Rhett Miller’s Superfriends: Salim Nourallah

We asked Old 97’s frontman Rhett Miller to guest edit magnetmagazine.com this week, and he pawned it off on a bunch of his famous friends: other musicians, actors, writers and comedians. Well played, Rhett. But you can’t hide behind a self-titled solo album. Rhett Miller (Shout! Factory), a Beatlesque beauty featuring Jon Brion, is out this week.

Salim Nourallah was in Europe when I tracked him down to write this. He is promoting his new album, Constellation. He is my own personal George Martin. Thank you, god, for making Salim Nourallah, who recommends:

Wreckless Eric
Although Wreckless Eric is best known for 1977’s Nick Lowe-produced single “Whole Wide World,” I highly recommend any one of his 12 records and CDs, if you can track them down. His self-titled debut was released on Stiff Records in 1978 and not only featured “Whole Wide World” but one of Joe Strummer’s favorite tracks, “Reconnez Cherie.” After his third record, Big Smash, was released in 1980, he parted ways with Stiff but continued to write and perform consistently engaging music. He became a true pioneer of the DIY punk ethic: If no one else does it for you, do it yourself! His Len Bright Combo records of the mid-’80s make Billy Childish and Thee Milkshakes look like imposters. Also keep in mind that these rollicking records were done at a time when lame synthesizer bands like Depeche Mode reigned supreme. Anyone playing ‘60s-inspired guitar music in 1985 might’ve run the risk of being arrested! 1991’s The Donovan Of Trash was a bona-fide masterpiece recorded in a flat in France on a four-track. The sound of “Joe Meek,” “School” and “Duvet Fever” are spectacular and haunting. Yet another classic underground release from this too-often overlooked genius. In 2004, Eric wrote a great autobiography, A Dysfunctional Success: The Wreckless Eric Manual. It’s both hilarious and poignant. Eric is now back on Stiff and recording with his wife, Amy Rigby. They live in the south of France and tour the rest of the world like crazy with no intention to slow down at all. Now go buy a Wreckless Eric record!