Golden Smog

Golden Smog is probably the closest thing alt-country has to a supergroup. Originally formed as a side project in 1992, the band — which now includes Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, the Jayhawks' Gary Louris and Marc Perlman, Run Westy Run's Kraig Johnson and Soul Asylum's Dan Murphy — has a songwriting track record as impressive (and often as inconsistent) as that of Ryan Adams. But the new Another Fine Dayis Golden Smog's first truly transcendent album since its debut full-length, 1996's Down by the Old Mainstream.While Day is all over the map stylistically, each song flows seamlessly. Driven by a waltzing piano, "You Make It Easy" is a perfect pop gem, while the acoustic ballad "Long Time Ago" shows that despite Wilco's avant tendencies, Tweedy still knows how to write a simple folk song. However, Day's highlight is Tweedy and Louris' duet of Dave Davies' "Strangers," which lends new emotional impact to the Kinks co-founder's classic track.