Eric R. Danton on Mark Mulcahy

"Connecticut has produced musicians more famous than Mark Mulcahy, but few who have been more influential. Just how influential is evident on 'Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy' (Shout Factory), a CD and digital collection of songs by the singer, songwriter and one-time leader of the New Haven band Miracle Legion. After Miracle Legion, he fronted Polaris, which wrote the theme for the Nickelodeon show 'The Adventures of Pete and Pete.' The 41-song collection (21 on a CD, an additional 20 available online only) features covers of Mulcahy and Miracle Legion songs performed by artists that include R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe, Radiohead's Thom Yorke, the Pixies' Frank Black, Fountains of Wayne's Chris Collingwood, Dinosaur Jr. and the National. It's a loving tribute, to be sure, but not to Mulcahy. Rather, 'Ciao My Shining Star' is a remembrance of his wife, Melissa Rich, who died unexpectedly a year ago, leaving Mulcahy to raise their 2-year-old twin daughters. The idea for the album came from a fan, Nathaniel Smalley of West Virginia, who persuaded many of the artists to contribute before Mulcahy even knew there was something afoot" ("CD Review," Hartford Courant, 9/29/09).