Laying Low and Inbetween by Django & the Regulars

However, there's nothing derivative on this set, which was produced by the singer with Don Fleming (Sonic Youth, Teenage Fanclub), Andrew Hollander (David Johansen, Mr. Henry) and Mike Daly (Whiskeytown).

Rather, Haskins uses his influences as inspiration for songs that are as fresh and infectious as they are comfortably familiar. The subject matter of his songs rarely strays from the subject of love in its various forms, and that's just fine. Such tunes as "Disappointment Book" (which is starting to get airplay from college radio stations on the East Coast) and "Sooner" reveal Haskins' flair for weaving intimate yet relatable lyrics.

Haskins, who's also a formidable guitarist, has been leading bands and cutting solo material for 10 years now; In addition to this new set, his work can currently be heard on the Varese Sarabande soundtrack to the film Steal This Movie. Speaking of movies, a cut from a still-to-be-confirmed tune from Laying Low will be featured in the indie film The Manhattan Dating Project.

Django & the Regulars, which features Byron Isaacs on bass and Neil Nunziato on drums, will be spending much of the spring and summer on the road. If you want to hear a great band making even better music, hunt this one down.

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INK NINETEEN, Feb 19, 2001

DJANGO & THE REGULARS | Laying Low and Inbetween (Alyosha)

Billed to sound like a cross between Tom Petty and Elvis Costello, to these unrefined ears this band sounds like neither of those artists. Instead, the sound of Django and the Regulars evokes the music of Whiskeytown circa Strangers Almanac, albeit with more of a pop inflection. The songs on Laying Low and Inbetween are concise stabs at pop heaven that cover the range of bad dreams ("12 Gauge Microphone"), sychophants and status climbers ("Dumbed Down"), and lost loves ("Sooner"). Musically, the band has been labeled with the unfortunate tag of "jangle-pop." While the music incorporates melodies and guitar playing that recall elements of early R.E.M. or The Byrds, this should not detract from the fact that Django and crew are willing to cut loose with searing rockers as well as heartfelt ballads with low key strumming. Upon repeated listenings, Laying Low and Inbetween reveals itself to be a memorable and catchy album full of punchy melodies and plenty of hooks. It also reveals Django & the Regulars to be a talented pop band.

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