” “Big House,” “Gus Theme,” “A Humble Guy” & “That Letter.”
CD #2 (38:21) – “Someone I Care About,” “The Sharing Patrol” & “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White.”
Musicians – Chuck Carroll (lead & backing vocals/lead & rhythm guitars), Ted Hutchison (drums/bgv), Scott McCaughey (lead & backing vocals/bass/rhythm guitars/piano), Jim Sangster (late-arriving), The Dynette Set – Riki Mafuni, Shelley Stockstill, Christy Wilson (bgv) Jed Critter (accordion/big voice).
B&W image courtesy of their website/BrooklynVegan. CD @ Amazon & https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/fabulous-sounds/ & http://www.youngfreshfellows.net/
