The elements that fed into the Dream Syndicate’s debut album may have been evident enough — Steve Wynn projects a real (but not total) Lou Reed vibe with his vocals, while there’s both ringing and crunchy guitars that nod to any number of 60s rock bands. But it’s the wonderful fusion that makes The Days of Wine and Roses what it is, transforming everything into a killer set of songs starting with the great “Tell Me When It’s Over” and never letting up, from the controlled fierce burn of “Halloween” to the explosive rave-up title track that ends the album.

– Ned Raggett