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May 28, 2026 Issue #75 - The ’90s Issue Part 2 Featuring Pulp and Suede By Mark Moody

There may be a touch of irony in the title of Greg Mendez’s new album, but beauty no doubt abounds in all corners of it. Without Mendez’s surefire melodic touch, his hangdog tales might run towards the maudlin. But in his world all things come matter of factly and are worth supplementing with a hook filled, high falsetto chorus. “So mean, but it makes no difference,” Mendez croons as drums kick in on the hymn like “So Mean.” On the opening, “I Want to Feel Pretty,” Mendez counts things down and launches into an upbeat acoustic tune wherein the protagonist relays, “I got robbed as I walked through the streets at a quarter ’til three.”

As with all of Mendez’s work, there’s an element of “there but for the grace of God, go I” bystander syndrome at play. For those that have had a more sheltered life, a recounting of relapses, trips to rehab, muggings in the street, or kicking “bad friends” to the curb may come as lyrical shocks. But all are wrapped in pretty, sing-a-long packages that serve to make them easily digestible. The album flies by with tracks that feel like scraps or outtakes, but then hits you over the head with fully formed gorgeous moments like “So Mean,” “Serving Drinks,” or “Looking Out Your Window.”

Mendez’s ability to string you along through these songs, snippets, and grimacingly honest tales makes him a uniquely American treasure. And sometimes he pulls off all these things simultaneously, like on the hodge-podge of “Mary / Dreaming.” A missed visit to see an ailing aunt that’s brushed off with a simple, “I forgot,” stops mid-song only to culminate in a fully flowering Beach Boys inspired refrain where Aunt Mary is suddenly pain- and struggle-free. And possibly no longer with us. Whether truth or imagined, it’s a forgiving outcome that absolves what came before. Neatly letting the storyteller off the hook as well. Another winner from Mendez, with plenty of what seem simple paths that run much deeper. (www.gregmendez.net)

Author rating: 8/10