The Los Angeles Times
"There isn't a pop songwriter alive
who wouldn't like to have written the sweetly sorrowing, Everly-worthy
melody line of the ballad "Cries of Desperation or the high-spirited "Love
(A Misunderstood Thing)."
"Clevenger doesn't seem to have an
iota of anxiety about being influenced - he just dives in with innocent
enthusiasm, putting his gifted melodic ear and studio savvy to work. The
result is an album that can play alongside Lowe and Crenshaw's works and not
sound shabby."
"Clevenger's songs get you humming along
and moving to the beat. No matter how antiquarian in style, when pure pop is
done right, it's indeed for now people. And Clevenger does it right
without a mistep in this dozen-song boquet." - Mike Boehm
Overall Rating: 3 out of 4
Audities
"...Walter Clevenger [is] a force to be reckoned with in the pop music world."
"This is meat and potatoes pop/rock 'n' roll, which conveys a warmth without
ever being cloying or excessive."
"My favorite track is 'X-ray Eyes' which codifies every element that a pop
song should have....Definitely one of the best tracks of 1995."
"Record labels often search in vain for a purveyor of "that new sound",
but sometimes the new sound is right in front of their nose in the form
of something tried and true. Clevenger combines a youthful exuberance
and passion with a maturity of writing, and gleans just the right
elements from those he admires."
"Pop fans of all ages should pick up this album right away."
- David Bash
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
Goldmine
"Clevenger's voice is vaguely
similar to Nick Lowe's. If you can convince an unsuspecting Lowe fan into
believing that 'PoPgOeStHeMuSiC' is a new release by Basher himself, that
fan would probably
conclude that this is Lowe's best album since 'Pure Pop For Now People.'"
"...tracks like 'Love You Like A
King,' 'My Little Girl,' and 'I Wanna Know' are pure gems..."
"This needs a CD reissue and wider
release now. When this guy's a star, remember
where you heard about him first." - Carl Cafarelli
Amplifier
"[Clevenger's] lyrics are witty and
biting, as anyone who has been on the wrong end of a romantic crash can
attest. If you're despondent about love, this is the soundtrack for your
life, ant it will either pick up your spirits or hit you deep. Either way
it leaves a mark."
"Musically, Clevenger nails the pop
bulls-eye by wrapping up pathos in 3-minute nuggets. Most are 70's/90's
classic pop and some, like "Cries of Desperation," suggest folk and country-pop
influences like the Everly Brothers."- Bill Holmes
The Orange County Register
"There are a ton of things to
admire about Walter Clevenger's 14 song debut, but that the Costa Mesa
performer has so much fun and obviously loves his craft so completely
comes to mind immediately."
"...there are those electric gems
such as "Angels" and "Complicated" that just soar with ringing guitars,
infectious melodies and memorable choruses."
"Clevenger has clearly learned
from many of his influences - including everybody from the Beatles to
Johnny Cash - and fused it into a contemporary sound that will find fans
from the ranks of Generation Y, Generation X, and even baby boomers."
- Robert Kinsler
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5
The Garden Grove Journal
"Walter Clevenger hits a grand
slam the first time up at the plate with "PoPgOeStHeMuSiC" a wonderful
collection of hook-filled pop gems that owe a debt to such diverse
artists as Nick Lowe, the Rembrandts, Hank Williams, and even REO
Speedwagon."
"..."Angels" and "Love You Like a
King," are both A-1 rootsy rock tunes with just a tinge of country to
'em; they also sound like the two best tunes that Nick Lowe (circa
"Seconds of Pleasure") never wrote and are darn near impossible to get
outta your head after you've heard 'em a couple of times."
"...[there's] a whole mess of
impeccably played and sung pop-rock that would brighten any radio
station's playlist." - John Borack
Overall Rating: A
Pure Pop on WEBR
"When your feet and fingers start
tapping to the beat of a great song, the world is truly a wonderful place.
If the tapping starts when you're
listening to something for the first time, you're really got something
special. That's what happened to me when I first heard Walter Clevenger's
music -- lots of tapping. If the definition of a great pop song is a song
that has a killer chorus and ruins your weekend, then Walter's your guy.
Feet and fingers, you have been warned!" - Alan Haber
The Internet Music Review Service
"Walter Clevenger's debut release
is a serious foray into the world of sugary sweet pop. Once defined by
the likes of Nick Lowe (w/ Rockpile) and Marshall Crenshaw, this
no-frills release compares favorably to not only these veterans, but
relative newcomers such as Matthew Sweet and personal indie faves Strange
Bedfellows and Bee Stung Lips."
"...pop icons such as Lowe,
Crenshaw, and Elvis Costello; country classics Hank Williams and Johnny
Cash; and moldie oldies Badfinger and The Raspberries..can be found
sprinkled in the gems available in this neat package."
"Could be that Clevenger is the
long lost product of the musical marriage of Lowe and Carlene Carter, a
likeable mix of Brit pop splased with a side order of southern grits."
BAM
"The spitting image (vocally
at least) of Nick Lowe, Walter Clevenger isn't averse to nicking a lick
or two from the master theif himself - not that Nick would mind, though.
Clevenger's debut CD..."The Man With The X-ray Eyes" contains 12 witty
and big-hearted songs that shake and pop in the grand tradition of
vintage Rockpile" - Dan Epstein
"...The Dairy Kings are a band to
keep an eye on. The Kingsd Saturday's festivities with a mid-day
set at the Impala Cafe. Within minutes, this tight four-piece had the
hooks hooking. Quintessential power-pop!"
- Neil Weiss
Gajoob: The DiY Report
"A beautiful display of pop craft..."
"Reminicent of Rubber Soul-era Beatles with a modern shine..."
"I dare you not to sing along..."
Overall Rating: 9 out of 10
Demo Universe
"A glance at Walter's exhaustive list of influences (The Beatles, Nick Lowe,
The Pranks, Tom Petty, The Rembrandts, etc.) and instruments used (three
Rickenbackers, three Telecasters and a Silvertone bass, among many) will
fully prepare you for his twangy-jangly retro pop-rock. However, you'll
likely be surprised by how good this home recording sounds (Walter produced
it entirely on a Tascam 8-track in his bedroom) and consistent quality
of his tunes, any one of which could be slotted into theng credits
of "Friends" and make him an overnight millionaire." - Jim Santo
Fruitbasket Upset
"...don't overlook Walter
Clevenger's contribution [to the 'Closet Pop Freak'
compilation]...'Angels' is
a big slice of country-pop pie that sounds so much like Rockpile (with
Nick Lowe singing) that you may be able to fool your pop geek friends
into thinking it's an outtake from 'Seconds of Pleasure.'"
"...[At day 6 of Poptopia] the
Dairy Kings were top notch, and Nick Lowe anthems like 'Cruel To Be Kind'
and 'Marie Provost' were the first things that zapped into my head when I
heard Walter sing." - Jim Freek
Improvijazzation Nation
"Walter is a FULL-BLOWN D.I.Y.'er...Liner sez' it was recorded in his bedroom!
That 8-trak mo-chine may be somethin' WE'RE gonna' have ta' invest in.
All original songs, with some KICKIN' git-arz twangin' away!...It's hard
to believe Walter was able to get the recording this CLEAR. Sounds almost
LIVE! Pretty sure that a good part of that "authentic" sound is related
to the HEAVY energy Walter & palz put in to th' PLAYING! If yer'...a
country/folk fan...you'll like this!" - Rotcod