(Atlantic)
When it became clear that beatific pop beast Evan Dando would probably not become another rock casulty (at least not before handing in another proper album), the news set off a spike on the intrigue meter. You had to wonder how much his well-reported excesses in the wake of decent airplay had affected his output. Then there was all that tambourine wagging during his entourage status in the wings of the Gallagher Britpop circus over the last year to up the curiosity factor. But like a more durable version of Gram Parsons, Evan has survived all of this and knocked out a solid, if not slightly skewed collection of new material.
What seems to shine through Car Button Cloth is more Dando's appreciation for a wide range of pop flavours than his ability or current willingness to project any sort of unified vision. But this may be one of the few non-positive issues you can take with this release overall. With one or two commercially viable pop entries logged here for career continuity (and because he probably just can't help it), the album careens off in directions as theologically disparate as cheesy western send-ups and psuedo-garish rock poses.
What that probably says about Dando, is for all of The Lemonheads' college/indie roots, he always maintain an affinity for hooks and wound up, unmannered guitars no matter how they manifest themselves. So for much of Car Button Cloth, Evan appears less of a wistful Gen-X crooner than a well rounded muso that has the divine sense to work up engaging tunes and letting them flourish without being overly kneaded by their progenitor.
For proof, there's the spot on single "If I Could Talk I'd Tell You" co-masterminded with Eugenius focal point Euguene Kelly. Well honed Lemon-regular Tom Morgan contributes the serio-comic "The Outdoor Type," and ex-Dinosaur Jr. drummer Murph helps to propels numbers like "Something Missing" and "One More Time." Yes, "6ix" is apparently about some well placed clothes hanger in the fashion world that Evan shamelessly references, but it's essentially useless to ponder. More entertaining contemplations can probably be had by trying to place the retro keyboard lines in "C'mon Daddy".
True to form and mussed around the edges, Car Button Cloth may not quite satisfy as many Mrs. Robinsons as he has in the past, but it is yet another Evan dandy.
