The Misfit [Sky Blue LP]

When released in 2002, more than a few fans were worried that the group's charismatic frontman and ace songwriter was going to leave alt-country behind in favor of the pop stardom that seemed to be his for the asking. 20 years later, it's safe to assume that isn't going to be topping the charts anytime soon, and he seems to know it. 's 2018 solo LP found him dipping his toes into more experimental waters, conjuring a set of idiosyncratic smart pop with the help of producer and multi-instrumentalist , a former member of and . The result was one of 's most interesting solo releases to date, and he teamed up with again for 2022's . Since rarely works with the same people twice as a solo artist, this is a bit of a surprise, and in their return engagement, they build on the eccentricity of and deliver the most satisfyingly weird release of 's career. Steeped in electronic keyboards with 's voice gliding through clouds of echo and reverb, is a sterling exercise in off-kilter psychedelic-infused indie pop that manages to sound not a bit like the or the lion's share of 's solo work. Even the relatively straightforward numbers like "Beautiful Life" and "Let Me Go There with You" drip with atmosphere as 's melodies turn with the evocative tone of 's , and his willingness to explore the outer boundaries of 's music yields potent results on "Heart Attack Days" and his slightly bent homages to ("Go Through You") and ("Follow You Home"). Part of what makes this collaboration so rewarding is the strength of 's lyrics; he wrote the words to these tunes while penned the music, and instead of his usual tales of life as a lothario, deals with relationships with greater honesty and no small amount of introspection. Even if they're not presented with their usual clarity, his vocals are more than up to the challenge of this more mature material. is an album where has taken a whole bunch of chances, and nearly all of them pay off. Doubtless there are fans who will not know what to make of this music, but those who investigate with an open mind will be amply rewarded. ~ Mark Deming