JAY REATARD - Watch Me Fall LP

Highlest recommendation.

Shying away from the lo-fi garage punk that dominated Blood Visions, Jay Reatard still maintains his status as something of a pop savant. Watch Me Fall, while not as potent as his previous efforts, is still a worthy addition to the Jay Reatard collection.

The production immediately sticks out; it sounds like he has a budget to work with this time around. The sound quality is pristine, allowing Jay's unconventional sense of melody to take the spotlight. However, what is found beyond the spotlight is what holds this album together. Layered synthesizer lead lines and echo drenched guitar solos hiding behind the vocal-dominated mix add extra depth to the songs, rewarding the listener with repeat listens.

Instrumentally, these production subtleties add a lot to the experience of Watch Me Fall. Unfortunately, such subtlety also bleeds into the songwriting. Beyond the lead-off of It Ain't Gonna Save Me, the hooks do not come with the force or urgency as they did in Blood Visions or the singles compilations. Thankfully, this slow-building aspect of the collection is not a complete. There Is No Sun, the album's closer, is a lush, Phil Spector-lite endeavor that stands up with the best he has ever written.