Music fans with an ear for the more interesting acts in the Southeast may remember the Windbreakers, a jangly 80s act whose albums Terminal and Run are classics of a genre that included early REM albums and Let’s Active’s Cypress.

The Windbreakers’ original material was written by Tim Lee and Bobby Sutliff, and a great anthology of the band’s material was released last year in an album titled Time Machine. Lee has also resurfaced and has obviously spent the time away from the limelight to write some great tunes. Last year he released Under the House and this month a new album, No Discretion, hits the stores in conjunction with a Southeastern tour.

“I know that some musicians look backwards, but I don’t have any desire to do that,” said Lee. “I like to think that the artists I listen to are challenging themselves and aren’t worried about what me, the fan, wants. So there would be no reason for me, the musician, to be playing right now if I wasn’t trying to move forward. Not to be different or difficult, but to continually try to find the voice that I’m comfortable with. Because the voice I was comfortable with when I was 24, I’m not necessarily comfortable with at 44.”

No Discretion features Lee and his musical cohorts performing his new songs in the studio, but with a very live feel. Recorded at various studios in Knoxville, Mississippi and North Carolina, the album has a distinctive 80s Southern rock feel and Lee’s voice recalls that of singer-songwriter Peter Holsapple.

“I thought I was through with this record on at least two occasions,” said Lee. “But new opportunities to record kept popping up, and I was constantly meeting new people. We ended up finishing the final song the day before we took everything to the mastering studio.”

A veteran of the Southeastern music scene, Lee has spent time as a touring member of the bands Let’s Active, the Swimming Pool Qs, and Marti Jones’ band. His time with Let’s Active has spawned a productive relationship with North Carolina musician/producer Mitch Easter. Easter is at the helm on a number of songs from No Discretion and his “blast o’ pop” recording style can be heard on the gems “I Wanna Believe” and “Speak Up Girl.”

“This record is the product of spending the last couple of years doing a lot of gigging,” said Lee. “Most of these songs had been played live before recording, and a lot of the recording was done live in the studio. That approach definitely changes the sound.”

Overall, the sound of No Discretion is similar to the classic power pop bands of the 1980s. One can hear distinctive snatches of the dB’s and the Flaming Groovies in Lee’s songwriting style.

Lee will be performing at the Town Pump Tavern in Black Mountain on Saturday, September 18th. The show also features Dodd Ferrelle and the Tin Foil Stars and the music starts around 10 p.m. For more information, contact the Town Pump Tavern at (828) 669-4808.