Eyes Adrift

After his disappointing mid-'90s Sweet 75 project, Krist Novoselic's future in rock'n'roll looked decidedly grim. Seven years on, flanked by The Meat Puppets' Curt Kirkwood and drummer Bud Gaugh, he's back—and you'll be pleasantly surprised. Eyes Adrift is a stunning debut. It is anchored in Ragged Glory-era Neil Young (for example, the epic closing 15-minute Weld-a-thon, "Pasted"), there are rockabilly flirtations ("Dottie Dawn & Julie Jewel"), some Tex-Mex ("Sleight Of Hand"), and it's largely grunge-free. Never mind the Foo Fighters—it seems that the phoenix from Nirvana's ashes has finally arisen here.

Rating: 4 / 10