Your dog Bella is adorable, but she is not enough to save you from a shitty album rating. Sorry.

It's a shame, too (not just because I have a sly scheme to ask to play fetch with Bella and then bring her home with me), as the gorgeous orchestrations were arranged by none other than Robert Kirby (of Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" fame). They are easily the best part of "...And Then Some". And that is not good.

I feel like I'm listening to a "Somewhat Best Of Mid-90s" collection where everything is vaguely reminiscent of the Rembrandts, Collective Soul, and Goo-Goo Dolls: lots of cymbal-dependent percussion and lazy lyrics. Example: "You" always rhymes with "true", "real" with "feel", "start" with "apart", etc. etc. AHHHHHHH...! Maybe you could pull it off if I didn't feel like you are at risk of straining your voice every time you hit a high note. As it is, I feel slightly anxious while listening to "... And Then Some".

Why are you worth spending time listening to? >Sigh< I just don't think you are (with the exception of "This Life" and "A Little Voice" which has the prettiest orchestrations). But your puppy is still cute. [*To Bella: Come 'ere, sweetie! I have cheesy dog biscuits for ya...!]


Track Listing:

Side One
1) Come Tomorrow
2) This Life
3) Trouble
4) Goodbye London
5) A Little Voice

Side Two
6) Half A World Away
7) All I Can Do
8) 1970's Kids TV Show Theme
9) Longest Day
10) The Fear