At our best we sometimes find ourselves and our opposite joined, at eternal odds, in stalemated singularity. Our most solid completeness and best art often comes from this constant and synchronous pulling in all directions from our inner most core. This sort of inspirational dichotomy is apparent in the local Popaholic Recording Artist, and one-man band known as Jonathan McLeran. His first solo release, "The Romance of Plants" is an instant infection of the 60's psych-pop harmony of "Pet Sounds" era Beach Boys and The Byrds juxtaposed against the modern indie-pop melody and hip fluidic sensibility of Pavement. The "Romance of Plants" at its surface is immediately catchy and hook driven with the pop mastery and tongue and cheek lighthearted lyric wit of Beck, Sebadoh, and Of Montreal. McLeran's whimsical wordplay keeps your attention without distracting from the music. He matches up well against national contemporary Sub-Pop (circa 1992) and K Records indie influences, but refuses to get lost in the pretension and narcissism that is often all too apparent in indie music. His rhythmic prose stylings will have you humming some riff of wistful wit long after the disc is done. In some fit of compulsion, all your co-workers will no doubt go insane wondering why you keep humming the same damn infectious verse. Irresistible you'll fix on the harmony in your head.

Herman Snell
Jackson Free Press