*** Alex Chilton

SET

(Bar/None)

One sure sign of a gifted songwriter is the ability to, well, pen memorable songs. Another less obvious but telling sign is the ability to recognize a great tune when you hear it. Alex Chilton, the author of a suitcase full of beloved songs written mostly for his beloved band Big Star, is also known for covering the coolest, quirkiest material that pop, country, or whatever else struck his fancy had to offer. Even on spotty solo albums like 1979's Like Flies on Sherbet, Chilton's cracked, blue-eyed soul-boy charm shone when he tackled nuggets like Jimmy Newman's "Alligator Man" or unearthed gems like Cordell Jackson's "Stranded on a Dateless Night" in concert.

On the strictly covers Set, he's smoothed out the usual rough edges somewhat (not too much, thank you), but he still applies his wry, perpetually boyish voice to the material in a way that pays homage without becoming stultifyingly reverential. With stripped-to-the-skivvies production (the disc was cut in one day in New York City), minimal backing on bass and drums, and Chilton accompanying himself on wonderfully sloppy guitar, the set moves with casual, swinging aplomb from easygoing rockers like "Never Found a Girl" and "Single Again" to the jazz stylings of "There Will Never Be Another You." In short, Chilton sounds like a guy digging deep into his record collection and having a laugh at what he finds.

-- Jonathan Perry