Review of Baby I'm Bored by Gil De Rubio
From Long Island Press 2003
Seven years after releasing the last Lemonheads album and floating off to England amid rumors of rampant drug use and illicit behavior, neo-grunge teen idol Evan Dando emerges with his full-length studio debut (following 2001's Live at the Brattle Theatre/Griffith Sunset). Dando wisely landed plenty of talented friends on board, in particular, über-popsmith Jon Brion. Highlights include the Byrdsy jangle of "It Looks Like You," the twee-tinged "Stop My Head" and Beatlesque sweep of "Repeat." Members of Giant Sand also lend their skills, whether it's drummer John Convertino and acoustic bassist Joey Burns adding a light touch to the ethereal, Ben Lee-penned "Hard Drive" or Howe Gelb joining his bandmates and Dando to give "In the Grass All Wine Colored" a twangy edge. Not all the collaborations work, in particular "Waking Up," a Mott-like mess of sparse piano, handclaps and a caterwauling Royston Langdon (former Spacehog frontman/current Mr. Liv Tyler) sounding like a cat in heat being administered a colonic. Bored is a welcome return from a frustratingly self-destructive talent.