James Wolfe

What has been said, no longer needs saying; having said that, we could all use a gentle reminder now and again. Does that remind you of something?

What's known: a shaggy New York singer-songwriter who echoes big ol' pop- craft from the likes of Robyn Hitchcock to the Rembrandts, but keeps open- tuned guitars on hand for Richard Thompson-esque touches and Nick Drake- ian fingerplucks. "Chasing My Shadow" hearkens back to Harry Nilsson's 'lectric piano driven "Me and My Arrow" sound, while "Unravelling," with its lush strumming and bursts of Les Paul suggests Pete Townshend's solo work as played by Badly Drawn Boy (in one of his "moods").

Wolfe sang, wrote, and played all the guitars and bass on these tracks, which were recorded at Rebar Sound in San Francisco, with percussion work from ex- Creeper Lagoon drummer Dave Kostiner, and keyboards by ex-Big Blue Hearts pianist and organist John Krogh.

Funny thing then: the thirtyish Wolfe's other band, Jettatura, is some kind of funky, experimental trip-hop project, with glowering atmospheres and itchy, trigger-finger beats. (Check Acid Jazz, this site.)

So what gives? We're not sure, but evidently this lone Wolfe (a "penname"; name changed for reasons beyond this writer's control) has done long-term touring stints as a multi-instrumentalist and singer with both French lounge- hipsters Air AND Mike Patton's hairy avant-rawk boys in Mr. Bungle. (Okay: confusing! He's been on gigs with Groove Armada AND System of a Down?) He was a key player in a few early recordings of the hugely influential art-hop outfit The Grassy Knoll, and in addition to freaky guitars, actually manned the decks (the wheels of steel, yo!) for the Knoll's '99 tour with Meat Beat Manifesto.

But ask folks who've seen him as he's kept his quieter side going at Nashville's Blue Bird Cafe, Tribeca's No Moore, San Francisco's Freight and Salvage, and Boston's The Tam these past several years, or heard him croon with Air; this is a true blue troubador, with a voice that gets gritty-girlish like David Garza and husky-hushed like Leonard Cohen. And guitar playing with nods to Willie Porter, Bill Frisell and Tom Verlaine.

Okay, so maybe he's a very confused troubador (though the music knows exactly where IT'S at) but y'know, as a candidate for President so aptly put it, sometimes you can be certain and still be wrong . . .