Sparkleberries - Skylight Exchange

by Lisa Torem

published: 16 / 1 / 2011

Label: Quesbar Records
Format: CD

Sarcastic and witty power pop on debut album from North Carolina-based group, the Sparkleberries

Review

Frontman Ken Kleinfeld, who hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is quirky, unmercifully sarcastic and has a hell of a voice. His previous solo album, 'Shakespeare Songs', featured the Bard’s words with his original compositions. This put him in good stead for this wild recording project. Seems that the Sparkleberries grew out of that particular tree of life; thorns and all. The line up includes rockabilly shredder Bob Craver and Chris Stamey, a versatile ace of spades on rhythm and lead guitar. The remaining rhythm section consists of Jeff Crawford, Logan Matheny, J. Carson Gray and Martin Lynds. The opening track, ‘Maple Park’ is like a melding of a Mitch Ryder groove with the zany ingenuity of Dweezil or his father Frank Zappa. The next one up, ‘Tim’, is a beautiful parody; Tim and his ex girlfriend get thrown in the proverbial spin cycle as his concerned friend wags his “told you so” finger. Next up, a jangle of geographic places; Juneau, Uzbekistan, Jordan, etc., are name-dropped, with ‘Juneau’ at the top of the heap. It’s obvious that Kleinfeld enjoys the ongoing word salad and he bends and shadows his vocals to wring out every sharp observation. ‘Skylight’ features those wonderful, contagious and choppy rhythms that the album serves up generously from beginning to end. ‘Architect of Woe’ is broadcast in the wry style of a Robyn Hitchcock; a solid, but whimsical character study all the way. Hark! Is that a tambourine? That is how ‘Holly’ begins; with the innocent arrangement being quite reminiscent of the 60s. ‘Eyelids and Earlobes’ allows for some fun vocal backing, courtesy of an odd set of five. ‘Walking Slow’ is a lo-fi ballad that very casually lends credence to the joys of the “slacker” generation. ‘Into your Heart’ shows Kleinfeld maintaining his pride while trying to rewrite a failed affair and hoping to nail it down just right this time. Throughout the tracks, the chameleonic singer sheds the skin of Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen and, at times, (gasp!) Dylan, though he really does have his own unique aplomb. ‘Guitar Store’ is brilliant. Kleinfeld, who barely detracts from whining, plays the hurt victim in this ode to youthful obsessive love. “I won’t try guitars in your store unless Sarah’s there…” he pouts. 'Skylight Exchange' ends, as it begins, like the trajectory of all God’s creatures, with more questions and unsolved mysteries remaining than before, but the foremost question is, “How long will I have to wait until I get to hear those super cool Sparkleberries again, mom, huh?”