Ciao My Shining Star

iTunes Review

Mark Mulcahy is not a household name. He was the leader of the alternative rock band Miracle Legion and Polaris as well as the house band for the mid-‘90s TV series The Adventures of Pete & Pete. Mulcahy’s wife died suddenly, leaving him with two daughters to raise and this tribute album was assembled to contribute funds. As you can see, Mulcahy had the respect of his more famous peers. Thom Yorke of Radiohead begins things with the naked and stirring “All for the Best.” Michael Stipe of R.E.M. offers up a dense musical wall for “Everything’s Coming Undone.” Dinosaur Jr. slows down “The Backyard” into a trudging ballad. Frank Black pounds out a near Bo Diddley beat for the electro-distorto version of “Bill Jocko.” But this expansive set also features some fine lesser-known talent who find the beauty in Mulcahy’s songwriting gift. David Berkeley brings horns and a gentle demeanor to “Love’s the Only Thing That Shuts Me Up.” Chris Harford and the Band of Changes add their illuminating harmonies to “Micon the Icon.”