"My name's Jeremy Gloff, bitch!" the local pop staple declares scornfully, introducing himself, the first song, and title track off his 17th and latest album, THIS, before guest singer Anye' Cole launches into the hook with throaty vivacity: "Got style, you know I'm independent / Got cash, you know I'm gonna spend it / Glamorous – I am this." The organic melodic warmth of her vocals is a nice foil to the sing-song/spoken-word robo-monotone Gloff adopts in "This," its message a confident affirmation of self-worth.
Gloff serves generous doses of his frank sincerity, impudent charm, and wry outlook in the 10-track LP. Rainbow-hued or midnight-dramatic sonicsapes are brightened with bursts of glittery effects, intermittent guitar and hand claps, carried on machine drum beats, and fleshed out with backing vocals and additional instrumentation by a range of guest musicians. Songs jump from the Dark Wave dissonance and hilariously morbid commentary of "Junkie Love" ("Show me the money, I need some blow"), to fluffy-fun club-bumpers like "Back and Forth" with its fickle hot-and-cold narrator, to the rambling dirt rock groove of "Small City," about making the best of where you land with femme guest singer-rapper Shunda K, who lends the song a bit of soulful hip hop appeal.
Not every song works; "Outsiders" and "Short Fuse" are a little too New Wave dreary-dramatic and the candy-coated "Never Grow Old" is almost painful to sit through. But THIS closes on a high note with the chorus-backed "World Won't Do It," a take-control-of-your-own-destiny call-to-action pop anthem. (Crunks Not Dead Records, jeremygloff.com). 3 and 1/2 Stars
This article appears in Jul 21-27, 2011.