The Dream Syndicate: The Days of Wine and Roses (Ruby Records, Produced by Chris D)

THE DREAM Syndicate has never had to struggle for a personal sound, even though their music is often like a wild river, flowing with ripples of Velvet Underground, Creedence, and Dylan. They've managed to be simultaneously menacing and humorous, caustic and flippant, and the feedback of guitarist Karl Precoda is balanced by the precision of drummer Dennis Duck and effective bass of Kendra Smith.