Awkward, Jarring and Angular Pop!
Bill Wikstrom | Long Island, NY | 09/04/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"The Soft Boys debut A Can Of Bees is the easily the hardest album
in Hitchcock's career. It's a genuinely weird record from the school of Beefheart. "Sandra's Having Her Brain Out",
"Fatman's Son", "The Return Of The Sacred Crab", "The Pigworker" and "Do The Chisel" are all original, angular power pop.
"Human Music" sees Robyn's first great song.
Great four-part harmonies, intricate arrangements and great
jarring pop. Great guitar interplay between
Rew and Hitchcock. Crazy harmonica parts via Jim Melton.
All-in-all a great debut from a hugely influental band."
Hitchcock's first hits hard and weird 20 years later
Bill Wikstrom | 07/08/1998
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Collecting the three different versions of the immortal Soft Boy's first album on cd was quite an accomplishment... And it's a shame that Rykodisc's contract to release it are up. If you're a Hitchcock fan, it's a must. "Leppo and the Jooves", "Human Music", and many more are collected here. This was Hitchcock at his hardest, and when it works it is something to hear. Of course, not all of it works, but if this is your thing, you won't mind a bit. Hitchcock's "fishy" lyrics are both sardonic and strange, but crank it up and enjoy! And get it while you can!"