Jason Loewenstein (Lou Barlow's longtime cohort in Sebadoh) just released a solo record on Sub Pop called "At Sixes and Sevens", and I picked it up a few days ago on a whim. When Sebadoh hit their stride (circa 'Bakesale' for me), his songs were the ones that stuck with me. 'Drama Mine', 'S. Soup', 'Careful'... catchy, hook-laden, slightly-skewed rock numbers all. I hadn't heard anything about this new disc, but I had 'Drama Mine' stuck in my head last week, so the timing was right. All I hoped for was a sliver of what he once contributed to the 'Doh...

And I'm just plain floored. This album grabbed me from the first few notes, and hasn't let go. Solid all the way through, hardly a throw-away song in the bunch. Sure, there's the jokey, messed-up Santana-ish number (titled, of course, 'Crazy Santana'), and a goofy but fun metal-ish track (called, uh, 'Metal'), but they don't take away from the rest one bit, which is just all-out rockin'. 'Funerals', 'Codes', and 'Upstate' are stand-outs, surpassing his best Sebadoh stuff, with excellent at-home production and ace lyrics ("I killed my suit. I burned my tie. I hope you stay alive, because I don't do funerals!"). This is a full band record made by one exceptionally-talented musician. Welcome to my top five of 2002, Mr. Loewenstein.

For an mp3 of 'Cassarole', the second track from the cd, click here.