Overall I think the album is a solid follow up to "Exhibit A." It's much more complex and diverse and the production presents the band in a much rawer and live sounding fashion. I didn't have a tracklist when I first got the album, so I actually did tear up when I heard "The Drawing Board" on there. I had thought that awesome song was lost in the lineup shuffle and I was so happy to hear it in a big, brassy polished version on the album. The horns also add a nice touch to "Wooden Heart," one of the band's best tracks of the last couple years. I also like the versions of "Concrete" and "Gates of Hell" on the album. Different and nice representations of two songs I've been hearing live for a while. I've already discussed "Temporary Blues," but having a recorded version to listen to over and over again and analyze has softened the blow. Having the band introduce a song as "Temporary Blues" two years ago and then pull out that thing, that was a horrible moment (also because I live in NYC and was SUPER PUMPED to hear a rarely played favorite of mine, only to have it be nothing like my baby). "GMF" is a weird song to be sure, very Ray Davies in it's narrative. But I do love it.
The only bit of the album that I'm iffy on is ending it with two mid-tempo songs, "Off Track" and "All I Ask." "Exhibit A" left you wanting more by closing with the bombastic "Harder To Ignore" and "Circus." This album just kinda sounds tired and ready to go to sleep when it's over. With they'd put "Mosis Ptosis" on the end (which, also, not that big of a fan of the recorded version that was on the vinyl; WHY change that keyboard part?!).
Overall, I think this was my favorite album of last year.
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