5 out of 5

Produced by: Dan Potthast?

Label: Asian Man Records

I’m sure all music reviewers have a lot on their plate, but damn, Heather Phares, really?

Anyhow, dang skips and all and down to business and let’s not mince words: We 90s ska and punk kids loved our Asian Man Records releases, and regarded mu330s debut press with appreciative bemusement.  I mean, I’m from Slouie, not that I ever care except when it comes to this band and Steve Gerber, so there was some hometown pride for sure, but Press was pleasant, while, I dunno, Less Than Jake were, to our then-ears kicking up a bit more snuff.  (I have no idea what my lingo means this review.  It’s… retro?  Retro nonsense?)  And time passed, and kids “matured” i.e. formalized whatever version of Asshole they were going to be, but some of us hung on to our studded belts and chain wallets and mu330 kept existing.  I think when Chumps on Parade landed, we knew Dan was a song writing genius, but it wasn’t until the self-titled disc, as the groups sound became even more stripped down, that it became super obvious.

But what were you doing at that point?  Discovering Belle and Sebastian?  Rolling your eyes at something?  I mean, me too, but I was rolling my eyes at people for not loving Dan.

Eyeballs is, for the most part, Dan, a guitar, a bass, and his voice.  He still plays on the upbeat – ska dies hard – and still has the miraculous ability to make similar arrangements of chords fantastic for 14 songs by remaining committed to his playing and singing and adding just enough tweaks to make the songs sound like him.  Lyrics are that blend of silly and honest with the dabs of darkness that crept in going back to Crab Rangoon.  As I type this, what’s insane is how the album bears all the marks of obnoxious indie folksters, just as mu330, in description, sound like every goofy poppy ska rock band.  But: The key difference is that the songs always come first.  It’s the trademark Potthast passion.  So, yes, compelling horns and interesting lyrics are there, but it’s never quite felt like Dan’s just out to make a genre buck or to be cool and in a band or weeping in a closet and recording songs; he just loves music, and his music, and wants to share it.

We benefit.  15 years on, I’m still benefiting.