Camper Van Beethoven
(Cooking Vinyl)
When "Take the Skinheads Bowling" first drew attention to Camper Van Beethoven, the catchy song hardly alluded to the resonant quarter century that would follow. Celebrating that anniversary, Popular Songs... takes a tour through the band's output, showcasing all of their inclinations, from tongue-in-cheek punkishness to middle eastern modal workouts.
David Lowery's vocals mix offhand casualness with subtle charisma and flair, and lyrically, the songs move easily from self referential and locally-based observations to global commentary (2004's New Roman Times was fully devoted to such concerns). CVB's stint on a major label in the late eighties means that ownership of two of their best known albums (Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart and Key Lime Pie) is out of their control, necessitating the re-recording of songs from those releases.
Purists may quibble, but given it was the only option, Camper Van Beethoven have successfully created a complete and alluring album experience.
Standout Tracks: "When I Win the Lottery," "All Her Favorite Fruit" DAVID GREENBERGER
