In The iPod: The Dream Syndicate, Dean and Britta, Thom Yorke

The Dream Syndicate “Days of Wine and Roses.” Dean Wareham mentioned this as a seminal and inspiration record in his memoir Black Postcards.  I can see why it has those Velvelt-esque guitars that Wareham also liked to use in his bands.  This band went onto form other cool splinter bands and releases like the solo Steve Wynn records, Mazzy Star, and Opal.  Back in the day when I was just getting into underground music I had their more roots rock inspired Out of the Gray and quite liked it, too bad I bought on cassette. Where is it now? Anyway, this record still sounds pretty cool and contemporary or rather timeless and classic. 

Dean & Britta “Back Numbers” Dean Wareham’s Luna spin off band with girlfriend/band mate Britta Phillips continues to churn out dreamy melancholic pop. Britta has a lovely singing voice that is  a good counterpoint to Wareham’s Lou Reed-like vocals. It’s no surprise that two of my favorite tracks are sung by Britta: “White Horses” and “You turn My Head Around.” But I also really like the Wareham sung “Crystal Blue.”  I think Wareham has yet to turn out a disappointing album, some are better than others, but he continues to make beautiful and smart pop songs.

Thom Yorke “The Eraser.”  It sounds a lot like a Radiohead record, but that’s not a bad thing at all.  It is sonically textured and dense with noise like those Radiohead records. I think my favorite track is “Black Swan.”

Comments

[Richard Minter]

FYI: Dean & Britta will reissue 2002's "L'Avventura" on Sept. 2, 2008.

[Mark]

Out of the Grey is way out of print. One of my first non-heavy metal albums was the DS's The Medicine Show, which I still listen to - great record. Fwiw, the other lp I bought with it was the Alarm's Declaration, which hasn't aged quite so well. Used $$ from selling Iron Maiden and Judas Priest records to buy those. Sigh.

[MC]

Richard, L'Avventura--great record.

Mark, I had Declaration and I would love to hear it, I might have to seek it out...fwiw, my first alternative tape was The Sex Pistols Anarchy in the UK on one side and The Smiths Meat Is Murder on the other made by a friend at Chuck E. Cheese.