Major Stars-Mirror/Messenger (2007)


 

Artist: Major Stars

Title: Mirror/Messenger

Label: Drag City

Format: CD

Catalog Number: DC355CD

Year of Release: 2007

Country and Year of Edition: US 2007

Sell Price: $4.08

Sell Date: 6/2/26

Condition: VG+VG+ 

Discogs Last Sold: 3/29/26 NM/NM $3.95

Low: $2.00

Median: $4.60

Average: $4.58

High: $13.00 M/M

Current low price: $3.95 G/NM

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 17

Have/Want: 69/17

Where Sold: Las Vegas, NV

Time It Took To Sell:  16 years

Where and When Bought: new Sounds on St Marks NYC

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B

Sad To See It Go: No

Mirror/Messenger marks a period for Major Stars where they began incorporating various female vocalists to replace the great laconic vocals of Wayne Rogers.  Wayne simply did guitar and Sandra Barrett did vocals on this one.  I had no idea Tim Shea of Black Helicopter/Green Magnet School engineered this album until I glanced at the credits 5 minutes ago.  When this came out, I bought it brand new and have zero recollection of ever playing it.  To the point I didn't realize there was a new vocalist.  I could have sworn I saw Major Stars within the last 5 years or so and Wayne sang.  So much confusion and they have had a couple more vocalists in this "new album" that is now 19 years old.  Lifer is as lifer does.

Anyway, getting used to Sandra's vocals required a few listens, but now I like them fine.  Somebody wrote that they were "too rock" but I don't know what they are talking about.  There's a bit of atonal blair like if you got a waitress  you liked to suddenly sing for your established band.  Then she gets, if not good, immersed into competence and better.  Sandra actually had established herself with a band LA Drugs on Wayne's Twisted Village label for an album in 2003.  So in reality she was seasoned family.  She was still with the band on 2010's Return To Form but was replaced for 2012's Decibels of Gratitude with Hayley Thompson-King.

As far as rippin psychedelic guitar soloing and modern aesthetic amp to tens, the music does what it does.  The more I hear this one, the more I like it even though it took a couple decades to get around to listening to it with any focus.  The title track sounds like it's nicking the Minor Threat breakdown in "In My Eyes" before it collapses with outro noodling.

Seriously!

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