Soul Coughing's debut, Ruby Vroom was one of 1994's most outstanding and terrific albums. Their innovative jazz/ cartoon symphony sound was so original that it just knocked us all on our asses. Irresistible Bliss, somehow, doesn't seem as focused. The songs are uninspired and the band sounds bored with them. Plus, if I have to hear Doughty say, "yuh!" after another word ever again, it'll be too damn soon.

A few songs on the record make it worth the listen, though, and in a very major way. For example, thirty seconds into songs like "Lazybones," "Soundtrack to Mary," and "How Many Cans?," it's obvious the tracks are going somewhere.

Maybe the thing I don't like about this record is that it's missing some of the wacky old vocal samples and now seems more musically focused rather than rhythmically. In other words, it's much easier to moonwalk to these songs than breakdance, and while they won't give you Night Fever, they may settle for sticking in your head.

-Ryan Schreiber