Rave On
By John Borack
Amplifier Magazine
Issue 50
September - October 2005
Longtime L.A. scenester Jensen Bell has released a gem of a power-pop record called Modern Dating Tips. Aided and abetted by some of Los Angeles' finest pop musicians (Robbie Rist, Drummer Jim Laspesa, keyboardist Morley Bartnoff and Muffs leader Kim Shattuck among them) Jensen offers up a concept album about a guy's (ultimately unsuccessful) quest for happiness with the opposite sex.
From the sweet opening salvo of "Askin You Out" to the lyrically resigned (yet musically cheerful) "Happening (Parting Advice)," Modern Dating Tips is a disk that gets better and better on repeated spins. The rollicking "Her City's Got A Train," the punchy duet with Shattuck on "Happy Chocolate" and the hilarious "The Swear-Off Song" are the personal picks to click, and the whole deal closes with a beautiful orchestrated ballad worthy of Brian Wilson, "Love Stained Eyes."
Favorite Lyric: "I'd swear off girls if I wasn't straight, they piss me off, they make me late, but my left hand is a lousy date."
more pop-picks here:
http://www.amplifiermagazine.com/
By David Bash
Amplifier Magazine
Issue 51
Jensen Bell
Modern Dating Tips
Modern Dating Tips is essentially as the title alludes, or as the artist himself
puts it, “an evolving view of the arc of a modern person’s dating life”. Irony
is the major theme within and to add one more, though Bell is an Angelino, his
songwriting style is very “east coast,” as it will remind the listener of New
York heavyweights like Fountains Of Wayne, Richard X. Heyman, and George Usher.
Most of the songs on Modern Dating Tips clock in at under three minutes and have
hooks in all the right places, with sardonic lyrics that always bring home the
point. His line of “I’d swear off girls if I wasn’t straight” pretty much sums
up the dating frustrations many men go through, but in the end never really live
by. The album features several luminaries of the L.A. music scene, including Kim
Shattuck (with whom Bell duets on the appropriately Muffs-like “Happy Chocolate)
and the guardian angel of L.A. power-pop: Robbie Rist.
This is one helluva pop album, and you won’t want to be without it.
David Bash - Amplifier Magazine
http://www.amplifiermagazine.com/
From Geraint Jones of the very exclusive and highly prized magazine: "Comes With A Smile" to Jensen Bell (received May 11, 2005):
Details of the next issue can be found here:
http://cwas.hinah.com/news/
review:
Comes With A Smile
<-- get it (click here)
JENSEN BELL
MODERN DATING TIPS
JB STANDARD MEDIA
Following a career plagued by misfortune, Jensen Bell’s long-delayed debut ‘Modern Dating Tips’ finally reveals him to be a major pop talent that anyone who has previously given house room to the likes of Jason Falkner, Matthew Sweet or Brendan Benson should immediately make space in their collection for.
A sideman of repute and former member of several bands whose recorded output never saw the light of day, his bio also reveals that he once auditioned to be guitarist with the mighty Replacements and came very close to getting the job too. At last setting out his own stall with ‘Modern Dating Tips’, with a number of other projects, both current and retrospective also in the pipeline, he’s definitely going to be a name to watch.
As with the very best of their craft, the most interesting pop musicians are capable of assimilating their influences rather than slavishly imitating them, discernibly imprinting their own stamp on their material. Too few are genuinely capable of that, Jensen Bell though assuredly makes the grade with ‘Modern Dating Tips’, an album that I suspect will be in strong contention in many end of year lists. Powerful, melodic, lyrically astute, cleverly arranged and well produced; the album pushes all the right buttons for pop aficionados.
Bell incorporates his influences with guile, invention and occasionally even a little mischievousness, from The Left Banke on Askin’ You Out which references their Pretty Ballerina - once covered incidentally by the aforementioned Jason Falkner, who’s also never quite got the breaks his talent deserved – to Badfinger, Bell’s Up & Out uncannily reminiscent of Pete Ham’s ill-fated pop classicists at their best. Bell also has a little fun with his listeners, almost lifting Rainbow’s Since You’ve Been Gone riff wholesale for the introduction to Beauty Secrets. Elsewhere, further demonstrating his diversity and melodic talents, Bell reels off the life-affirmingly buoyant Her City’s Got A Train, so joyous even the most misanthropic couldn’t fail to be moved to smile and leap around uncontrollably, duets with The Muffs’ Kim Shattuck on the delicious bubblegum punk of Happy Chocolate before closing the album with the more complex orchestrated chamber pop of Love Stained Eyes.
‘Modern Dating Tips’ is a splendid album that’s been well worth the wait and I suspect that there’s plenty more where this came from too. Here’s a modern purchasing tip for you – buy this record!
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Fantastic New French Review Translated!
From: http://www.rockandrollreport.com
This album is without a doubt one of the highlights for me for the first half of 2005. I don’t know a lot about this LA resident other than the fact that he was possibly once a guitarist in The R**********s but never mind, just listen to this album! While the cover art is quite humorous it was only after listening to the first track “Askin You Out” that I was sucked in to this man’s talent. Brilliant writing, amazing melodies and hits a-plenty (Her City’s Got a Train, Kitsch Lorraine, Happy Chocolate), the 35 minutes spent listening to this album is essential for all true fans of pop. A must!
Deep and Thoughtful Review from Americana-UK.com across the pond in England:
...seal of approval for an original artist.
Be warned! ..you'll need to spend a little time getting to grips with Modern Dating Tips. It definitely takes a little effort on the listener's part to fully appreciate its many, and musically diverse, charms. Trying to get under the skin of the Bitter Suite alone could take longer than the time it takes most albums to come and go. The initial impression is that all its best bits have been borrowed from somewhere. The helter skelter guitars of City's Got A Train, the sweet harmonies of Possible Jane Situation and the naïve sweetness of Askin You Out are all very nice but you can easily attach names ranging from Weezer to the Beach Boys to them, great names but someone else's clothes are always someone else's clothes.
However, slowly but surely the penny drops and you realize that at the heart of the album is Jensen Bell, the rest is mere decoration and the flitting between styles is just the work of an active and original artist. The common thread is an unshakable streak of optimism that runs through each song, Bell most certainly has his eyes fixed on better times ahead. Once you get into the rhythm of it all, the fact that it moves easily from a classic pop song like Smoke & Perfume to the rockier Happy Chocolate becomes perfectly natural. …The highlight of the album is undoubtedly the towering Kitsch Lorraine, it alone is enough to absolve Jensen Bell of any real or imaginary sins. On balance if you give Modern Dating Tips a fair hearing you'll come around as the best things in life require a little work… and this is no different. - by Michael Mee for Americana-UK (UK)
More!
Unbelievable (But Real!) Reviews of "Modern Dating Tips"
This album is without a doubt one of the highlights for me for the first half of 2005. I don’t know a lot about this LA resident other than the fact that he was possibly once a guitarist in The R**********s but never mind, just listen to this album! While the cover art is quite humorous it was only after listening to the first track “Askin You Out” that I was sucked in to this man’s talent. Brilliant writing, amazing melodies and hits a-plenty (Her City’s Got a Train, Kitsch Lorraine, Happy Chocolate), the 35 minutes spent listening to this album is essential for all true fans of pop. A must!- RockAndRollReport.com
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WOW! An instant classic! A stunning debut that combines all of the best elements of classic 70's to present American and British guitar pop with elements of Badfinger, Big Star and Marshall Crenshaw (to name but a few) interspersed throughout this guitar-dominated jangle-fest! The hookiest songs are punctuated with some cool harmonies!- KoolKatMusic.com
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This is one of the best albums I've bought in the last year -- and I've bought a LOT of albums in that time! It's very 'instant' - the great tunes are stuck in your head straight away. Add to that some wonderfully insightful lyrics, and this CD is an absolute treasure. - Debs, UK
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What great pop! "Beauty Secrets" is a hit single waiting to happen! Catchy as hell, with a great, hooky verse and an equally incredible chorus and a terrific vocal. "Love Stained Eyes" is a beautiful song, meticulous construction with an inventive chord progression, and those double-tracked vocals and expressive strings; this one sent chills up my spine. I love the background vocals at the beginning of "Up & Out"; this song shows Jensen's wide vocal range to great effect, and again, the song is catchy to the max. I'm most enamored with "Askin' You Out," a warm and wonderful tune that recreates that weird feeling of wanting to go out with someone and being afraid to pop the question; some really nice background vocals here, too. A thoroughly charming song. - "Pure Pop Radio" (Fairfax VA)
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Sparklingly deft and more pleasure with every listen... Modern Dating Tips plunges headlong through the full range of classic rock/pop sounds and themes... the pretty chime of "Asking You Out"... the wistful regret of "Smoke and Perfume"... the full-on guitar blitz of "Her City's Got a Train" and "Happy Chocolate"... the clever bounce and wordplay of "Beauty Secrets"... the soaring heartache of "Up & Out"... the phoenix rising "Happening"... the lush tears of "Love Stained Eyes". Fans of power pop will absolutely revel in this ripe and delicious cycle about the pain and pleasures of love. This is the good good stuff. - GK
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Let's say this up front: Jensen Bell's album "Modern Dating Tips" is about as classic a 'power pop' record as we come across and, therefore, is cause for celebration in these quarters. Fans of Matthew Sweet, Big Star, the first Myracle Brah album, some Raspberries, Owsley's first album, Fountains Of Wayne, Teenage Fanclub, will find that it's all here in spades - and aces." - Bruce Brodeen - NOTLAME.com - Colorado
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Jensen Bell takes the dissonant pop of Elvis Costello, the
addictive sound of the Beatles, and his numerous other musical influences to
make a sound truly unique. Fun, deep, ironic, sharp and intelligent, Jensen Bell
is the quintessential truth in music. So honest it's awkward, JB makes you
remember your first boyfriend and think his kisses were better than the
brace-entangled farce it really was, yet at the same time recalling the sweet,
innocent power of a love song and the emotions embroiled within it.
Please, listen. And enjoy Jensen Bell like you would a new wine. Let it slip
onto your tongue, then seep to the corners of your taste buds, dropping hints of
something previously un-experienced and yet somewhat familiar.
It doesn't hurt that Jensen is easy on the eyes, making the entire listening
experience three dimensional, sexual, and pure." - Mandilou,
retail music sales - Dearborn, Michigan
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Very few CD's warrent a listen from start to finish. "Modern Dating Tips" does time and time again! This is more a total work than a collection of songs. I hear the left-slanted pop beatings of Elvis Costello with that same quirky sensibility. If you have been muddling through your romantic life forgetting to take notes... Jensen Bell has been sitting at a table in the back of the room jotting everything down... and this is an audio journal just for you. One of THE best CD's I have purchased in the last 5 years! No kidding! - Jen Shade -WQXA-FM
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This astonishingly great cd was a long time coming. Mr. Bell certainly has his songcraft down and these tunes won't leave your noggin soon. Wonderful production and performances. I'm very picky about what I add to my iPod and this went straight in. You won't be dissappointed" - Chewy Brian- Los Angeles
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The debut album by long-time Los Angeles musician/songwriter Jensen Bell -- called "Modern Dating Tips", incidentally - will be, in all likelihood, an instant classic in the oft-uninspired power-pop genre. Fans of the Three B's - Beatles, Beach Boys and Big Star - will certainly find the music comprising "Modern Dating Tips" to be thoroughly entertaining - if not downright comforting -- for all of the hallmarks of classic power-pop are present and accounted for: jangling 12-string guitars, effervescent vocal melodies, and lots of lovely, layered background vocal harmonies, all driven by a pulsing backbeat. To call it "catchy" would be an understatement; to call it "inspired" would be much closer to the truth. - Kerry Chicoine, Fufkin.com & EarCandyMag.com
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They say the music that truly matters in your life will find you. Jensen Bell's MDT is a Revelation. A long time coming and so well worth the wait I could spend countless paragraphs rambling about current favorite songs. Asking You Out, Up and Out, Happening and of course the stunning Love Stained Eyes. But i'm way too busy listening to type anymore... Bravo! More of This! - Mb
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I can't even pick a favorite song! It changes every time I listen to my CD. And I can't stop listening! Over and over and over... It has become ritual to get up and push PLAY again when Love Stained Eyes comes to an end. I want more!!!! - Sami
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I love this C.D. ...not only does it have very innovative guitar and lyrical value it is just over all completely ....Magnificent. I highly recommend it , it has something for anyone and everyone. - Amber B
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