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Ken Sharp-Sonic Crayons (Jet Fighter)

Okay, we’ll be the first to admit that maybe we’re a bit biased, because pop singer/music journalist Ken Sharp is a frequent PopEntertainment contributor and we’ve been following his music career since long before he joined us, but the man does have a way around a pop music hook. 

Sharp’s third CD, with the evocative title Sonic Crayons, continues his self-appointed job as curator of an aural museum of 70s power-pop, with brightly memorable hooks and sweet harmonies around every corner. 

Sonic Crayons is full of tunes that would sound amazing blasting out of a transistor radio.  It’s the musical equivalent of Captain Crunch – with extra Crunch Berries.  If you grew up listening to 70s bubblegum hits (or even if you jumped on during the 90s mini-revival) Sonic Crayons gives you an immediate sugar rush of memory.  It’s a passport back to your childhood. 

“The Man Who Couldn’t Be Wrong” is a little slice of power-pop bliss, sounding like a great, lost Jellyfish single.  Also approaching sonic nirvana is the sweet noodlings of “So Simple Radio,” the dramatically prog-psych ballad “I Got Lost” and the sweet nothings of “Rush Rush.”

One of the most surprising and coolest moments is a driving cover of a semi-obscure Archies’ track called “Melody Hill” (complete with backing vocals by 90s pop star Carnie Wilson of Wilson Phillips.)  It pays tribute to Sharp’s first musical influence and at the same time it totally one-ups it.  (7/07)

Jay S. Jacobs

Power pop, as an art form has never quite reached the mass audience it deserves. Once upon a time the description Beatlesque was a badge of honor, but now it seems as much a hindrance as high praise. So it’s not likely that as many people will hear the new album by Ken Sharp as will hear… say, the new Korn or OutKast album. And that’s a damn shame.

Musically and production-wise, Happy Accidents is quite a step up from his already very good debut album 1301 Highland Avenue. Happy Accidents has a more psychedelic feel than his debut album, but more importantly it has a more sure-handed grasp of its musical ideas. "See Through These Eyes" is a stunner, a mixture of driving vocals and a terrific guitar line and truly clever retro lyrics. "Brand New Day" rides a springy Stevie Wonder-obsessed guitar line through three minutes of pop bliss.

"Unconditionally" could be a huge hit for N’Sync -- though they probably couldn’t handle the subtle changes of tempo and mood. "You Said You’d Love Me" is a simply stunning ballad of loss. The CD winds down with a truly ecstatic cover of the Beach Boys’ "Girl Don’t Tell Me" that rivals the original. Into the void that has spawned Matthew Sweet, Jellyfish, the Posies and many other beloved and yet under-appreciated power pop artists is a new guitar hero. Search this CD out... decide for yourself. (1/01)