It's unclear when the commonly accepted pronunciation of Jay's last name switched from retard to re-uh-tard, but it was most likely around the time he released his 2006 solo debut, Blood Visions. What followed for the Memphis garage-punker was a swift departure from the trashy sounds of his teenage group, the Reatards, to more accessible territory that's propelled him to substardom. Since then, he has collaborated with Beck, been interviewed on MTV, and, earlier this year, signed to Matador records.
Singles 06-07 comprises all the out-of-print vinyl slabs released in the previous two years, and presents clear evidence of Reatard's softening sound. But what these songs lack in aggression, they make up for in songwriting sophistication. Clean, angular guitar licks replace the blown-out fuzz of his earlier work, while quirkier melodies recall the Adverts or early Adam and the Ants. A few other curveballs include the acoustic guitar on "Haunting You" and a cover of "Don't Let Him Come Back," by Aussie indie popsters the Go-Betweens. Heartfelt songs such as "Hammer I Miss You" and "Searching for You" showcase Reatard's romantic side, but even with all of that, there's still enough visceral snarl on this disc to appeal to die-hard punks.
