Of all the under-the-radar musicians I've tried to pay a little respect to on this site -- bands like Wired All Wrong, theSTART and Abandoned Pools, and artists like Jonatha Brooke -- these guys stand out for me.
Suddenly, Tammy! came out of that hotbed of alternative music, Lancaster, Pennsylvania -- an area whose major claim to fame is that it's to the Amish what Hollywood is to Scientology. They were a Ben Foldsish three-piece that eschewed guitar for piano and played music that sounded like I'd imagined the Peanuts gang would sound had they grown up and put together a band. Fronted by the reedy voice and talented keyboard work of Beth Sorrentino (whose brother Jay played drums), Suddenly, Tammy! were masters of the kind of spare, cinematic pop that always brought to mind elementary school recess on a winter's day somewhere, whether it was spent playing in the snow with friends or off by yourself contemplating what it all means.
They were only on the indie scene for a few years in the early to mid-90s, but if you happen to own a copy of Suddenly, Tammy!'s second album, 1995's We Get There When We Do, you've honestly got yourself a rare musical gem that's worth holding on to and appreciating.
From that album, here's Hard Lesson.
(By the way, Beth Sorrentino is still making some beautiful piano and vocal music on her own. Track her down on iTunes -- you won't be disappointed.)
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