Record Rack

A behind-the-scenes force since the early ‘90s as a producer (Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple), sideman and film scorer (“Magnolia”), he was signed to Lava Records. The company decided that the album he recorded, “Meaningless,” lacked commercial potential, and offered Brion the chance to leave the label with his record.

Five of those songs now appear on the first official Brion album, also titled “Meaningless,” which can be ordered from https://www.jonbrion.com or https://www.jonbriondirect.com.

With its witty, poetic ruminations on commitment-phobia and heartbreak and its cautious romantic optimism--not to mention a seven-minute-plus take on Cheap Trick’s “Voices”--”Meaningless” is certainly quirky and occasionally obscure.

But it’s hardly the work of a mere gifted gearhead with no mainstream appeal. Brion’s songwriting is shaped by many things, most obviously the refined vocal harmonies and crisp melodies of the Beach Boys and the Beatles. So, while sonically sophisticated, such densely crafted tunes as the title track and “Ruin My Day” express human emotions in an honest, poignant style that everyone can understand.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.