Mike Pope

Ripening (Ain’t It Strange)

Blind Owl, 2022

10/10

Listen to Ripening (Ain’t It Strange)

It’s been a prolific year for the finger-picking troubadour Mike Pope, who released a pair of albums- his first formal recordings despite being a veteran staple of the Southern California singer-songwriter community.

Pope wisely places the title track in the lead off position, where gritty electric guitar and rugged singing finds itself somewhere between folk and punk rock, and “Homonculus” follows with acrobatic drumming and waves of post-punk fueled, sonically tuneful sounds that don’t require vocals to mesmerize.

In the middle, the ultra fuzzed out “Colleen” would make J Mascis or Lou Barlow proud in its busy and dense melodies, while “Why Don’t You Love Me (Like You Used To)” trims the volume and pace back with a shimmering version of indie-rock that’s melancholic, even ballad-like.

Approaching the end, “Every Loving Herd Does As It Should” offers a scrappy and complicated yet very accessible version of angular folk-rock, and “I’m Free” takes this lead further into a buzzing and swirling display of

Pope’s other release this year, Songs For People (High & Low), was steeped in more Dylan-esque sort of folk ideas, whereas these 11 tracks showcase the punk poet that pope is, with plugged in brilliance that taps into his inner Joe Strummer and Stephen Malkmus.

Comparisons, aside, though, this guy is so great, and it’s about time the world finds out.

Travels well with: Mike Pope- Songs For People (High & Low); Creature Of The Woods- J Tree