Richard Turgeon’s latest long player Life of the Party kicks off with the barn-burning “All Alone.” The surging rhythm guitar propels us along, eventually resolving into a classic Turgeon fist-pumping, melody-drenched chorus. Lyrically though the song perhaps inadvertently captures the whole project that is Turgeon 2.0, a mostly one-man song-writing, performing and design phenomenon. Sure, if you dig hard enough you might find a younger iteration of Richard Turgeon, band member, doing the live music scene across the USA. But with his solo relaunch in 2017 via the acclaimed LP In Between Spaces what emerges is a mature artist in control of his muse. The space between that first album and his most recent shows up some interesting consistencies and departures. Let’s stroll through the Richard Turgeon catalogue 2.0 to explore just how he pulls that off.

Reaching back to the first installment of what would be become his California Trilogy of albums In Between Spaces features bankable singles like “Bigfoot’s an Alien” and “Bad Seed.” But returning now I’m struck by how “30” both announces his new direction and finds the sweet spot between dissonance and melody that would become Turgeon’s musical calling card. From 2018’s Lost Angeles I was taken with “Big Break” and “Look Away” but overlooked the alluring, hypnotic “Creeper.” This one keeps shifting between idling and revving before accelerating into the chorus. By album number three of the series, 2019’s Go Deep, Turgeon was breaking out all over stylistically, with grunge, ska, and country inflections added to his usual Matthew Sweet-meets-Weezer brand of power pop. The songs this go round were so impressive – killers like “Loneliness” and “Next to Me” – they had me overlooking a gem like “If You Leave Me.” This is like some sixties classic given a grunge wash. 2020’s Sea Change was a legit new direction, adding menace and more up-front social commentary to the mix. So many contenders for top single here but going back now I’m gobsmacked by the melodic punch buried in “Jolene.” I called Turgeon a hook machine on this album for good reason.

In addition to albums proper Turgeon has turned out a number of EPs and cover albums. 10 Covers Volume I took on mostly indie material and demonstrated his talent for sonic reinvention. His take on The Lemonheads “Into Your Arms” added muscle without losing the song’s tenderness. 10 Covers Volume II took on classics of the poprock canon from the Monkees to The Cure without blinking. His cover of Hole’s “Malibu” elevated it to a should-be FM rock radio staple. From his two EPs – 2021’s Campfire Songs and 2022’s Rough Around the Edges – I now find myself drawn to the outliers, like the countryish “Promised Land” from the former or understated “Fire Drill” on the latter. Though it has to be noted that “Better With You” from Rough Around the Edges may just be Turgeon’s greatest single. And that’s saying something.

All of this brings us back to the present and Turgeon’s latest release, Life of the Party. The album opens with three solid guitar pop grinders showcasing that perfect Turgeon balance of sweet melody and sonic dissonance. The aforementioned “All Alone” is should-be hit single material for sure. “You’ve Moved On” eases in, building over time to a glorious guitar crashing chorus. “I’ve Got You Now” puts some blistering lead guitar up front, prefacing a really hypnotic, driving tune. Then the album takes the first of a number of stylistic turns with “Friend Zone.” Here the opening riff has an unmistakeable seventies Lindsay Buckingham tone while Turgeon’s vocals pull between dissonance and rich harmony. “Our Fair City” starts so Smiths before casting its social commentary over a bed of jangle. With “Parasite” I hear bits of both the Smiths and Swervedriver. The album has lighter moments too. I love the understated low key vocals guiding “Forgiveness” before they up the impact in the chorus. Both “Sweet as Pie” and “What Could’ve Been” have a sunny pop disposition, despite their ringing electric guitars. And then there’s “Without You,” a classic slice of Turgeon’s ‘new vintage rock’ surely worthy of regular FM radio rotation. Album closer “Don’t Forget Me When You’re Gone” is a bit of surprise, leaning on the piano with a decidedly Procol Harum-meets-The Beatles feel. Talk about ending on a high note.

Spread over six years Turgeon 2.0 represents quite an accomplishment: 5 albums, 2 EPs, and 2 covers albums, all chock full of solid material, offered up with Turgeon’s striking artwork and design. The quality has been so consistent we’ve featured his work in 15 separate posts and he’s made both our should-be hit singles and must-have albums lists every year since 2017. Certainly vote-able as the life of our party.

Visit Richard Turgeon online to get an even fuller picture of this renaissance man – music maker, screenwriter, designer – and fill in the blanks in your record collection at his Bandcamp site.