Pitchfork

Did you know? Your skin is the only organ that shows (readily, at least). Your tongue is the only muscle that's connected on just one end. And Cleveland-based singer/songwriter/harpist/pianist Baby Dee has joined up with a few well-known friends to remind us that your teeth are "The Only Bones That Show", a track taken from Dee's forthcoming Drag City debut Safe Inside the Day. As Dee sings and plays some rollicking piano, Bonnie "Prince" Billy aka Will Oldham howls an Appalachian-grown lead vocal, Oldham's co-producer Matt Sweeney (Chavez, Zwan, Superwolf) adds slightly bluesy guitar licks, and hard-partying Andrew W.K. shows up to bang out a bass line.

As if that weren't enough, Chavez's James Lo on drums gives Dee's toothy tune a bit of swing, while Antony and the Johnsons' Max Moston and Current 93's John Contreras contribute to the chomper madness with violin and cello, respectively. The Marina's Robbie Lee honks on woodwinds, and his bandmate Lia Kessel also tosses her vocals into the mix. Aside from the vaunted cast of players, the results aren't exactly head-snapping: "The Only Bones That Show" is, like our teeth, the kind of off-kilter circus jam it's too easy to take for granted these days (though this does more for me than, like, O'Death). Like that dental insurance plan we swear we'll get someday, Mom, we're just glad to know it's there.

MP3:> Baby Dee: "The Only Bones That Show"
[from Safe Inside the Day; due 01/22/07 on Drag City]