Going for Baroque
I’m always surprised by the number of ’60s music fans who haven’t heard any of The Left Banke’s catalog — other than hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina". I suppose that’s in part because the NYC pop group’s records are pricey collectibles, and the one compilation CD that compiles their complete recordings — 1992’s There’s Gonna Be a Storm — is pricey and hard to come by. It’s a shame, as their 1967 debut album is spectacularly precious and absolutely essential. To quote obscure rock’s leading historian Richie Unterberger (via Allmusic.com):
The Left Banke’s debut was a terrific if largely unrecognized effort of classy baroque pop, featuring entirely original material. The two hit title tracks ["Pretty Ballerina" and "Walk Away Renee"] were standouts, but nearly every other cut was in the same league, the glowing arrangements intertwining with their beautiful harmonies, at times rocking fairly hard.
Here’s a couple break-up tunes to get you motivated to hunt down the compilation. The first will sound familiar to Jens Lekman fans, as he lifted the harpsichord lick in his own "Black Cab". The second is a personal fave of mine, featuring a rumbling, country-and-western guitar hook that pops up on the verses.
The Noiseboy
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