Naming a release after one of the most beloved, and deservedly legendary, bassists that America's produced is always a good sign. Of course, good intentions are only part of the story for any release, so the treat of the Widow Babies work on The Mike Watt EP is how much of a tribute it is as much as its own thing -- if the song lengths are pure Minutemen, the performances, especially thanks to frontwoman Elise's energetic sing/screaming, are a burst of pure riot grrl attitude and celebration. Clocking in at six songs under 15 minutes, the release isn't merely a celebration of Watt but a concept album about his battle against a vampire shaped like Abraham Lincoln -- thus such great song titles as "Mike Watt Created the Universe with a Bass Solo" and "In Which Watt Wins Back His Hands and Basses a River into Existence." It's a sly tribute to Watt's own health problems that he had to fight and overcome, and above all a fun one, frazzled but focused rock with, of course, prominent bass work. As it should be. ~ Ned Raggett