All Pain Money Can Buy

Aussie edition of the hit American alternative rock trio's 1998 & second album with a five track bonus CD added featuring 'Freeloader Freddy', the B-side 'Quit Your Job', 'Fire Escape' (Live), a cover of the classic Bacharach/ David love song 'This Guy's

On this second album, these rockers from Austin, Texas, demonstrate a flair for perfect mid-'60s pop epitomized by the Kinks and the early Who. The opening track, "The Way," was an early break-out hit for the trio, but the entire album offers similarly uptempo serenades. It's a surprising direction for a band known for its hard-rocking live sets, but an early clue of their fondness for romantic hokum came on their remake of Bacharach & David's "This Guy's in Love with You" from 1997's Lounge-A-Palooza tribute album. Some of these songs actually come off tougher live, but that doesn't detract from the simple pleasures of this record, which is smooth, smart, and moving. --Steve Appleford