THE WINDBREAKERS
Time Machine (1982-2002) (Paisley Pop)
Reviewed by Erick Mertz

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Some might snicker, but I believe that REM is the most influential band in the last 20 years, if for no other reason than their ascension from and legitimizing of college radio as a viable fountain of new musical talent. Friends would tell me that REM is the most influenced band of the last 20 years, wearing their 70's rock and country clothes making Murmur and their big star balls rock on Monster. The center of this puzzle is ever elusive.

However you come at this argument, you could fill a warehouse with the bands hailing from south of the Mason Dixon line who sought the same path as Mike, Mike, Peter and Bill. One of those bands is the Windbreakers, who with their bright, laid back pop rock fall into the Athens fashion with ease. While they are vocally more Elvis Costello than Mike Stipe (one can almost close their eyes and see the bespectacled king of America singing Tim Lee's songs) and obvious acolytes in the Wilco church, The Windbreakers aren't only REM influenced, the trained ear can hone it down to a single album: Fables of the Reconstruction. It is one of the more often overlooked albums (garnering a tragically low rating in almost every evaluation of the REM catalog) but seems to work. The similarity between "I'll Be There" and "Maps and Legends" is eerie and the haunted wails of "Kohoutek" are everywhere. (For those curious, I waited for the partner to "Old Man Kensey," but it never came.)

Time Machine contains a few drop the gloves, bar stomping tunes that REM could never touch, and curiously sounds like more of the foundation for alt country than anything I've ever heard. While they aren't chronicled like Pylon and Love Tractor as the pre-eminent Athens complimentary band, The Windbreakers are an apt addition to the road music collection and a must for college rock completists.

© 2003 - Erick Mertz