The Dream Syndicate “The Days of Wine and Roses” 1982. Slash Records. Categorized as “alternative” and part of the Paisley Underground. Though I did wear a lot of paisley in the mid-80’s (shirts, suspenders!), I was unaware of the Paisley Underground as a specific genre at the time. It includes popular 80’s California bands like The Bangles, of whom I was very aware. Listening to “The Days of Wine and Roses,” it is obvious that the influences include the Velvet Underground and the Byrds; the vocal stylings of Steve Wynn and Kendra Smith reflect those of Lou Reed and Nico, respectively, and the jangley guitar is reminiscent of Roger McGuinn. While based in Los Angeles during the mid-80’s (the band and the genre), I hear similarities in British new wave psychedelic groups like Echo and Bunnymen and the Cult.

Favorite tracks from “The Days of Wine and Roses” include “That’s What You Always Say,” probably the most garage-band style song on the record, and the title track, “The Days of Wine and Roses” (this link is from a 2012 performance after they got back together). The Dream Syndicate were active from 1981-1989 and then reunited in 2012, playing live at several venues, including a mini-tour in the fall of 2014.