Thelonious Monster

Collected on one long CD, the band's second and third albums make for nice companion pieces, as this was a band at the height of its strength and (limited) live popularity. "Next Saturday Afternoon," "Swan Song" and "Lookin' to the West" reveal the band's weakness for '70s rock, and they celebrate slacker lifestyle ("Michael Jordan") before "Gen-X" had been identified. The title track of Stormy Weather expands the band's folkish/country roots with the aid of punk/traditionalist producer John Doe. A reading of Tracy Chapman's "For My Lover" works well, as does a piano ballad, "My Boy," because of Bob Forrest's convincing, severely tormented vocals. "Sammy Hagar Weekend" encapsulates the band's perverse humor and rock fandom, and "See That My Grave is Kept Clean" rates alongside the best versions of the Blind Lemon Jefferson blues standard. ~ Denise Sullivan, All Music Guide