God Bless the Blake Babies

Though the Blake Babies made a handful of solid records in the late ’80s and early ’90s, most just thought of them as the band that launched the career of Juliana Hatfield. In fact, they were alt-rock pioneers, and their first album since 1991, God Bless the Blake Babies, is better than anyone probably expected. From the exuberant chords that kick off the album’s buoyant opener, “Disappear,” it’s clear that the sparks that flew between Hatfield, guitarist/vocalist John Strohm, and drummer Freda Love a decade ago haven’t faded. Actually, the trio sound energized and enlightened. With Strohm’s jangly six-string leading the way, most of these songs are almost unfathomably pretty as they bring the wisdom of experience to the Blakes’ ever-youthful guitar-pop. They even lure ex-Lemonhead burnout Evan Dando out of his cave to lend too-fitting lines like “I’ve done all the drugs that I can find,” to the creeping “Brain Damage.” Light on fanfare but heavy on substance, this is how reunions oughtta be done.