Bona fide string arrangements give
Lambchop's second album a much more "authentic" Nashville country feel than the first -- meaning, ironically, that it sometimes sounds as gloppy, sentimental, and superficial as "real" Nashville country records. The arrangements are more inventive as well, mixing conventional country instruments like steel and acoustic guitars with saxes, clarinet, cornet, banjo, tin whistle, and more, along with the same kind of off-center organ featured on the first album.
Kurt Wagner continues to mine the same offbeat lyrical territory, though unlike other audio verité talents like (say)
Lou Reed, he doesn't bring much passion to his inner monologues. ~ Richie Unterberger