Jeffrey Gaines 2: Somewhat Slightly Dazed

The role of acoustic troubadour was a convenient and cheap was to spread the word, but deep down, Jeffrey Gaines wanted to rock. The first suggestion came with a re-recorded version of “Headmasters Of Mine” featuring the Boston band The Neighborhoods. (The CD single included a live acoustic performance of Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”, of which he’s probably received the most notoriety.)

He turns up the volume for the bulk of Somewhat Slightly Dazed, not just layering more guitars but having the drummer hit harder. Luckily, that approach doesn’t crush the potential of the opening three songs, each of which had featured in his sets for a few years. “I Like You” is a wonderfully happy valentine; “Sweet Janine” brings to mind classic ‘60s psychedelia; and “I Know A Man” sympathizes for a victim of an unspecified accident, without specifying who exactly that man is who would “know what to do”. “Safety In Self” takes a folkie direction, with a waltz tempo and uilleann pipes. There’s a quick transition to “You Believe In Me”, which returns to the solo format. Things get edgier on “All The Will In The World”, another portrait of someone fighting some kind of burden.

The second half of the album isn’t as striking, but still holds up its end of the bargain. “Nursery Rhyme” is an infectious little number about the end of a relationship without being at all bitter. The chorus sports a descending vocal, leading right into the musical twist at the end. “Elliot” could be about AIDS or an unwanted pregnancy; he’s typically vague. We hear more echoes of Elvis Costello in the arrangement of “Talent For Surrender”, particularly in the “and you would/said you could” section. “What Can I Do” is more morality on the lines of the debut, and he harmonizes with himself again, nicely, on “Just One Thing”. “In Her Mind” and “Wish It Away” are overwrought and aggressive, making the unlisted alternate mix of “I Like You” something of a reprieve.

Outside of the appearance of guitarist Reeves Gabrels, we can’t find a more blatant Bowie connection for Somewhat Slightly Dazed outside of the nod in the album title. The album should have been huge, but the world wasn’t really interested. Used copies abound on eBay, or it can be downloaded à la carte.

Jeffrey Gaines Somewhat Slightly Dazed (1994)—3½
Current CD availability: none, download only