Hyphenated-Man [LP], Mike Watt, Vinyl

In an effort to judge Mike Watt's third opera on it's own merits, one may try to put aside everything he has done over his career. This is not only a disservice to the man, but is, quite frankly, an impossible task. Twenty-six years after the Minutemen's landmark DOUBLE NICKELS ON THE DIME, Watt returns to the familiar punk and jazz influenced sound he and his band made famous. This time, it's more refined and more mature without lacking any of the energy or urgency of yesteryear. HYPHENATED-MAN features thirty songs in 47 minutes with Watt on bass, his deep baritone singing melodies and reciting spoken word while the Missingmen (Raul Morales and Tom Watson) wail on drums and guitar. Add to all of this a special redrawn cover by legendary artist Raymond Pettibon and you've got an album worthy of the history that led up to it.