And what about Lee's career pedigree? His past success with Noise Addict (his former band), his associations with Evan Dando (whom he once opened for and wrote a mock worship song about) and Thurston Moore (who was a big fan and supporter of Noise Addict), and his current relationship with the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label all contribute to Lee's ever-growing hipster credentials. Breathing Tornadoes, his latest Grand Royal release, inevitably features a few contributions from Lee's web of celeb friends: loopy director/screenwriter Harmony Korine (Kids, Gummo), Sean Lennon, and Manhattan nightlife fixture Donovan Leitch, of the N.Y.C.-based glam-pop band Nancy Boy.
It's tempting to roll your eyes and dismiss Lee as a pipsqueak starfucker, but that would be too easy. Give a fair listen to Noise Addict's Meet the Real You, and you'll have to admit that Lee (who started in the band at age 14) knew a thing or two about boisterous and endearingly dorky guitar rock. Grandpaw Would and Something To Remember Me By, his two solo releases, are startlingly different, with gentle melodies, an emphasis on smarter lyrics, an almost-folk acoustic sound, and just enough Holden Caulfield anxiety to ignite empathy.
With Breathing Tornadoes, Lee does the Pop Star thing, presenting an assortment of songs that are brimming with synthesizers, extensive drum programming and computer work, and heavily produced vocals. But despite the squeaky-clean polish and faux instrumentation, Lee still manages to come across authentically, as if reassuring us that he's still the same nice kid--just dressed in grown-up clothes for a while. This is especially evident in "Birthday Song" and "Sleepwalking," two sweet ballads that demonstrate his budding maturity. It comes as such a relief that in the midst of that fuller, richer sound and production hoopla, his voice is still earnest and plaintive, with charming imperfections and cracks when he hits those higher notes.
