44 years after Philosophy of the World, a new album from the leader of The Shaggs

The Shaggs were a pop group of three sisters who formed in 1968 and broke up in 1975. They didn't know how to play their instruments, but that didn't matter to their father/manager, who fantasized that they would become a global pop sensation.

They released an album, Philosophy of the World, in 1969. It sold poorly, which is not surprising. The songs are simultaneously unlistenable and fascinating, with un-ironically absurd lyrics. In 1979 Terry Adams from NRBQ found a copy of Philosophy of the World in a record store and became a champion for the earnest outsider musicians. They've enjoyed a cult following since then, but never released another album.

A few days ago Jello Biafra's record label, Alternative Tentacles, released Ready! Get! Go!, the first solo album by Dot Wiggin (left), The Shagg's singer/songwriter. Forty-four years is a long time between albums, but in this case the wait was worth it. The album has newly-recorded versions of Shaggs-era songs as well as a number of new songs written by Wiggin. The album is terrific because the music retains the naive outsider charm of the Shaggs but is pleasantly listenable. If you have young kids, I think they will love Ready! Get! Go!

Ready! Get! Go! by the Dot Wiggin Band