Based On Happy Times

Tommy Keene’s third album sold few copies but had legions of hardcore fans in bands that later went on to sell loads of records and singles (like Gin Blossoms and Material Issue). It's power pop, so there are lots of nods to mid- to late-period Beatles (“Hanging on to Yesterday,” “Nothing Can Change You,” “Highwire Days”), The Byrds (the great “Pictures”), and even The Beach Boys (the wonderfully power-chorded cover of their 1963 classic “Our Car Club”). But as much as Keene is winking here at the jangle-pop side of his record collection, he balances the sugar-star melodies with muscular beats and anthemic riffs, like he’s some kind of thoughtful Bryan Adams (but in the best way possible). Yes, this is top-down music for speeding on highways, but there’s enough introspection (“though the promises were tall/the pieces were are so small”) to keep you interested once you’ve shot your voice from singing along. Guests on this 1989 album include Jules Shear (backup vocals) and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck (guitar, mandolin).