For crying out loud, isn't anybody buying this guy's albums? Mulcahy has never gotten his due, and it would be a shame for this particular album to slide under the radar the way that most of his past recordings have.
This is a return to a full rock band setup, but not a return to Miracle Legion. Mark's songs here are crisp, catchy and diverse. His voice has matured and possesses a full range of expression, and the supporting band - a variety of guitars, pianos, organs and strings, played by Mark, Scott Helland, Joey Santiago and J. Mascis, among others - is perfect.
One of Mark's strengths has always been the way he captures childhood experiences with wit, intensity, and a sense of innocence and wonder (it is illustrative that a video track on the CD shows Mark romping around in a field with pigs). This is the quality that gives his songs of anger and disappointment - "the things I love, don't bring me joy; the things I want, I want to destroy," or the sarcastic tribute to phoniness in 'Nothing But a Silver Medal' - more poignancy. He's not just a guy whose music you appreciate. He's a guy who you know, and who you are pulling for.
Someone recently wrote that Mark Mulcahy is who Thom Yorke thinks he is, who Jeff Buckley could have been, and who Michael Stipe was. This is a great characterization, and Mark deserves to be included in that kind of company. If you've never heard Mulcahy before, then look no further - you have found your new favorite singer.