30

-30-, who issued one single in 1986, was kind of a dry run for Penelope Houston's solo career. Appearing on the Id label, both of the songs, "Full of Wonder" and "Out of My Life," were re-recorded in similar versions on Houston's first solo album, Birdboys. For that matter, all of the musicians accompanying Houston on the single (Meletios Peppas on mandolin, Kevin Donahue on piano and accordion, and Eric Lefcowitz on guitar) also play on Birdboys. The tracks are quality, sparse folk-rock, announcing her transformation from the punk music she sang in the Avengers to a quieter style. ~ Richie Unterberger