The Green Pajamas – Poison in the Russian Room (Hidden Agenda)

When it comes to Seattle’s psychedelic icon the GREEN PAJAMAS, there are two things you can count on: the band is incredibly prolific, and everything it does is good – both thanks to leader/visionary JEFF KELLY. Poison in the Russian Room is the group’s latest collection of smartly-written/impeccably performed songs, and, like the best of the PJs’ work, it continues the quality of previous recordings while putting subtle twists on its MO. With muscular guitars more prominent than ever before, it’s as if the PJs are finally acknowledging the grunge explosion that overtook their town 20 years ago – though to my ears they’re simply letting that side of their personality, which has always been present, out to play more often. Regardless, “This Angel’s On Fire,” “The Lonesome End of the Lake” and “The Fairy Queen I” (which has a poppier sequel, “The Fairy Queen II”) rock harder than Kelly’s intricately literate songsmithing might lead one to believe. By contrast, the band’s softer side gets plenty of attention as well, with “Some Pleasure Unknown” and beautiful “The Sinner in My Soul” leading the way. Auxiliary songwriter ERIC LICHTER, the COLIN MOULDING to Kelly’s ANDY PARTRIDGE, contributes his usual brace of finely crafted, melancholic pop tunes, highlighted by “Suicide Subways,” a gentle pondering of Japan’s unusually high subway suicide rate and one of the best songs Lichter’s penned so far. Poison in the Russian Room is a concept album, but appreciation – or even understanding – of the story is unnecessary. Call it another collection of effortlessly great Green Pajamas songs and that’s all you need to know.

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