Mike Doughty

Mike Doughty's third record is more accessible than anything from his former band, Soul Coughing, and brassier than his first solo efforts. The hits that got a touch of airplay include the instantly dated "Busting Up A Starbucks" and a duet with Dave Matthews, "Tremendous Brunettes." The deeper album-cuts are best, though, when Doughty's wit and sense for creating catchy melodies make the ballads and hard strutting mid-tempo numbers like "Big Black American Car" and "I Hear The Bells" stick. As a send-up of soul scrape of "hot pink frozen drinks" and cautionary tales post-millennial barflies, it's brilliant; as a power pop record, this is damn near perfect.

The third solo album from this ex-Soul Coughing frontman ditches the arty expansiveness of
his former band and goes for laid-back roots rock. Doughty hasn't lost the indie-boy
cynicism that endeared him to loads of college kids, and here he has help from Dave
Matthews and N.E.R.D. drummer Eric Fawcett. On "Busting Up a Starbucks," Doughty works
up autumnal beauty and invokes James Van Der Beek with just the right amounts... More >

A clever solo artist who once led a great band ("Busting Up a Starbucks," "American Car"). (Grade - **)