All Smiles

Ten Readings Of A Warning

[3.5/5] If you’re thinking of checking this out just because of frontman Jim Fairchild’s connection to Grandaddy (he played guitar in the group from 1995 until 2006’s bitter end), well, chances are you won’t be disappointed. Which is not to say the two bands sound that much alike. Fairchild doesn’t really go for that whole post-Neil Young, singing-at-the-upper-limit-of-your-register approach. And the strum of acoustic guitars is more than just a texture on Ten Readings Of A Warning, while the keyboards are mostly piano. But there’s clearly something going on-in the melancholy melodies of tracks like “Killing Sheep” or “Summer Stay” but especially “Moth In A Cloud Of Smoke”-that should appeal to fans of Fairchild’s former band without coming across as a retread. And his guitar leads are just brilliant. (DANGERBIRD) Ed Masley