Camper Van Beethoven

With completely over-the-top fake liner notes from an "Isaac Fringe" describing the song's origins -- the description of the loopy nonsense of "Processional" is particularly funny -- Vampire Can serves as a entertaining snippet of Camperdom for new and old fans alike. The group's love of slightly unexpected covers crops up once again with a British radio session take on Ringo Starr's "Photograph" and "Never Go Back," allegedly from the soundtrack of a 1974 surfer vampire movie (but of course). The former in particular is a gas, with a fun energy without sounding patronizing or humorous towards the original material. Then again, the liner notes do talk about how Starr has "a kidney made of a top secret aluminum alloy," so who knows? Other delights on the six-song release include the opening "Heart," a bouncy Hawaiian guitar-touched ska number, "Ice Cream Every Day," salvaged from Box O'Laffs, an early eighties Lowery/Molla group, and "Seven Languages," something of a psych/Krautrock/new wave number. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide