A breath of fresh air in rap music 1990. Sound is retro and forward-looking at same time; completely innovative. Contains many iconic tracks, overlooked gems, never loses momentum. Sense of humor and fun-loving spirit evident throughout. As an extra the remixes are dope.

Van the man in top form, letting his horn blow. And the expensive sounding yet very loose band gives him and the other exquisite horns on display all the breathing room they need. A fitting testament to the breath of life itself.

A raw and ripping emotional workout. Feels like PJs most personal record; incisive, gutsy and cathartic. Love her shredding on the slide.

Some very accomplished jamming to be sure, but stellar chops and tight grooves alone do not a classic album make.

Loved it: unquestionably arty yet approachable, International/wordly yet immediate with multiplicity of voices uniting to form a common vision. Seamless yet offering a new twist around every corner. Not a particularly short record but came to an end far before I was ready.

The Motor City meets Radio City Music Hall. Despite this albums aesthetic being done to death subsequently by other bands (cue my beloved Mott the Hoople), its particular brew of raw rock guitars paired with campy Vaudevillian melodies that seem to call for a kick line sounds quirky if not, well, even a tad insane. Influential for sure, but the fact its best song, the Howlin’ Wolf quoting Jean Genie, is also by far the most basic indicates for me the Thin White Duke was trying too hard on most of these.