Sounds of 1960s and 1980s Celebrated

The intoxicating sounds of Southern California’s Turnof-the-Century music scene, as well as the groundbreaking stylings of the 1960s and 1980s are revisited thanks to a handful of great 2023 releases.

Artist: Sparkle*Jets U.K.

Title: Best of Friends (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Matthew Sweet, Walter Clevenger & the Dairy Kings, Psychic Rain, Jellyfish

Tell me more: For many years I wrote an award-winning column titled “Orange Pop” for an Orange County, CA-based publication where I had the thrill of covering that region’s explosive music scene. Many of the artists — notably No Doubt, Sugar Ray, Walter Trout and Lit — went on to global success after making a splash locally. However, many of my favorite artists achieved only cult status despite their incredible talent. It’s great to see Turn-of-the-Century power pop trio Sparkle*Jets U.K. return with a fantastic new album (Best of Friends, available June 30) — the band’s first new studio LP in more than 20 years. The aptly-titled Best of Friends finds Michael Simmons (lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards, drums), Susan West (lead and backing vocals) and Jamie Knight (bass, 12-string guitar) offering their distinctive sonic stamp on 21 gems originally recorded by Southern California-based artists who were their contemporaries. The album opens with a wistful take on Walter Clevenger’s “Hold On Tight” before the band turns on a dime to deliver a glorious take on The Masticators’ “He’s Coming Out.” A Baroque pop reading of Kompost’s “One Summer Sunday,” luxurious cover of Cockeyed Ghost’s “Ludlow 6:18,” a buoyant version of Candypants’ “I Want a Pony” and rollicking run through The Dons’ “Till We Meet Again” are among my other faves on the first half of the terrific title. The momentum and caliber of the collection never falters; sumptuous versions of The

Shazam’s “Sunshine Tonight,” Linus of Hollywood’s “Good Sounds,” Wondermints’ “In and Around Greg Lake,” Kenny Howes and the Yeah!’s “Right Idea,” The Negro Problem’s “Mahnsanto” and The See Saw’s “Probleme Romantique” on the last half of the set have me pretty sure that Sparkle*Jets U.K.’s Best of Friends will land on my favorite albums of 2023 list. Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Artist: Tony Valentino

Title: Dirty Water Revisited (Big Stir Records)

You might like if you enjoy: The Standells, the Electric Prunes, the Chocolate Watchband

Tell me more: Released on May 26, Dirty Water Revisited marks the high profile return of founding Standells’ guitarist Tony Valentino. Along with singer-keyboardist Larry Tamblyn, bassist Jody Rich and drummer Benny King, Valentino was a key player in the Los Angeles-spawned quartet’s groundbreaking garage rock sound showcased in their timeless 1966 hit “Dirty Water.” On his return Valentino — as well as vocalist/drummer Duane Waider, keyboardist Zero E and bassist-guitarist/vocalist Gary Kaluza — revisits a handful of the enduring gems recorded by the Standells including a rousing take on the aforementioned “Dirty Water,” rhythm guitaranchored “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White” (the latter bolstered by Valentino’s harmonica playing), the electrifying “Barracuda” and rollicking “Try It.” The Valentino-produced album also hits high marks thanks to the surf-meets-soul rocker “There Is a Storm Comin’,” the blistering hardcore tribute “I’m a Sexy Punk Rocker” (the latter a nod to the Standells’ influence on punk rock), infectious “Vicki” and psychedelic “Love Me.”

Information: BigStirRecords.com.

Artist: The Mosquitos

Title: this then are The Mosquitos! (Kool Kat Musik) You might like if you enjoy: The Monkees, The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five

Tell me more: Fans of melodic ‘60s-mining rock will want to get a listen to the wonderful this then are The Mosquitos! The Mosquitos’ story is almost as compelling as the band’s music; in the mid-1980s the rising outfit called it quits on the brink of stardom (indeed, the band was named Best New Rock Group at the New York Music Awards in 1986). Now fast forward to 2023