Jay Reatard

Watch Me Fall (Matador)

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.

**

This article appears in September 11 • 2009.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US