Grand Salami Time

by The Baseball Project

Overview

Most songwriters have a favorite subject, and the members of the Baseball Project are lucky enough to be in a band where all five members love the game of baseball and want to sing about it. 2008's The Baseball Project, Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails may have seemed like a charming and entertaining one-off when it came out, but like many baseball fans, principle songwriters Steve Wynn (of the Dream Syndicate) and Scott McCaughey (of the Minus 5 and the Young Fresh Fellows) and melody man Peter Buck (formerly with R.E.M.) know the National Pastime has (and can inspire) an endless supply of great stories. 2023's Grand Salami Time is the fourth album from the Baseball Project, and it's every bit as fun, engaging, and tuneful as their debut; these folks have shown they can go back to the well and not come up dry, and they can revel in fandom, share oddball stories, celebrate the men who played the game, or tip their hat to favorite announcers without losing the plot. It doesn't hurt that Wynn, McCaughey, and Buck are all first-rate tunesmiths who are good with the music as well as the words, and the blend of their guitars is satisfying throughout. They also have a top-shelf rhythm section in bassist Mike Mills (Buck's former R.E.M. bandmate) and drummer Linda Pitmon (ex-Zuzu's Petals and the timekeeper in Wynn's Miracle Three), and even without the hook of songs about the Great Game, this album would be well worth hearing just to hear this band mix it up. Considering how much fun the participants are having (they can even conjure a convincing dance pulse on "Disco Demolition"), it's impressive how good they can be when they choose to get serious; "Journeyman" is a somber, affecting account of man resigned to his rootless life, "That's Living" tries to make sense of the death of Jose Fernandez, and "64 and 64" offers a bittersweet tribute to Jim Bouton's life before and after writing Ball Four. Mitch Easter, the jangle pop icon who produced R.E.M.'s early work, was at the controls for these sessions, and he gives the music a warm but direct sound that flatters the songs and boosts the joy of this music. If you're looking for some fine listening to bide your time between games on a summer afternoon, Grand Salami Time is just what you need, and it will even do the job during the off-season. ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	06/30/2023
Label:	Omnivore
UPC:	0810075112863
Rank:	44615

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Baseball Project   Primary Artist
Steve Berlin   Sax (Baritone)
Steve Wynn   Lead,Guitar,Vocals (Background)
Peter Buck   Guitar
Mike Mills   Vocals,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Mitch Easter   Guitar
Linda Pitmon   Drums,Percussion,Vocals (Background)
Scott McCaughey   Lead,Guitar,Keyboards,Vocals (Background)
Stephen McCarthy   Lap Steel Guitar

Technical Credits

Steve Wynn   Composer,Group Member
Greg Allen   Design,Art Direction
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Peter Buck   Composer,Group Member
Mike Mills   Composer,Group Member
Mitch Easter   Mixing,Engineer,Producer
Linda Pitmon   Collage,Cover Design,Group Member
Scott McCaughey   Back Cover,Group Member
The Baseball Project   Producer
Audrey Bilger   Project Assistant
Stephen McCarthy   Composer