Customer Reviews

Misadventures in Stereo

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Length:: 3:24 Mins

I took this video of "Three Weeks Shy" at Jim Boggia's CD Release party. I highly recommend you buy this CD; as you will like every track; and certain songs will most definitely get into your head. My favorites are: "To and Fro"; "No Way Out"; "Johnnie's Goin Down"; and I'm sappy for, "On Your Birthday" since it came out on mine!

With the sound of the opening track, "Johnnie's Going Down," music aficionados of the power pop genre will get a hint of what's ahead. The record contains an array of melodic songs from singer/songwriter, Jim Boggia. Indeed, there's a certain something about each of the tracks that is reminiscent of the sounds of the past - the album cover says it all, but that should not discount anyone from taking a listen. And no, this not a record full of 1950s influenced melodies, but rather the 1960s and 1970s.

All 10 tracks have a distinct melody and rhythm that has tinges of folk, blues, and pop that may hook listeners to each song. But the highlight of the record for this listener is the melodic, storytelling, and ode to the good times of collecting vinyl, going to a summer concert, and cruising track, "Listening to NRBQ," and the last track, the most political song off the album, the somber and Black Crowes-like, "Three Weeks Shy," which could have easily have been a song played during the Vietnam War. However, listen to the names being read off as the song closes.

MISADVENTURES IN STEREO is a great record full of memorable songs. It has a bit of everything that will keep the music lover listening and playing the record more than once.

Boggia's recent Myspace/podcast covers-- including Queen, the Faces, his glorious instructional podcast for the backing vocals to the Kinks' Waterloo Sunset-- provide a glimpse of the guy's encyclopedic visceral understanding of all that is good and tuneful and warm and human about rock'n'roll. He oozes this stuff out onto this platter, generous heaping helpings and y'all come back for seconds. He describes the record as having two sides (like vinyl), with one side about things that happened to him, one about things that happened to other people. But to me, the whole record is (sort of like all his work) a love song to his (and my) record collection. In "Listening to NRBQ," a song that will take you back to 1974 and driving around in your Camaro listening to music with your girlfriend even if you weren't born yet, he gets to a line that goes, "Then Big Al took a solo and it went like this." And if you've been paying attention to Boggia's career, then you don't even have to look at the credits because you know, you just KNOW, that yes, that's Big Al from NRBQ taking that solo.

Brilliant melodies (I'm talking, Paul McCartney brilliant), great vocal arrangements, winning songs, tasteful playing. Run, son't walk, to your nearest online retailer and grab a copy.

Jim Boggia does it again like only he can. This new CD has a real kick to it! It takes the listener on a journey through life...the ups and downs. LOVE the pop and catchy sing along tunes. My favorites NRBQ, To and Fro, Nothings Changed and 8 Track. Thank you Jim Boggia for giving us a reason to listen to music again and for your very unique talent.

This sounds and feels like an album from the 1960s or 70s, one you can put it on and listen all the way through. Great tunes, great singing. My favorite new record. Jim Boggia is an exceptional talent.

Please, this album is a work of art, a stunning collection of pop from a true star. Timeless music, delivered with great production and craftsmanship - music for driving, music for working, peerless.

This album is unbelievably well done! I love good smart pop, and I find this cd (and probably the new Mike Viola cd called "Lurch") to be the finest pop things released in this (and really ANY) year! Every song is a melding of hook, melody, instrumental finesse, great lyric content, and just plain FUN! I hear snatches of influence mof Queen, Simon and Garfunkle, Cat Stevens, and especially the Beatles. On the surface, Jim's voice reminds of Bryan Adams, but as in the ballad "So", he displays a much wider range of expression and finesse than someone like Adams is capable of. He really is one of the best pop/rock/singer/songwriter guys out there now, and he deserves a much wider audience than he probably has. On top of that, I've heard several of his live shows, and he is an excellent raconteur, as well as a humorous, just plain nice, likeable guy who makes me proud to be in his adopted hometown of Philly. You also need to buy his two previous releases, especially the dynamite "Safe In Sound".