Dean Wareham has developed a distinctive dialect over the last 40 years, a musical language that involves slumbering guitar tones, woozy melodies, and a voice that soothes and reflects in equal measure. From his earliest work with slowcore legends Galaxie 500 to the nervous pop energies of Luna, and the eclectic songwriter tendencies of Dean & Britta, he evokes a sense of temporal space, a plane where time loses much of its meaning and chronology is shaped by internal creative forces. And on his latest solo album, That’s the Price of Loving Me, he continues to refine this amalgam of hymnal orchestrations and twangy ruminations.
Joining forces with producer-musician Kramer for the first time since the release of Galaxie 500’s swan song, This is Our Music, back in 1990 — which Kramer produced — Wareham finds that spark still jumping like lighting between the synapses in his brain. Guitars are fluid things, rolling and shifting their gait and contours in service to the muse of a given moment. The melodies still extend out for miles and flip back on themselves, revealing new interior spaces where he’s able to navigate tremendous emotional complexities without breaking a sweat. It’s an album that feels like both a culmination and expansion of his already considerable oeuvre, and given his history, that’s not something easily to be taken lightly.
Wareham even has time to toss in a couple of covers by Nico and Mayo Thompson, a reflection of his influences and his determination in adapting relevant sounds which inform each song he carefully constructs. No moment is wasted; no note left without purpose. That’s the Price of Loving Me is a testament to the continuing relevancy and growth of a phenomenal songwriter, each corner hiding something from view, each straightaway a minefield of obscured fascinations and affections.
For our latest In Rotation feature, he has curated a playlist that reveals some of the songs that have caught his ears recently, a gathering of Los Angeles artists who’ve managed to imprint themselves on his head and heart. Listen to the playlist below while reading some of his insights into why he chose them.
Though I have lived in Los Angeles since 2014, I still consider myself a New Yorker; I root for the New York Yankees and the New York Knicks. But I love it here and the music scene is great. Here’s a little playlist of L.A.-based artists I’ve been listening to recently.
1. Escape-Ism – “The Rebel Outlaw”
Ian Svenonius is the riveting frontman for Chain & the Gang, the Makeup, and his latest act Escape-Ism. As great as he is on stage, he is also an entertaining writer, a satirist, a political theorist. I don’t know if he can really be called an L.A. artist, but I’m glad he lives here.
2. Jack Name – “Karolina”
From his subdued, beautiful Magic Touch album a couple years back.
3. Peel Dream Magazine – “Central Park West”
The song title indicates that this band too is led by a transplanted New Yorker.
4. Big Search – “Wellspring”
Big Search is singer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Popieluch who is joining me on tour in Europe in April, he has also played guitar and keys for Cass McCombs, Sky Ferreira, and Papercuts.
5. Holy Matter – “Eve’s Hollywood”
Holy Matter is Leanna Kaiser. She is a filmmaker first and foremost, and we have collaborated on a couple of music videos. So I was kinda thrown by how good this record is.
6. Dummy – “Final Weapon”
Dummy are a local quartet on the Trouble in Mind label. They put on an amazing live show.
7. Meadow Gallery – “The Veins in Every Leaf”
Meadow Gallery is the latest project from Derek See (Gentle Cycle, the Rain Parade, Dean & Britta, and the Chocolate Watch Band).
8. Jessica Pratt – “World on a String”
Everyone knows about this one; Jessica Pratt sounds like she was beamed in from another era.
9. The Tyde – “Leaving California”
As the song suggests, Darren Rademaker of the Tyde has left California. “I’ve worn out my welcome here,” he sings in this strangely moving goodbye to the state.
That’s the Price of Loving Me is due out this Friday on Carpark Records. You can pre-order the album here. Follow Wareham on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
