I grew up with a lot of Marks. Generally speaking, if your name was Mark you were second string on the basketball team and a get-along-with-everybody kind of guy. But if your name was spelled ‘Marc’ a whole new level of cool was involved. Today’s two Marcs show you why that is so.

We’ve reviewed two great albums Marc Jonson recorded recently with Ramirez Exposure but left his solo work untouched. Partly that results from the challenge of coming to grips with his unwieldy career. Things kicked off in 1972 with a baroque folk album for Vanguard (Years) but from there it’s hit and miss with rare album outings in 1992 (12 in a Room), 2000 (Last Night on the Rollercoaster), and 2017 (Marc Jonson and the Wild Alligators). But now we have an album that attempts to fill in the blanks – Groova Tismo. The record pulls together a dynamic collection of demos recorded in his NYC Cordelia Street apartment between 1979 and 2012. No surprise the tunes effortlessly evoke a Phil Spector early 1960s pop atmosphere. Things kick off so Roy Orbison-fine on the endearing “Honey Boy.” The Beach Boys also haunt these proceedings on tracks like “The Man Who Walks On Air” and “I’d Cry.” Other 1960s artists reflected here might include The Four Seasons (“Turn It On), Buck Owens (“I Don’t Have You”), and The Searchers (“The Moon”). But the 1970s get a look in too with shades of Eric Carmen (“Never Gonna Fall in Love Again”) and Gordon Lightfoot (“Lonesome”). Personal fave: love the lurching hooks colouring “November Paintbrush.” More than a collection of leftovers, Groova Tismo sounds like the coherent artistic statement of a should-be star.

On his new album Basement Sparks Marc Valentine continues a delightful reinvention of 1990s power pop that falls somewhere between Fountains of Wayne and Bowling for Soup. There’s a slight punk snarl on tracks like “Tyrannical Wrecks” and a groove that says the dance floor will see some body contact. But for the most part the songs here mine a sweet poppy guitar grind familiar to fans of Farrah and FOW. Exhibit A could be “Eve of Distraction” or “I Wanna Be Alone.” Album opener “Complicated Sometimes” sets the tone with a sophisticated rocky pop tune that says should-be hit, though early release single “Skeleton Key” is another strong ‘hit’ contender. “Strange Weather” is more a pop stomper, relentlessly driving home its hooks. Then “You Are One of Us Now” shifts things into more 1980 Cars territory. I’m also partial to “Repeat Offender” with guitars-to-the-front melodic presence. This is a record with a strong sense of fun, as apparent on “Opening Chase Theme,” though tender moments slip in too, as can be heard on the Farrah-ish “Ballad of Watt.”

Looking to get cool? You can purchase it from these guys in popular song form from various poprock music purveyors. Just tell them ‘Marc’ sent you.

Photo courtesy Thomas Hawk Flikr collection.