Days of Our Nights

Founded by former members of alt-rock godhead bands the Feelies, Galaxie 500, and the Chills, Luna manages to fold the best elements of those bands into their own batter: the Feelies' crazy rhythms, Galaxie 500's roomy, rainy-day vibe, and the Chills' spaced-out jangle. Beside the best of Luna's oeuvre (Bewitched and Penthouse), The Days of Our Nights is a fairly innocuous affair, with Luna's trademark lilting tunes, ambling, melodic bass lines, and metronomic drums adding nothing to the conversation. That said, there is no denying that Dean Wareham has developed into a fantastic, quirky, and completely original guitarist; indeed, his guitar, at times blistering, at others whispering, supplies Days with its finest moments. Funny to think that Wareham, who is most infamous for his wry, witty, and sometimes bratty lyricism, turns out to be a guitar hero. On "Words Without Wrinkles" he lays a searing and heartfelt solo above a Sterling Morrisonesque rhythm shuffle and a whistling melody. On "The Rustler" he trades a wavery-delicate guitar run with a souring cello. At times he reminds one of Peter Frampton, whose expressive, conversational guitar lines are entirely underrated. However, The Days of Our Nights will probably be most remembered for its cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," and it really is an inspired cover, delving to the tender core of the song that Axl Rose's histrionics completely overshadowed. --Tod Nelson