"Love can make you happy/or it can spit right in your face..."
Therein lie the two moods of one Walter Clevenger, whose yang and yin theories of love and relationships pack an impressive debut record. And if the "yang" is the "my life is so blissful with you" half of that couplet, this album is chock full of yin. Thank God for that!
The first thing the listener will zero in on is that Clevenger sounds uncannily like Nick Lowe. In fact, I'll wager that I could play "Love You Like A King" , "Love (A Misunderstood Thing)"and "Angels" to friends who are fans of Nick Lowe and they'd swear it was their boy. Although Nick is one of Walter's heroes, I don't consider this record a rip-off or even a homage to Jesus Of Cool; rather it's a case of someone who grew up loving a certain type of music naturally emanating it in his own. That said, however, the converse is certainly true - if you do like Nick Lowe, you'll love Walter Clevenger.
His lyrics are witty and biting, as anyone who has been on the wrong end of a romantic crash can attest. Sometimes it's utter dejection ("I used to make the hit parade/Now I only line the cage") and sometimes bitterness ("You say you're sorry/I don't believe you/ 'Cause sorry couldn't cover/half of what you're doing"). Even when he is singing about a happy relationship, it turns out that it's one that slipped through his fingers. If you're despondent about love, this is the soundtrack for your life, and it will either pick up your spirits or hit you deep. Either way, it leaves a mark.
Musically, Clevenger nails the pop bulls eye by wrapping up pathos in three-minute nuggets. There are a few different sounds to the record, which may be a result of it having been recorded over a longer period of time. Most are 70s/90s classic pop ("Yesterday's News Now" could be a Rockpile outtake) and some, like "Cries Of Desperation", suggest folk and country-pop influences like the Everly Brothers. Only the closer, "I Don't Like Your Face (Just Git)", sounds out of place. But hey, rednecks gotta cry at the jukebox too, so why not to this one?
Clevenger recorded most of the record at his home and issued it under the title PoPgOeStHeMuSiC in 1995. (The cassette-only release quickly sold out through word of mouth and is now a collector's item.) I was delighted to see that Walter's recording was picked up by a label for distribution, and not just any label, either. Permanent Press Recordings is headed by Ray Paul (Klimek), a popster himself, who has also released records by deserving artists like Bob Segarini and Klattu. The Man With The X-Ray Eyes is proof positive that sometimes the best music around is being made in someone's bedroom or garage.
Radio Programmers take note: this is music that should be deserves to be playing on radio stations everywhere. For you doubters with Internet access, there's a link to his website on my homepage (www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/8282) where you can hear it for yourself. I heartily urge you to find a copy of this record and wallow in great music.
