PRE-VELVET CRUSH
PAUL CHASTAIN (1985) - THE REVERBS (1984)

Among power-pop's truest believers, Ric Menck is a visionary and a scholar, a brilliant pilgrim on a lifetime quest to understand and master that inscrutable fusion of allure, insight and energy that yields the most sublime melodic devotionals to the grand wizards of the two-minute single: Brian Wilson, Alex Chilton, Roger McGuinn, Ray Davies, Pete Townshend, Phil Spector, etc. That he has sought to do so from behind a small drum kit rather than with a guitar or piano only heightens the intensity of the Illinois native's efforts, sharpens the clarity of his perspective. Where other auteurs have found easy creative satisfaction in the imitation of some obvious aspect of their icons' formulae, Menck — who can both sing and play guitar but rarely does either in public — demonstrates a keener, deeper obsession with the zen of pop.
Before joining forces, Menck and singer/bassist Paul Chastain pursued the pop muse separately in different parts of Illinois. Menck was half of the Reverbs; The Happy Forest (all seven tracks of it) is blandly produced and pedestrian mid-'80s power pop dominated by John Brabeck's vocals. Chastain reached 12-inch vinyl shortly thereafter, with a solo EP. The teasingly brief six-song Halo is a real charmer, tender and skillfully realized originals that brush against R.E.M. pep, Beatlesque wistfulness and modest approximations of studio grandiloquence, all buoyed by Chastain's sweet voice and confident aplomb.

Pop the Balloon with future solo artist and producer Adam Schmitt, Menck formed Choo Choo Train (and the side groups Bag O'Shells and the Springfields for good measure) with Chastain in the late '80 - Velvet Crush with Jeff Borchardt

Halo
Halo / Am I Right / Focused / Every Other Time / Comes Round / Outside Circle

The Happy Forest

Trusted Woods / Picture An Eye / Envision Seven Seeds / Mumble / Diana, Yes / Nevermore / Railroad Ties