originally planned as a concept album of sorts that would simultaneously mock and pay tribute to pirate radio stations, complete with fake jingles and commercials linking the tracks. For reasons that remain somewhat ill defined, the concept wasn't quite driven to completion, breaking down around the middle of side two (on the original vinyl configuration). Nonetheless, on strictly musical merits, it's a terrific set of songs that ultimately stands as one of the group's greatest achievements. (a Top Ten hit) is at their most thunderous; tinges of psychedelia add a rush to and ; finds beginning to stretch himself into quasi-spiritual territory; and and the acoustic show introspective, vulnerable sides to the singer/songwriter that had previously been hidden. was another mini- , with musical motifs that reappeared in . The album is as perfect a balance between melodic and powerful instrumentation as (or any other group) would achieve; was never as jubilant, not to say funny (the fake commercials and jingles interspersed between the songs are a hoot). [Subsequent reissues added over half a dozen interesting outtakes from the time of the sessions, as well as unused commercials, the B-side and an alternate version of ] ~ Richie Unterberger