Chris Stamey has always had a hand in some of the most interesting musical ventures for over two decades. I first got onto his music when I bought a copy of the db's The Sound of Music in '87 and was a huge fan of his duo release with Peter Holsapple, Maverick. I would later learn that Stamey once played with Alex Chilton, Mitch Easter and also toured with the Golden Palominos.

The reason I haven't heard much from Stamey since those days, is a pretty good one - Travels in the South is his first release since 1991, (if you don't count an instrumental album in 95.) In the meantime he's done some impressive production work for bands such as Yo La Tengo and Whiskeytown, and if not for the prompting of the many acts he's worked with, this album probably never would have come about. Friends like Ryan Adams, Tift Merritt, Ben Folds and a number of others who also took part in the recording, prodded the underground-pop icon to step out from behind the console and take a turn at the mic.

The result is a mixed bag to be sure, but there are several nice little gems that make it a worthwhile project, if not a great record. My favorite tracks recall his best work in the early 90s, the jangly nostalgia of "14 Shades of Green" and the soaring harmonies and upward swirling melody of "Ride," are good for the soul.

Even the more filler-seeming tracks have their moments - such as the unexpected explosion of Beach Boys beauty in the middle of "Kierkegaard," to the melancholy tug of the heart that the pedal steel part on the title track brings, make the record a must-own for old fans. Stamey still knows his way around a good melody, but for a record 10 years in coming one would have wished for a few more genuinely infectious nuggets. Still it's good to hear from Chris - I can't help but feel like I go way back with this guy.