'80s Jangle, Power Pop; The Modulators - Tomorrow's Coming (2017 Manufactured Recordings)

Formed in 1980, The Modulators can, based on the Tomorrow's Coming reissue, rightly take their place as an important part of the American power pop scene.
The Modulators began as a solo project of multi-instrumentalist Joe Riccardello. With help from producer / lyricist Rob Roth, Riccardello released his first single, "Girl Trouble," in 1980. He was then joined by friends Mark Higgins (guitar) and Mark "Cakes" Westlake (drums) to form the power (pop) trio known as The Modulators.
But it's the band's second single, “She's So Cynical,” released in 1982, that's the highlight and my favorite song from this collection. It's not just the music, which is classic power pop with ringing guitars, great vocal, a drum beat to die for, and, yes, handclaps. No, it's the lyrics, too: "You wonder why she's so cynical / When she's the pinnacle of your ideal." It's a perfect power pop lyric. It may have been the feel-good song of 1982, but it brings a smile to my face in 2017.
Finally, in 1984, the band released Tomorrow's Coming, their only LP. By that time, R.E.M. had released both the Chronic Town EP and the Murmur album; and the influence of Peter Buck's Rickenbacker is evident on the title song.
The second album track, the glorious "Jimmy Says," is back to power pop and is in much the same vein as Marshall Crenshaw who had released his debut album in 1982.
Two of the standout non-album tracks are "Amplitude Modulation" and "Kristine." The first can be seen as The Modulators' take on Elvis Costello's "Radio, Radio" -- "Radio's no sound salvation / no more innovation." They name check "little Nicky Lowe" and ask to have Elvis brought back (Costello is still with us, so maybe they were referring to the original Elvis.). "Kristine," a bit of The Raspberries with a Nick Lowe-ish vocal, adds keyboards and more handclaps to the band's mix. It's a song that I plan on listening to a lot more.
The Tomorrow's Coming reissue brings together The Modulators' original album and an additional 14 unreleased songs and demo tracks.(Henry Lipput, cooldadmusc.com)

The Modulators were one of the finest eighties power pop, jangle pop bands. Enjoy.(Frank)

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