Jay Reatard: Singles 06-07

iTunes Review

Groups of disgruntled white Memphis teens like the Mar-Keys, Jim Dickinson & his Cadillacs, and countless others produced amped-up approximations of clack R&B on lo-fi, quickly produced ‘45s long before Midwestern teens took to imitating their favorite British Invasion acts. Memphis’ fertile garage scene continues to flourish in the person of Jay Reatard, who has been cutting ragged, punk influenced R&B and primitive rock since his early teens. Though he emerged from the same scene that produced the country blues influenced Oblivions, Reatard’s songwriting had always displayed a barely disguised pop sensibility that owes as much to British influences like The Adverts and The Television Personalities as it does to Memphis’ storied garage rock past. Singles ’06-’07 is a bracing collection of garage punk full of distressed guitars, wildly pogoing base and roller rink organs that charms the listener at every turn with its sly, chanted choruses and exuberant delivery. It is every bit as good as Reatard’s widely praised Blood Visions and is an impressive testament to the talents of this prolific garage savant