Dean Wareham
Nearly 30 years into a career that includes stints fronting beloved dream-pop outfits Galaxie 500 and Luna, Dean Wareham has finally released a solo album. The singer-guitarist's trademark slow, rhythmic chug and wry worldview are both here, as appealing as ever, and Jim James' warm production renders these songs the equivalent of cozy Danish modern furniture – all clean lines and earth tones. Wareham does a lot of looking back in his lyrics, and at times the vibe tips from languid grace to a torpid kind of melancholy. But even if Dean Wareham isn't quite the sound of an artist shaking loose, its consolidation of strengths is something to admire.