I’m almost at the end of my queue of albums I added about a week ago, as this is one of the last couple of albums on my list. I don’t remember how this album came across my dashboard, but it seems like an interesting listen. The Peppermint Rainbow was a sunshine pop group from Baltimore, formed in 1967 under a different name. Though the group had a single charted at 32 on the U.S. hot 100, the album itself barely missed getting in at 106. The group split up the year after they released their album. There’s not a whole bunch else I can see about the band at a quick glance, so I’m going to go ahead and jump on into the music.
“Will You Be Staying After Sunday” definitely really fits that sunshine pop feel. The instrumentation and tone of the song is so bright and cheery. The song really keeps rolling along and never slows down at any turn. I really dig the way the horns are used in the song in combination with the strings to really create a pseudo-orchestral sound to the whole tune. There’s a whole lot of music packed into this song, and impressively so. I’m a big fan of the rolling feel of the drums. Really neat intro. Oh wow, there’s a stark change up in the song as it changes to a slower, sweet orchestral piece reminding me of a sunset as the song comes to a close.
“Pink Lemonade” drops right into the track and it’s got an almost mysterious tone to it, almost like a feeling of discovery. There’s a real sweetness to the strings in this one. The chimes in this one really add a really awesome little flourish to the song. I really dig the way the song sort of really comes together nicely for the little outro.
“And I’ll Be There” has almost a minor melodic feel to it, that could be because the song isn’t quite as bright as the opening track. This one is super sweet though, and really draws out some really nice notes. The vocal lines are perhaps the most soothing part of this song. I’m not sure what sort of keyboard I’m listening to, but it’s got a really mystic, enchanting feel to it. That bass really rocks this song super smoothly and easily. Nice track.
“Run Like the Devil” has a feeling almost like a downward spiral of sorts, like running from something almost. This song is really cool in approach; the horns really add a brightness to it, but the guitars and the drums and the strings sort of walk down a line that gives a little bit of a bluesy darkness to a still bright a cheery song. Oh wow, this piano really hits some super tasty notes. The way it fades out is super interesting. It almost feels like it’s somewhat veiled in a bit of psychedelia, but that could just be my perception of the era it’s from.
“Jamais” is a really smooth, sweet, slow ballad. The strings, piano, and horns really are playing such smooth, sweet notes. Oh wow, I think there’s a harp in this one, and it really adds to that smooth, sweet vibe. The lyrics and vocals have an almost melancholic optimism to them. I really dig how this track is mixed, you can hear different little parts echoed throughout the stereo soundscape.
“Don’t Wake Me up in the Morning, Michael” almost sounds like it’s going to be a little funk groove song at the very start, but it drops into a really interesting pop song with vague psychedelic tones to it. There’s almost a bluesy jam vibe underneath that is sort of overshadowed by that sunshine pop cheeriness. I’m really digging the way this song has progressed, really not slowing down at any point. Oh wow, that harp unexpectedly comes in at the outro and really keeps the song fresh up to the end.
“Walking in Different Circles” has a really neat little late 60s pop vibe. That bass guitar really keeps the song bopping up and down while the drums keep that forward movement feeling in the song. While that’s happening, the strings sort of feel like they’re causing the song to spin around in circles, and the cool layered vocals really persist that feeling even more.
“Sierra (Chasin’ My Dream)” has a super slow, kind of really neat bluesy feel to it that sort of evokes feelings of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys to a certain extent. I love the acoustic guitar playing that comes in and out – it’s extremely tasty when it comes through the mix. The harp really makes the whole thing feel like something like a waking dream. Oh wow, the outro to this song feels like I’m being swept through some dream stream with the combination of strings, acoustic guitar, and horns, while the drum beat is the only thing keeping this listening experience remotely grounded.
“Green Tambourine” has a sort of jangliness to it, and sounds super familiar, but I can’t quite place from where. There’s a bit of a raga feeling to the guitar in this one. I feel like this is a cover song, but I can’t say from where right now. Either way, the playing in this one is super tasty. The vocals have this really cool almost glitch-like effect to them that really gives the song a unique feeling. I really dig this raga-rock sort of feeling this song has to it, really neat.
“Rosemary” is a really sweet, dream-like orchestral piece in the album. I’m honestly really stoked on the range in the album so far. Oh wow, these lyrics really feel like they could be fro a song by The Beach Boys. Wow, I’m getting lost in the instrumentation from this song – it feels like Springtime is right around the corner. The piano really adds to the dream-like vibe, and the whole mix is really serene to listen to.
“I Found out I Was a Woman” starts out strong right from the get-go, and really builds to a very smooth, blissful sunshine pop song. Oh wow, that flute/whistle is really neat, and really evokes feelings of rushing through a forest or meadow. The song really feels like it’s bringing things to a conclusion as it starts to loosen up near the end, but really ties a nice little bow on the album.
That was a pretty fun listening experience honestly. It’s a shame the band didn’t get to see much commercial success or make much music while they were together, but this album is quite a pleasant experience. Anyone listening for an interesting and quite cheery album might find this album pleasing. This sunshine pop record is definitely a fun listen, and is barely over half an hour in duration. I enjoyed this listening experience, and hope that you enjoy it at least as much as me if you decide to give it a listen.