Matador
You can’t argue with a good hook. Jay Reatard’s been praised for his electric energy punk rock intensity and ADD-ish prolificacy but what really makes his latest singles collection work is his knack for loading as many hooks into his songs as The Ramones at their best.
As the album title implies Matador Singles ’08 consists of the songs Reatard released as limited-edition singles in the first two-thirds of this year — the second such collection he’s put out since his 2006 full-length solo debut. While this does mean the album doesn’t have the sort of care put into the sequencing that a typical full-length would this is hardly a problem. Reatard’s songs may bounce from synth-punk to frenzied acoustic pop but the differences are admittedly subtle. The one exception: the Deerhunter cover “Fluorescent Grey” in addition to being over twice as long as the average tune here places too much emphasis on a mildly atmospheric refrain to sustain interest over its nearly five-minute run-time.
Still when Reatard’s on he’s on — and that’s the majority of the album. “Always Wanting More” a just over two minute put-down to a “useless bore” is all Buzzcocks brashness and snotty smarm. It’s followed by the equally derisive “I Care Nothing for You” a Nuggets -like garage rocker with an undeniable keyboard hook.
Reatard waits for the album’s closing trifecta to reveal its punchline. Up until then the songs are essentially variations on an admittedly excellent formula — “See/Saw” is a little grungier “Dead on Arrival” a little more shriek-laden but they all come from the same place. With “No Time” “You Were Sleeping” and “I’m Watching You” Reatard is finally interested in something beyond merely rocking out. Pulling out an acoustic guitar and slowing down the tempo may be an easy shorthand for maturity but considering Reatard still includes lines like “To me you see you always were a cunt” it’s fair to say he’s maturing on his own terms.
