NRBQ
's fourth album (and first with drummer
Tom Ardolino
, solidifying a lineup that would last for close to 20 years) plays down the band's goofier tendencies in favor of a set that shows off their considerable chops as both players and songwriters. The more introspective side of the band's
jazz
leanings come to the forefront on
"Doctor's Wind"
and
"Queen Talk"
;
Terry Adams
contributes a strong, vaguely
Beatlesque
tune called
"It Feels Good"
and the lovely
"Things to You,"
Joey Spampinato
turns in a pair of subtle
pop
gems,
"That's Alright"
"Still in School"
; and can anyone explain why
Al Anderson
's wonderful and engagingly heart-tugging
"Riding in My Car"
wasn't a hit single?
All Hopped Up
also features a handful of stellar covers, including a jumped-up take on
"I Got a Rocket in My Pocket"
(
Adams
' barrelhouse piano truly shines), a swinging version of
"Cecilia,"
and a rollicking ride through
Big Joe Turner
's
"Honey Hush,"
and the band's loosely tight communication is a fine thing to hear on all cuts. And even the album's token weird one from
,
"Call Him Off, Rogers"
could pass for a serious
tune if you didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics (about a dog with designs on
' arm). Just in case you thought
had gotten all normal on us, though, the album closes with the most extraordinary version of the theme from
"Bonanza"
you will ever hear. It's hard to say why anyone would want an entirely serious album from
, but
is closer than most, and proves their charm and their talent is what makes them great, not their idiosyncratic sense of humor. ~ Mark Deming