JONATHAN RUNDMAN : wherever (Salt Lady Records SL2)

Jonathan Rundman plays rock and roll songs about girls and cars and geography

So goes the press release for Ishpeming.Mi's favourite son on his own Salt Lady Records and let me tell you ladies and gentlemen he's not kidding! This 1994 self released/ self-produced disc is a marvellous lost classic. Think Db's, think Freedy Johnston, maybe even Chris Stamey or Alex Chilton fronting the Replacements. He and cousin Bruce who has also released a disc on Salt Lady absorbed the best of mid eighties alt/roots rock and even released a tape together as the Chandlers before Jonathan got round to penning this classic set. Usually on a debut disc one great song is plenty but Wherever delivers three impeccable power pop gems.Rivertown,$100 dollar shirt and my absolute fave Ask me in Nebraska all conjure up the rock hack superlatives. He's been compared to Mellencamp and Bruce and there's an awareness of the power pop side of things too with shades of the Feelies( god bless them) Violent Femmes and Alex Chilton.

He has subsequently released one other solo disc - 1997's Recital - and a band project The Muckrakers - May which started off on the internet. Just shows what this new technology can do in righteous hands. Hopefully there'll be an interview in later issue of FS. As bombs rain down on the innocent and music may seem a little irrelevant and raving on about neglected genius a wee bit suspect I cannot recommend this artist highly enough. In a world where Shawn Mullins is seen as interesting thank God for people like Rundman. Visit his website Salt Lady Records and make this man the cult he deserves to be. As Elvis Costello said about the Hoover building it may not seem important but in this life what is, what is?

 

ask me in nebraska

we'd been going on and on and on

through the middle of nowhere

she'd been talking on and on and on

about her plans

she wanted my answer

she wanted it then and there

she said "I need to know

just where you stand"

i said

ask me in nebraska

give me some time

i might know by then

ask me in nebraska

i promise to let you know

yes i promise to let you know

 

and now she's sleeping

in the backseat with a blanket

and this car is just her cradle

on the quiet road

and i hate to keep her waiting

but i'd hate to wake her up

so at the minden sign i'll tell her

what she wants to know

 

© Jonathan Rundman / Salt Lady Records 1994