Rock n' roll vets Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, R.E.M., Young Fresh Fellows) and Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, Danny & Dusty, Miracle 3) have an unhealthy love for music undermined only by an even more unhealthy love of baseball. The compatriots blend their two passions with The Baseball Project - Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories. The heroes and villains of America's (in)famous pastime are explored with cutting wit and fanboy detail in songs that satisfy both the summer's need for rock anthems and sweltering afternoon double-headers. Drummer Linda Pitmon (Miracle 3, Golden Smog) and R.E.M.'s Peter Buck round out the squad, as they spin tales of ill-fated drinking binges ('The Yankee Flipper', 'The Death of Big Ed Delahanty'), near mythical icons ('Ted F***ing Williams'), folk heroes ('Fernando', 'Satchel Paige Said') and, on 'Gratitude (For Curt Flood)', the overlooked man who changed the game. A passionately funny and sarcastically reverent commentary on the state of the sport, The Baseball Project provides a hip soundtrack to the backstage party at America's game.
1. Past Time
2. Ted F***ing Williams
3. Gratitude (For Curt Flood)
4. Broken Man
5. Satchel Paige Said
6. Fernando
7. Long Before My Time
8. Jackie's Lament
9. Sometimes I Dream of Willie Mays
10. Death of Big Ed Delahanty
11. Harvey Haddix
12. Yankee Flipper
13. Closer
Following the success of the outfit's first album Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes & Dying Quails - the band performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, was featured in the official World Series Program and Sports Illustrated among others - baseball's sardonic rock chroniclers are back with Volume 2: High and Inside, an even more detailed look at the stories behind the stories of America's Favorite Pastime. Their second season finds band members Steve Wynn (The Miracle 3, The Dream Syndicate), Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M.), Linda Pitmon (The Miracle 3, Golden Smog) and Peter Buck (R.E.M.) drilling down even deeper into the Byzantine, lore-laden annals of baseball history. Volume 2 also includes guests spots by Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie, Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, Yo La Tengo's Ira Kaplan, as well as Chris Funk and John Moen of The Decemberists, dispelling any fears of a sophomore slump.
1. 1976
2. Panda and the Freak
3. Fair Weather Fans
4. Don't Call Them Twinkies
5. Chin Music
6. Buckner's Bolero
7. Tony (Boston's Chosen Son)
8. Ichiro Goes to the Moon
9. The Straw That Stirs the Drink
10. Look Out Mom
11. Pete Rose Way
12. Twilight of My Career
13. Here Lies Carl Mays
The Baseball Project, the critically acclaimed alt-rock supergroup featuring Peter Buck (R.E.M., The Minus 5), Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, Young Fresh Fellows, R.E.M.), Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Linda Pitmon (Zuzu's Petals) and Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate), deliver another batch of songs inspired by the great American past-time. This collection continues their tradition of inspired rock songs that provide passionately funny and sarcastically reverent commentary on the sport of baseball. And those who aren't fans of the sport can still enjoy the music, while brushing up on their knowledge.
1. Stats
2. From Nails to Thumbtacks
3. ¡Hola America!
4. 13
5. Day Dock Went Hunting Heads
6. To the Veterans Committee
7. Monument Park
8. Box Scores
9. They Don't Know Henry
10. Babe
11. They Are the Oakland A's
12. Pascual on the Perimeter
13. Baseball Card Song
14. Extra Inning of Love
15. Larry Yount
16. Boy Named Cy
17. They Played Baseball
18. Take Me Out to the Ball Game
