Later.

Sometimes you find out about an artist late, in this case for me, too late.

I first heard Jay Reatard in December last year, and sadly four weeks later he was found dead.

By the time he died age 29 Jimmy Lee Lindsey Jr had already released 90 something records in different guises, from his solo stuff as Jay Reatard to his many bands. On his latest album he played every instrument, except drums and cello, he was clearly a talented and driven guy.

At his core, he was a furious punk rocker, and if that's what you want, that's what you'll get with his older stuff, but it's his final album "Watch Me Fall" that could have been the one to break him into the mainstream.

It still rocks but it is laced with melody much in the same way as the Pixies used to do, in fact if you're a fan of the Pixies you'll be annoyed if you haven't heard of Jay Reatard before now.

The single "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" is a perfect introduction to the album, not just because it's a bit of a surf punk romp, but also because it's accompanied by a quite wicked video featuring appropriately enough a whole bunch of wicked children. And a scary clown. But then they're all scary.

If Jimmy Lee wanted to go out on a high, this is it.

davey