Jay Reatard – Watch Me Fall (2009) [Matador] // Grade: B+

Memphis garage power-popper Jay Reatard is back with Watch Me Fall, his second full-length solo EP. Watch Me Fall finds Reatard turning down the volume and turning on the charm.

Hardcore fans of Reatard’s vast catalog of grimy, trashy garage punk have already begun to coyly re-title the album Watch Me Fail, but after several listens, it’s not a failure of an endeavor, just a vast deviation. Watch me Fall still references the same influences present in Reatard’s past work, but stylistically veers away from macho antics and towards jangly, bubble-gum edged garage pop.

Watch Me Fall is the Jay Reatard album for your girlfriend. Listeners normally turned off by Reatard’s persona and catalog will find themselves quick fans of the 32 minute, sing-along tracklisting. “It Ain’t Gonna Save Me” sounds like a lost Supergrass single and the introspective “I’m Watching You” gets my vote for the album’s standout tune.

So while Watch Me Fall is a departure Blood Visions, it is still very much a Jay Reatard album exuding the same raw, emotive energy that caused people to fall in love with him in the first place. Those willing to accept some change will find that Reatard channeling his spirit and vigor inward, mindfucking the longtime perception of himself as an artist will be treated to the most unlikely album of his career.