| Good Music For Good People |
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Roger Manning - Solid State Warrior (Jellyfish) |
Japanese only and what can one say? "Roger Joseph Manning, Jr." solo album. Says it all. Manning`s first solo album for Jellyfish fanatics will not disappoint. Effortlessly straddling such disparate genres as Funk, Prog, vaudeville, Psychedelia, and Brill Building Pop, Solid State Warrior resounds with the sound of a prodigious artist enjoying the delights of his own musical playground, an artist comfortable in his own musical skin, unyielding to artistic compromise. This 11 song piece of true musical art, in the most literal sense of the word, contains beautiful original artwork by Japanese artist ADAPTER for both the wrap around and booklet, which of
course contains lyrics(in English and Japanese) and album credits. This is
an *event*, a cause for celebration with Handel`s "Hallelujah" chorus raining down from the heavens. In fact, let`s trot out the definition of `hallelujah` for clarification of "Solid State Warrior", shall we? "An exclamation used chiefly in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God, and as an expression of gratitude or adoration." Perfect. Sounding like the "lost" Jellyfish album, the record is produced by Manning and features the artist playing all the instruments on this tour-de-force. Solid State Warrior is a dazzler, a stylish, and intricately orchestrated slab of transcendent Pop, imbued by Manning`s keen artistic vision, sublime songwriting chops and blazing instrumental virtuosity. Opening with the hazy psychedelia of "The Land Of Pure Imagination" (a ringer for inclusion on the Charlie & The Chocolate Factory soundtrack), the record unfolds like a towering musical tree of riches, each branch displaying a newfound exploration of sonic wizardry and clever songcraft. Manning bats .1000 on the record, each track rewarding the listener with each successive listen. "Solid State Warroir: you`ve got 11 pieces of pure pop grandeur. Hoo baby, is this sweet. Sturmer and Manning were two of the best pop voices since, well, you know who. On Solid State Warrior, Manning did it all himself in his basement studio, with John Paterno mixing and mastering. "The Land of Pure Imagination" opens, a psych pop epic with sweet melodies, Moog textures and distinctive Manning touches. "Too Late For Us Now" scales things back (if there`s such an approach for Manning), bopping along to piano and feeling like a long-lost Bellybutton track. And it`s got a banjo! On "I Wish It Would Rain," a 50s-style groove that`d wilt in the hands of a lesser musician sparkles. Three songs into the CD the vocal harmonies become more prominent, and it`s pure pop bliss. But it`s on "Sandman" that we really get that eyelid-fluttering dose of the good stuff, a vox deus behind Jellyfish`s similar "Hush." Over a palette of ethereal strings and harpsichords, Manning sings an ageless lullaby.."Dragonfly" is almost lounge-inflected, mellow with harps and synths. "Creeple People" is a chugging Imperial Drag-style groove, and it`s currently number one on the Weed sales chart. "Sleep Children" bookends with "Sandman" beautifully as Manning`s cirrus pseudo-strings carry us all away. And "Til We Meet Again" is the right note of optimism to wrap things up, a fond farewell after a
near-perfect pop vacation."-HighBias.com. On a record overflowing
with towering melodic riches, for starters, tune into the propulsive Wurlitzer piano / Supertramp powered stylings of "You Were Right," the exquisite pure Pop of "What You Don`t Know About The Girl," the lush vocal melange that characterizes "Sandman," the Dirty Funk grooves that propel "Creeple People" and the elegiac closer, "`Til We Meet Again." "The term `genre-hopping` which has been used to describe Jellyfish and Beck is apt," observes Manning. "It`s always been very natural for me to evoke all different emotions and styles in my songs. I love the Pop roller coaster ride that I get to take the listener on. The album becomes a whole experience. If the experience is good you don`t want it to end. When I sit down to write music that I want to write the most immediate access to my soul is kind of in that `60s, `70s Pop expression." Simply, Pure Pop Perfection.
Click Here To Check Out Releases From Imperial Drag, Umajets and Sextus!
 Too Late For Us Now - mp3
Creeple People - mp3
The Land Of Pure Imagination - mp3
The Loser - mp3
Wish It Would Rain - mp3
Sandman - mp3
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| Customer Reviews |  | |
| Roger Joseph Manning Jr-Solid State Warrior | |
| Reviewer: king cry baby | | When i first listened to this solid state warrior,i almost cried...i couldn't believe the beauty of this songs.After years of searching news about Roger Manning,this was the best possible new: an album of music composed and played by himself.An album full of magic,rainbows,candies,and the most important,incredible songs.Simply wonderful.Thanks Roger |
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| No Small Thing | |
| Reviewer: Scott Travis | | It started when I was ten. Christmas time… under the tree sat an odd 12” by 12” flat package with my name on it. Unwrapped it became the LP Leftoverture by Kansas. “Carry on My Wayward Son.” My first album ever. I loved the packaging, the artwork, the lyrics and photos. I loved the music. And, soon, to my parents’ dismay, I began buying more and more LP’s: Styx, Elton John, Yes, Rush, Foreigner, Genesis, The Cars, Costello, Queen, Journey, Beach Boys, Fleetwood Mac.
Soon, I developed a taste for things less accessible on FM radio. Glaringly ahead of the curve of others in my high school, I was drawn to relatively unknown bands by the names of U2, The Police, REM, Thomas Dolby, Culture Club, Prince, Talk Talk and King Crimson long before my classmates would snap up a latest release. I bought hundreds of albums. I loved music. The substantial feeling of plastic wrap torn off a new cover, the crispness of the vinyl inside. The crackle and pop of an LP as I switch it from side to side. The music, the music, the music.
Somewhere in there, between punk and new wave, dance and funk, country and alt-country, folk, classic rock and the tinges of emo, hip-hop and rap, I noticed something strange. Again and again I was drawn back to the same handful of bands… the Beatles, for sure. But then, Squeeze, XTC, Split Enz, Prefab Sprout and Sam Phillips. Give me a hook, a melody, some harmonies, a chorus to belt out… tightly bound rhythms, bridge-chorus-bridge lyrics, smart wordplay and signature time changes… all wrapped up within the wonderment of a three-minute “pop” song. It may have taken me a decade, but somewhere around the time I headed off for college I understood I was addicted. Ever in search of treasured pop nuggets, my pop horizon expanded for the next few years to include Tommy Keene, Matthew Sweet, Aimee Mann, The Posies, Crowded House, The Plimsouls, Microdisney, The Smiths, Marshall Crenshaw and a host of other pop-enthusiastic bands.
Oh, and a quirky little piece of psychedelic music called Bellybutton was released by a bunch of goofy looking, costumed guys superimposed against the image of the torso of a goo-splattered naked woman on the front cover of their 1990 compact disc. The band was called Jellyfish. Three years later, they made one other album, 1993’s Spilt Milk. Somewhere in between, I realized what they were able to accomplish with less than two dozen songs most artists couldn’t dream of doing in a lifetime.
In retrospect, to fathom how influential Jellyfish became to me is seriously… humorous. Understand here and now, I cannot be objective in writing a review of Roger Joseph Manning Jr.’s new CD, Solid State Warrior. Since 1990, I have spent far more money than I’d care to acknowledge simply in an effort to catch even the thinnest sliver of “Jellyfish-ness” in other bands. Some came close… the Tories, Wondermints, Silver Sun, Tales Untold, Cherry Twister, PFR, Sugarbomb, the Sun Sawed in ½, while others like the Grass Show, Zuckerbaby, Lollipop Factory, Baby Lemonade, Sparkwood and the Spent Poets managed to catch only a glimpse of Jellyfish magic.
The story of Jellyfish is placed somewhere other than this review. Other than to say, the band originated in one form as Beatnik Beatch, and concluded, most mysteriously by way of splintering into many tangential band efforts, including Imperial Drag, the Moog Cookbook, The Grays, Hollyfaith and Jason Falkner’s solo career. As I sit, listening to Solid State Warrior for what must be the 1,000th time in the past two months (I bought it digitally on Weed, and again once it was “officially” released on Pony Canyon), I wonder whether Roger Manning is slyly smiling from the accolades and comparisons this CD will no doubt receive when held up to his former band and, more significantly, musical writing partner (Andy Sturmer), or if he will simply bristle from such fan-base assessment, likenesses or association. Either way, it’s the listener who stands to gain from any and all permutated thought in between.
My musical tastes have most definitely broadened over the years, but I’m still a sucker for the one-two punch of a perfect pop song. These days, rarely does anything come close as I stare stupidly at American Idol on my television screen or with jaw-to-the-floor of my car while “listening” to the music sputtering from my radio as I drive in rush hour traffic each morning. .
Solid State Warrior takes me back to a time where harmonies and melodies were a given in music… where you could listen to a song just a few times before finding yourself singing along to a catchy chorus… it soothed the soul, it rocked the house, it glimmered and shined and burst forth from your stereo like it was something that mattered. Something that you anticipated, longed for, shared with your friends. And, decidedly, something that you discovered as your own. You identified with. Music you felt, lived and breathed.
I would encourage anyone with even the slightest interest in music that matters to plunk down the purchase price of this CD, import or not. If you’ve ever tapped your finger or leg in time to a song, hummed through a chorus, played a single riff of air guitar or drums or bass, if you have ever been in awe of someone capable of playing not one, not two, not three instruments… but someone who could play ALL of the parts on an album, envision it, hear it, write it, produce it, record it and then share it with others, then step up, dear reader, and buy Solid State Warrior. If you purchased the last prefabricated record by Kelly Clarkson, then run, run, run away. This is not your scene.
For the rest of you, stick around.
Roger Manning has put together one of the most thoroughly accomplished CD’s to hit the market in a very long time. A pastiche of perfect pop, sublimely melding the likes of so many influential bands like the Raspberries, Queen, the Beatles, the best elements of AOR radio-friendly 60’s/70’s/80’s music, Pilot, Badfinger, KC & the Sunshine Band, Squeeze, Beach Boys… I couldn’t count the number of familiar sounds Roger manages to blend together here. And, as conspicuous as some of those influences are, there are so many more subversive nods to other obscure or forgotten bands that Solid State Warrior simply envelopes you with an air of familiarity and freshness (a trick nearly no one else pulls off these days), that at times it may knock you over with its subtle beauty. With each successive listen, you may find yourself choosing your new “favorite” track, only to discover a newer favorites replacing that song three hours or three days later. The point is, you will be listening to this disc again and again. This is not the flavor of the month or song of the year. Solid State Warrior is as comforting as an old friend’s voice, the scent of your lover’s perfume, or your cat falling asleep in your arms.
From the psychedelic “Land of Pure Imagination” and “Dragonfly” to the rollicking circus piano pop of “Too Late for Us Now,” to the multi-layered orchestration of “Wish It Would Rain” and “Sandman,” to the zany Austin Powers “What You Don’t Know About the Girl,” crunchy rock of “Creeple People” and the lilting ballads “Sleep Children” and “Til We Meet Again,” Roger Manning scores. And if the seemingly simplistic charm of the 5:45 song “You Were Right” doesn’t have your toes tapping and vocal chords straining to hit those falsetto notes right along with Roger, frankly, you must be dead.
The music, the music… the music.
Roger, it was a really dry 12 years. If you have any other tricks up your sleeve or in your bag, please, please, please pull them out more quickly this time. Life’s too short. Cheers to you. And that’s no small thing. |
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| The wait is over. | |
| Reviewer: Josh That Guy | | While Jellyfish may just be a fond memory for most of us, Roger Manning is alive and well. Not only that, he's done his most ambitious project since "Spilt Milk". This is the best album I've heard in years. YEARS. No one bothers to write melodies like Roger Manning anymore. Few people can pull off thick, lush vocal arrangements like he can.
This is like water on the desolate pop wasteland. Lots of water. The songs are fully developed (meaning not short), bittersweet, beautiful, clever, and I wish I could bottle the feeling they give me when I hear them. "You Were Right" is a song that everyone should hear, a truly perfect pop creation.
The only thing I can think of that gave me the same kind of excitement was finally hearing Brian Wilson's long anticipated "Smile". But this is purer and without the baggage.
If you liked Jellyfish, buy this. If you like good music, buy this. If you like good melodies, buy this. JUST BUY IT!
Okay Roger, when's the next one coming? |
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| One of the best albums of the year! | |
| Reviewer: Evan Patten | | I don't know where to begin. One thing is for sure, this album is light years better than that Imperial Drag album.
"What You Don't Know About The Girl" sounds like the Zombies. "Too Late For Us Now" and "Wish It Would Rain" sounds like they were lifted from 'Spilt Milk'. "Sandman" sounds like XTC for some reason. "Creeple People" reminds me of Imperial Drag crossed with Alice Cooper.
The only song I don't care for is the last one. It's too much like the Carpenters.
I highly reccomend this album. Not everything sounds like Jellyfish. But that doesn't work against the album.
Another thing is that Roger has the perfect pop voice. Too bad he didn't sing more in Jellyfish.
One last thing, Roger, why did it take forever to release this album?!?! I already can't wait for the follow up. |
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| I love it!!! | |
| Reviewer: Ryan Hamilton | | I'm a huge Jellyfish fan. I've been since they first started. I listen to their first two albums to this day and always will. I think Bellybutton & Spilt Milk are the most underrated albums of the 90's, but you know what. If you really love music and haven't bothered or just havn't discovered Jellyfish by chance. It's your loss and my gain but my recommendation to anyone that loves real music.
So finally here comes Roger Joseph Manning Jr with his debut CD Solid State Warrior. It's fantastic and starts off right where Jellyfish left off. It's a musical gift from the dancing wizard and the magical fairies of song. Roger has a soothing relaxing melodic voice that just makes my ears smile. If they could smile. Every track is good. I'm going to cherish this CD always! Thank you Roger!
~Ryan |
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| Roger Manning - Solid State Warrior | |
| Reviewer: Andrew RIGGS | | Don't let the 'Todd Rundgren Utopian' cover art put you off this record because this is a classic pop record. The record is bursting with great songs, melodies and an innovative sound, unfortunately like much of Jason Falkner's solo work this will be ignored by the masses. In this day with some much dross being releases this stands out like a breath of fresh air. |
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