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On the Record - Red Jacket Mine

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Spotlight on the vinyl output of Seattle-based indie band Red Jacket Mine with their two special single releases of "Listen Up" b/w "Rosy Days" and "Bellar & Bawl" b/w "Grow Your Own".

Red Jacket Mine
"Listen Up" b/w "Rosy Days"
Fin Records
7" 45-RPM single, colored vinyl, picture sleeve

Jaunty pop is Red Jacket Mine's specialty and fans of Elvis Costello will find kindred spirits in this one as the band ladles on bright organ riffs and Stax hit single references, all tied together with sugary vocals from singer/guitarist Lincoln Barr. B-side "Rosy Days" has a sound that recalls Squeeze at their best.

Red Jacket Mine
"Bellar & Bawl" b/w "Grow Your Own"
7" 45-RPM single, colored vinyl, picture sleeve

Here again Red Jacket Mine show an enormous talent for crafting bouncy pop tunes; "Bellar & Ball," dressed up with twanging guitar and driving piano, has the kind of hook that must have Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe wondering, "Did we write that?" RJM know how to leave you wanting more, too, as the song comes to an unexpected cold close leaving the listener suddenly bobble-heading along to silence and ready to re-spin the record. Speaking of wanting more, the guys are working on a full-length for release in 2013 and hopefully it'll be packed with gems like these.

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