Jay Reatard

Jay Reatard

Memphis' great white hope of garage rock, Jay Reatard has coughed out more singles than a broken soda machine. Sadly, the anticipation for his proper Matador debut has obviously taken its toll. Slower, colder, darker than 2006's thrilling Blood Visions and lacking much of its harsh urgency and gripping guitar hooks, Watch Me Fall strives for but never achieves a more classic and accessible sound. That's evinced most notably in the Spectorian flourishes of "Hang Them All," as well as the organ-assisted revision "I'm Watching You" and closing lament "There Is No Sun," the outcome comparable to that of the Clash's Give 'Em Enough Rope. Unlike most of his lo-fi contemporaries, Reatard makes it look easy most of the time, such as the one-two punch of "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" and "Before I Was Caught." Rest assured, he won't stay down for long.