This came out in 2001 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
The Minneapolis trio behind Closing Time re-open for business with this third album. And once again, they’re pouring on the ’70s pop — only this time it comes with a chaser of ’90s rock sensibility.
Tracks like Chemistry, Bed, Sunshine and Chocolate and She’s Got My Number mix the blue-eyed soul melodies and stacked harmonies of Hall and Oates and the snide wit of Ray Davies with the sugary crunch of the best power-pop, then top them of with enough squiggly beatboxes, swooshing synthesizers and tasty production flourishes to make it clear these guys are no syrupy retro-rockers. If that ain’t enough to make it clear, there’s a heavy dollop of post-modern cynicism and irony — even Ray Davies’ classic Lola isn’t as gleefully sinful as head ’sonic Dan Wilson’s Kinks-y gem Get a Grip, the poppiest ode to, er, self-satisfaction (“I got a grip on myself and it feels good!”) since I Touch Myself. Put this one on and I guarantee you’ll be dancing with yourself — maybe in more ways than one.
