the Beatles, Elvis Costello, the Beach Boys, Motown, Zombies, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, the Doors, the Kinks, the Rolling Stones, X, Van Morrison, Roxy Music, Big Star, Radiohead, Moby Grape, The Move, Jellyfish, Blondie, Captain Beefheart, Zappa, Sun Ra, DJ Shadow, Gil Scott-Heron, Johnny Cash, Gnarls Barkley, Zombies, Gang of Four, Magazine, the Buzzcocks, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Carole King, R.E.M., Talking Heads, the Police, Stevie Wonder, Sly Stone, Blondie, ABBA, The Band, Bob Dylan, Jeff Buckley, Tim Buckley, Rufus Wainwright, Aimee Mann, Todd Rundgren, Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, Yes, AC/DC, Black Sabbath
Sounds Like
Some Nice Things People Have Said
"Stunning production and sizzling performances highlight one of the best album debuts I've ever heard ... I highly recommend this album if you're a fan of classic rock sounds, multi-layered harmonies and outstanding pop production. The lyrics are pretty interesting, too, sort of late period Lennon-McCartney in style ... 'Bludgeon My Heart' [is] power pop at its best ... 'Denied' [is] catchy-as-hell and gorgeous ... 'Triflin'' sounds like a great lost outtake from Led Zeppelin IV." — Don Krider, epinions.com
"Power pop pulses with Zep-like deliciousness ... astute lyrics, handsome harmonies, sturdy back beat and downright durable bass, too — all making for a well-balanced musical mea l... A delightful dinner of true passion one can get lost in" — Flipside
"Back in the mid-'90s there was a great, inconoclastic band called Spanish Kitchen (featuring Willie Aron, who co-founded The Balancing Act), which blended many cool and unusually styled influences. The band never released a CD, sadly, but ... has resurfaced with a name change and a more streamlined and classically styled pop sound ... big, yummy and chompy guitar hooks inside a wide palette of invention and billowy rhythms. Two massive Thumbs Up!" — Not Lame!
"Yes, I will confess: I just went and bought this band's album on iTunes after listening to their most awesome 4 sample songs on MySpace ... that is the first time I've done that, and much to my own surprise even, I've become walking proof that PopCurrent lets great media bubble up (and helps artists make money)." — markj, popcurrent.com
Formed in the waning days of the 20th Century, MysteryPop began life as Spanish Kitchen. The L.A. foursome was founded by singer Simon Glickman and guitarist Willie Aron, who met through an ad in the Recycler paper. Willie was a founding member of cult faves The Balancing Act, and had toured and recorded with Victoria Williams, Michael Penn, Syd Straw and many other singer-songwriters. Simon had a Ph.D in English and spent years of toiling in bands you've never heard of.
Bassist Miles Lally answered another ad, and-after the band auditioned what seemed like hundreds of drummers-eventually brought in old pal Perry Ostrin. Jamming ensued. The band described its sound as "mystery pop," which captured their love of melody and their signature sense of smoky atmosphere.
Spanish Kitchen played countless gigs around L.A., gradually falling in with the then-burgeoning "power-pop" scene. They opened for longtime heroes like X and Jonathan Richman. They pressed a 7" single (now a collector's item), which got exactly one spin on local public-radio station KCRW. They rented a rehearsal space. They appeared on compilation discs. They got $40 from club owners after playing at midnight on a Tuesday.
This is what it means to be a Los Angeles band.
Spanish Kitchen caught the attention of The Knack's Doug Fieger, who, along with Richard Bosworth, produced their album-mostly at the glorious House of Blues Studios.
Just as the project was being completed, Spanish Kitchen--tired of telling people they weren't a salsa band--became MysteryPop.
Though the band members have since moved on to other projects, Willie and Simon periodically reunite to perform their songs. In the meantime, the album remains as an artifact of a furiously creative period in L.A. music.
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nerd n.A person who is more interested in pursuing intellectual interests than in keeping up with trends in fashion. Since the Internet revolution, "nerd" has become a less pejorative term, and "computer nerd" is even used with admiration.
just listened to your stuff. it's, how do you say in english, fucking ace. well done. we're sending a big old english pat on the back to you. do you have stuff out that can be obtained via the use of money as a bargaining tool?
Formed in the waning days of the 20th Century, MysteryPop began life as Spanish Kitchen. The L.A. foursome was founded by singer Simon Glickman and guitarist Willie Aron, who met through an ad in the Recycler paper. Willie was a founding member of cult faves The Balancing Act, and had toured and recorded with Victoria Williams, Michael Penn, Syd Straw and many other singer-songwriters. Simon had a Ph.D in English and spent years of toiling in bands you've never heard of. 
Just as the project was being completed, Spanish Kitchen--tired of telling people they weren't a salsa band--became MysteryPop.
