Aural Fixations
ROGER JOSEPH MANNING, JR.
Solid State Warrior
(Weed)
Gather 'round, boys and girls, while I tell you a story.
Now, who here has heard of Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.? I see a few hands. Okay, how about Imperial Drag? What? No one? Jellyfish maybe? You? Really? No, Jellyfish, not Spongebob Squarepants.
Well, we could start this story with Beatnik Beatch, perhaps, but best to save that for George Lucas when he gets around to shooting the prequel. No, Jellyfish was really the start of it all. They released two albums: 1990's Bellybutton and 1993's Spilt Milk. Each was a pop masterpiece, appreciated by critics and cognoscenti, but largely ignored by radio.
Band members came and went, though Manning and Andy Sturmer remained from start to finish. At various times Jellyfish also included Jason Falkner, Eric Dover, Tim Smith and Chris Manning. They broke up after touring for the second album. Multi-instrumentalist Falkner, who'd been relegated to guitar duties in the band, went on to put out terrific solo CDs. Roger Manning and Dover played in the edgier, glam-influenced cult darlings Imperial Drag. They released an eponymous CD in 1996 and boom—one and done. Manning also played keyboards for Beck and worked on the Moog Cookbook. Sturmer became a producer, apparently giving up performing altogether.
A quick digression before continuing: The fine folks at Not Lame Records put out a Jellyfish box set in 2002, and it's terrific. Live stuff, demos, outtakes—it suffices as the third Jellyfish album we never got. But if you scan the liner notes, there's a recurring theme: pleasing the record company. Again and again a song is described as existing simply because the execs wanted it so. As talented as Jellyfish were, they were also sensitive to criticism accusing them of being derivative; therefore, it must have pained them greatly when the suits made them perform the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" on Japanese television. Their reaction was to rearrange it brilliantly, eliminating the chorus and making it a waltz.
Flash forward to, well, now. Roger Manning has released his first solo "album." That is, he's released 11 songs via a paid file sharing website called Weed. The folks at Weed, touting their label-less approach, have made it clear that Manning wants nothing to do with the music industry proper. Can you blame him, kids?
Solid State Warrior is the name of the project. Get your hands on those files (they'll throw in printable jewel box art) and 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. If you're on the Weed site and unsure whether to spring for Solid State Warrior, listen to this song first.
Not that any other selection would be a disappointment. "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.
Manning has a particular talent for bringing childlike innocence and wonder to his craft. With no label, no producer and no timetable to filter the creative juices he made music on his own terms that's simply a delight to behold. Don't you just love a happy ending?
It doesn't end there, actually. Manning doesn't plan to tour in support of Solid State Warrior, but never fear, boys and girls: He's reportedly thrilled at the reaction to these songs among the Jellyfish faithful, and says he's got hundreds more ideas and songs he can begin to unleash upon us. Brian Briscoe
