An infectious, fast-pased rock anthem, Jay Reatard's "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" takes a little more than two minutes to boost listeners' biorhythms like a triple espresso. But the first single from Reatard's forthcoming Watch Me Fall isn't as cheerful as it sounds: By two-thirds of the way through, the song has devolved into Reatard's voice and frenetic percussion, as he sings, "All is lost, there is no hope / All is lost, you can't go home." It's a deliberate juxtaposition of introversion and energy, with energy winning out in the end.
Reatard has a big voice and bigger stage presence: Hailing from Memphis, Tenn., he's a plus-sized guy with a huge mop of long curls that thrash wildly when he whales on the guitar. He may not look the part of a long, lean, Mick Jagger-style beanpole, but "It Ain't Gonna Save Me" demonstrates that he's got all the star quality he needs.
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