FRIENDS OF MINE

The opening, Bluebirds, is perfect for just that-an intro to the album. It's got minor orchestrations (more compex ones come later) which is good-anything more would scare the listener away.
Jessica, the album's single, is good, but not great. I guess it was released for the buzz it caused, but the song (except the lyrics, those are funny-"They way that you faked it the day that you died")is lacking, in my opinion.
The next outstanding track on the album is Musical Ladders. It's a slow and beautifully orchestrated song with thoughtful lyrics that go along the lines of "We're gonna make it through this war tonight/someone hold this child up to the light." It's just one of those songs that evokes emotion, and that pang you feel when you hear a beautiful song.
Bunnyranch is probably the catchiest song on the album, mostly to do with the intro. It's so upbeat and original and sort of makes you want to get up and do some silly dance. The lyrics are equally as tongue-in-cheek-"Bind me, gag me...rape me in the parking lot." This song actually makes me physically smile (even when I'm in public, it's gotten me lots of stares).
The title track, Friends of Mine is an all-out huge show of a song. The orchestration is almost overkill, but JUST falls short of that. It's a great song, and Adam sings it with such a powerful voice and it's got my favorite line-"I regret the drugs you lost, so I skipped our second date." The way he sings-in such a flamboyant manner-makes you sure of the fact that the album is almost one big joke, in the way that he sings at least.
Frozen in Time is much like Musical Ladders in its stunning beauty, but the orchestrations are slightly low-key, compared to the rest of the album.
Broken Joystick was the first song on the album that I listened to on constant repeat. It's a haunting song, which (I'm guessing) is about September 11. Like a lot of the songs on the album, there's no specific structure, no corus or bridge, but that doesn't take away from its effect. The slower verses surge into a loud and booming one and the song drifts away with a slower verse again. The lyrics are sad and thoughtful, thereby giving more credit to Adam as a songwriter.
Salty Candy is one of the outstanding tracks, partly because it's like no other on the album. Adam sings it quickly, almost frantically, and the beat makes it a unique song (plus, who doesn't love semen shanties?)
The last track, Bungee, is the perfect close to the album, much like Bluebirds was the perfect opener. It's the most low-key song on the album-the instrumentation is mellow, and Adam's voice is mellow, much as it was on his first album. It seems a bit boring at first, especially when compared to the rest of the album, which seems to have a booming and in-your-face sort of effect, but it's calmness is assuring and peaceful, one of those songs to fall asleep to. And where the rest of the album leaves the listener in a sort of hyper and happy mood,(despite some of the more melancholy and classically beautiful songs), the last song ends the album on a quiet note.
This album, with all its diverse tracks, sometimes cheeky, sometimes earnest lyrics, and Adam's booming voice (that my friend Adam(hah, same name)could only describe as "really wierd"), is one of the most incredible albums I've heard in a really long time. It's truly one of those "best albums of the year" that will never get the full recognition it deserves (unless Adam is on MTV trying to justify "Jessica"). Kudos to Adam, he's come a long way since his silly (but good, always good) Moldy Peaches days. And by the way, just to point out to whoever wrote this above, the Moldy Peaches have more than two "halves."

Probably one of the best songwriters since Leonard Cohen... Among my favorites, sharing the podium with Belle And Sebastian and the Magnetic Fields!!

Worth buying!