Columbia Tribune

1.3.08

Fan Affair

By Mary T. Nguyen

After hitting the Top 10 in the early ’90s with snappy singles from its 1993 "Sweetly Single" record, the group became known for its easy, laidback rock ’n’ roll sound. But with the band’s latest release, "All the Love You Need," Todd Park Mohr - the big head - wanted to capture the emotional spirit of punk rock.

"There’s a punk-rock element," Mohr said in a released statement. "It isn’t so much the angst of anger of it, but a rhythmic aggressiveness."

The heartfelt, punk-rock ballads come from songwriter Mohr’s place in life. The song "Spanish Highway" was written while Mohr was mourning the death of his mother but was also inspired by his love for Spanish art and literature, his muse for storytelling. "It’s about life’s departures," Mohr said. "The plane has flown off, and you’re left standing there alone."

In the song, he sings, "Spanish highway / driving back to what belongs to you / longs for you." Although he’s singing about loss, he could just as easily be talking about returning to the studio for "All the Love You Need," the band’s second independent release since 2001, when it decided to forgo its label.

"If it were not for our ability to do things for ourselves, we would have disappeared a long time ago," Mohr said. "We love playing music for people, and we don’t need a record company standing between us and the fans. We got rid of the middleman, and we’re still here."

With more than a decade of playing together as a band, Mohr said it is sometimes surprising that the three original members remain together since starting the band as high school students. But the magic is still there, he said. He continues to be excited about discovering new sounds and creating new music with them - and doesn’t see an end in sight.

"I think ‘All the Love You Need’ is the best record we’ve ever done," Mohr said. "I’m enjoying being a performer and a songwriter more than I ever have, and I think that’s the payoff for making new music, discovering something fresh and interesting and, ultimately, worthy of our fans."