Artist: The Baseball Project
Title: Grand Salami Time! (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: R.E.M., The Dream Syndicate, The Minus 5, Major League Baseball history
Tell me more: The Baseball Project is back with Grand Salami Time!, the aptly-titled supergroup's fourth album. Guitarist Peter Buck (R.E.M.), singer-guitarist-keyboardist Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5), bassist-vocalist Mike Mills (R.E.M.), drummer Linda Pitmon (the Filthy Friends) and guitarist-vocalist Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate) have delivered a fun-filled batch of great songs focused on baseball-related heroes and historical moments from America's pastime.
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Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Mike Mills, Scott McCaughey, Linda Pitmon,
Peter Buck, Steve Wynn / Photo credit: Marty Perez |
My favorite early tracks on the wonderful disc include the wistful "Journeyman," the dreamy indie rocker "New Oh in Town" celebrating the already-legendary talents of Shohei Ohtani, and the dark "Disco Demolition" chronicling the notorious night at Comiskey Park where a riot broke out on the field resulting in the arrest of 37 in July 1979.
The momentum continues via the driving "The All or Nothings," acoustic tale of Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez's untimely death at age 24 in 2016 ("That's Living"), and power pop-flavored "Having Fun." The last song on the album, "The Voice of Baseball," fully celebrates broadcaster great Vin Scully. The informative 12-page booklet that comes with the new title includes lyrics for the album's 16 songs along with short intros penned by the band shedding insight into each track.
Robert Kinsler
