Mike Shupp - October Sun (1997)

Here is the debut solo album from Mike Shupp titled 'October Sun' which was issued on Private Mind Records in early 1997. For any of you that are not familiar with this artist, below is some background information and a bunch of short review blurbs for this particular release -
Washington, D.C. based Mike Shupp writes American guitar pop songs in the way that Matthew Sweet, Tommy Keene, R.E.M., or Paul Westerberg do. Like those artists, his songs conjure the heartland, cruising through summer nights with one hand on the wheel, and the unlimited potential in tomorrow. With his buzzing and crunching guitars, soaring vocal harmonies, and hooks that he seemingly has written into every other line of every song. Shupp, formerly signed to Paradox/MCA Records as guitarist with D.C.'s Big Bang Theory (the name was later shortened to "Bang Theory") lives outside of Washington, D.C. in Fairfax, Virginia. "October Sun" was the debut solo release from Shupp, receiving radio play on 43 stations nationally, and charting at three CMJ reporting stations. Shupp was mentioned in SPIN Magazine as one of SPIN's Best Unsigned Band contest winners. While playing with the world beat/dance/pop Big Bang Theory, and providing the cutting guitar presence which eventually helped the group land deals with EMI Publishing and Paradox/MCA, Shupp was writing some of the first songs which would eventually become 'October Sun', and help to define his own, more melodic sound. Recording the Big Bang Theory major label debut with three-time Grammy winning producer Glenn Rosenstein (Talking Heads, Ziggy Marley, Grey Eye Glances), he crafted the guitar sound which gave BBT its edge. For 2000's 'The Key', his second full-length CD release, Shupp worked with producer Jeff Murphy in Murphy's Short Order Recorder studio in Zion, Illinois, outside of Chicago. Murphy was a member of the legendary, power-pop band The Shoes, and producer for Material Issue (including "Valerie Loves Me"), Local H, Tommy Keene. Shupp again played all instruments on 'The Key' except drums, played by Chris Zogby. The Jan-Feb 2003 issue of Amplifier Magazine printed "[Shupp] has just released his third solo album, 'This Time', and it's a killer... a must-have." All Music Guide writes "This album is teeming with catchy melodies and sweet pop/rock arrangements... Fans of the Replacements 'All Shook Down' album should find comfort in much of the record... extremely well done..." Shupp (pronounced shoop) plays all instruments on 'This Time' except drums, and laid down the tracks in his home studio during July and August of 2002 (with a harmony vocal assist on "She'll Come Around" from brother Bill Shupp). After tracking drums at Mike Harvey's Actiondale Recorder (performed by Chris Zogby), Shupp packed up the studio and traveled to Nickel & Dime in Atlanta, setting up there to add a few finishing touches, while McCollister simultaneously mixed tracks in the main control room.