The JTG Implosion

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An implosion is a sudden, inward collapse—but a JTG Implosion is more of a nostalgia trip through the world of one’s universal past, caught in fine power pop fashion with guitars and harmonies aplenty. This former member of the band Star Collector has fashioned a first solo effort that mostly comes across as melodic fun. His name is Joseph T. Giddings, but you can call him Joe, and in All The People Some Of The Time his talents are on display, exploding rather than imploding.

The CD is framed with occasional oratory snippets taken from one Harold Sherman’s “How To Foretell Your Future”, but the real focus here is the lighthearted music, most of which concentrates on the sounds and memories of decades ago. Just like the various pictures from Joe’s past that pepper the accompanying lyric booklet, this is a musical photo album of things that came before. “Delta 88” tells the tale of a fondly remembered “magical 12-foot” boat of a car inherited from his dad, complete with corduroy bucket seats—a regular “rock ‘n’ roll mobile”. Giddings does a great job with guitars and harmonies, with Allen Broyles adding subtle organ accents, showing the man also knows his power pop.

This also is obvious with the infectious “This Is What You Want” a bouncy sort of 1970s-era infectious expose of those who are greedy, egotistical, driven and domineering. Again, guitar is the force that drives the song (though well-placed background vocals play a large part too).

“Beatle” is another highlight; an introspective contemplation of what life might be like as one of the Fabulous Four. The song builds from a recessed sound into full-fledged power rock, with lyrical and musical allusions (note the “Revolution” guitars and the closing Lennon iterations from “You Know My Name"). This is musical fun of a high order, and you even get an alternate version included as a bonus track at CD’s end.

“Puzzle Peace” is another examination of the past, talking about high school ("the heads and the preps and the jocks") and the struggle to fit in with cliques, vying for popularity and acceptance. Giddings again shows a flair for superb harmonies alongside his impressive ax work.

“Wrong” has a bit of a George Harrison feel to it, while “The Dream” is smooth soft pop territory (a la the Dons), a delicious piece of ear candy about the magical dreams inspired by listening to plenty of 33’s and 45’s when younger.

Giddings is good at songs that build, as evidenced with “Sunshine”, one that starts as a sweet ballad and grows into something more upbeat and forceful. This one wears plenty of influences on its musical sleeve: Beatles, some Beach Boys, some Jellyfish as well, all building on pleasant platitudes until a harmony-filled crescendo that “implodes” into sleigh bells.

We see more influences of Giddings’ favorite bands with his “Biggest Liar in the World” where his Queen/Brian May-ish guitars and Jellyfish-like harmonies are on display. “Tore Down” is a more melodic sort of ‘70s anthem rock, with harder, crunchier guitars and a bit of Cars-like organ thrown in now and again for good measure.

Those who like soft ballads will enjoy “All We Ever Wanted”, a pretty harmony-laced love song comprised of lyrics that are a variant of what Lennon espoused in “All You Need Is Love”: “It doesn’t matter what we’ve said / It’s only a word / And if it’s all inside our heads (if it’s only a game) / What a lesson we’ve learned”.

The rhythmic framework of Billy Joel’s “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” opens Giddings “I Could Never Be with You.” This and the next track “All or Nothing” are more fine soft pop selections in a Beatles/Jellyfish/Queen vein (note the early Harrison-type lead in “I Could Never Be with You” or the Brian-May type lead in “All or Nothing"), with lovely harmonies galore. The CD closes with “Ode to Uncle Jimmy” a loving tribute to the man who gave him his first guitar ("he was a hippie, a deadhead, a Frank Zappa fan").

This sweet melodic harmony-filled musical expose of one man’s past should sound a note of recognition for many. Joe Giddings has the guitar chops and the power pop songwriting talent to take his past influences and make it into a lovely present. The JTG Implosion’s All The People Some Of The Time is as positive as Mr. Sherman’s interspersed announcements, and I can foretell the future looks bright for a very talented Joe Giddings.