GBV head honcho Robert Pollard has a knack for writing catchy pop songs, and this album showcases no less than 15 of them for your listening pleasure. The highlights are many, from the opening "My Kind Of Soldier", through "My Son, My Secretary and My Country", "She Goes Off At Night" (which sounds like it could have been cribbed from a British Invasion band)to "I'll Replace You With Machines". After that rapid-fire pop attack there are some slower more ballad-y songs like "Beat Your Wings" (easily one of the best on the album, and that's saying something) and "Dirty Water". Sandwiched inbetween is "Useless Inventions", another gem. Another highlight is "Mix Up The Sattelite" which starts off slow and builds into an incredibly catchy chorus, part of which is hummed. GBV has come a long way from their humble beginnings as a hobby for a schoolteacher. After they got serious they flirted with success in the form of courting a major label, but were rejected. And there's more soap opera material, with infighting and numerous firings.

By Ryan Long
Dec 28, 2003