The Baseball Project - Voume 1: Frozen Ropes And Dying Quails

Take four of my favourite musicians — Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows, The Minus 5), Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball), Peter Buck (R.E.M.) and Linda Pitmon (a great drummer who I've twice been accused of flirting with despite the close proximity of her boyfriend, Wynn) — and have them make an entire album of baseball-related songs, and I'll admit that it would be almost impossible for me to give it a bad review. Luckily, they hit a triple with it. Perhaps the crossover audience of alternative pop fans and baseball history nuts isn't large, but those of us who fit in both categories have no argument with the call. You'll hear tales of legendary players, forgotten former heroes and how the state of the game has changed — all done with insight and respect, but also a sense of fun. And the music provided by the above-mentioned quartet is as sharp, melodic and clever as their track records would lead you to expect. Volume 2 can't get here soon enough.