Thanks to its stripped-down, lean production, stands as 's most original and uncompromising album. While it isn't a concept album, sounds like one. Death and despair shroud the album, rendering even the explosive celebration of vinyl somewhat muted. But that black cloud works to 's advantage, injecting a nervous tension to brittle rockers like and and especially introspective like In between the straight numbers and the searching slow songs, contribute their strangest music -- the mantra of the sub- accordion romp of and the chilling sonic collage are at their best when they're fighting, whether it's Ticketmaster, fame, or their own personal demons. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine