MysteryPop not only took two words and made them into one word for their band's name, but these former members of Los Angeles favorites Spanish Kitchen enlisted Doug Fieger (famed lead singer-songwriter of The Knack) and Richard Bosworth (whose production credits include albums by Kiss, Warren Zevon, Steve Perry, Don Henley, Neil Young, Barbra Streisand and The Jacksons) to produce their self-titled debut.

The "MysteryPop" album appears on the group's own Spanish Kitchen label and was released in 2002. The sound is very much in a league with Fountains Of Wayne (famed for the Top 40 hit "Stacy's Mom") as pop production goes. The music is harder to classify, ranging from gritty rock 'n' roll akin to Led Zeppelin to soaring power pop-styled vocal harmony tunes, but the mixture works very well.

The pop press has had nice things to say, too. "Entertainment Today" called them "a true diamond in the increasingly intelligence-insulting L.A. rough," while "Flipside" said the band had "power pop pulses with Zep-like deliciousness... A delightful dinner of true passion one can get lost in."

The band:

MysteryPop is Willie Aron (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), Simon Glickman (lead vocals, and a power pop star with a Ph.D in English), Miles Lally (bass and backing vocals) and Perry Owen (drums and percussion).

As Spanish Kitchen, the band opened in Los Angeles for acts like X and Jonathan Richman. The name change to MysteryPop was due to the act wanting a band name that better described the group's "love of melody and their signature sense of smoky atmosphere," according to the band's PR, and the group being tired of people thinking they were some "salsa pop act."

Aron may be the most famous member of the band. He was a founding member of another band, critics' darlings The Balancing Act. Aron has also recorded and/or toured with Michael Penn, Stan Ridgeway, Victoria Williams and Syd Straw, among others.

The CD:

"MysteryPop" by MysteryPop was recorded in glorious analog at the House of Blues Studios in Encino, Ca., and at Sunset Sound Factory in Los Angeles.

The 11 tracks were written by the entire band, with lyrics by lead singer Simon Glickman (putting that Ph.D in English to good use here). Among the guests are The Knack's Doug Fieger (co-producer of the album) on backing vocals, tambourine and handclaps.

The 8-page CD booklet, and the jewel case itself, have no photos of the band (why, I don't know, since these are good looking guys, as evidenced by photos at their website). The booklet does include lyrics to the band's terrific songs, a real plus.

The CD is available from such online retailers as CDBaby.Com and Amazon.Com, among others.

The CD has a total running time of 48:10 minutes.

The 11 tracks:

"Things To Live For," "Telling Thoughts To Go Away," "Triflin'," "This Arrow," "The Sky Is A Time Machine," "Denied," "Your Tune," "Rue The Day," "Little Picture," "Bludgeon My Heart" and "P.S."

Recommendation:

Stunning production and sizzling performances highlight one of the best album debuts I've ever heard. Kind of Fountains Of Wayne meets mid-'70s Led Zeppelin at times, which in this case has created some stunning music.

I highly recommend this album if you're a fan of classic rock sounds (traditional rock mixed with Moog synthesizers and mellotrons recreate Beatles' '67 memories at times), multi-layered harmonies and outstanding pop production. The lyrics are pretty interesting, too, sort of late period Lennon-McCartney in style.

The best songs:

"Bludgeon My Heart":

With a title like "Bludgeon My Heart," you hardly expect sweet, soaring multi-part harmonies to appear above some maniac drumming and percussion that drive a hook-laden melody --- this is power pop at its best (The Knack, Raspberries, Badfinger, (the '70s original) Artful Dodger).

You have to love a song with a lyric line like:

"...just grade my passions on a curve and hang my wishes from a rope..."

"Things To Live For":

With nasty, distorted guitars on the intro, "Things To Live For" suddenly hits you in the face with a wonderful harmony-driven chorus. The tale is of a man wondering why things aren't working out for him in the world of romance.

"...if every light bulb gets to glow, why can't I? why can't I? if every star comes into view, why won't you?..."

"Triflin'":

Sounding like a great lost outtake from "Led Zeppelin IV," "Triflin'" is driven by chugging guitar rhythms and sizzling lead solos, with a very John Bonham-sounding drum pattern underneath the rockin' melody. Our hero has grown tired of his lover's games:

"...no one's ever made you pay for the lives you crushed like clay every time you knelt to pray. Your silver tongue and poison pen almost had me snowed again..."

"Denied":

"Denied" presents love as a "one-hit wonder," a tale of the groupie life. The chorus is to die for: catchy-as-hell and gorgeous, all sung over glorious power chords and a sweet melody.

The lyrics are inspired. A groupie is described as "looking for an organ donor to play you like a baby grand," with a warning that love, like bands, one day have to go about "seeking out another market" to stay alive.

"Your Tune":

"Your Tune" again checks the rock 'n' roll attitude: when you love someone, you're listening to their "tune."

A little Elvis Costello meets Todd Rundgren's Utopia, "Your Tune" has gorgeous backup harmonies lifting a gritty lead vocal above the norm over an uptempo '70s-inspired rock melody.

"...the lives you plunder when you sing, you're keep them on a string..."

"Rue The Day":

Anyone remember that million-selling, # 1 hit by the New Vaudeville Band from 1966, "Winchester Cathedral"? Ok, maybe not, but MysterPop's "Rue The Day" reminds me a bit of it, with it's carousel sounds and '20's-inspired swing melody.

The bright melody belies lyrics that are down on love. This guy has been hurt by his lover, and he hopes that lover "lives to rue the day."

"...hope delayed is hope forlorn..."

On the web:

Official MysteryPop site: http://www.spanishkitchen.com

Simon Glickman used to write for the online music zine, "Mash": http://www.mashmagazine.com/01jan/janmusic.html

Wllie Aron's former band, The Balancing Act (produced by Peter Case): http://gogomag.com/balancingact/info.htm

Photo of Glickman and Aron at a BMI songwriting showcase: http://www.bmi.com/showcases/200112/club.asp

Official site of MysteryPop co-producer Doug Fieger of The Knack ("My Sharona"): http://www.officialdougfieger.com

Website for MysteryPop co-producer Richard Boswroth (trained at Abbey Road Studios, folks): http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/card/0,,520043,00.html

CDBaby's page for MysteryPop: http://cdbaby.com/cd/mysterypop

Related review:

Solo album, "First Things First," by Doug Fieger of The Knack: http://www.epinions.com/content_166204509828

Special thanks:

As always, to Epinions.Com Music Category Lead Shelly, aka Lambchops (http://www.epinions.com/user-lambchops), for adding this title to the Epinions' musical database.

Recommended: Yes