No one is entirely sure of the number of albums released by Jay Reatard and his bands. His record company says it’s more than 90. Wikipedia places it somewhere around 60. Reatard isn’t certain of the exact number, but says that Wikipedia’s discography has some holes in it. He guesses it’s a little more than 70—22 albums and 50 or so 7-inches. By his math, he has recorded somewhere in the range of 475 songs. And he throws away more songs than he keeps.
It would be an incredible catalog for a 70-year-old. Reatard is only 29. He has been recording deviously uncomplicated, snot-nosed garage punk since he dropped out of eighth grade 14 years ago. By a conservative estimate, he has recorded one song every two weeks. Continue reading