Album of the Day

A Minneapolis supergroup of sorts, Golden Smog’s fluid lineup has drawn from such alternative and roots-rock bands as Soul Asylum, The Jayhawks and Wilco, and DOWN BY THE OLD MAINSTREAM was their first full-length collection. Under colorful pseudonyms, performers including Dave Pirner, Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy let their hair down on the 1995 set, which has an offhand charm that grows with each listen. A Faces cover embodies the ramshackle spirit of the album, though all but a couple of its songs are original, with such highlights as “Radio King,” “Williamton Angel,” and “Won't Be Coming Home.” DOWN BY THE OLD MAINSTREAM made Billboard’s Heatseekers chart on release, and it remains among Golden Smog’s best.