“Impromptu studio gatherings” of all-star cast including PJ Harvey, Dean Ween, Twiggy Ramirez, et al organized by Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) out in Joshua Tree. In fact, there is so much PJ Harvey up front fans of her should take note (this could almost be filed under “H”). A lot of this has a “smart pop” feel to it without any icky gloss. Not exactly lo-fi but certainly organic and real feeling. Other parts genuinely rock out, with a blast. Really great stuff, on Mike Patton’s Ipecac label.

1) mid dark pop with tinge of old garage
2) smart beatle’esque pop, funky, chill
3) wild rockin out instrumental
4) PJ Harvey wailing on vocs, dark drainage tunnel reverby, simple acoustic guit accompaniment
5) nice slight surfy rockin feel with PJ on sexed up vocs, dirty bass, yeah
6) brief simple voc + acous guit ditty
7) soaring PJ vocs, simple tribal beat, layers of sounds
8) smart pop returns, “hit” quality chorus hook
9) cool guits, dark pensive pop
10) upbeat, cool dark fuzzy PJ Harvey vocs
11) upbeat twangy swingy guit instrumental
12) fuzz bass, heavy funk rock beat, ore catchy, hooky pop’isms amidst cool noise guit jam
13) slow waltz, simple pop turns heavy and epic
14) soul/gospel spoof front porch “sheppards pie”