Ty Segall: Goodbye Bread

Label: Drag City

Ty Segall's weird and we dig it. His debut for Drag City is a killer rock record—just not the one we thought he was gonna make. In his past work for the Goner label (and others), Segall has shown a mix of unhinged garage-rawk energy and the wisdom of a real student of music (as witnessed in part by his regular choice of cover songs). Goodbye Bread features 10 mostly mid-tempo tunes and no covers—this is his album, his statement. He leads off with the title track (nothing major there but still, kind of a classic-rock move), which strolls at a deliberate pace, a spray of guitar trailing behind his vocal hook. It feels like T. Rex (whom Segall has displayed plenty of love for) on a cool downer, taking stock after a long night perhaps. It also has the together-but-only-loosely vibe of Segall's labelmates Sic Alps. This Cali kid gets deeper with his next track, "California Commercial," which lasts less than 80 seconds but has a tweedling guitar lick and nothing that'll make you think of the beach or mellow times. "My Head Explodes" emphasizes that underbelly-of-glam vibe, and Segall's voice has the suitable grit and growl for it. "The Floor" is where he opens up a bit, even tossing in a cracked guitar break borrowed from the Library of Tropicalia. Segall long ago proved he was too smart and curious to get categorized easily; Goodbye Bread is the latest evidence. (Cool dog photos, too!)