Scott Gagner: Sweet Tooth

Minneapolis-based multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner stepped up to the mike again for the follow-up for his all instrumental Underwater Waltz. It is an amalgam of indie rock and power pop, with the rhythm section playing catch with the melodic elements. Gagner wraps his concerns about the current right-wing clusterfuck in sunny-side up songs - no mean feat as they were recorded during the height of the ICE raids in his hometown.

Gagner is a veteran with a firm grasp on his art, creating music that is not mainstream, but radio-friendly enough to get past the gatekeepers of pop radio shows. It doesn't hurt that he can write a love song that could be mistaken for a Byrds, Big Star or Beach Boys track. Sweet Tooth may sound soft and innocent, but it packs a punch, provided people are willing to pay attention to the lyrics.

Scott Gagner: "Sugar Rush" video

After the all-instrumental album Underwater Waltz Minneapolis multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner stepped up to the mike again for a sparkling collection of power pop infused songs. His new album Sweet Tooth will see the light of day on July 28th, but lead single Sugar Rush is a good indication of what's in store.

Cover Me: Super Freak

Watch Scott Gagner perform the Rick James classic Super Freak on piano with members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. The track was recorded live @ Fellowship Hall Sound in Little Rock, AR. It can be found on his new album Underwater Waltz: "Gagner found that was he lost for words to capture the beauty of nature and opted for an ambient, neo-classical approach instead, making Underwater Waltz an outlier in his discography - albeit that his ability to spin luscious melodies could not be contained."

Live date:

• 01/24 Excelsior, MN @ 318 Cafe (album release show)

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of Underwater Waltz.

Scott Gagner: Underwater Waltz

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner kept mum on his new album Underwater Waltz, a collection of tender instrumentals. Inspired by a family's wish to watch the solar eclipse he did some serious thinking about capturing the event with music, with his 1930’s Lester upright piano as the focal point of the compositions. A string quartet featuring members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra was added, plus Zach Reeves riding shotgun on various keyboards.

Gagner found that was he lost for words to capture the beauty of nature and opted for an ambient, neo-classical approach instead, making Underwater Waltz an outlier in his discography - albeit that his ability to spin luscious melodies could not be contained. Three covers made the album, with the reinvention of the Rick James smash Super Freak as the biggest surprise.

Scott Gagner: "Never Could See Any Other Way" video

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner has made a video for Never Could See Any Other Way, a track from his new album Reverse, recorded in London at Abbey Road, Studio 2: "[It] features fellow Beatles fan Nick Frater on mellotron and pianet, instruments that have 60s written all over it".

Live date:

• 09/07 "Reverse" Album Release Party @ 318 Cafe, Excelsior, MN

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of Reverse.

Scott Gagner: "My Glasses" video

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner has made a video for My Glasses, a track from his new album Reverse, recorded in London at Abbey Road, Studio 2: "Gagner's songwriting is all about storytelling. (...) It might well be this year's best song about letting go and not giving a fuck".

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of Reverse.

Scott Gagner: Reverse

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner left his beloved Minneapolis to fly to London to record his new album Reverse at Abbey Road, Studio 2. Yes, that Studio 2. He played the pianos that were used by The Beatles and laid down his vocals with the microphone that captured Lennon's voice for A Day in the Life. All reverie and "we're not worthy" aside, he led his musicians with a firm hand through his songs, ranging from power pop to psychedelica. Gagner's songwriting is all about storytelling by way of luscious melodies, always having his eyes on intimacy, even when the trumpets are weighing in and the strings are trying to steal his place in the spotlights.

Reverse deals with friendship and love mostly, with Christine McVie, a song about Fleetwood Mac's quiet one, who is a favourite of his and his wife, as the stand-out track. The gentle piano in Jesus In Reverse - he turns wine into water - is a 101 for layering keyboards and creating a filigree of sounds that will have transcribers scratching their heads in wonder. Never Could See Any Other Way features fellow Beatles fan Nick Frater on mellotron and pianet, instruments that have 60s written all over it. And My Glasses might well be this year's best song about letting go and not giving a fuck.

Scott Gagner: show @ 318 Cafe in Excelsior, MN

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner will a show @ 318 Cafe in Excelsior, MN on August 11, playing songs from his latest album BloodMoon, telling tales about moving back to Minnesota and enjoying a lesser hectic life: "After yet another string of raging fires in California [he] had enough. He decided to move back to Minneapolis, Minnesota to get away from it all. His new album BloodMoon celebrates the good life, the ability to breathe again and living in a comfy home with his family, with all the necessary amenities nearby. He is happy living the quiet life - I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore), staring at the night sky and wondering if there is life on Orion and if so, are they willing to come down to make things better".

Tickets are $15 and are available here.

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of BloodMoon.

Scott Gagner: album release show in Excelsior, MN

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner will play a belated album release show @ 318 Cafe in Excelsior, MN on February 3. On BloodMoon he tells the tale of moving back to Minnesota and enjoying a lesser hectic life: "After yet another string of raging fires in California [he] had enough. He decided to move back to Minneapolis, Minnesota to get away from it all. His new album BloodMoon celebrates the good life, the ability to breathe again and living in a comfy home with his family, with all the necessary amenities nearby. He is happy living the quiet life - I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore), staring at the night sky and wondering if there is life on Orion and if so, are they willing to come down to make things better".

Tickets are $15 and are available here, including the album on CD or a download card.

» scottgagner.com

HCTF review of BloodMoon.

HCTF's best of 2021 (15-11)

• 20-16
• |
• 15-11
• |
• 10-6
• |
• 5-1

» Best of playlist

» Listen here

HCTF's annual list of the 20 albums that will be in regular rotation for many years to come. As per usual many genres are represented. Here Comes The Flood covers a lot of ground and it shows in this eclectic, final tally.

Today: countdown from number 15 to 11.

Please shop at your local record store. Most of them have a website where you can order your stuff. Buy directly from the artist, attend live shows when it's safe to do so again. Tell your friends. Word-of-mouth can't be beat as the prime source to discover new music.

Scott Gagner: BloodMoon

After yet another string of raging fires in California multi-instrumentalist and singer Scott Gagner had enough. He decided to move back to Minneapolis, Minnesota to get away from it all. His new album BloodMoon celebrates the good life, the ability to breathe again and living in a comfy home with his family, with all the necessary amenities nearby. He is happy living the quiet life - I Don't Get Out Much (Anymore), staring at the night sky and wondering if there is life on Orion and if so, are they willing to come down to make things better.

Gagner's vocals are totally at ease, mostly in an early '70s West Coast mode, floating on top of carefully orchestrated music that is smooth and complex, although the latter will most likely be glanced over by casual listeners. With some help from Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello, Elliott Smith, Ron Sexsmith), Jesse Chandler (Midlake, Mercury Rev, John Grant) and Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, The Replacements) BloodMoon was turned into an album that cruises on the outer lanes of the power pop mainstream: gentle, informed and opinionated.

Scott Gagner: Pins & Needles

San Franciscan Scott Gagner has the typical West Coast ability to write radio-friendly smooth sounding songs about serious heartbreak. His new album Pins & Needles veers between power pop, country rock and soft-spoken psychedelica, and steers clear of the lures of yacht rock, safe for some of overproduced backing vocals. He got some big names helping him out, including Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello's The Attractions, Ron Sexsmith, Matthew Sweet), and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star, R.E.M.).

On the surface Pins & Needles takes it easy, and with his relaxed vocals as part of the equation it could be mistaken for another chapter in the big book of Californian hedonism. Sure, some songs fit that description, like Lazy Afternoon, but when there is sun there also must be shadows and that is where Gagner writes his best stuff and tries to chase away his demons (The Ghost of Me & You).