"Mel from HI really hit the nail on the head with his review below. This, their 6th studio album, is a bad introduction to YFF. Hardcore fans who have the rest of their earlier work will certainly want to pick it up - there's lots to like here; I'd like to single out "Hillbilly Drummer Girl" as a favorite - but there's no reason to get this before you've fully explored their first 5 records. I almost never listen to this....."
The Fellows turn to a noisier, less catchy sound
Nathan M DeHoff | Absurd City | 05/27/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is the noisiest, "grungiest" album by the Fellows, as can be evidenced by playing the disc and hearing the loud, discordant first track, "The Telephone Tree." Indeed, many of the songs have this sort of feel to them. That's not to say that the normally eclectic Fellows have limited themselves to one style for this album, however. "Sittin' On A Pitchfork," the second and best track, is as "poppy" as much of the band's early work (with hints of a few other styles working their way in). "The Teen Thing," one of the few Fellows songs written by drummer Tad Hutchinson, is an amusing and light-hearted (and very short) send-up of sixties-type songs, with nonsensical lyrics that just sound appropriate together. While this record is not as immediately catchy as most of the group's work, there is still plenty to like. I would agree with the reviewers who said that this is not the best introduction to the Fellows, but it is still an excellent record."
Different But Still Great
R. Tucker | Everett, WA | 08/29/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I don't agree that this was YFF's stab at grunge. The guitar sound from Kurt Bloch is,logically, the Fastback's sound. And, I think I heard when it was released, the album also reflects Scott M.'s struggle with personal problems - thus an overall harder sound.
Very different from other YFF albums, but still brillant."
This WAS my intro to YFF!
Ed | Madison, WI United States | 03/23/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Funny that people say this makes a bad intro to YFF, because it was this album that got me hooked on them. I thought it was totally brilliant, obviously, since I went out and bought many more YFF discs after this one. Besides, any record that gives thanks to (now-defunct) Jan's Friendly Bennett's here in Madison where it was recorded can't be all that bad."
One of their best
Jasper A.M.Z. Crack | 03/21/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is certainly a different sounding album compared to their others, and as much as I love their others, I think this is their best album. The production is great. The songwriting is great. The playing is great. The whole album doesn't sound like the same song played over and over, like a lot of "alternative" albums coming out around that time. Sure, it's not as garage-y or poppy or country-fied as their other releases, but it's still a great album from a great band."