Nothing makes Thursday sparkle like a bit a jangle. Today’s selection offers up full albums and stand-alone singles to sate your reverb-craving appetite.

Former members of The Dentists, The Discords, and a host of other bands make up the membership of The Treasures of Mexico. Burn the Jets is their album number 3 and it’s a solid collection of tunes, awash in predictably sibilant guitar sounds. Opening cut “Beaming” practically sounds like a rainy day in by the fire, so suggestive is its aural atmosphere. “Monday Morning” is another strong contender for should-be hit single. On album #4 Glaswegian guitar pop band U.S. Highball clearly know how to stock an album full of melodic twists and turns. As previously noted in our preview of the record last summer, No Thievery, Just Cool has some strong singles contenders with “Irresponsible Holiday” and “Paris 2019.” But why stop there? The record is a veritable sea of highlights, with nifty offerings like “Picnic at Doughnut Groyne” and “Out of Time.” And how did I miss the link with the band name and American experimental musician Harry Partch’s magnum opus? Not sure why the band landed on that influence but an interesting connection nevertheless.

Now we move on the singles portion of our jangle programming. You might want to be sitting down for this next one. Japanese band Memory Girls have assembled a killer jangle roll out for their single “Our Freedom, Our Darkness.” As the song is sung in Japanese I have no idea how the sombre title connects with the rippling, mesmerizing jangle lead guitar work that drives the tune but, really, who cares? When the music is this good … Toronto’s Ducks Ltd. know how to throw down serious jangle. Their one-off single “The Main Thing” explodes into action and never lets up. The lead guitar workout is unbelievable, buffeted by a dreamy, ethereal vocal. More Canadian content comes from Kitchener, Ontario’s Hyness with “Weatherman.” The song has a folkie pop flavour, reminding me a bit of April Wine in some of their more jangle moments. Dutch janglers The Maureens have been teasing fans since September with a few new songs. “Rainy Day” speaks to all their strengths: sparkling guitars, effortless harmony vocals, and a subtle earwormy hook buried in the song. A new album from their Utrecht headquarters is highly anticipated.

Closing out this jangle Thursday, Johnny Marr’s new single “Somewhere.” A undeniable master of the genre from his time with The Smiths and  as a ‘guitar for hire’ since their breakup, his own solo work has often slipped under the radar. This song, the only new addition to a recent ‘best of’ collection, is just too Johnny jangle good to ignore.

Jangle Thursday is a kind of public service, helping you get to the weekend with your smile intact.

Photo courtesy Thomas Hawk Flikr collection.