One usually thinks of Calvin Johnson as part of some larger group or project--K Records, Beat Happening, Halo Benders, or Dub Narcotic Sound System. He goes it alone for the first time on What Was Me and the result is his simplest and most melodic set since Beat Happening"s Black Candy. Over Spartan acoustic guitar backup or a cappella, Johnson croons sing-alongs and dark ballads about love, lust, death, and betrayal. The production here is strikingly direct and upfront. Other K luminaries, including Mirah and the Gossip"s Beth Ditto, also make appearances. Mostly, though, it"s a delight to see Johnson again producing unadorned pop songs and proving that he still does them better than most. --Mike Appelstein