sean o’brien & his dirty hands

goodbye game

            (First Cold Press)

Having dug (in issue 59) O’Brien’s last LP, 2006’s Seed of Mayhem, it’s good to see he’s back for more full-band flavor (his debut solo LP, Too Personal, was acoustic), now with strong, permanent players. The 25-year vet and former member of Paisley Underground stalwarts True West again has ex-original Leaving Trains bassist Tom Hofer guest, along with cameos from that group’s original keyboardist  Sylvia Juncosa, The Sneetches’ Chris von Sneidern, and others. But it’s the Bay-area singer/songwriter calling the tune again, and he and his Hands recall everything I liked about the above and albums such as the immortal Warfrat Tales compilation. It’s a spot where jangle-pop, ‘60s garage-pop, and soft-psych collide, a la Gun Club, X, Pontiac Brothers, and The Black Watch, with a few country-ish ballads and other curveballs tossed in. Nicely done, again. (myspace.com/seanobrienandhisdirtyhands)

Thanks to Jack Rabid!