Rock n’ roll vets Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5, REM, Young Fresh Fellows) and Steve Wynn (The Dream Syndicate, Gutterball, Danny & Dusty, Miracle 3) have an unhealthy love for music undermined only by an even more unhealthy love of baseball. The compatriots blend their two passions with The Baseball Project — Volume 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails, an album of buzzing guitars and baseball back stories. The heroes and villains of America’s (in)famous pastime are explored with cutting wit and fanboy detail in songs that satisfy both the summer’s need for rock anthems and sweltering afternoon double-headers. Drummer Linda Pitmon (Miracle 3, Golden Smog) and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck round out the squad, as they spin tales of ill-fated drinking binges (‘The Yankee Flipper’, ‘The Death of Big Ed Delahanty’), near mythical icons (‘Ted Fucking Williams’), folk heroes (‘Fernando’, ‘Satchel Paige Said’) and, on ‘Gratitude (For Curt Flood)’, the overlooked man who changed the game. A passionately funny and sarcastically reverent commentary on the state of the sport, The Baseball Project provides a hip soundtrack to the backstage party at America’s game. Pressed on Metallic Silver color vinyl.