[rating=4.00]
Following his epic solo debut, The Land of Pure Imagination, Roger Jospeh Manning Jr.’s Catnip Dynamite is an addictive concoction of hook-laden melodies, soaring harmonies and complex arrangements that would astound the likes of Brian Wilson and even Prince. In fact, Manning has “out-Princed” Prince and truly takes the title of “solo artist” to new heights, as all songwriting, vocal, instrumentation, and production duties are fulfilled exclusively by him. While he may not be a chart-topping dynamo like the throngs of manufactured popsters that dominate the airwaves, Manning continually enlists devotees with his refreshingly original music.
The album features 11 original compositions and three live bonus tracks from his 2006 performance at Japan’s Fuji Rock festival. Songs like "The Quickening," "Down In Front," and "Living in End Times," are arena rocking, guitar-driven anthems that raise a fist of fury to the meaningless yet self-absorbed existence we humans pursue to our own apocalyptic demise. "Love’s Never Half as Good" showcases Roger’s knack for beautifully arranged harmonies while offering a disparaging, cynical view on that crazy little thing called love. "Imaginary Friend" is an upbeat, psych-rocking number replete with dizzying organs, fuzzy guitars and reverb. The haunting "Survival Machine" highlights Manning’s vocal range while the accompanying harpsichord and pipe organ add to the song’s somber anti-war message.
With a career that spans over twenty years and a reputation as a masterful songwriter and keyboardist, (his vast collection of new and old school synthesizers appear throughout the album) Roger Joseph Manning Jr. is perhaps most recognized as cofounder of the early nineties powerpop band Jellyfish. Despite its brief history, the band yielded two albums that are “must-haves” for any pop aficionado. After Jellyfish, Manning founded the hard-rocking Imperial Drag while simultaneously being one half of the whimsical, space helmet-clad duo known as The Moog Cookbook. He was also a keyboard player for Beck and has appeared on countless records contributing his extraordinary talents as composer, keyboardist and arranger.
