Memphis native and local music scene veteran Jeremy Freeze recently moved back to the Bluff City after several years in Columbia, Missouri, bringing with him his latest musical project, the noise/psych-pop duo Jerusalem and the Starbaskets. Columbia’s loss is Memphis’ gain.
On DOST, the band explores a brand of loose, lo-fi, psychedelic indie rock that would feel like well-worn territory were it not for the strong Southern inflection that subtly creeps its way into Freeze’s melodic composition and vocal delivery and ultimately elevates the project to a much higher level. Songs like “First Cigarette in the Rain” and “What Other Flags?” simultaneously evoke the noisiness of early Pavement and the ragged Americana of Levon Helm/the Band. — JDR
Grade: A-
