ANN M OCONNOR | West Hartford, CT United States | 04/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok I suppose I am a bit biased because Zachary Smith is my father. I hope you all know he played lead guitar on this CD. I mean I grew up with this band. I was in the recording studo when probably some of this CD and "the tape of only linda" were recorded. I love this music. It has very interesting lyrics to analyze. Also Scott has an amazing voice. He has such a unique sound. Buy this album whoever hasn't."
Pop Masterpiece
William B. Belt | Wynnewood, PA United States | 10/11/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you like musical and lyrical complexity along with your hooks, then this is the CD for you. Not everyone loves Scott Miller's work (Loud Family, like Game Theory before them, is 99% his creation), finding it too cerebral/pretentious or dissonant/experimental, but this is his most consistent and accessible work. Aimee Mann puts it in her top 5 all time. If this is your thing, the biggest problem is that it'll ruin you for all others. In my opinion, this is the apex of 20th Century alternative pop."
Outstanding musicality
Kevin White | Keller, Texas | 11/09/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first read about this album in 1993 in Stereo Review of all places. It wasn't until late in '94 that I finally got around to buying it. Woah. This is a must must have. Scott Miller is an ingenious songwriter and lyricist. His chord progressions always have an extra little *something*, some quirk or trick it seems. The wordplay is a whole lot of fun and Scott's much maligned voice is, in my opinion, the perfect accompaniment for the hyper-melodic nature of the songs. It's a great listen beginning to end, with the exception of the one song not written by Scott. 'Interbabe Concern' is a "better" album, but this one is my perennial favorite."
A must have
GoonMoon | Vancouver, British Columbia Canada | 12/06/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I currently own 204 albums. This is my favourite, and, indeed, is the finest album I've ever heard."
True Gamester
landru141 | Planet Houston | 06/02/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I was a huge Game Theory fan, though I came late to the party. It was around late 87 - early 88 that I heard Lolita Nation and it was like heroin (not that I've tried that!) I was hooked. When Two Steps from the Middle Ages came out, I was in the fan club. I was writing Scott Miller irritating fan letters. I got a tape of the (one of) the last shows featuring the Michael Quercio line-up through Scott himself. Then, it all fell apart. Scott would send stuff out on occassion, insisting he was doing something.
Suddenly, in a weird turn of events, this album came out and just floored everyone I knew that heard it. It was louder and heavier than Game Theory, though it was the same for all intents and purposes. Almost every track is a classic (apart from the non-Scott songs ... sorry, they just don't hold up). "Sword Swallower", "Jimmy Comes Round" and "Last Honest Face" are songs that will remain in my head forever.
I hope Scott comes back with something ... another rebirth. "As if we'd ever let that hour of opportunity go by.""