Kurt Hagardorn: Ten Singles

Kurt Hagardorn
Ten Singles
Bladen County
2007-03-01

This former member of Gumption recorded these ten singles over roughly six years. And while the time gap is rather large, the strong groove that comes out on “International Travel Advisory” is the sort of Beatles-tinged song you’ve never heard before but seem to know exactly where it’s heading. And it’s good, damn good. After that, Hagardorn opts for a cross of The Kinks and The Byrds with the retro-pop rock of “You Are My Girl”, a country-ish tune that a band like Sloan could pull off with relative ease. But Hargardorn, who grew up in Tennessee, seems just as comfortable doling out an Americana gem like “Yesterday and Tomorrow” as he does with the ensuing “Please Make it Last”, which sounds like Neil Young covering the Pink Floyd ditty “San Tropez”. Meanwhile, Hagardorn hits another home run with the power pop nugget “Rock Scissors Paper” and also with the terribly melodic and jangle-riddled “You Never Know”. Hagardorn can do no wrong with the foot-stomping “Last Time Rewind” leaving a group like The Soundtrack of Our Lives drooling. The biggest problem with this album is that there is nothing to criticize about it. I hate it when that happens…

RATING 8 / 10