4x****To me this seems like his Bruce springsteen album due to the prevalence of wordy narratives and bellowed socially conscious anthems. "Romeo Had Juliette" and "Halloween Parade" fit the former and don't have much sonic punch. "Dirty Blvd"**** is an obvious "Sweet Jane" styled single, but there are some biting remarks in this tale from the gutter. "There Is No Time" is a bombastic but surprisingly un-ironic call to action in the republican age with some . "Last Great American Whale"**** sounds kinda dumb and unfinished at first, but gets better as the tale adds more characters and turns into an epic. "Busload Of Faith" is more big rock based on the "Sweet Jane" progression, but Lou's crunchy guitars are a force of nature in these songs and can save some goofy lyrics. There do need to be more subdued songs such as "Sick Of You", "Endless Cycle" and "Xmas In February", but these are ultimately the weaker tracks. Lou makes his most interesting points in "Good Evening Mr. Waldheim", but it's the big rock power that "Strawman"**** needs to drive the clever slogans about American excess and politicians "with his pants around his ankles and money sticking in his hole". In contrast to an album of poppy or at least bar-friendly rock songs, closer "Dime Store Mystery"**** is a spooky narrative that stands up to any by the VU.
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