So, Bob Stinson isn't a part of the band anymore. He didn't want - or couldn't 'cause too much alcohol and coke - to play the less rock-y tracks. As you could expect, this record is thus much less punky than their previous ones. Honestly this is their most fun/enjoyable record. However, their abrasiveness is, imo, a very important component of their sound, because it swiftly counterbalanced their pop sensibilities. Now we have a Mats record with pop sensibilities but without any of the grittiness. They thus lose in vibrancy, and that "always-on-the-edge" vibe they could bring in songs like "Unsatisfied" or "Bastards of Young". That vibe is what I love about this band. Add a production that sounds like Van Halen's, and you're left with a cool 80s power pop/alt rock record that's got some extremely strong cuts ("Alex Chilton", "Can't Hardly Wait", "I.O.U.") but which overall fails at bringing as much adolescent energy and emotion - the band's most important features - as the two previous records.
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