From a band that cites Queen and the Ramones as major influences, you might expect "Bohemian Bop" or something similar, perhaps neatly labeled "punk rock opera." But the Fastbacks have been defying categorization for the last twenty years, and Answer the Phone, Dummy is no exception. From the blistering ear-candy of "On Your Hands" to the complex dynamics of "Trumpets are Loud" and the six-minute opus "Meet the Author," the Fastbacks forge a sophisticated sound that will have you pondering as you pogo.

Tony Peltier