Byron Coley once suggested that this Boston trio’s career aspirations began so modestly that getting a single into the local bargain bins was Galaxie 500’s main long-term goal. Of course, the daydream-pop band’s legacy ultimately stretched far beyond cheap vinyl, since their sonic landscapes and lush melodies helped lay the groundwork for an entire generation of indie rockers on both sides of the Atlantic. And Peel Sessions serves as a perfect eight-song snapshot of the band’s relatively short but influential career. The sessions (long traded as bootlegs among diehard fans) were recorded on two visits to the late John Peel’s famous BBC Radio 1 show. Featured here are four originals and four cover songs. Putting a fresh coat of paint on other artists’ work was a Galaxie 500 staple, and singer/guitarist Dean Wareham, along with drummer Damon Krukowski and bassist/vocalist Naomi Yang, sound equally at home with Buffy St. Marie’s "Moonshot" and the Sex Pistols’ "Submission." As for the originals, "Blue Thunder" is escapism at its most simple. "I’ll drive so far away," Wareham repeats, but instead of following that up with salve for his wound, he picks it red with one of his rawest guitar solos. "When Will You Come Home" is a cheeky tale of love and absence delivered in the trademark whine that Wareham would take to NYC when he formed Luna. Peel Sessions is one of those rare gems from the vaults that’s perfect for both longtime fans and the uninitiated.
