With its new wave-y vocals ("Simple Man") and neo-alternative grooves ("Success of a Cynic"), the three guys named Jim who form
Visitor Jim put their back-to-the-future spin on rock with flying colors on this self-titled debut disc. With extra players sitting in, the core group of James Bowser (bass, vocals), Jimmy Leslie (guitar, vocals), and Jim Greer (lead vocals, keyboards) makes enough noise as a trio to rival the likes of
Green Day's punk-pop sensibilities, with
They Might Be Giants' wacky sense of melody. Singer/songwriter Greer pursues a solo career outside of the group, and so his cynical but happy lyrics are at the fore of the band's classic pop/rock/beat mini-musicals. Detached but innocent vocals serve the playful songs, especially "Kill That Jungle" with its real children's background vocals (the kids of Roosevelt Elementary in Fresno, CA). An ambitious pop song that in the heyday of college radio would've been considered a bona fide classic, "Kill That Jungle" exemplifies the
Visitor Jim formula: fun, frivolous, and sometimes inexplicably freaky. ~ Denise Sullivan