Red House Painters

Red House Painters' fifth LP was their first on a major label, but it nevertheless holds a cherished place in the canon of '90s indies. Even though singer/songwriter Mark Kozelek was the only remaining original member, tunes that are alternately gentle ("Have You Forgotten") and driven with distorted guitars ("Make Like Paper") demonstrate that he's the band's heart and soul. Moreover, his eccentric taste for covers, which include numbers from Yes and solo McCartney, prove just how far he had strayed from the '90s alternative convention.

Covers of Paul McCartney's "Silly Love Songs" and Yes' "Long Distance Runaround"; a title
that nods to the poet Wallace Stevens; a chord progression nicked from Led Zeppelin's
"Bron-Yr-Aur"; lyrics that coolly recall, "I felt nervous when you shook and cried" – you
know, some albums just don't lend themselves to casual summary. But then Red House
Painters have never been easy to categorize. On Songs for a Blue Guitar, the Pai... More >