This
Ben Weasel-produced album takes a step back, or so it seems, from the melodic growth shown between
Grow Up and
Love Songs for the Retarded. Actually, the ratio between melodicism versus dissonant, high-speed punk is probably the same as on
Love Songs, but
Queers fans have come to expect more. The first three songs, ("Steak Bomb," "Drop the Attitude Fucker," and "You Make Me Wanna Puke") are of the dissonant, high-speed (and subsequently less-interesting and fun) school. It isn't until the fourth song, "Teenage Gluesniffer," that the listener can sink his or her teeth into a sweet, juicy pop delight. "Ben Weasel" is a funny anti-
Ben Weasel goof. "Mirage" makes the album worth buying, though it is also featured on the excellent Larry Livermore-produced Surf Goddess EP, which is cheaper and has a higher proportion of good songs. [The 2007 edition of the album includes the bonus track "My Old Man's a Fatso."] ~ Kembrew McLeod