David Longworth Wallingford (vocals, guitar, and keyboards) and Quigley (vocals, guitar, and bass) brought glam rock screeching into the '90s with the flamboyant bombast of their eponymous debut. The most intriguing aspect of the album is the dichotomy between the candy-coated fun of their music and the darkness with which they sing and write. With a sneer in their voices, dressed in makeup, shiny suits, and spangles, they feign arrogance (or one assumes it's feigned) while punching out complicated productions (complete with horns, choirs, and organs). There are hints of ELO, retro-'60s Brit pop, lounge, and contemporary swing all accompanied by velvet vocals and hooks to die for. There's no end to the pretension on this album -- there's even a song called "Rock n' Roll Apocalypse" -- but at the same time it's ridiculously accessible. It doesn't have the dark edge of Velvet Goldmine or the desperation of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, which is precisely why this CD works; it's just as smart as the aforementioned albums, but it's a bright and sunny trip to the dark side. ~ Bryan Buss