You can’t separate a boy from his guitar, especially when he’s a multi-tasker like Andy Bopp. His day job finds him at the helm of the Myracle Brah, a band that bears a distinctly early ‘70s sensibility (think the Raspberries, the Shoes, Badfinger, Big Star, and others of that ilk), as well as a side project casually dubbed Love Nut. As if that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Bopp has opted to strike out on his own with the ironically-named This Guitar Kills Singer Songwriters, an album that spotlights him in the very role the title appears to disdain. Consequently, the 12-song set comes off as a pared down set of demos, sung solo with earnest and engaging sincerity. Fleshed out, the songs would work well in a power pop context, but stripped to their essence, they draw distinct similarities to early Todd Rundgren, Jason Faulkner and the Posies’ Jon Auer in their innocence and simplicity. Like them, Bopp tends to dwell on heartfelt platitudes and downcast emotions, especially as evidenced by the despairing “Broken,” a wistful “If You Go Away” and the lo-fi ambiance of “Good Day to the Night” and “Hearts of Fire.” Still, Bopp could hardly be tagged a shoe-gazer; his melodies ring with an effusive enthusiasm that often belies the somewhat somber ruminations. If all singer/songwriters were as adept as Mr. Bopp, then perhaps that guitar would have reason to show more mercy.
--Lee Zimmerman [October 13, 2008]
