Jay Reatard, 'Singles 2006–2007' (In the Red)
Ragingly tuneful obscurities from buzzy young Tennessee scamp.
By Mikael Wood 07.14.08 12:37 PM
This insanely prolific Memphis garage punk recently signed to Matador, which is in the midst of a plan to release a half-dozen new seven-inches before the end of the year. Singles 2006–2007 collects 17 earlier, scruffy sides recorded for a bunch of smaller indies like Goner and Squoodge. There's no getting around the music's self-conscious sloppiness, but don't let the aluminum-foil guitars fool you. Reatard is one of the craftiest tunesmiths working in the indie scene -- "All Over Again" could be a lost Motown hit.







