So, before we start talking about Tripping Daisy, there's something you need to know. If your only familiarity with the band is with their 1995 modern rock hit "I Got A Girl," you can wipe that memory clean-- they've disowned the song. (It's a long story, and we've heard it before-- it's the one about the evil record label manipulating the nice little band, etc.)

After that horrendous single, Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb is the band's only chance to prove they're not just another one-hit wonder. And they've done it. Jesus is a collection of songs that are at once melodically intricate and insanely catchy. Gone are the days of the saccharine, abrasive cuteness the band exploited on I Am An Elastic Firecracker and with it, any hope of being lumped alongside Deadeye Dick.

Produced by Eric Drew Feldman (who worked on Frank Black's first two solo records, and with Captain Beefheart), Jesus shows a matured band that not only knows how to hold your interest, but can also write a powerful hook. Tripping Daisy crosses the road at the intersection of Built To Spill and Brian Wilson, with lyrics straight off of Robert Pollard's Guided By Voices lyricpad. From the kickass "Field Day Jitters" to their cover of Brainiac's "Indian Poker Parts 2 & 3" to the downright classic "Sonic Bloom," Tripping Daisy prove they've gotten over their weaknesses and are ready to make something of themselves.

-Ryan Schreiber