MJ Lenderman: Live And Loose! Vinyl (2LP, 45rpm)

Why you'll love it

A 2LP live set cut at 45rpm, recorded at Lincoln Hall in Chicago and the Lodge Room in Los Angeles on the Manning Fireworks tour. Metacritic has it at 82, and it closes on a loose, lovely "Long Black Veil."

This edition

2LP set, cut at 45rpm
Recorded live at Lincoln Hall, Chicago, and the Lodge Room, Los Angeles
Fifteen songs over four sides
ANTI- pressing (cat# 88052-1)

About the album

MJ Lenderman spent the last few years becoming one of the most loved songwriters in indie rock, first as a guitarist in Wednesday and then with Boat Songs and Manning Fireworks, records full of sad-funny lines about basketball, cartoons, cars and men who have lost the plot. His band, The Wind, is the reason the songs hit so hard live: a loose, rumbling, slightly ragged outfit that sounds like Crazy Horse after a long drive and a couple of beers. This set captures them at full stretch on the tour that made them a must-see.

"Hangover Game" and "You Have Bought Yourself a Boat" open things in a happy shambles, "Rudolph" and "Toontown" get the crowd singing, and "Dan Marino" and "TLC Cagematch" stretch out into long guitar workouts. "Tastes Just Like It Costs" and "You Are Every Girl to Me" bring it home before the closing cover of "Long Black Veil." It feels less like a live album and more like being in the room, sticky floor included. Cutting it at 45rpm gives the guitars all the space they need, which is just as well, because they take a lot of it.