Turn It On Review

07/13/2005 6:27 AM, AMG


"Turn It On" itself makes for just as great and radio-friendly a track from Transmissions as the quirky "She Don't Use Jelly," so quite why it didn't get as huge is a bit of a mystery. Still, both here and as the lead song from that album, it's a delight, loud and entertaining all at once. The extra tracks that turned up are both treats in markedly different ways. "Put the Waterbug in the Policeman's Ear," besides having another wonderfully whacked-out song title, is one of the band's prettiest, most mournful numbers, with Drozd on piano, Jones on violin or its equivalent, and Coyne softly singing, all with background hum and rough fidelity adding to the charm. The subject matter, explained by Coyne beforehand on a sped-up and slowed-down track of tape, involves his brother and former bandmate Mark getting hassled by The Man and an unusual way of striking back. Where lesser bands would make a goof out of it, the Lips turn it into something special indeed. "She Don't Use Jelly" itself is the other cut, a demo version apparently itself assembled from a variety of takes of Coyne and whatever guitars were to hand. ~ Ned Raggett, All Music Guide