Luke Haines & Peter Buck - Going Down To The River ... To Blow My Mind

Following albums in 2020 and 2022, Luke Haines (The Auteurs, Black Box Recorder) and REM's Peter Buck are back with Going Down To The River… To Blow My Mind, which they are calling the third in their "psychiatric trilogy."  Rounding out their band here are Scott McCaughey (The Young Fresh Fellows) and Linda Pitmon (Zuzu's Petals), who have both played with a multitude of bands and artists, including several with Buck.  While the previous two albums were recorded remotely, this time around they recorded together in Portland.  As you make your way through the thirteen songs, there is a lot of diversity stylewise, but it is still a very cohesive release.  The album opens with the single “The Pink Floyd Research Group” a trippy psychedelic ride with tons of pop hooks and even a bit of its namesake.  Next up is the title track bringing to mind the noisier side of REM during their Monster era (especially in Buck’s guitar work), as does “Nuclear War” later in the album.  Quirky and off kilter, “Hot Artists” has demented circus like guitars and keys that remind me a little of when I first heard Mr Bungle, but not quite as heavy or erratic.  They delve into glam (complete with handclaps) with “56 Nervous Breakdowns,” which adds a bit of a ragged edge, while “Sufi Devotional” and “Children Of The Air” are a couple of solid psychedelic tracks, the latter with a hint of The Beatles.  “Me and the Octopus” is really catchy power pop with horns and some old school synths.  Following the dreamy, laid-back psychedelia of “In Rock” they tackle a more power pop with “Judy Chicago,” a tune that has a little bit of a bite and some great harmonies.  The midtempo alt rock of “Radical Bookshop,” is enhanced perfectly with some nice piano accompaniment, and the album closes with “Special Guest Appearance” a quirky, slow and swaggering track with lyrics that are often tongue in cheek, dealing with “special guest appearances.”  Another standout release in the long and prolific careers of these two musicians.

(Cherry Red Records)