The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! – ‘If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky’ [Album Review]

If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky, the new album from New Jersey’s The Sensational Country Blues Wonders!, amalgamates varying amounts of classic country, blues, gospel, pop, and rock into a sound reminiscent of the ’60s psych-pop of Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Electric Prunes.

The project of Gary Van Miert, according to Van Miert, “The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! were designed to replicate the original instrumental lineup of acoustic rhythm guitar, electric lead guitar and upright acoustic bass used on the first rock n’ roll records recorded by Elvis Presley at Sun Studio in Memphis.”

Van Miert and his band have performed throughout New York City and New Jersey, including Project Greenville, Riverview Farmers Market, Live at The Lumberyard, Hamilton Park BBQ Festival, Groove on Grove, Liberty State Park Summerfest Concert Series, and JC Fridays.

The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! have shared the stage with Marshall Crenshaw and The Smithereens (at the Hoboken Arts & Music Festival) while also opening for Evan Dando (of Lemonheads fame).

Featuring ten tracks, If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky begins with “We Are Made of Stardust,” a cosmic-Americana-folk-rock tune flowing on wowing guitars, riding a straight ahead 4/4 beat as Van Miert’s twangy vocals imbue the lyrics with tight, dreamy timbres.

With its slow, rolling, sing-song-like melody, “Why Did I Eat The Whole Bag of Mushrooms?” conveys the feeling of tripping out. In reference to the song, Van Miert says, “A cautionary tale. It was inspired by Billy Wilder’s great film The Lost Weekend and my tendency to overdo things.”

Gary Van Miert, photo by Barbara Beeman

“Golden Teacher” adds psych-pop flavours into the mix. A zonked-out organ gives the tune a wavering, drifting, gliding flow. “I Rode The Bus With Joey Ramone” delivers an upbeat, SoCal country-flavoured melody tinted with kaleidoscopic colours.

A personal favourite because of its delicious country-rock intro, “Magic Glasses” ebbs and rises on glistening layers of lysergic textures. The closing track, “Sky Songs,” conjures up Leon Russell dropping acid and then joining Ravi Shankar to cover Quicksilver Messenger Service.

Draped in a luscious, psych-pop haze, If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky transports listeners back to the hallucinogenic ’60s.

If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky Track Listing:

1. We Are Made of Stardust
2. Why Did I Eat the Whole Bag of Mushrooms?
3. If I Stop Moving, I’ll Fall From the Sky
4. Golden Teacher
5. Head in the Clouds
6. I Rode the Bus With Joey Ramone
7. One More Cup of Mushroom Tea
8. Magic Glasses
9. Gravity
10. Sky Songs

Run Time: 34:05
Release Date: October 25, 2024
Record Label: Independent