Lee Ranaldo Between the Times & the Tides

“Songs can go a million different ways,” declares Lee Ranaldo in the liner notes for his forthcoming Matador solo album, ‘Between The Times & The Tides’, and let me be the first to accuse the Sonic Youth guitarist / not-often-enough vocalist of severe hyperbole. The kinetic, crafted results on ‘Between…’ are more in the several thousand territory, but it’s most certainly a record that will amaze even the most ardent followers of Ranaldo’s work. Joined by an all-star cast including Nels Cline, Alan Licht, John Medeski, bassist Irwin Menken and longtime associate Steve Shelley (and featuring cameos from old friends Jim O’Rourke and Bob Bert), the album is equal parts smart, confident and loose in a manner that recalls some of our favorite rock’n’roll projects…yet sounds like a fantastic new band that was apparently being assembled right under our noses.–Gerard Cosloy/Matablog

Produced by Lee Ranaldo and John Agnello

Lee Ranaldo: vocals & guitars

guitars: Alan Licht, Nels Cline

keyboards: John Medeski

bass: Irwin Menken, Jim O’Rourke

drums: Steve Shelley

percussion: Bob Bert

additional vocals: Kathy Leisen, Leah Singer