Alt-Country supergroup returns

A conglomeration of members of the Jayhawks, Soul Asylum and Big Star, among others, the "supergroup" Golden Smog is now probably most notable for its most famous member, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Another Fine Day, the group's first offering since 1998, is a mixed bag of an album that disappointingly yields mixed results. Tweedy, who is no stranger to side projects (Loose Fur, The Minus Five) contributes on fewer than half of the album's 15 tracks, and only has writing credits on two.\nDay reduces the rocking twang that most of the members' previous groups (and also the previous Smog albums) were known for, in favor of a slicker pop sound, which is much more of a hindrance than a breakthrough. Reportedly this whole project was started when director Guy Ritchie approached Smog and Jayhawk member Marc Perlman about writing a song for a Corvette commercial he was directing. The resulting song, "Corvette," which sounds like a lost Go-Go's track, is so cheap and cheesy that you can't even imagine these guys playing it without cringing. And in this slight direction goes about half of the album; modest and breezy Chilton-esque pop that sounds uninspired far too often. \nThere are a few standouts, though. The driving piano of "You Make it Easy" opens the album with some bite, and "Cure For This," is an acoustic beauty, with Jayhawk Gary Louris trading bittersweet harmonies with guest vocalist Muni Camon. The Todd Rundgren-esque "Think About Yourself" closes the album with a rumination on egotism amid swirling organs and corkscrew guitar. \n Tweedy, even in his limited role, is on top form as usual. Whether it's backing up Louris on the Spanish-guitar tinged "Listen Joe" or covering the excellent Kinks obscurity "Strangers," he brings some much needed depth to this collection. The album's best moment is Tweedy and Louris' "Long Time Ago," a moving reminiscence about siblings, childhood and family that sounds like a descendant of the Big Star classic, "Thirteen." After the density of Wilco's recent work, (as great and revolutionary as it is) it's refreshing to hear Tweedy write and play with such simple focus.\nAnother Fine Day is frustrating in that it offers some excellent material, while still reminding you that the various members of Golden Smog are all capable of better things. Still, it's certainly worth checking out it you are a fan of any of the participants, and Tweedyphiles should do all they can to get their hands on "Long Time Ago" and "Strangers"