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Cover Art Beulah
Handsome Western States
[Elephant 6]
Rating: 8.5

Upon first listen, these songs sound remarkably identical-- not that it really matters at all. Beulah are a band that know how to rock out and write endearing pop songs at the same time. Their melodies scream, "Feel the love!" It's a good thing, people.

Handsome Western States is filled with the kind of pop songs you never forget. From the grungified na-na-na's of "Disco: The Secretaries Blues" to the teary- eyed ballad of "Delta" and the slowed- down bastard groove of "I Love John, She Loves Paul," (the first song ever to use "Hey/ Ho/ Let's Go" as a heartfelt lyric), you experience the world of the pop I.V. Side effects: Disorientation, uncontrollable bobbing of the head, memories of teenage love.

-Ryan Schreiber

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RATING KEY
10.0: Indispensable, classic
9.5-9.9: Spectacular
9.0-9.4: Amazing
8.5-8.9: Exceptional; will likely rank among writer's top ten albums of the year
8.0-8.4: Very good
7.5-7.9: Above average; enjoyable
7.0-7.4: Not brilliant, but nice enough
6.0-6.9: Has its moments, but isn't strong
5.0-5.9: Mediocre; not good, but not awful
4.0-4.9: Just below average; bad outweighs good by just a little bit
3.0-3.9: Definitely below average, but a few redeeming qualities
2.0-2.9: Heard worse, but still pretty bad
1.0-1.9: Awful; not a single pleasant track
0.0-0.9: Breaks new ground for terrible
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