Willard's Wormholes

Meaningless (2000)
Encyclopedic Pop

Seems pop guys never make it big anymore. There have been plenty of great under-the-radar pop bands in the last 20 years, but to reach mass acceptance, as some should have, is rare. Oasis is an exception, there might be a few others. Jon Brion knows this. It’s why his solo debut is on his own Straight To Cut Out label. Brion’s not a ‘name’ yet, despite affiliations with the likes of Jason Falkner, eels and Fiona Apple, and the films Magnolia and Punch Drunk Love, among many others. He’s laid the groundwork for world domination though, through a great pop band (The Grays), a growing body of film scores, a highly regarded club residency @ Largo and fruitful collaborations with all sorts of cool people. He’s not a genius or anything, he can just do it all. It’s true, his songs are sometimes elusive and hard to remember, but his rich harmonies always shine through vividly. Historically, post-McCartney melodicism that’s too clever pays a price. Think 10cc’s indulgences. Brion’s been just as guilty… but undiluted pop just seems to pour out of the guy, so it’s a joy to witness. Give a listen to Brion’s ‘as-genius-as-anything-Todd-ever-did’ piano rendition of Cheap Trick’s “Voices” – a testament to Rick Nielsen’s songwriting chops as much as Brion’s amazing instant-arranging capabilities. The official title, Jon Brion; meaningless, would appear to have some kind of meaning. It’s at Amazon HERE.

Gotta Start Somewhere (4:13)
I Believe She’s Lying (3:27)
Meaningless (3:24)
Ruin My Day (3:50)
Walking Through Walls (5:43)
Trouble (3:29)
Hook, Line, And Sinker (4:26)
Dead To The World (2:22)
Her Ghost (4:12)
The Same Mistakes (1:57)
Voices (7:32)