Chapell’s “The Underground Music Show” LP
The distinctive blending of pop influences defining Chapell’s The Underground Music Show is one of its chief hallmarks. Thirteen songs crisscross through textures incorporating guitar, violin, assorted keyboard sounds, varying tempos, and irrepressible melodies. It is the fourth collection from the East Coast-based act led by the Stamford, Connecticut-born singer/songwriter and his first post-pandemic work. COVID-19 casts a definite shadow over the work. However, it is ultimately celebratory and contributes a great deal to the ongoing artistic dialogue about that challenging period in our society’s history.
It is also a personal document. Chapell writes incisively about community, the sometimes bitter ironies of aging, and the cycle of life with a fresh perspective. He opens with the album’s title song. “The Underground Music Show” has a languid pace punctuated by Ann Klein’s assorted soulful guitar flourishes and exemplary backing vocals from The Crush Brothers. The COVID-inspired lyrics observe the turmoil of those pandemic days and how they recall the rough-and-ready days of the 1970s.
Several of the album’s early tracks build off piano playing. One of the finest of these cuts is the second song, “The Space Between Us”. This chagrined reflection on relationship woes elicits an aching vocal from Chapell fitting for the elegant piano playing. Chappel achieves an unique contrast thanks to pairing the melancholy lyrics against a comparatively buoyant arrangement. Melodic piano riffing plays well against straightforward acoustic guitar during the later “Bottom of the Ocean”. Chapell’s ability to interweave an upbeat pop tone with his well-written and decidedly adult lyrical fare rates high among The Underground Music Show’s strengths. It’s well-represented here.
“Suddenly” is a brisk and tightly constructed tune that ranks with the album’s best. He’s wrestling with thorny adult themes throughout this one. Marrying such subject matter to an energetic musical vehicle is a typically shrewd move from the songwriter that pays off handsomely for listeners. “I Used to Say This Could Never Be Me” is another great moment. He tackles the changes that come with aging with more than a dollop of humor, but he never plays the topic for laughs. It’s serious business that he tackles with a likable air rather than bogging himself down in despair. It features another of the release’s most buoyant arrangements.
“Little Harry” delivers a dazzling array of textural shifts without leaving listeners on shaky ground. Chapell has succeeded in crafting signature stylized pop that never strikes a vacuous note. This is one of The Underground Music Show’s most complete moments as the music, vocals, and lyrics alike reach impressive heights. Ann Klein’s guitar playing has a crucial role in the success of “This Time for Sure”. It has a surprisingly slow burn quality throughout the performance and stands as one of the album’s late highlights.
Chapell’s fourth collection deserves consideration as his best-sustained work yet. Personal and artistic growth filled the last few years along with accompanying challenges; each of the album’s thirteen compositions reflects those changes. The Underground Music Show is a worthy addition to anyone’s music library.
Anne Hollister
Anne Hollister
We do music reviews for Independent Artists and Publicists.
