Ariel Pink – Dedicated To Bobby Jameson (Mexican Summer)

0

 

Ariel Pink returns with his 11th, yes, 11th, studio album and his first since 2014’s Pom Pom.

Since 2014, the now-39 year old Ariel Rosenberg has discovered the enigma who was Bobby Jamison. Briefly, Jameson was a somewhat mysterious, somewhat tragic figure who attempted to become a pop phenomenon during the 1960s, only to crash and burn after several failed attempts at stardom. By the 1970s, the LA-based artist had disappeared and was presumed dead. He resurfaced in 2003, published his autobiography on the net via a series of blog posts and then died in 2015 at age 70.

Something about Jameson’s strange and twisted life struck a chord with Ariel who stated that Jameson’s “life resonated with me to such a degree that I felt a need to dedicate my latest record to him.”

And so he has.

Rather than assemble an album that recounts a narrative of Jameson’s life, it sounds that, not surprisingly for anyone who has followed Pink’s career, Ariel has produced something more impressionistic.

Many of the songs here draw from the LA rock of the 1960s.

Bubblegum Dreams is an obvious musical tip of the hat to the type of psychedelic sunshine pop that Jameson dabbled in with noted producer Curt Boettcher, while Dreamdate Narcissist is almost a direct lift from The Seeds’ Pushin Too Hard.

And then there’s the title track which breaks into a very Doors-like instrumental break…I would swear that’s Robbie Krieger playing guitar.

But the album’s best moments come when Ariel reins in his influences and concentrates on writing strong melodies.

These come in the form of Feels Like Heaven and Another Weekend. Both tracks have a languid, dreamy, neo-psychedelic feel to them, but they also have beautiful melodies and huge hooks. It’s Ariel Pink at his best.

Beyond these highlights, the remainder of the album wanders through exercises in 80s synth pop (check out the unabashed steal of the melody of The Buggles’ Video Killed The Radio Stars during Time To Live) and 70s funk, ala Isaac Hayes or Curtis Mayfield (Death Patrol).

Whatever he’s up to, Ariel Pink is always entertaining and, on Dedicated To Bobby Jameson, he often raises his level of accomplishment to that of something close to pop perfection.

Marty Duda

Marty Duda
Latest posts by Marty Duda (see all)