Does Ty Segall have any surprises up his sleeve? You have to ask? Of course he does. His new record, Posession, is one of is most direct and enjoyable in some time. The fire is still here, but the tunes are somehow more accessible. Expect loads of new fans on board after playing this.
"Shoplifter" has a loose groove, one buttressed by brief snatches of strings (arranged by Mikal Cronin) near the end, while the title cut is even better. "Possession" marries a Byrds-y guitar hook with a rhythmic slouch that's all Stones circa 1971. It's a track that's both rough, and deliberate in its appeal. Elsewhere, "Shining" is centered around a guitar riff that's wildly infectious. Imagine Robert Quine doing his best approximation of Clapton circa Cream. It's a grubby little hook, and the cut is just fantastic. One of the best Ty songs of recent memory? Yeah, it probably is.
Possession is, on some level, a pretty breezy record. It's certainly one of the more accessible albums that Ty Segall has put out in a bit. That's not to imply that he's sacrificed anything, because he hasn't. Ty's voice still has that yearning quality that seems to anchor his best numbers, and while there aren't quite as many guitar workouts as I'd have liked, Possession is clearly a guitar rock record, and one which decidedly sounds like Ty Segall. If this one gets Segall a lot of new fans, I won't be surprised. For me, it makes me want to go back and listen to more of his stuff I haven't played in a while, and then circle back to this one for a few more listens at least. Highly recommended.
Possession by Ty Segall is out now via Drag City.
[Photo: Denée Segall]