The second album from Martha and the Muffins is something of a disappointment after the brilliant Metro Music. The album sounds rushed and disjointed, as if the band were pressured into capitalizing on the instant fame achieved with their debut. In fact, some of the songs on this release date back to before Metro Music, indicating that the band did not have time to write enough new songs for an album. As with their debut, the band themselves play wonderfully, and there are some wonderful songs on it, such as the highlight, "Symptomatic Love." Martha Johnson's vocals for this track are flawless, and the song features great lyrics that in their apparent simplicity say a great deal. "Suburban Dream," "Be Blasé," "Luna Park," and "Was Ezo" are other standout cuts that demonstrate the brilliance of this band. Once again, the production is something of a problem, as the energy of the band (as clearly demonstrated on the free live EP enclosed with initial pressings) is not caught in the studio. Quite simply, Mike Howlett did not know how to produce this band (this was to be the last album he produced for them). This album marks the first time the band covered a song, Chris Spedding's "Motorbikin'," an interesting choice, but not one that suits Martha and the Muffins. This album was also to be the last featuring the original lineup, as Martha Ladly would leave to pursue a solo career shortly after the release, and Carl Finkle simply quit the band. Overall, something of a disappointment after such a brilliant start.
© Aaron Badgley /TiVo