The first American full- length release by Tim Keegan and the Homer Lounge, Long Distance Information, is like a bowl of Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries. The first song on this eight- track mini- album, "Simple Man," is an absolutely brilliant piece of bittersweet, Southern- tinged folk-rock-- it's the spoonfuls of pink and purple crunch berries you eagerly swallow up just after the milk hits the bowl. The next four tracks are the regular Cap'n Crunch bits still in your bowl after the decimation of the crunch berries. They're okay, but they ain't no Crunch Berries. You've poured them, now you're obligated to eat them.

Suddenly, you discover there are still a few Crunch Berries that were buried under all those golden nuggets of plain Cap'n Crunch. These milk- coated pearls of delight are the self- pitying "Save Me From Happiness," a most Kinks- like "Lucky," and the charmingly sedate "Postcard from a Friend."

Need another bowlful? Those lucky enough to get a first edition copy of Long Distance Information get a special three- song EP containing b-sides from Homer, the precursor band to Tim Keegan and the Homer Lounge. These delightfully lo-fi folk-rock tracks are like tipping the box and having nothing but Crunch Berries pour out. The songmanship of these b-sides will have you wanting to hunt down the complete singles just to hear what you've missed.

Think of Tim Keegan as the British version of John Mellencamp crossed with Robyn Hitchcock in some bizarre scientific experiment. (Keegan and Hitchcock are friends, incidentally, and Hitchcock guests on "Postcard From A Friend." Look for "Captain" Keegan as a guest player in the Jonathan Demme film, "Storefront Hitchcock.") The material on Long Distance Information, and the history of Tim Keegan as a performer, suggests that he's at his best when producing singles.

Much like a typical Robyn Hitchcock record, Long Distance Information contains moments of brilliance interspersed with moments of mediocrity. But when Keegan is on, he's dead on center, and you'll be just where he wants you-- humming along, hoping it never ends.

-Duane Ambroz