It's almost amazing when you think about how in the world a band like The Presidents of the United States of America ever escaped from Seattle. For a city that was thriving in its reputation for having begun the grunge era, you wouldn't think a band that billed itself as "5 Strings, 3 Guys, 1 Mission" and sang songs about fruits, vegetables, and animals would be able to find their niche.

They did, though, and for a few years, PUSA toured the world and rocked. But after two albums and several million units moved, PUSA were ready to move on to other things, like guitars with six strings. So, to put the frosting on the cake so to speak, PUSA have released Pure Frosting, a collection of new songs, B-sides, and live tracks.

Their style is unmistakable: Harmonizing vocals with relatively simple yet melodic instrumental parts underneath. Their open sound is a product of the instruments they gravitate towards-- a basitar and a guitbass, which are basically a guitar and a bass minus a few strings. Their sound is like the bastard child of Ben Folds Five and They Might Be Giants.

Chris Ballew hasn't shied away from the eclectic song subjects. This album contains songs about sunshine, opposible thumbs, and Japan, among other things. One song sure to ring a bell with all of Generation X is "Tiki Lounge God," which reminisces about the Brady Bunch miniseries in Hawaii when Bobby found that damn tiki. You know, the enchanted necklace Bobby wore that made Greg surf into the coral and that made the tarantula crawl around their room.

Also included is a cover of the new- wave classic "Video Killed the Radio Star," a song the Presidents were born to play. Happy and bouncy, they tear through the song like, well, like that football tore up Marcia's nose.

It's almost bittersweet listening to Pure Frosting, knowing that these guys have finished their second term and are no longer in office. But who knows, maybe Congress will eliminate term limits in time for the 2000 election. My vote is going to The Presidents of the United States of America.

-Lang Whitaker