Tim Lee

Item: No Discretion
Author: Barry Nothstine

No Discretion

(2004)

Reviewed by Barry Nothstine

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Label Paisley Pop RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2004

garage rock power pop psychedelic rock

I recently took a trip across my FM dial and realized there is NOTHING on the radio that I like to hear (OK, maybe a little classic rock now and then but I turn that off when the Poison or Motley Crue cues up). Tim Lee's latest No Discretion made me forget that sad day in my car by giving me something to listen to. No Discretion is one of those rare CD's I liked the first time I heard it. The blazing rock hooks of the opening track "I Wanna Believe" will grab hold of your brain and not let go. The lyrics are catchy as well:

I asked for your forgiveness
You said it wasn't yours to give
I felt a warm breeze on my face
She said the time has come to live

I...I just wanna believe
Drop the scales from my eyes and start to see...
I once knew a lot of things
I've since come to forget
I grew up and I lost it
And it hasn't come back yet
But still I wait patiently
And I harbor no regrets
You say the sky's still blue
Well baby I am too
And the sun it soon will set

Lee's No Discretion is a delectable mix of loose, garage, neo-psychedelic, power-pop/rock, and Americana influences blended nicely to form a darn good rock record. Take equal parts of REM, the 77s, VOL, the Beatles, the Byrds, Neil Young and Tom Petty, mix with killer guitar tone and Lee's solid rock vox and you'll have an idea of what No Discretion sounds like. Production from Mitch Easter (Pavement, REM), Bruce Watson (R.L. Burnside) and others add able assistance and punch to the project. Extra rock points are given for the raucous guitar effects, tasty pedal steel, and the presence of the mighty Farfisa organ (a favorite of mine since Steve Taylor featured it on his early stuff). Listening to this release has me scrambling to research Mr. Lee's other releases and early stint with the Windbreakers.

Next time I need to take a drive I'll forget the radio and grab my copy of Tim Lee's No Discretion! And I won't even bother tuning in the radio.

4.5 tocks