TY SEGALL
Harmonizer DRAG CITY
7/10
Surprise! Garage rocker turns into synth wizard; glam-tronica ensues
On Harmonizer, Ty Segall rides electronics deep into the heart of his songs. Cooper Crain of Bitchin’ Bajas pitches in on co-production, gifting the album a hyper-sensual sheen, adding a lambent glow to the ecstatic energy of “Pictures” (shades of Nirvana in its nagging chorus). Elsewhere, “Ride” is a thuggish prowl, while the title track is chipped and mechanical. In lesser hands it could feel dilettantish, and Segall has risked that on previous occasions, but Harmonizer is strong enough to stand on its own. It’s another perfectly good Ty Segall album, full of perfectly good Ty Segall songs.