Staff pick of the week...
This week...Geoff picks it!

Artist: Let's Active Title: Cypress/Afoot Price: $14.75	Tracks on this CD:
	Cypress		Afoot
	Easy Does		Every Word Means No
	Waters Part		Make Up With Me
	Lowdown		Edge Of the World
	Gravel Truck		Room With a View
	Crows On a Phone Line		In Between
	Ring True		Leader Of Men
	Blue Line		Two Yours
	Flags For Everything
	Prey
	Co-Star
	Ornamental
	Counting Down
	Grey Scale

As my friends will gleefully tell you, in my earlier days I was big into the prog rock: ELP, Jethro Tull, Yes, etc. Granted, I also listened to more than my share of Cheap Trick, the Beatles, the Kinks, Bob Dylan and the Band. It wasn’t until I walked into The Pop Shop (the best record store to ever grace the streets of Urbana-Champaign) in 1983 and heard Chris Stamey’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” that I was turned onto “pop music” and everything Mitch Easter. In its original basement location, The Pop Shop had three tiny rooms that were laid out in an “L” shape. One speaker was in one room and the other speaker in the opposite room – the center room had no speaker. That’s where I was standing when Fred put “It’s a Wonderful Life” on. If you know this record at all you should know the amazing production and stereo effects contained within. You will also understand how a guy from the “prog” would instantly be floored by the crisp guitars, layered sounds and incredible production of this great record. I became a Pop fan instantly -- maybe that’s why they call Pop Music “infectious.” In any event, being an avid music fan and collector, I had to buy everything related: Sneakers, REM’s “Chronic Town,” and, of course, Let’s Active’s “Afoot.”

Mitch Easter is the cornerstone of the 1980’s pop scene. His work with REM, the dBs, Turning Curious, Windbreakers, Game Theory and later with Steve Almaas/Ali Smith, Shalini and the Velvet Crush set the bar for recording great music. His own band, Let’s Active, displayed all the qualities of a great pop band – both in the studio and on the road. They released three LPs and one EP (all of which are worth seeking out). Here at Parasol we have anxiously awaited the re-release of the two best: “Afoot” and “Cypress.” You can look reviews up on AllMusic or read all about them in most music magazines so I won’t try to out-critic the critics. Suffice it to say, if you own these Let’s Active records on vinyl, buy the CD for the bonus tracks (and because your vinyl is probably worn out by now). If you don’t own them, take it on my word that you need to add them to your record collection. They make a fine foundation to your Pop collection and are an excellent example of what was going on in the early 80s that lead to what is going on today (and everything in between). These records also stand up on their own as great records and sound every bit as good today as they did back in the 80’s when my prog collection started to collect dust.

For what it’s worth, Michael Slawter and Laughing Outlaw Records (Australia) recently released an excellent Let’s Active tribute CD, “Every Word: A Tribute to Let’s Active.” It features tracks by Neilson Hubbard, Doug Powell, Paul Chastain (of The Velvet Crush), Bobby Sutliff, Bill Lloyd, Don Dixon & Jamie Hoover, Tommy Womack, The Saving Graces, Spike Priggen, Marti Jones, The Crowd Scene, The Trolleyvox, King Fly, King Kilowatt, Soap Star Joe, Velvet, Failed Energy Giants, Girls Say Yes, Drop Quarters, and Jerry Chapman. Also, Shalini’s latest release “We Want Jelly Donuts” (and her touring band) features both Mitch Easter (her husband) and Eric Marshall (later Let’s Active drummer). Another great record.