Straight Up

Straight Up winds up somewhat less dynamic than No Dice, largely because that record alternated its rockers, pop tunes, and ballads. Here, everything is at a similar level, as the ballads are made grander and the rockers have their melodic side emphasized. Consequently, the record sounds more unified than No Dice, which had a bit of a split personality. This fine songwriting, combined with sharp performances and exquisite studio craft, make this album one of the cornerstones of power-pop, a record that proved that it was possible to make classic guitar-pop after its golden era had passed.