MEN'S RECOVERY PROJECT - THE VERY BEST OF MEN'S RECOVERY PROJECT (LOAD 075)

ANOTHER CO-RELEASE WITH 5RC, WHO HANDLED THE CD VERSION OF THE RELEASE, WHILE LOAD RECORDS PROVIDED THE 2xLP VERSION. A COUPLE OF THESE TUNES HAVE BEEN HEARD BEFORE ON BOLIDES OVER BASRA (LOAD 020) AND THEREFORE IT IS A PROPER 'BEST OF' RATHER THAN A CONTRARIAN STEP OF PRETENDING A NEW RELEASE IS A BEST OF.

I THINK WHAT I NOTICE ABOUT MEN'S RECOVERY PROJECT HERE IS THAT THERE IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF "SINCERITY" AND "CRAFT" IN WHAT IS A GROUP WITH A FAIR AMOUNT OF TONGUE IN CHEEK. OVER 40 TRACKS THEY PRODUCE A RESPECTABLE RATE OF TRADITIONALLY ENJOYABLE SONGS THAT HIT THE USUAL NOTES OF PLEASURE AND STRUCTURE. THEY'RE INTERSPERSED WITH SOME FILLER NONSENSE THAT WOULD USUALLY BE BEYOND THE PURVIEW OF A BEST OF BUT HEY HO.

AT ITS BEST IT SORT OF REMINDS ME OF MEN WITHOUT HATS WITH A SLIGHTLY MORE VICIOUS SENSE OF HUMOUR AND CONSIGNED ENTIRELY TO RECORD ON BEDROOM-QUALITY MATERIAL CIRCA 2000. FANS OF PRODUCTION VALUES OR JUST THE ADDITIONAL DIMENSION THAT PRODUCTION CAN BRING TO POP MUSIC WILL PROBABLY CRAP OUT BEFORE THE 20 TRACK MARK (OF 40 PRESENT) BUT FANS OF MELODIES AND DITTIES AND HUMOUR WILL HANG ON TO THE BITTER END.