Album Review: Varshons 2 by The Lemonheads

Evan Dando hasn't exactly been prolific in the 21st century. After threatening to become prolific in the 2000s -- he released a solo album, Baby I'm Bored, in 2003, then reunited the Lemonheads for their first new album in ten years in 2006 -- he decided to settle into a role he always longed to be: a college rock crooner, lazily strumming his favorite songs in the twilight hours. Throughout the Lemonheads' career, Dando always steered the group toward other people's songs, but 2009's Varshons was a full-fledged covers album, split between chestnuts from classic singer/songwriters, rustic versions of indie tunes, and the occasional spike of irony.

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The late-'80s to early-'90s was unquestionably a fertile and career loyalty-sustaining period for American artists who traversed from the independent outlands to the fringes of the then MTV-framed mainstream. It's somewhat comforting - particularly for those of us who came of music-loving age in said era – that so many remain active in one way or another, even if less prolifically and on more frugal footings. So, after recent bouts of welcome productivity from the likes of Buffalo Tom, Tanya Donelly (with a reformed Belly), Kristin Hersh and Thalia Zedek here come two new and distinct wares from more such survivors… Juliana Hatfield - Weird (American Laundromat Records) Juliana Hatfield - Weird Although Juliana Hatfield has rarely downed tools since her near-non-stop run of activity from the mid-'80s onwards through The Blake Babies, The Lemonheads, The Juliana Hatfield Three and innumerable solo albums, it does feel that in recent years, notably since hooking-up with American Laundromat Records, that she's enjoying a low-key renaissance.

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