Jay Reatard: Rock 'n' Roll Biorhythm-Booster

An infectious, fast-pased rock anthem, Jay Reatard's "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" takes a little more than two minutes to boost listeners' biorhythms like a triple espresso. But the first single from Reatard's forthcoming Watch Me Fall isn't as cheerful as it sounds: By two-thirds of the way through, the song has devolved into Reatard's voice and frenetic percussion, as he sings, "All is lost, there is no hope / All is lost, you can't go home." It's a deliberate juxtaposition of introversion and energy, with energy winning out in the end.

Jay Reatard's "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" fuses introversion and energy, with energy winning out in the end.

courtesy of the artist

Reatard has a big voice and bigger stage presence: Hailing from Memphis, Tenn., he's a plus-sized guy with a huge mop of long curls that thrash wildly when he whales on the guitar. He may not look the part of a long, lean, Mick Jagger-style beanpole, but "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" demonstrates that he's got all the star quality he needs.

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