THE CHRISTGAU CONSUMER GUIDE

A man came up to me the other day and said, “Did you know you had a banana in your ear?" “I can't hear you,” I responded. “I’m trying to find an A record.” The Atlanta Rhythm Section: “Back Up Against the Wall” (Decca). A rather ordinary white Southern boogie band, if that’s ordinary these days, except that this one has so much studio experience it tends to be tight and slick, a small boon.