Jack and the Beanstalk

A stopgap release comprised of new recordings, outtakes, rarities, and a few live tunes, Vodka Line isn't quite a true Jack and the Beanstalk album. Yet Joe Algeri's knack for rootsy power pop tunefulness is so strong that even minor releases like this are enjoyable. Of the new tracks, the highlights are the ultra-catchy title track, an evocation of Algeri's newfound home in Sweden (the rest of the group still live in Australia, making recording sessions and tours a bit problematical), and the giddy ode to groupie life, "She Does the Handclaps." The older material is actually a bit stronger, particularly the rocking "Mr. Cynic" from a flexidisc in the magazine Bucketful of Brains and a goofy cover of Lee Hazlewood's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'." The last half of the disc is all acoustic, including home demos of "10,000 Sunny Days" and "Bleed" that prove that the strength of Jack and the Beanstalk resides primarily in Algeri's lyrics and melodies, not their surroundings. Vodka Line is strictly for fans, but it's by no means negligible. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide