Mike Spine has been making music for a few decades (since the 90s, anyway). If you're familiar with At the Spine or the Beautiful Sunsets, then you know his voice (and songwriting). At the Spine is a more punky outfit, and the Beautiful Sunsets are more folk/rock. This sprawling set (32 songs in all!) meanders between those ideals. Three songs get two treatments, one more folkish and a second with plenty of punk guitar edge.

Mike Spine Forage & Glean, Vols. I & II 2xCD (Audio & Video Labs)

Spine has been doing this long enough to have acquired a definite sound of his own. Befitting the two bands he is best-known for (a relative thing, but still), there are plenty of acoustic guitars and plenty of classic power-chord riffage. The kind of thing we called rock and roll in the 80s. Not indie rock; Spine's sound is much more mainstream. Which means he sounds a bit like a hopeless dinosaur today.

Given that he's now based in Europe and (apparently) making a living with his music, I don't think Spine will mind that description a bit. He has a sure hand on his arrangements, and the 32 songs fly by almost effortlessly. Spine's knack for the endearing and mildly-catchy hook is spectacular.

I can't really discern much of a difference between the two discs. They're part of the same whole. And the generous portions served by Spine are most hearty. This one goes down ever so easy, and it provides extensive sustenance. Quite the trove.

Jon Worley