Americana music was/is always about combining something that is part roots, part something else. No matter what that ‘else’ is.
Bringing in pop along the way was always an option, even from the earliest days of the genre, when it even didn’t go under that name (Gene Clark/The Byrds), up until the current time (Wilco, for one).
Seneko, or Stan Olshefski to his close family and friends, certainly holds on to that concept on ’69 Camaro, his latest EP.
As he puts it, “I really wanted to make something fresh and have always wanted to do a guitar-driven Rock record – So I did.”
Oh, yes he did, and he actually did it really well! Seneko certainly brings in the rock side of Americana as in Wilco and The Jayhawks, but gives it an additional touch of harmony/power pop, with the likes of Scottish masters Teenage Fan Club and (loud) power-pop expert Mathew Sweet clearly coming to mind. Oh and don’t forget Neil Young, as evidenced on “For Her Love” here.
To be good at such a combination you really have to have a knack for a good melody and have the elements of the genres you are combining in your little finger(s), and Seneko certainly does.
Yet, as is always the case with excellent EPs there’s one problem – they’re too short. Would kindly ask Mr. Seneko for more, please.
