by John Dougan

As for his early music, Yip/Jump Music may be the best place to begin immersing yourself in the world of Daniel Johnston. Extremely primitively recorded with little instrumentation other than keyboards, Johnston's upbeat mood makes this a funny, sometimes moving exercise in obsessive behavior. Two things he thinks about a lot, the Beatles and Casper the Friendly Ghost, are the subject of songs, along with his usual examinations of unattainable love. Not the easiest record in the Johnston canon, but a rewarding one nonetheless.