The Lemonheads – It’s a Shame About Ray (30th Anniversary Edition)

In the long-ago time of 1992, when alternative music was surprisingly blossoming everywhere (even MTV), one of the most wonderful blossoms was The Lemonheads’ 'It’s a Shame About Ray'....
The Lemonheads : It's a Shame About Ray (30th Anniversary Edition)
8.2 Fire
2022 
The Lemonheads : It's a Shame About Ray (30th Anniversary Edition)

In the long-ago time of 1992, when alternative music was surprisingly blossoming everywhere (even MTV), one of the most wonderful blossoms was The Lemonheads’ It’s a Shame About Ray. Unlike the Seattle grunge of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, or Soundgarden, Evan Dando’s band (including Juliana Hatfield on bass and David Ryan on drums) delivered catchy alt-pop that had a massive well of emotion. Even tiny songs could pack a hell of a punch. Now comes its thirtieth anniversary edition, with b-sides, acoustic sessions, and demos.

First things obviously first: the original It’s a Shame About Ray is still excellent, from “Rockin Stroll” opener to “Frank Mills” close – not to mention the famous bonus addition cover of Paul Simon’s “Mrs. Robinson”, which at the time was such a hit on its own that it was added to the album (and is included here). The title track & “My Drug Buddy” still have all their power, while “Bit Part”, “Kitchen”, and “Ceiling Fan In My Spoon” have their wry humor. “Alison’s” still “Starting To Happen”, and you’ll still have “Frank Mills” stuck in your head.

The sixteen bonus tracks include nine demos, three acoustic pieces (one non-album, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”), a hushed KCRW session of “My Drug Buddy”, and two b-sides, “Shaky Ground” and “Divan”. “Shaky” is more touching Dando relationship intimacy, while “Divan” leans almost country in its wry strum. The demos are definitely demos, lo-fi and mostly just Dando on acoustic guitar, but give a window into making the record way back when.

If you’re looking at the 30th anniversary edition of It’s a Shame About Ray, you probably already have the original in some form or another, and like most any deluxe edition, it’s not essential, but is a lovely anniversary of a lovely record that you love.

Categories
Album Reviews
Album of the Week