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Though he doesn’t get the attention of his Oblivians bandmate Greg Cartwright, Jack Yarber, AKA Jack Oblivian, has a growing catalog of strong recordings as well, of which Rat City is the latest. Yarber’s mojo works in much the same vein as his compadre’s, with a similar emphasis on garage R&B (the title tune, “Caboose Jump,” Slim Green‘s “Old Folks Boogie”) and no frills pop (“Girl On the Beach,” “Jealous Heart,” “Girl With the Bruises”) that sounds like Mink DeVille with a $20 budget. He also adds some mild psychedelia with “Moses and Me” and a cheeky yet reverent cover of Billy Swan‘s “Lover Please!” Working with a variety of musicians (including fellow traveler John Paul Keith), Yarber eschews fancy production or any kind of slick veneer – every tune sounds like he and the musicians set up in whatever room was available and just went for it. On top of all the other goodies on display here, Yarber’s plainspoken rasp fits every song perfectly. Rat City may sound ominous in its title, but it’s definitely a cool town.
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