Re-release of rare 1993 record from Yo La Tengo member James McNew’s solo project. Wow does this sound “early 90’s”, when “lo fi” and unsigned “DIY” ruled the planet and when the term “indie rock” meant something: exactly that. When Guided By Voices and Helium spawned Hello Kitty backpacks and Death Cab for Cutie played air guitar in their bedroom mirrors to Pavement, dreaming. This is the soundtrack to BoTH Sunday bbq’s and great live music at the Kilowatt. Play if you like YLT, Neutral Milk Hotel, 18th Dye. Theres really nothing this guy can do wrong, makes you realize what a huge part he plays in the band (despite the husband wife team getting most of the attention). He’s kind of the George Harrison of YLT. Lots of covers and what are likely song ideas, drafts.

1) (3:14) low fi pop, off key singing, epitome of early 90’s diy simple guitar bass drums
2) (2:43) feedback noise with drums intro, launches into simple rock with sustained guitar chords
3) (3:43) jangly upbeat pop
4) (2:17) subdued
5) (4:15) this has “that sound” that makes YLT such a good band, but without the non-singing that usually accompanies it, nice!
6) (2:13) simple organ and guitar, very YLT
7) (1:36) simple song idea
8) (2:39) guitar+vocs, song idea, melodic and pretty
9) (5:14) slow drum machine, meander, pleasant
10) (2:08) simple, melodic with some fem backs
11) (2:15) simple and melodic guit+vocs
12) (4:44) beautiful noise in intro and then that soaring epic YLT strum, great!
13) (2:36) Johnny cash cover, sounds like one
14) (3:32) chill, droning keyboard, pretty
15) (2:45) noisy guitar, drums, dissonant, good and noisy
16) (2:11) melodic, jangly
17) (4:15) simple guitar chords, singing
18) (3:20) its got that synth sound and the tambourine’y drum beat, no/little bass but sweet 90’s indie
19) (3:40) no drums but guitar/voc harmonies betray this as a YLT song in the making, a hit
20) (5:27) another YLT feel with the organ, drum machine, nice
21) (4:15) quiet, simple organ and sparse perc. builds nicely
22) (5:31) no drums, chill feel but strummy