Jeff Mellin - Saves the World. Vol 1 and 2

  by Geraint Jones

published: 17 / 12 / 2001

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Billed as a double EP, this collection of ten songs was, more or less, recorded in two halves. Part One (tracks 1-4) was recorded in the studio with an array of Boston musicians including the seemingly omnipresent Pete Weiss on bass on four excellent roots-pop nuggets. Displaying some deft guitar touches by Andy Pastore and interspersed with occasional flourishes of quirky humour such as the incongruous sampled laughter featured on the lyrically downbeat opener ‘Frankly, Babe’ and the needle hits the record sound effect prior to the splendidly titled ‘Where You Goin’ With That Bag O’ Nuthin’ For No Good Reason’, Part One alone is worthy of the price of admission. Part Two (tracks 6-9) was recorded ‘live’ in the studio in one take, following minimal rehearsal, with swamp-rock outfit Slide. Darker and more experimental in both tone and execution than the tracks on Part One the results whilst interesting are less impressive than the previous full studio recordings with the exception of the slow twang and reverb-drenched ‘Right On’. Part Two is book-ended by two tracks recorded at a further session and demonstrate an additional side to Jeff Mellin, that of melancholic folk singer. Saving the world may be a bold claim, but with this collection Jeff Mellin is certainly capable of entertaining those of its inhabitants who hear this promising debut and I await his next instalment with interest.

Track Listing:-

1 Frankly, Babe
2 Lever Big Enough To Move The World
3 Shocked (At First)
4 Where You Goin' With That Bag O' Nuthin'
5 Wilson Squared Airport Disaster
6 Half-Moon In 4/4
7 Last Straw
8 Oh-No, Joey Tussaud
9 Right On!!
10 Just Want To See You Tonight

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