JONATHAN RICHMAN AND THE MODERN LOVERS Rock ‘n’ Roll With The Modern Lovers (Beserkley)

“Soap soap soap soap soap soap soap soap. ”

“What’re you doing, Tommy?”

“Just singin' about eight bars, Dickey. ”

—Smothers Brothers, 1963

Yep, Rock ‘n’ Roll With The Modern Lovers sure is a regular laff riot, right down to the title of the record —if Jonathan “Call Me Stupid” Richman and fellow wimpoids the Modern Lovers think that this stuff is rock ‘n’ roll, then I suppose their idea of heavy metal must go along the lines of “Lemon Tree” and “Kumbaya.” Actually, the album title shoulda been I Love Myself, since only a narcissist like Richman would dare attempt to pawn off a Hefty bag full of garbage like this and call it an album. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this record is that it shows that, in his rush to the giant sandbox of life, Richman has taken his two baby steps over the dividing line between cute and obnoxious without even waiting for the command of Simon says.