New work from Natural Child!? Yes (never heard before), and no (10+ years old): the Nashville-based neo-psychedelic rockers have dug deep into the vaults to share the (digital) compilation It’s Only Rock n’ Roll If I Like It: Bootleg Series Vol. 1 & 2—a digital compilation of 24 previously unreleased tunes from their early days. Don’t expect the more polished, laid-back grooves that characterized their most recent LP, 2023’s Be M’Guest. This is a 79-minute trip back to the garage, where fun was more important than perfection.

The tracks here are raw and direct, loose and loud, with a lo-fi sound and a live feel. Song titles like Shamewalkin’, Dogbite, Wild One, Beer, Natural Blues, and Roadside Violence say a lot about where Seth Murray, Wes Traylor, and Zack Martin were at the time. Their choice of covers makes sense too: a freewheeling Born to Be Wild (Steppenwolf), alongside takes on Bob Dylan’s Lay Lady Lay, George Burns’ (The Ballad Of) Davy Crockett, and the Velvet Underground’s Train Round the Bend.

More than a curiosity, this is a great look at the coming of age of one of our favorite bands, clearly demonstrating just how many amazing hooks, catchy riffs, head-shaking rhythms, and cool gang vocals they’ve always had. Unmistakably Natural Child. Fun indeed.

It’s Only Rock n’ Roll If I Like It: Bootleg Series Vol. 1 & 2 is streaming only for now.