Batter Up!

Those who know me are aware that I am possibly the least athletic person on the planet. This is partly because of physical limitations: I was born with double vision (no Foreigner songs, please), since corrected by surgery, which impeded my ability to catch or throw a ball, frequently a large component of athletic endeavors. Similarly, I was, uh, gifted? cursed? with a relatively, well, stacked bod, and thus running is also more trouble than it's worth for me. And my generation of girls was not expected to be athletic, so there was no pressure on that end, either.

But I appreciate the athleticism of others, though I admit, I would not have thought there would be an entire band based around it. Ladies and Gentlemen: The Baseball Project.

Wynn — an immortal in L.A. rock annals for his years helming the Dream Syndicate — loves baseball almost as much as music, and when I caught up with him a few days ago it was to talk about The Baseball Project, a concept-focused teaming with his friend Scott McCaughey, R.E.M. sideman and member of the Young Fresh Fellows and the Minus 5.

On their new album, "Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails," which comes out today on Yep Rock, they’re joined by Linda Pitmon, the drummer from Wynn’s band the Miracle 3, and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck, stirring up a storm of rootsy, thick guitar rock as they range through the baseball lore of the 20th century.

But the songs aren’t sweetly nostalgic valentines to the sport. In "Fernando," Wynn juxtaposes the Dodgers' Mexican pitching star's early '80s popularity with two contrasting episodes: the eviction of Mexican American residents from Chavez Ravine to make way for the stadium, and the anti-immigrant sentiment that has swelled in recent years.

How can anyone not love a record with a song on it called "Ted Fucking Williams"? I mean, I axe ya?




Buy the record here.