22 years later, we finally drop the needle on Rooney, and the report card is glimmering! It sounds great, and we can dance to it! What more could Dick Clark, Ed Sullivan, or Greg Shaw want?
Is that on Spotify, Anthony? Someone on FB just turned me on to their "I Should've Been After You," and it, TOO, is amazing! Robert's songwriting is pretty jaw-dropping....his chord changes and overall song structure is so unexpected! In lesser hands, the song would go into this or that predictable direction, but Robert SO switches things up....so unusual and different, but (here's the key), no less melodic, catchy and worthy of multiple listens!! Thanks for that, Anthony!
Such a fantastic song, great to hear it again. The comparison to Sloan is a good one, I can definitely hear that in their sound. The musical variety of the bands that they toured with is quite something, very diverse. And the familial connections? Wow! Talia Shire, FFC, Jason Schwartzman. A lot of talent there!
I'll have to drop a needle on Sloan, then, Mark....heard of them, but not their music, I don't believe. You're right about their tourmates! To have such diversity in the acts that ask you to join them is a great feather in the Rooney cap! Robert was certainly "extra"-gifted with his musical bent, but it looks like he's now following in the fam's movie lean!
What a great deep dive. Can I just say I’m living for this phrase, and I quote: “And, even more mercifully, no shoe-gaze” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I also loved the courtroom lingo when arguing your case for the Beach Boys influence. Bravo.
It is still incredible — no matter how many ink has been spilled on the subject — to see time and time again the tremendous influence of 60s and 70s music to this day.
Thanks for uncovering these gems!
PS: currently travelling for the weekend but as soon as I get home I’m going to pay another visit to your online store. That new mug, man! Yessss sir!
Thanks so much, Andy! When I get "turned loose" on a band/song where I know my💖and their art co-mingle, I just start free-forming, and that's when my critic's paintbrush comes out! As I said to somebody (here, I think), I wanted to lay down my 2c before I looked up other critiques and comparisons/similarities.
I love how I didn't have to change a thing...and, most of what I found reflected my thoughts on where Rooney/Robert got their influences! Another reminder that I'm really NOT gifted to write about open-pit mining in the Appalachians in months with a "z" in it. *whew* I wouldn't know where to start!!😉
"Tremendous influence of '60s/'70s music to this day".....about that: As I mentioned in the piece, it's few and far between....would that it was MORE pervasive, and on more artists, BUT, when it DOES occur (Roosevelt, The Midnight, The Struts, and a couple others mentioned or highlighted FR&B), it seems to hit, like, REALLY heavy and that much more noticeable, Rooney, case in point! I mean, some of these artists wear it SO on their sleeves, yes, it's undeniable (and I'm glad to notice no one does!), and seems to be so woven into their natural-born talents (Robert's the perfect example...I believe he writes everything...lyrics and music, and most, if not all, of their material)!
Travel safe, Boobie, and enjoy your perusing Ye Olde FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE Village Dry Goods Shoppe! 😁👍
Thank you! I totally get what you mean when you make that distinction, i.e. those who make it really obvious and those who can’t help it. That’s where your background, knowledge and ear come into play, and that’s one of the many reasons why we keep coming back here! 😊
Loved this deep dive into Rooney’s pop roots! You really captured the sunshine and smarts behind 'Blueside.' Made me want to drop the needle (digital needle these days!) on it all over again. Thank you for the nostalgia trip. Grace! Grace! :)
Thanks so much, Jon! I love when you visit! Discovering a Rooney (or similar artist who's tethered to the previous century to some degree) sure helps me remember when I discovered what are now my decades-long favorite artists! Those are days we can't go back to, but a Rooney can help us remember just what those times were like when we DID drop needle, and immediately perk up our ears...we couldn't wait to re-join the tonearm with the record's opening groove!🙏
Such a great record and a criminally underrated band. The early aughts were a bit of a renaissance for power pop what with Rooney, Click 5, Fountains of Wayne hitting it big, The Feeling, and a bunch of others.
I guess I need to check out Click 5 and The Feeling...I've heard a few FOW tracks, and wasn't that impressed, at least, from a pure pop/power pop POV. I'm, frankly, stunned by the variety of talents possessed by Robert Schwartzman! Granted, he was born into a film-entrenched family, so that means his musical gifts are a bonus! Thanks, AJ!
I actually just made a Pint Size Playlist for underrated power pop that includes them (as well as that fantastic Rubinoos song you turned me on to!) so if you're on Spotify check it out
That was so thoughtful, AJ! I loved it (and saved it)! Sweet and Rubinoos songs I knew, and Del Amitri, I've only heard OF since mid-'80s, when they started. At their 1st album ('84), I was in my first full year back at college (as a soph) making a severe career change! So, that mid-'80s period is my pop culture black hole!
I found their song, though, very good, and I could hear their professionalism (after their several decades), and I look forward to hearing more by them!
The SONGS of the first two (bands, I'll reserve band judgment til I hear more by each).....The Feeling sounded just a little too self-conscious and cloying in the genre (like they're trying too hard to be that), but The Click Five sounded really promising, and they seemed comfortably natural flying in that PP arena. Thanks so much for putting that together....much appreciated!
Glad you like it! The Del Amitri song you probably have heard is called Roll To Me. Good song, but imo Not Where It's At is among their best.
The Feeling does a lot of different stuff but that song is imo one of the best power.pop songs ever made (might have said that before but I maintain it is lol!) They're English so it fits in with the rest of their ouevre. That Click 5 song was actually written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne but their first record has a lot of really solid power pop on it and it worth a listen.
Did FOW ever do that "Just the Girl," or was it a gift to The Click 5? Speaking of "just girls," may I introduce you to "The Girl" by the aforementioned beloved Rubinoos?
I like this song too! Might have to check out more of their stuff. THey're legit power pop and not just pop rock (I believe there's a difference and I'm going to do a piece on it after Tune Tag comes out!)
Just The Girl was one of two songs Schlesinger wrote for them. He had a whole career writing for tv, musicals, and other artists as well, so it wasn't off brand at all for him to give songs to others. But it still has a lot of his songwriting trademarks in it that let you know he's the one behind it. Shame that he's gone, it would have been nice to hear FOW do some more music together.
I believe I saw them live once opening for Pete Yorn.
One of my favorite playlists is Fountains of Rooney - a mix of all the albums of Rooney and Fountains of Wayne.
Is that on Spotify, Anthony? Someone on FB just turned me on to their "I Should've Been After You," and it, TOO, is amazing! Robert's songwriting is pretty jaw-dropping....his chord changes and overall song structure is so unexpected! In lesser hands, the song would go into this or that predictable direction, but Robert SO switches things up....so unusual and different, but (here's the key), no less melodic, catchy and worthy of multiple listens!! Thanks for that, Anthony!
No, it is not on Spotify. Just a private playlist of my own.
Such a fantastic song, great to hear it again. The comparison to Sloan is a good one, I can definitely hear that in their sound. The musical variety of the bands that they toured with is quite something, very diverse. And the familial connections? Wow! Talia Shire, FFC, Jason Schwartzman. A lot of talent there!
I'll have to drop a needle on Sloan, then, Mark....heard of them, but not their music, I don't believe. You're right about their tourmates! To have such diversity in the acts that ask you to join them is a great feather in the Rooney cap! Robert was certainly "extra"-gifted with his musical bent, but it looks like he's now following in the fam's movie lean!
This had me shoo-shoo shakin’ with nostalgia. Fun read on a fun song/album.
What a great deep dive. Can I just say I’m living for this phrase, and I quote: “And, even more mercifully, no shoe-gaze” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I also loved the courtroom lingo when arguing your case for the Beach Boys influence. Bravo.
It is still incredible — no matter how many ink has been spilled on the subject — to see time and time again the tremendous influence of 60s and 70s music to this day.
Thanks for uncovering these gems!
PS: currently travelling for the weekend but as soon as I get home I’m going to pay another visit to your online store. That new mug, man! Yessss sir!
Thanks so much, Andy! When I get "turned loose" on a band/song where I know my💖and their art co-mingle, I just start free-forming, and that's when my critic's paintbrush comes out! As I said to somebody (here, I think), I wanted to lay down my 2c before I looked up other critiques and comparisons/similarities.
I love how I didn't have to change a thing...and, most of what I found reflected my thoughts on where Rooney/Robert got their influences! Another reminder that I'm really NOT gifted to write about open-pit mining in the Appalachians in months with a "z" in it. *whew* I wouldn't know where to start!!😉
"Tremendous influence of '60s/'70s music to this day".....about that: As I mentioned in the piece, it's few and far between....would that it was MORE pervasive, and on more artists, BUT, when it DOES occur (Roosevelt, The Midnight, The Struts, and a couple others mentioned or highlighted FR&B), it seems to hit, like, REALLY heavy and that much more noticeable, Rooney, case in point! I mean, some of these artists wear it SO on their sleeves, yes, it's undeniable (and I'm glad to notice no one does!), and seems to be so woven into their natural-born talents (Robert's the perfect example...I believe he writes everything...lyrics and music, and most, if not all, of their material)!
Travel safe, Boobie, and enjoy your perusing Ye Olde FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE Village Dry Goods Shoppe! 😁👍
Thank you! I totally get what you mean when you make that distinction, i.e. those who make it really obvious and those who can’t help it. That’s where your background, knowledge and ear come into play, and that’s one of the many reasons why we keep coming back here! 😊
😊🙏🎵💿🌟
😊🙏🎵💿🌟
Loved this deep dive into Rooney’s pop roots! You really captured the sunshine and smarts behind 'Blueside.' Made me want to drop the needle (digital needle these days!) on it all over again. Thank you for the nostalgia trip. Grace! Grace! :)
Thanks so much, Jon! I love when you visit! Discovering a Rooney (or similar artist who's tethered to the previous century to some degree) sure helps me remember when I discovered what are now my decades-long favorite artists! Those are days we can't go back to, but a Rooney can help us remember just what those times were like when we DID drop needle, and immediately perk up our ears...we couldn't wait to re-join the tonearm with the record's opening groove!🙏
Such a great record and a criminally underrated band. The early aughts were a bit of a renaissance for power pop what with Rooney, Click 5, Fountains of Wayne hitting it big, The Feeling, and a bunch of others.
I guess I need to check out Click 5 and The Feeling...I've heard a few FOW tracks, and wasn't that impressed, at least, from a pure pop/power pop POV. I'm, frankly, stunned by the variety of talents possessed by Robert Schwartzman! Granted, he was born into a film-entrenched family, so that means his musical gifts are a bonus! Thanks, AJ!
I actually just made a Pint Size Playlist for underrated power pop that includes them (as well as that fantastic Rubinoos song you turned me on to!) so if you're on Spotify check it out
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4CMSUIiTHZ57X9N5Lz70sI?si=8nUv2ePJTOCgIMQYqdn0kQ&pi=kNesA-0lTkSfe
That was so thoughtful, AJ! I loved it (and saved it)! Sweet and Rubinoos songs I knew, and Del Amitri, I've only heard OF since mid-'80s, when they started. At their 1st album ('84), I was in my first full year back at college (as a soph) making a severe career change! So, that mid-'80s period is my pop culture black hole!
I found their song, though, very good, and I could hear their professionalism (after their several decades), and I look forward to hearing more by them!
The SONGS of the first two (bands, I'll reserve band judgment til I hear more by each).....The Feeling sounded just a little too self-conscious and cloying in the genre (like they're trying too hard to be that), but The Click Five sounded really promising, and they seemed comfortably natural flying in that PP arena. Thanks so much for putting that together....much appreciated!
Glad you like it! The Del Amitri song you probably have heard is called Roll To Me. Good song, but imo Not Where It's At is among their best.
The Feeling does a lot of different stuff but that song is imo one of the best power.pop songs ever made (might have said that before but I maintain it is lol!) They're English so it fits in with the rest of their ouevre. That Click 5 song was actually written by Adam Schlesinger of Fountains Of Wayne but their first record has a lot of really solid power pop on it and it worth a listen.
Did FOW ever do that "Just the Girl," or was it a gift to The Click 5? Speaking of "just girls," may I introduce you to "The Girl" by the aforementioned beloved Rubinoos?
I hope you and "The Girl" are very happy together! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3AmlXn3yIg
I like this song too! Might have to check out more of their stuff. THey're legit power pop and not just pop rock (I believe there's a difference and I'm going to do a piece on it after Tune Tag comes out!)
Just The Girl was one of two songs Schlesinger wrote for them. He had a whole career writing for tv, musicals, and other artists as well, so it wasn't off brand at all for him to give songs to others. But it still has a lot of his songwriting trademarks in it that let you know he's the one behind it. Shame that he's gone, it would have been nice to hear FOW do some more music together.