JAD FAIR AND DANIEL JOHNSTON
It's Spooky (Jagjaguwar)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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Originally released unto the unsuspecting public at extra large back in '89 on the formidable yet highly unobtrusive fifty skadillion (that's 22 zeros to you bub) watts label, this recorded meeting of two rather dishevelled minds and various instruments remains a landmark of out of sorts to this rather grey day. Yes twelve long years have passed since someone thought it a great idear to have Daniel and Jad in the same room together ... WITH MICROPHONES!!! Yes I feel old, but listening to such delirious nuggets as "I Met Roky Erickson" gets me all warm and gooshy inside. It also begs the question: where the hell was Roky during this monumental meeting of the minds? No matter, there are six bonus tracks tacked on to the original 25 to make a grand total of, uh, a helluva lotta music to get ya through the day, highlighted by some preachy ramblings during "What the World Needs Now." The boys certainly are prolific writers of highly original material and that certainly is their strength, but their choice of covers is impeccable. Just when you thought you heard the giddiest version of "Happy Talk," there's Jad and Daniel setting you straight with their inner child crackling harmonies and plunky piano tinkalongs. You need this, but then you already knew that.

© 2002 - John Sekerka