30

In 1986 the short-lived project -30- put out its lone single, functioning essentially as an early trial for Penelope Houston’s solo work. Issued by the Id label, both “Full of Wonder” and “Out of My Life” later appeared in comparable renditions on her debut solo album, Birdboys. Every musician who backed Houston on the single—Meletios Peppas on mandolin, Kevin Donahue on piano and accordion, and Eric Lefcowitz on guitar—likewise contributed to Birdboys. The performances themselves consist of finely crafted, sparse folk-rock that signals her shift from the punk songs she delivered with the Avengers toward a more restrained approach. ~ Richie Unterberger