Awesome, intelligent pop music, with definite folk and rock threads. John Darnielle (Mountain Goats) sings, and this is essentially a MGs record, intensely smart songwriting and all, with more creative instrumentation. Most of said arrangements are provided by Franklin Bruno (Nothing Painted Blue), who wrangles really nice varied guitar tones throughout. I'm partial to the tracks with big guitar, but you can't go wrong with any of this. Start with 7, 1, 12. FCC clean.
– Andy

**1 - Quick, intense folk-rock; big groaning guitar, arresting back-up
2 - Wistfully mellow, centers on half-spoken vocals, could easily appear on one of the last few MG albums
*3 - Ambient guitar intro, mid-tempo MG-style song made more interesting by different guitars and some backing vox
*4 - Sweet, 10,000 Maniacs pop, gorgeous instrumentation
5 - Melancholy, piano-accented pop; puts you on the balcony outside the party, looking out into the dark
*6 - Upbeat and suspenseful; cool distorted e. guitar riff with bells
**7 - The kind of calmly badass pop that's waiting to break out into rock chaos; doesn't release fully, but the exhilaration's all there
8 - Mid-tempo; instrumentals wander and shift delicately like Dirty Projectors
*9 - Slow, mournful, voice/piano/accordion, with penetrating chorus – Randy Newman cover!
10 - Spacey guitar behind gentle acoustic pop song about fishing with dad
*11 - Contemplative but upbeat pop with lush, sort-of-eighties instrumentation
**12 - Loud and angrily anthemic, with big rock guitars and synth/trumpet cameos