If I Stop Moving, I'll Fall From the Sky (Self-released, 2024)

The Sensational Country Blues Wonders! is the moniker for singer-songwriter Gary Van Miert of Jersey City, N.J. His third release goes even further in the psychedelic direction than his 2022 "The Adventures of a Psychedelic Cowboy." These songs straddle outright humor and the corny, overdone. In any case, Van Miert is having fun with the zany material that's based on such long forgotten bands from the '60s AM radio days such as Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Electric Prunes. True to his style, he is very much again in the throwback, oft comical mode. His nasally vocals are certainly not the draw, It's his vivid imagination and clever wordplay, which is actually more predictable here than on his debut.

Even the title will likely have you pausing for a second take. Van Miert says the songs are about the sky, the universe and altered states of consciousness, especially mushrooms. As is customary, he utilizes skilled session musicians at Nashville Master Tracks so the album cover bears no credits. Two singles have already dropped: "Why Did I Eat The Whole Bag of Mushrooms" and the title track. The former evoked out loud laughter, recalling high school and college days in the'60s.

Although Van Miert's major influence is Elvis, there's little of the blues/gospel side of Elivis here where Van Miert displays such wide ranging influences or name dropping from William Blake ("We Are Made of Stardust') to Billy Wilder (""Why Did I Eat The Whole Bag of Mushrooms") to Joey Ramone ("I Rode the Bus With Joey Ramone') to Donovan ("One More Cup of Mushroom Tea") to Brian Wilson ("Gravity") to bluesman Bukka White ("Sky Songs").

"Golden Teacher" is about a specific strain of the psychedelic mushroom. Even his tune "Magic Glasses" could be a metaphor for plant medicine. Maybe we should just distill the material into one major theme - being high, either literally, figuratively or in a dream state.

Van Miert is without a doubt, a singular artist depite the plurality in his moniker.