This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Put it down to their blue-collar British work ethic.
Not only have this quirky London pop foursome issued two albums in as many years, but in that same short time they’ve also issued singles and made enough radio-show appearances to put together an entirely new disc of songs about love, liquor and loneliness. Some are rare, unreleased versions; some are reworkings of previously available material; some are completely new. All bear the unmistakable stamp of singer-songwriter Darren Hayman’s unique style and sensibility, which inhabit the middle ground between the jittery, caffeinated folk of Violent Femmes, the bittersweet twee pop of Ray Davies and the offkilter charm of Jonathan Richman — whose To Hide A Little Thought the boys even cover here. Granted, none of these songs is likely to be a top-10 hit. But they’re knockouts just the same.
